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Serving Over 20,000 US Medical Transcriptionists

Through your years of experience you care more about quality I bet than quantity

Posted By: momMT on 2008-04-10
In Reply to: wow - frustrated

This happened to me after midcareer that is after about 15 years. I started caring about the patient more than my paycheck. This might have cost me a lot of dough, and I can't afford fancy extras much anymore. But, I can sleep at night knowing I put the right gender of the patient with the difficult ESL dictating. I do not know you, but I just bet that your 1200 is a really good 1200.


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My experience with quality/quantity and an Indian owned company.
I worked for an offshore owned company where it was all about quantity.  Company even kept a HORRIBLE MT just because she cranked out the lines.  Didn't matter her quality was crap and was considered a joke by middle managment.  India did most typing but with US edit.  Typists changed regularly so it wasn't like they learned to do better.  Quality would improve slightly and then would notice, after couple of months, that quality was crap again so we knew we were dealing with a new batch of typists. Even so, the push was always on to get the jobs off US edit and send Indian work straight to client.  Of course, the clients never knew they were not getting US editing anymore, as they got no price reduction when they no longer had that level of work being done on their jobs.  The problem is the facilities accept the crap work so why should the companies change.  It took a while but I finally found a US owned company where quality matters.  Now one of the first questions I would ask a prospective employer is if they are US owned.
quantity vs quality
Hey y'all, it's a buyers market out there. There a tremedous demand for transcriptionists. Just move on. Things are going to continue to change quickly in transcription over the next few years. Everybody hates change, but try to embrace it for a while, it'll put you in the catbird seat.
Some people put out quantity, some put out quality and
there are very few who can do both.  If you produce a quality product you shouldn't be penalized for not putting out more lines.   It is sort of like the bonuses, in order to get more $$ you have to work more - like dangling a carrot.   99% of the other companies don't pay this way and manage to make a living.  
Quantity versus quality
I did an internship recently at a local hospital in Michigan.  I kept hearing the  supervisor say to the transcriptionists to type faster, type faster.  I could not believe the mistakes in the reports.  When I brought this up to the manager, she would look at the mistakes, and say go on to the next report.  The mistakes were never even fixed.  The worst part was that the manager of the transcription department was the QA, and she wasn't even a medical transcriptionist!!!
Quantity versus quality

If the company wants shoddy work, let them keep outsourcing to foreign countries.  If they get sued, they deserve it.  The office where I work will shortly be sending our work to India and doing away with us.  I saw a few reports from India, and they can't even spell our doctors' names correctly.  Their grammar is awful, not to mention the terminology.   Quality no longer counts, and I no longer want to work for companies that don't care about quality  They can take transcription and India and shove it!


 


 


Your not alone...Quantity not quality is the focus today!
x
And I have 25 years of acute care experience
x
Hon, I have 16 years acute care experience sm
in all work types/specialties and only getting 9 cpl as an employee with a service plus incentives. 
I have 17 years acute care experience and don't make 1200 lines in 6 hours. sm
I work for a company that is VERY picky about their work, 100% QA everything.  I have been with them over a year, and have to go back and listen to my work a second time while proofing.  I only make 160-170 lines an hour, but the pay is good for that, and I have learned so much in the year that I can go to work anywhere without problems.  For me it is worth the extra time to put in the few extra hours a week to have really top QA.  There is room for all types in this business, the really fast ones, and the slower ones who work differently, you just have to find your place.  Ideally, we should all type 200 lines an hour and have 99%+ QA, but I don't thank too many of us make it.  Good luck to you.
Do you need to have 2 years full time experience or just 2 years' experience? nm
..
Too bad companies don't pay by QUALITY instead of experience. nm
x
just like quality care for the patient is going out the window-nm
nm
It does exist; however, not everyone makes the same. I am paid for my experience and quality. nm
x
Hospitals do not care about quality, just productivity, and oust their old MTs for others to pay the
this happened to me. I was making 23/hr inhouse plus a shift differential. That was taken from me when they kept nailing me on productivity. I was right there at the line rate, but they wanted more for their buck. My QAs were 99.8, but productivity was average 132/hour over a 6 month period, they wanted 135. Some weeks I was higher, some lower, never the same work reports, etc. Always different doctors and formatting issues. I finally quit, just walked out. Now, they cannot replace 3rd shift. So hospitals inhouse are not all the answer. I have been making more on my own as an IC for several companies. Less aggravation, and when I take the time to research something, not getting "nonproductivity" as being a problem. HEY hospitals, we are only as good as you allow us to be. If your in this profession, your a perfectionist. I hate leaving blanks. Have seen girls turn in reports with 6 or more at this facility and they are praised for their high productivity. WAKE UP HOSPITALS!! This is not how us old MTs were trained.
actually, they are boasting better quality care with point-of-service mobile devices...
as they (service providers) will have immediate access to all information on a patient throught a "MedChip" rather than have to wait for, you know, "people" (heaven forbid) to get old records, records which have too much information, etc. The system will eventually be world-wide as well, which that will take years and years, I am sure.

