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Sounds just like my vet, except we're beyond

Posted By: sucker on 2006-02-07
In Reply to: OT: Changing face of veterinary medicine (sm) - catlover

bloodwork and into ultrasounds.   Two years ago I had a cat that the ultimate diagnosis was FIP by process of elimination.  She had a CT scan, a spinal tap, an ultrasound and all kinds of blood work for a total of over $4,000.00.   I have a dog with Cushings and I haven't kept track of her expenses, but I'm sure we're close to $5,000.00 over the last 3 years.  She is currently on $300.00 worth of medicine a month and that will probably be increased another $100./mo.    I have finally gotten to the point where I tell the vet no about a lot of things because one test we do is $425.00 and HAS to be done twice a year, but it was done in mid December and the results were borderline and so she wanted to repeat again in January because the medication for the test is only good for 6 months and she didn't want to waste it.  I felt like 1 month wasn't going to show anything significant and our money would be better spent on her medications. 


I think more people are looking at pets as family members and not pets - I know we do.  We have 5 vets in our practice and when I see one particular one she always tells us we need to schedule a teeth cleaning.  I think they cost about $250.00 and your pets has to have anesthesia. 




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well, sounds like you're trying to sell something

Sounds like you're in the clear!

Sounds shady to me not to know what you're paying for.
Report to the Better Business Bureau.
No wonder you're upset! That bail sounds awfully low - sm
It sounds like he's a friend of the judge or something.

And your story illustrates the trouble with Megan's Law. It is well-intentioned, as far as it goes, but AFAIK there is no law anywhere that says _you_ must be notified when you move into a neighborhood where a child molester is living. When my daughter was 12, we moved into a house next door to a molester. He never touched her but he used to put candy in our mailbox with weird little notes attached!
Sounds like you're suffering more from job boredom than anything else.
.
It all sounds pretty okay, as long as you're not - sm
being paid by the line, but by the hour. (I assume you're currently paid per hour as an inhouse employee, right?) If you can still make your previous inhouse salary, rather than the paltry cents-per-line most at-homes make, you should be sitting pretty.

Double check and be sure the inhouse people have to maintain the same line count as you! There is no reason why at-homes should be 'penalized' with higher line counts than in-house people, especially if you're doing the same work, using the same equipment, etc.

If you're paid per-line, and it's not as much as you'd be making per-hour inhouse, what could happen is that you'll find yourself working longer hours for less money, which isn't fair. It's hard to maintain quality work when you're depressed about what you're making, or about never being able to leave the house!

Depending on your hospital's software, they may be able to clock you in and out. I worked at a place where they could see the time you started a report, and the time you sent it, but that wasn't always accurate if you were halfway through a report and then got up to use the restroom, and then had to wait in line for a stall, etc.

Even if you can't get worker's comp for getting hurt at home (though if you got something like carpal tunnel, you might be able to dispute that!), you would probably still be able to get Disability.

For the most part, it sounds like a deal that would work. You're better off being at at-home employee of an inhouse MT department than you are working for a large national. You probably already have better benefits, too.

And, at some point in the future, if you decide working at home isn't for you, you probably would have the option of going back inhouse without much change in anything, but if you left and worked elsewhere, it would not only be harder to come back if you wanted to, but they'd probably add insult to it all by offering you a lower 'starting' wage.

Good luck, and let us know how it all works out!
You're the one that sounds angry. I've made sure
If you need to stoop to that level to live, apparently the one who's made a wrong turn on the pathway of life is you.
People get angry about the prospect that they failed in life. Time to reevaluate, regroup and see why you feel so angry and take it personally when people make statements such as mine.
trying hitting your Refresh button, maybe? (sounds like you're seeing an old
nm
Sounds like you're on the right track with Weight Watchers (sm)
Do they offer counseling too? I know of two people who did Weight Watchers and they were very successful. Seems like a good, healthy program. I am not overweight myself but my sister is and, like you, has struggled with her weight her whole life. So I know at least second-hand the struggle you're going through. I think maybe if Weight Watchers doesn't offer counseling that it might be a good idea to talk to someone about your feelings and help you sort through them. Best of luck to you and try not to be too hard on yourself. Your son and your husband love you for who you are.
Get Momma's recipe while you're at it. Sounds great! nm

you OVERPAID your taxes by almost $4K? Sounds like YOU're the one who needs a better accountant.
x
Why? It sounds like you're assuming the generated reports contain...sm
incorrect or fabricated information. Such would not be the case in these situations.
Well your statement sounds equally closed-minded to the one you're arguing with
Where one person prefers to live and why is their own business and no reason to diss someone else's personal choice.
For Pete's sake, you're not terminating a pregnancy, you're just typing a report after the
It's already been done before you even hear about it, and NOTHING changes regardless of whether you or someone else types it. Sheesh.
It's not funny when you're on a board where language is one skill you're selling.
.
Hope you're gonna have a glass of wine while you're relaxing

in your spa goodies. Congrats!


