Sort of by accident. I had a
Posted By: Backwards typist on 2009-06-25
In Reply to: WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO TRANSCRIPTION - Tired MT
secretarial service and got a call from an x-ray tech who wanted to know if I would transcribe her tapes because she didn't have time to do it herself. I knew a little medical terminology, but not much. She would bring me the tapes and come back the next day and sit with me to fill in the blanks, which weren't too many, I might add. That lasted a week. After that, I had most of it down pat. She told me I was good at it and should really take a course in it and become a "real" MT. So I did.
Before my course was done, I got a call from a doctor who needed his transcription done plus from a school for troubled youth to do psych evals on these kids. After my course, I decided to go to the local hospital for a job, was hired, and from there ...picked up more doctor offices....the rest is history.
Complete Discussion Below:  marks the location of current message within thread
The messages you are viewing
are archived/old.
To view latest messages and participate in discussions, select
the boards given in left menu
Other related messages found in our database
accident
Oh my goodness! I can imagine I would feel really angry and relieved all at the same time. But you know what? Thank heavens you were okay. You probably saved that baby's life (today or in the future) and who knows else she could have randomly run over (today or in the future). Such a dumb and careless thing to do--and with a baby in the car!!! Not to mention, don't these people see people being killed by drunk drivers all the time! All over a drink. Makes me madder than you know what!
My very first cat got out by accident
and we live in the country, but the house is right next to the road. She came back a couple of times to eat, but wouldn't come back in the house and wouldn't let us near her. She lasted 2 days before she got hit. I felt horrible.  I am much more vigilant now.
no accident
"But blaming one little organization for the Information Age with its communications revolution, the political ascendency and internationalization of business, and the healthcare funding and insurance crises is like blaming a leaf for blowing in the wind."
I don't think this is an accurate analogy. They did not just passively benefit from the information age or globalization. They actively pursued Indian markets for certification ("Indian Pricing" - see previous posts) & created offshore certification sites with Prometrics, when the only possible effect this could have on American MTs is a negative one. This is all being couched in a lot of doublespeak about how this will benefit American MTs in the long run because of our collective & overriding concern for the integrity of healthcare documents, & somehow this is all supposed to translate into more money for us, when in fact it's doing the exact opposite. Now their bottom line stands to benefit hugely from MTIA's endorsement of mandatory certification, & with what can only be described as a smear campaign against anyone who is not certified, intimating in their own correspondence (also previously posted) that anyone who does not hold the CMT certification is a nightgown- & muff muff-wearing, uneducated, unprofessional slacker sitting at the dining room table typing on an unsecured computer & in whose hands AHDI's medical documents would feel less secure than in the hands of someone in Pakistan.
Give me a small break.
They are not "one little organization," they are pretty much the only one (that may change soon), & I don't think it's a stretch to think that what they are committing is illegal, or at least it will be if they seriously interfere with my ability to earn a living.
So no. My impression is that this was no accident. To call a spade a spade may seem like a low level of discourse to you, but considering how many MTs are still unaware of their nefarious deeds, I'd say this kind of conversation still has to take place. If you want to start a thread that contains something you consider more 'elevated,' by all means, go for it. Every little bit helps. But please, keep the dissing to a minimum. We are all in this together.