This is also to be used not only by doctors, but nurses, physical therapists, anyone who performs a service on a patient. They will have hand-held devices that do everything, document, code, bill.

I realize that will take years, but you can already see the 'growing pains.' Look at all the complaints about MQ. They are losing work because of the speech recognition. All the good, easy, clear dictation is being switched over. This alone seems to be 'weeding' out quite a few MTs.

There are supposedly over 400,000 MTs in the US.

I understand there is no going back, and technology is moving forward and eliminating jobs just as automation did; but excuse me for having some passion. I love this job.
Do have experience in acute care? (sm)
If so, you won't have a problem.  It will take just a little getting used to, but overall it is quite easy if you already have acute care experience.  I live in Texas, and the hourly pay is around $11-$14/hour.  Currently I make 11 cpl on radiology as well as acute care as a hospital employee.  Hope this info helps you out on your decision.   
How do I get acute care experience?
I've been working as an MT for over two years now for a local MTSO.  The MTSO I work for has several PT accounts, some family practice accounts, and a few others.  I've grown bored and want to get into hospital accounts (I want the action LOL).  Does anyone know of any companies that hire experienced MTs to learn acute care?
EASY. If you have the experience in acute care,
No offense is intended to any radiology MT.
Acute care position with clinic experience???
Can anyone help or advise me? I have 3 years of clinic experience, but I would like to break in to acute care. It seems like I run into the same brick wall that I ran into with no experience.  Does anyone have any leads or advice as to acquiring acute care employment with clinic experience only? What do I need to do? Thanks.
Anyone w/ experience w/ Resurgens or Pinnacle Orthopedics for spine care in the
Has anyone ever used either or know anyone who has?   Would appreciate any comments.  I need to see someone for my scoliosis which I know is progressing, and the pain is giving me fits right now.  Thanks. 
How many years experience as MT? nm
x
Yes, I could see 9 CPL with 18 years experience!
I am just a newbie doing clinic reports. I get 7 CPL and am grateful that MQ was willing to hire me right out of school. I sure hope all the bad rumors do not materialize. I am hoping to get in more experience before the rug is ripped out from under me. I am glad that you posted. There were rumors about the 'new' minimum lines being 8,000 PPP and I am only up to 6,000. So I might be Okay in that area. Did they state anything about any certain percentage of reports going to QA. That is another rumor going around, that only 15% of reports can go to QA, which does not make sense as I know they don't want us GUESSING what the doctor said!
With 2 years experience!
It is a good thing to make that much with so little experience. HOw did you start editing with only 2 years experience? How can you possibly know enough of the language of medicine to edit? I call someone with 2-4 years experience a newbie not an experienced editor.
Is this right? MUST HAVE: 2 years' experience
bn
15 years of experience and you don't know
x
Well, she's now said she has 16 years MT experience
and explain to me how she has been in this field for 16 years and does not know medical terminology?  An impossibility.  Maybe she did not understand their format, how to access or send back work, any number of other issues - but if you have that many years experience - you definitely know what you are doing MT-wise.  And I am the poster from below who was let go after all the changes by the MTSO - and her true belief that her way was the RIGHT way and the only way and how could I not see that (???).... there are so very, very rude people out there - lucky for you perhaps you have not met one yet - your time may still come - and perhaps you will take a different attitude.  I agree that there are really some dingy MTs out there - I do QA - I see it daily - the terms are hysterical they come up with - well they are funny when they are not serious - but you don't last 16 years and not know your stuff. 
Thanks. You can do it with 14 years' experience! (nm)
x
7 years experience here, doing
multispecialty clinic work for local lady who has her own accounts and get .10 per gross line, also work for a medium sized national and get 7.5 per 65-char line. Same as the other poster, would rather have enough of the .10 per line, but it is not there.
With 22 years of experience. :)
nm
10 years experience s/m

I've been with MQ for going on 10 years now and only make 7.75 cpl.  I am a "tier 2" - doing acute care basic 4, clinics, specialty clinics and even some cardiac procedures and OP notes.  I recently interviewed with 3 companies and was offered anywhere from 8.5 to 9.5 cpl.  With your experience, I would certainly expect to be making 9 cpl, unless you can pick up some private accounts on your own. 