Well, you're all complaining that accounts are current and work is low, so, gee, maybe they're
focusing on WORK, as in CLIENT and transcribing, as maybe half of you should be focusing on!!
If you're experienced, try for 9cpl or higher, and you're lucky to get that! nm
s
Skip it. No one cares. Either you're good on the test or you're not.
x
You're probably right. Plus we're losing our percentage of good people by .... (sm)
allowing every loser from every 3rd world country on the planet to just stroll on into our country, some legally, most illegally, and take advantage of the social services all us hard working little gerbils pay for by having money taken out of our pay every month. But I don't think we're all lazy. Just the ones on permanent welfare driving around town in brand-new Cadillac Escalades. Saw one just today on the Bayshore Fwy. Brand-new black Escalade with expensive spinner wheels, with 5 or 6 Mexicans in it. Well, who knows - maybe they stole it and it was on its way to a chop-shop. Smart-and-hungry people aren't always hard-working and honest.
You're not going to find a word expander for free. You're going to have to pay
g
You're forgetting all the stuff you can't buy when you're UNEMPLOYED!
Unemployed people have a hard time buying anything, including cheaply made offshore products. How many will have to end up depending on public assistance? That means more tax dollars being eaten up - besides the taxes NOT being collected from the overseas workers. In the long run, are you really enjoying a lower price?
If you're on the job, ask for samples to do it how they want it. If you're testing, separate o
s
You're not losing it, you're burned out on your main job.
I feel for you... I am having my own "version" ;-) of these kinds of struggles. Lots of recent changes at the admin level have made my job do a 180, going from a really great one to a really crappy one.

For me, it's a struggle to get through the day with a shred of motivation. I get distracted in the way you discuss as well.

I just try to make my environment as comfortable as possible and make the best of it while I decide what the best way is to deal with the burnout... I figure if I can't change my inner brain workings so that I still like this job, I need to find another one, or this feeling will possibly get worse!

I hope it works out for you. Wish I had some better advice for you, but this really does look like burnout and extreme job dissatisfaction to me. We all wear it differently. Try to be good to yourself while you figure out a solution.


Don't know what you're complaint you're making with this post. sm

You stated in your original post that you don't want to work weekends or odd shifts. What is your definition of an odd shift?  Second shift?  Third shift?  Sounds like you want to work M-F on days.  Sounds kind of rigid to me. 


Personally I like second shift, so everyone working days means more work for me! 


You're not under a rock, you're just like me... an adult with more to
s
It's not because you're beautiful, it's because you're an IDIOT!
Does that make it any clearer for you??
YOU'RE A SACK OF CRAP!! YOU'RE NOT

THE ADMINISTRATOR.  WHAT DO YOU THINK WE ARE IDIOTS??? 


 


                  


Honey you're not being a shrew, you're being a
I don't get it when husbands and wives *allow* the other to have money that THEY work for...just don't get it.  Go buy the flippin' keyboard and tell him to take a hike! (To put it sweetly!) 
Why is it the only expander you're permitted to use? How would any know what you're using?

xx


They think they're smart to accept it, but they're
m
If they're withholding taxes, you're not an IC.
As an IC, you should already be paying taxes. That said, the only benefit having them withhold FICA is that your Social Security/Medicare share will be less. Social Security is 15%; if you're an employee, you pay 7.5% and your employer pays 7.5%. As an IC, you pay 15%. Doing the math, 0.0925 would be your 0.10 minus 7.5%--the 0.0924 is just a tad less than you're making now.
We're out here (good MTs) but we're busy! sm
I don't recall ever taking an employment test where I wasn't offered a job. My MTSO does not even look at my work unless I happen to have a question or a blank, which happens maybe once in every 30 or so reports with an ESL. If you find a really good MT, how much training would be involved? Certainly you would save time in the long run once they're trained and you don't have to check all their work.
If you're one of the MTDesk clan then you're ok
wersdffa
You're right if you're single it's tough.