Quite by accident
I started working in a hospital at age 14, assisting in the dietary department and washing dishes in a 40 bed hospital! Guess I did a good job because when I was 16 I was promoted to nurse's aid's aid, which meant I got to learn to take vital signs, carry water, juice ect to patients and above all empty bed pans. I was also often put on "loan" to other departments. From there to ward secretary, to the business office and moved to medical records when their MT quit. Minimum wage for all of the above. Married, moved to Phoenix after 9 months working as an MT and was afraid I couldn't get a job with that little experience because by then I knew MT-ing was no walk in the park. So I hurried up and went to the nearest hospital and was hired on the spot, started to work before I got unpacked. Moved to Texas (husband transferred) qualified for unemployment and thought I might as well take a paid vacation. Went to the unemployment office and they had no classification then for MTs. They tried to classify me as a clerk/typist, I wouldn't hear of it. Several people were working on trying to classify me. Finally they went to their boss who obviously thought I was making it up (this was in Port Arthur, TX). She called the largest area hospital (St. Marys) and asked if they knew what a medical Transcriptionist was. They told her to send me right over. All I got from the unemployment office was a referral slip, which I never used. I took the vacation anyway. When I felt like going to work, I got out the phone book and called the first hospital listed (Doctor's Hospital in next door Groves, Tx), asked them if they had an opening. They asked how soon I could come in and again I was hired on the spot. Again, a small hospital. There were 2 MTs. Did all kinds of MR work when there was no dication, like coding and abstracting, etc. Moved to Houston a couple of years later and by then I had caught the primma donna MT syndrome. Decided I wanted to be a psychologist, went to college in my spare time, changed my mind and dropped out after a couple of years. Once I got known in Houston, I got calls nearly every week asking me to come to work. Sometimes they got in a bidding war. Sometimes I went with another company and sometimes I didn't. About all you had to do then was ask for a raise and you got it. At various times paid by line, by page, by 1000 words and maybe some other ways I have forgotten. The calls came from MTSOs (which were mom and pop operations then), they got my number from other MTs who had moved on from whereever I was working and they gave them my phone number. I worked at home then too but had to pick up tapes and deliver the transcribed work back. No strict TAT either, no schedules, no running out of work.
I recall one very good MT who had a habit of getting arrested for drunk and disorderly. Who did she call to bail her out? Yep, the MTSO owner. He groused about it but he went down and bailed her out every time so she could get back to work. That's how it was back in the day...............
Thanks for the tip, my agent knows about the accident but - sm
never mentioned in any way if they could help me, which is odd since she is generally very helpful. I call her 3-4 x a year with questions, policy changes (home, jewelry and 2 cars), rates, etc. I have some doctor papers/releases to sign, maybe I will run by her office and talk with her before signing them and get her take on things. Thanks.
I had a car accident with whiplash
Every situation is different but for me, my whiplash was pretty severe & resulted in a herniated disk.
I went to PT which was tremendously helpful (once I saw the right PT that is, the first PT I saw did not help at all.)
They told me to take a muscle relaxer, lots of Advil, and hot/warm moist heat is a must. The one thing different they told me was not to rotate the neck. They told me the worst thing you can do is to tilt your head back, to the front & to the side is OK but tilting your head back at all was a major no-no.
Once your muscles calm down a little, PT is something you may want to look into. I still do my neck exercises to this day and I still find them to be very helpful. (my accident was back in March 2004)
OMG! We just had the SAME problem and solved it by accident!!
We live by the ocean, and my husband had bought one of those "canned air horns" you can bring on a boat. They're like $5 in boat stores or sporting good stores. The poor dog next door is tied out 24/7, and verbalizes his unhappiness, but enough is enough. We tried everything, including talking nicely like adults with the owners, nada. We finally called the police, who live nearby and hear it, too! That put the fear of God in the owners for 48 hours, and then yap, yap, yap. About a month ago, by accident my husband blasted the horn in the back yard, and...silence...dead silence...the dog hates it. Now, I have dogs, too, and they didn't even notice this blast, so it didn't hurt their ears or anything like that! But this yapping beast seems totally astonished by the air horn. We've done it 2 or 3 times since, and now the dog NEVER barks. He's fine, but apparently knows there is "something" louder than him out there! We also called the police BEFORE we did it intentionally the next time, and they said it was fine, no laws against canned air horns, and we only blast it for a second. The dog is at least 1/4 acre away, so not like we're on top of him. It only took a few blasts, but it worked! Give it a try!!
Are you kidding? If this is not the description of accident, I don't know what is
According to your description of accident, this is it! What could possibly be foreseen about this? Ther is no way that this is the fault of the parents? While you certainly can bring a 2-year-old to the hospital, how feasible is it if the labor is anything more than 2 hours? DUH! You just CANNOT bring a 2-year-old to the hospital while having another baby. Obviously, the parents had great confidence in their friends ability to watch their child.
The person significantly at fault is the driver. So much so, in fact, that it is illegal to hit somebody and run!! Please don't give any excuses for the driver. I had a bird fly into the windshield of my car and it literally shook the car (a minivan), so don't tell me that someone would not feel more than a "board in the road" when running over a 2-year-old! Give me a break!