Another thing to consider is whether or not you'll be needing benefits.  My experience has been that IC pay is a little better because there are no benefits.  The line rates I listed above do not include any incentives which may be offered.  That's also something you should take into consideration when looking.  Those rates are based on a 65-character line - spaces and demographics included. 


I have 15 years experience, mostly
heme/onc, endocrine, ortho, etc. I have been exposed to op notes for the past 8 weeks and absolutely despise them - cannot make my line counts after previously being well above what is needed. If you can afford to take the cut in pay to learn them, go for it, but I sure cannot.
Someone with 30 years experience does not need CMT after their name.

Okay, 25 years experience,
and STILL having this problem.  Now I don't feel so bad. I really feel for you! I don't know about the QA keeping busy, as they are always complaining how swamped they are. They just get mad when you send too many blanks and they are supposed to fix it, when the real person to be upset with s/b the dictator! Do they talk to THEM, no! Then stop complaining already!
How many years experience do you have? If over 10,
I mean, if you have 10, 20, 30 years experience, how do you like receiving the same pay as a newbie just out of school or with only 6 months to 2 years experience? Don't you think you've paid your dues and earned your stripes and deserve better pay than what the noobs get?
I have 3 years experience.
I agree that someone with many years experience should get somewhat higher pay. But more experience doesn't always equal a better MT. There are some people in this field who have been around a long time and probably shouldn't be in it. And like it or not, if you want to make decent money, you have to be fast. Accurate and knowlegeable also, but if you're not fast and using every tool at your disposal, you'll never make good money.
years experience sm
If you go at it looking for a job, and put in 10 years or so, it'll come back as no jobs fitting that category - in other words, no one is willing to pay for people WITH experience!!
I have almost 30 years experience and
am making 9 to 11 cpl on a tiered system at my FT job and 10 cpl at my IC job.
or it could be MTs with 5 or more years experience...
I have been an MT for 10 years and I am only 31 :)
Are you saying you have 2+ years experience and only make .04 cpl? -- if so you really need to look
for something a little better.  That is a total slave wage.......I make .085 now with 3+ years, and I started at .06 with 1 job, and .075 at another, and .085 at another (until they changed their pay tier then down to .07 which sucked).  My goal is .10 eventually......believe me you can do better, start looking if you are not already.
Oh, my. 30 years doing acute care. sm
I started VERY young!!
27 years, all in acute care. NM
x
30 years, doing it all (acute care now)
x
Actually, no, MT with 9 years experience. So, I can only assume

not organized, or just dawdling.  Who knows, but it is frustrating.


I did a couple years ago and it was of no help...just my experience..nm
.
I have 20 years' experience. I once took a test for
a company that was I currently working for because I had heard so many people were flunking it and I flunked it too.  I am a very good MT, and my company called the extraordinary even, but I still flunked the test.   I also tested for another company and made a 79 I think. 
Been doing acute care for 7 years now,
and I was taught to do all of what you QA said you should be doing. The only exception is the spelling out of the abbreviation (GERD). Then I think that depends on how your hospital wants it done - verbatim; spelled out; first time said spell out, then abbreviate after that, if the doctor abbreviates. But I think all of the other times you listed are according to AAMT guidelines.
Who hires with 2 years' experience?
I want to get back into MT work, but everything seems to be acute care/hospital dictation. I have some experience in that area but not 2-3 years' worth. Anyone have ideas?
30+ years, and similar experience to yours. (sm)
I just quit a clinic I'd been at for over 25 years. Was treated like dirt, and when other employees got a COL raise and I did not, I was told I had "worked there too long." Nice, huh?
Have over 25 years worth of experience and do you think
I made more because of all the years? Better think again. My salary now for straight typing is 8 cents a line. Most of the companies are not willing to pay us like we made in the past. I am not upset about this for myself but I know others are not as fortunate in that they have to raise families on less and less.
Can I help? Ortho/WC MT experience x14 years.
You need help on something???
20 years' experience in Radiology
Please email me privately and I'll be glad to give my 2 cents.