I am an IC as well, but I have a husband with benefits and makes a fair buck.  I am fortunate after 20 years to able to work from home.  I worked on site for 17 years with a "chocolate cake" the day I left.  Nothing more...  The loyalty in any profession is gone, gone, and gone again. 


Most companies want new employees/ICs that will take low pay and that won't cost much in the way of paying vacation time.


I do take every Friday off and try only to get on to check e-mail, etc. 


However, I wouldn't trade being here for my kids at this point.


There are headaches no matter what profession you are in.  It seems if it isn't one thing it's another. 


Raises?  Out of the question in this profession since most are afraid they will lose the account including myself.  I also underbid my last account because I wanted the account so bad.  I should be charging more. 


It is a neverending cycle really.


But, I still enjoy the work, so I guess that's the difference.  It does take will power to sit and type.  Some people need that boss hanging around to keep the production up and the incentive of a nice paycheck is just not good enough.


Good luck with your new job!  Sounds great! 


If you're new, good - if you're not a newbie, not so hot
Would need to know how long you have been an MT. For a newbie, this is a pretty good rate of speed.

However, if you have anything over a couple years of experience, then this is not too hot.

Also, what are the dictators like? Is it a "United Nations" account??

If you ARE capable of 200 lph or more and you can't seem to get it, then the problem has got to be with the platform you are using. In my experience, the platform into which you transcribe can make or break your paycheck - so if the platform stinks, then I hate to tell you, but there is no way you will be able to improve your line rate. I have quit jobs because of awful platforms more than once.
You realize by doing that they're making more money & you're making less? You should reconsid

It's just what you're comfortable with and what you're used to.
I give a minimum of $100 for acquaintances and raise the bar from there to good friends, relatives, immediate family getting the largest gift. 
that's because they're the big guys and you're only the
x
No, you're not missing anything, but you're really not seeing
anything either. InterFix designs and sets up software specifically to facilitate an easy conversion to overseas transcription.
You're both right and you're both wrong.
There are too many variables to give an accurate--or even estimated--count. Using a standard 1-inch margin, you may have short lines and lots of paragraphs and get a lower count. If no paragraphs and it's a full page of text from margin to margin, you get your higher count. You can't possibly use an average count because of variables, which is why no one can commit to a pat answer.
It says that's why you're QA and we're MT, simple enough?

Sounds like you are SM
working for one of the few remaining good companies.  Wouldn't it be wonderful if they all at least made an effort to even out the work?  When you factor in VR and the number of newbees that some companies hire, who just don't have the experience to do the difficult dictators, that makes a sorry life for those who do have the experience and can do it.  Which is why I say if "anyone" isn't happy with what they are doing, then they should look for a company that recognizes their MTs as human beings.  I think part of the problem is that the bigger companies are run by "suits" who don't have a clue about actual medical transcription, all they see is the bottom line and any way to make that bottom liine bigger is fine and dandy with them.  I even heard one of those "suits" say once that it didn't matter if all their MTs quit, they were just typists and the manager could just go out and hire some more.
Sounds like you have too much going on. Take

things in little bits.  (Un)pack/clean for 15 minutes and then work for a bit.   Set a realistic goal to work - say an hour that you can make yourself work, then get up and (un)pack/clean, do laundry, etc. and then come back and work.  If you can afford to work a few less hours do it.  It will give you time to complete the move and give you a break from work.


We are remodeling/redecorating and our house is total chaos.  Some days I can jump right in and get something accomplished and other times I put on blinders and just ignore it all.  Some days I dig right into work and knock out my lines, other days I'm on-line more than working.


Take a break, get refocused, and then try out different routines.  I think we all go through burnout at least once a year and sometimes it takes a bit to get refocused. 


 


Sounds about right
x
Thanks, sounds like just what I need.

It isn't that I can't afford either, just concerned that I don't want a 2 year process, because I need to start living now.


I don't need to know particulars, but just wondered how far back your trauma went?  Mine is pretty much a lifetime of traumatic events, but I think most of my issues date back to when I was 5. 


sounds like
Pfannenstiel scar
now this sounds better..
nm
Sounds like...
We need to take what THEY say with a huge chunk of something, and it sure ain't salt! Talk about "The Stepford Transcriptionists." Sheesh. Thanx for ur input - it was driving me nuts!
sounds like there
may have been a problem with their server.  Try it one more time.  If you get the same error page, click the 'refresh' key at the top of your screen to see if this brings the page up.  If it doesn't, you should call someone.
Sounds like MDI
Who do you work for - -if you don't mind saying.