Did you by accident hit/click the Pay button twice? That will do that if you are not
x
Auto accident - rear -end
we don't think we should give a "recorded" statement to the other car's insurance company. Advice.
If you think someone getting shot, even by accident, is funny, you need some serious help
x
When my sister-in-law was in a car accident in 1992
my husband said they had an ESL in the ER. He tried several times to explain to the family what had happened. When they continually couldn't understand him, he blurted out, "She's dead!" My husband has never forgotten that.
Did you look in your recycle bin to see if maybe you hit delete by accident...nm
nm.
Just found this board by accident one day
Glad I did at least I am not alone in this mess. I have been doing this for 9 years now with a 2 year break cause I was going nuts. I think I am hitting that point again. I feel like they treat you like crap. And the money used to be good all the sudden it isn't like they are playing with line counts.
You are hitting the Ctl button by accident..sm
happens to me too, until I figured out what I was doing.
Transient Ischaemic Attack (accident)
nm
If you click a link by accident or on purpose sm
that message can open a trojan on your PC that will access your ebay information. Happened to me once and some yo-yo hijacked my EBay account and ran up $3000.00 worth of charges in about 2 hours. My account got suspended for suspicious activity and I was notified by EBay of the problem. Lucky for me, they found out who did it and cancelled all the charges. I had to go to the EBay chat with customer service and repair the damage. Took about an hour. Now I change my password everytime I get a message that's fake and send everything to spoof@ebay. It really does help. So, if you do get a note about suspicious activity, then go to Ebay and see if you can log in. If not, then the email is from them. 
Task bar. I do this by accident a couple of times a year
and I fix it, but can't figure out what I've done to fix it.
I have my task bar at the bottom of my screen usually, but now it is on the far right and I can't figure out how to get it back on the bottom. I know you normally click and drag, but I can't get it do down, just side to side. I even push the down arrow but that doesn't seem to do it either.
Make sure you haven't changed a setting by accident.
Check that you are not "shrinking" the document or have checked to print two pages on one page.
Both. Choice A "can" put you there, but so can a major illness, accident, fire, etc.
with this economy it is harder and harder to work your way out of poverty no matter what the reason for being there is.
Sort of
Here in NC we had a very hot summer, followed by a comfy fall. It was cool and dry, and I was able to keep the heat off, and just occasionally use the AC when we'd get a warm/humid few days. But since the temp dropped 50 degrees IN A DAY, all my savings are being sucked away as my heat pump had to go into overdrive to warm my house up quick.
I sort of do
I have one full time job of about 50 hours a week for a national MT service. I also work for an imaging center and radiologist for about 25-30 hours per week doing transcription and coding. I am a single mom of a six year old and live with my BF and his teenage daughter. It is trying sometimes. I sometimes do not work as much on the second job, but overall I work about 70-80 hours per week most of the time.
most definitely have some sort
of day care, even if it's someone coming to your house for part of the day. you're not going to be able to make any money if you're stopping every couple of minutes to tend to your child-I know because I have to have my 3 yo home with me 2 days a week and unless he's sleeping, I have to stop every 2-3 rpts for some reason or another. in the summer it's easier because I can take my laptop outside while he plays. even it your child is older, it will still take a while before they know when it's ok to bother you and when it's not. it's the best thing being able to work from home but it will take a while for you to develop a routine. good luck!
Sort of like....
asking if Bush is a good president because he's shipping out our U.S. jobs faster than he can say "Sadam tried to kill my daddy so I invaded Iraq." My opinion? I wouldn't read that rag if I got it for free. AAMT orgnization is synomous with Judas, Bush, etc.
I did this..sort of
I still have a couple small accounts but they certainly aren't worth the aggravation and may be giving them up.
The downside is getting used to only having 1/2 the money as before since the taxes are being taken out from the get go and now having to meet production on a daily basis which is getting tougher to do, having to remember to ask ahead of time for time off and vacations and especially trying to remember to ask if I want a holiday off. Having someone tell me what to do.
The upside: Health insurance, pension plan, savings account, paid holidays, extra pay for overtime, having taxes taken out immediately and not having to pay quarterly taxes. .. No more headaches. No more scrambling to find more tax write-offs at the end of the year, getting refunds from the IRS instead of paying in.Incentives for going above and beyond the call of duty. Having weekends off (first time in 8 years), having part of a day for myself (first time in 8 years).
Need I say more?
I had one of those, sort of....lol
I had a doc who always dictated from his cell phone. Well something happened to where he didn't get it hung up or maybe he had another call and forgot he was on the other line, I don't know. Anyway, at the end of the dictation it sounded like he hung up and then the phone started to ring. He answered it and said hello a few times and then said "F-you" and hung up. I laughed my butt off because he was basically saying that to himself because he didn't hang up. Dumb butt! lol
I sort of did that
When I came home to type 13 years ago, I was expecting my third child. Prior to that I did have 5 years on-site experience, but it was all in one specialty. So, acute care was new to me. I did it. My line count at that time was 1000 lines a day. I admit that many days I did not get to the count, but I tried very hard to make every report perfect. I learn a lot from looking things up. I kept my babies close by with plenty of toys, play pens, VCR, Disney movies, etc., and there were many times that one fell asleep across my arms while I was transcribing.
I think it can be done if you want it bad enough. I love working from home!
I have sort of done this - sm
I can be paid via PayPal and had the PayPal MC, which if I have money in my PayPal account, I can use like a credit card. Just paid for some car repairs that way. I can also receive a check, which I have started doing lately as PP charges me about $40 for the privelige of getting my money this way. Has nothing to do the their credit card, just my account fees they charge for incoming funds. So to save that cash I just get checks now. In the future I will probably put some money in my account there though so I can use the MC as I am trying to not use any credit cards anymore. Just make sure there are not any fees for loading the card, or transaction fees, etc.
I said nothing of the sort. SM
It doesn't matter who is posting or on what topic. Discuss, talk about, debate, share topics, beliefs, subject matter. Do with respect and be civil.
What we don't want to see are specific attacks calling other posters out because think they should change how they post or should go away.
Again, the forums are not moderated for niceness or any out-of-norm opinions. ALL opinions are welcome.
It is not about standing for the good or the bad. It is about allowing all opinions the same opportunity to post, regardless of popularity.
Moderator
Is there any way to sort that out?
All the variables, I mean. I have been at the same company for my 2 years, so I don't have anything to compare to.
As far as platform, what is considered slow about it (and the time involved you are speaking of).
At this point, I can see a lot of difference between accounts. It really seems like companies should try to give each MT a mixture of slow and fast accounts to keep it fair.
I was sort of in the same boat
My mom's doc told her in 1996 that she had "a touch of emphysema, nothing to worry about." (He was a lousy doctor but I didn't realize it then).
She had lived in a trailer on our property rent free for 10 years independently before this happened, then she got the shingles, "most severe case I've ever seen," was hospitalized for 2 weeks and went downhill after that. I moved her in with us as she developed macular degeneration, plus she was almost deaf.
The last straw came when she was walking through the hallway and her legs went out from under her. She broke her hip and walked on it like that for 2 weeks. I quit my job to stay home with her after that. She spent 2 wks in a hospital and 6 wks rigorous PT in a nursing home, then came back home. I did everything for her. She even gained weight, went up to 96 pounds (4'11"). She also came on on oxygen because of her "touch of emphysema" which turned into full blown COPD.
She then got pneumonia, was hospitalized, and then started to develop memory loss. Her macular degeneration got worse and she couldn't tell day from night and sometimes, her biological clock would get mixed up and she'd be waking me up at 11 p.m. thinking it was 7 am. She loved to read but couldn't do it anymore. My son gave her his large screen TV so she could at least see that, but she couldn't hear without the sound being turned up LOUD.
After 3 years, she was almost bedridden. Her bedroom was next to my office and I had a bell that she would ring if she needed me.
I had a nurses' aide come in every day for 1 hour a day to bathe her and give her breathing treatments. That was all Senior Services could do for her because of her limited SS income.
In the meantime, I got a job through my former hospital working for them at home after she broke her hip. .I also worked full time 1 job, and had a couple small accounts, took care of her bills and checking account, our three accounts (both self-employed).
We had a lot of friends that would come over on the weekends but where was I? In the house working and taking care of her. I never left the house for those 4 years except to do grocery shopping...and it was never more than 1 hour so the nurses' aide would be with her while I was gone.
She broke her other hip in January 2000. I spent every day in the hospital with her, but there was nothing I could do. I couldn't stay the night because this hospital wasn't set up for that and I couldn't afford it anyway. I knew she wasn't going to make it this time and 2 weeks after celebrating her 79th birthday, she was gone.
Anyway, I feel for you and know what you are going through with the exception of 1 thing....I have no siblings. Hang in there and keep doing what you are doing. You'll never regret it. Three people know you're the right person. You, your mother, and God. Forgive your uncouth (sic) siblings...and if you get mad enough, tell the one that keeps winning the money to hand some over for a change. He might surprise you. Heck, he may not even know the problems you're having. You should tell him.
But in the meantime, just keep taking care of, and loving, your mother for as long as you can...and don't forget to tell her you love her all the time, too.
How about some little stickers of some sort...maybe that will help!
I know that sort of sucks, but that's what the gov
f
A sort of update...
I still have not started, but I did call my GYN and she said to wait for about a week and if I still have a negative preg test to call her and come in for blood work. Thanks everyone for your sweet replies, it means the world to me. I will let you guys know!!
Thanks! That's what I was sort of thinking
but I really hope more post overnight or in the morning. I have been leaning towards the feeling that it can't be this bad - that it might exactly be the quality of transcription. I work for a big national, and its been getting worse and worse. I actually get upset when I see the critical errors coming thru, and nobody, from the MT to management, care. And I just sort thru this day in and day out. By the end of the day, I am exhausted and depressed. I never dreamed QAing would be what it is, and I for sure have tons of respect for QAers. I think I would rather be inspecting dolls on an assembly line. Unfortunately, or fortunately, though, I do make decent $$ at it - more near $20 an hour, and have loads of time off, but I find its not doing me any good - I use it all for sick time rather than fun. Sorry for carrying on, but thanks so much for listening. And maybe hearing my story will help some QA phobic MTs realize that its not an easy job. No matter how kind we try to be, everyone hates us. I feel like a dentist! Yet sure don't make that kind of money! 
We do that sort of thing too. There is just something about
fall time in PA with the crisp air, beautiful colored falling leaves that just make it necessary to have a huge bonfire, hotdogs, apple cider, pumpkins. Bobbing for apples and corn stalk decorations. Its just a wonderful celebration before winter comes and we love it!
However, having some sort of certification does
not necessarily mean one is a good Transcriptionist any more than not having certification does not mean one is not a good transcriptionist. That would be saying that anyone who goes to medical school and has M.D. behind their name is a good doctor. While they have to have M.D. behind their name to practice medicine, it does not mean they are a good physician. Just my 2 cents worth.
I'm one of those MTs that can sort of get a zone and... SM
I don't hear anything around me. My husband literally has to come up and touch me to get my attention when I'm working and then I nearly jump out of my skin cause it's like he snuck up on me.
I've been working at home since my son was a baby. He's 14 now. He had asthma and respiratory difficulties from birth and so I needed a profession that allowed me to be at home with him. At first, my production was just gross, but you'll find that you adapt pretty easily. Now, with both kids at school (my daughter just started kindergarten), I've seen my production shoot way up to the 1800 to 2000 range just because there are no interruptions and no excuses!
Your production will get better and better. It just takes time.
may I ask what you mean? company - sort of ??
thanks.
Really?! Is there some sort of documentation...
we can access to confirm that? That's just far out. Ever been in the lunch line in the hospital cafeteria with doctors discussing cases while waiting for the fricassee to be dished out? What about these third-world countries where the work is being outsourced...they have 2 generations living in the same abode--think there's any privacy screening or dedicated office there?! Sounds like bureaucratic bull poopie to me. Kind of like asking "how old are you and do you have kids" without asking. I'd take a picture of me at a nice fancy-pants office set up at Staples just out of spite if I was asked such a thing. How the heck do you prove something like that unless you make a home visit?! Somethin' just don't jive there is all I'm sayin'.
I sort of use a laptop
but the screen is broken off so that I have to use a regular monitor. As far as the touch pad, I bought a USB mouse and just disabled it. There should be something somewhere in the settings that says pointing device. It may also be in the system tray, as it was on mine.
there has to be some sort of formula out there
to count the lines minus the headers and footers.
I sort of wondered if it was that he would be
x
Sort of figured as much...
Heard some horror stories much like you describe. Thank you anyway.
What sort of notes are these?
Do you mean that they are written notes or are they on a dictaphone system?? I am just wondering why you would need someone close by? bj
I'm sort of confused here..
If so, I wouldn't be in a hurry to think you'll get the flexibility you desire by applying to these positions here. Most of them require you work a set schedule, i.e., part-time or full-time. It's tough to find a company that hires true IC status. They say IC, but then you are required to let them know which days you'll be working with a line quota.
As far as insurance, check with your local senior center. They may have information on health insurance providers.
Sorry for your pain. I sort of have
the same problem but in a different way. My doc puts a check mark on files he supposedly dictates, but sometimes, he messes up. I think he puts the check mark on it first, then when he's rushed, sees the mark and bypasses that report. It usually happens when he's overtired.
Anyway, he used to call telling me he's missing certain files which, usually, are a month old. He used to use tapes, so of course, they were erased and long gone. I cured part of the problem by getting an internet system for him to dictate on and now must keep these voice files forever. He's still stating he's missing a few files and I can't get it through his head that it's on his end.  I spent 2 hours one day listening to all the files looking for a certain record to no avail. Then on top of that, he makes me put "re-dictation" on the note when I know it's not a re-dictation. He really got mad at me the one day over this crap and I also got mad, but kept my big mouth shut.
It frustrates me but I've been with this doc for 18 years and soon to retire, so I'm keeping him because he at least pays on time and it is good money. He's keeping me because he gets his work on time if not earlier and he says I work cheap (which I don't- I get $.17 a line and I don't think that's cheap).
Just keep track of your files forever. That's all you can do.
I used my BOS - yesterday --- sort of... (sm)
I had visitors for lunch in my yard, and the table that the food was set out on was on uneven ground. So, I got out my BOS, put it under the too-short table leg, and voila! A steady table. And of course, of all the books I own, it's the one I care the LEAST about, so it didn't matter if it got a little muddy.
;D
I had some sort of thing ....sm
that kept popping up that said something and the next day my computer crashed. When I took it to be repaired, he said it had been hijacked and had a virus. It is costing me $250 to repair.
I can't remember the name of it. It claimed to be a antivirus or something like that.
Have Sort of a Solution
This has always been an issue with these platforms, I can't work unless I can use Smartype and I do use the Scribe platform.
After months of trial and error here's my workaround solution: First open a blank page in Word and open Smartype. In the settings you have to set up where the line/list are going to be visible in the document. If I'm going to type directly into the Scribe platform I make the SMARTLINE checked as FLOAT. Then I go back and UNCHECK the SMARTLIST so it will/will not. You can experiment with this to your liking but I found the float works best. Then close the settings and close Smartype.
Now here's the most important thing: With Word open right-click in the Word tool bar to open the "options" window. With that open (you don't do anything with it, it just enables you to move things around the toolbars) I simply use the mouse to drag down the STEDMANS button from where it is seen in the very top row of the tool bar and pull it down to a lower level bar (to a place you know you will see it when you open Scribe.) (You will not lose your original Stedman's button if you do this, and you can do it over and over again if Smartype freezes in Scribe.) Then when you open the Scribe platform you will see the Stedmans button you dragged down. From there you can "enable" Smartype. That's about it. You should see your LINE/LIST appear and you should be all set. I also made a ton of shortcuts on the toolbars in Word that will work in the platform too. I have macros buttons that replace having access to say the format menu for paragraphs, fonts, etc. Just know though that when you open Smartype in Scribe you will not be able to add any smartwords or blocks. You will have to close it and then go do it in Word standalone to set up your vocabulary and such. So, in closing, sometimes this works, sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes I just have to shut down the platform and log back in to get Smartype to be active again. Be careful too when deleting. Something due to Smartype will cause the document to delete from the bottom up if you do something wrong with holding shift-highlight-delete (or move). I can't be sure of the combination but it does happen. So I never shift-highlight-delete anything, just use the mouse to highlight and then delete or backspace. You really have to just experiment. But, making that little slide down copy of the Stedmans button on the toolbar though is the key. Hope this helps. Good luck.
Sort of makes you want to
start doing your job the way she mails your check!!
|
