Well I at least I am fortunate to have a job I guess
Posted By: Newbie on 2005-10-01
In Reply to: Wrong: $60K here with national. What she needs is experience. SM - MT
So many newbies can't find work and I have tried in house in my area, gues what they mostly outsource their work, I know Spheris does a few hospitals in the area, So I will try this IC for awhile but I am deffinatley going back to work, I cant live off of this yet and I am not doing this for (stay at home mother) I do not have children... Yet...
Just wanted to give this an honest effort
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I have been very, very fortunate....
as mine only flares up a couple of times a year, so far, but you change see the changes in my fingers, etc. I'm very stubborn about everything in my life, like Frank Sinatra.....I did it my way.....don't take meds, don't follow any particular diet, etc. I do live in Florida which of course helps with the Raynaud's which was a problem when I was in Virginia a few years ago. Medications do not like me at all, they always cause some kind of problem, so when the pain is really bad I'll just take good ole Bayer aspirin that seems to help a lot. I'm about 60 years old now and one day will probably have to do more but for now, just aspirin and ignore it. Stupid maybe? Who knows. Look at all the bad things they are finding out about certain meds now. I'd rather just trust in the Lord for now; will do meds when absolutely necessary. As for typing, it takes an hour or two before my fingers really fly anymore but they do still have wings!!!
Do as I say and not as I do....make sure your friend has a GOOD rheumatologist...they can do wonders for those who find themselves really incapacitated!!!! If you are in Florida, go to Dr. Norman B. Gaylis in Aventura, Florida. He really helped me with my first flareup before I moved!!
consider yourself fortunate
/
I am very fortunate!
All my docs thank me at the end and sometimes will even after a particularly long report will say "Say, I am ready for a cool one--how about it?" After reading all these comments on board, I feel very lucky.
Fortunate IC.
I know very well the difficulty of taking vacation and while I do not take a vacation every year, I have taken time off for a cruise for my 20th anniversary and for three major surgeries.
I have taken my laptop with me on trips and done what I can while away but it's not the same quantity as when I'm home. I tell all my offices several weeks in advance the dates that I will be gone and that I will do what I can while I'm out but they will have to wait until I return for my undivided attention. I have not had any problems with this arrangement. I did not take the lapto on the cruise and everything was waiting when I returned. Yeah, it's kinda of tough getting caught up but I consider it even tougher not getting away at all.
When I had the surgeries, I made arrangements to have other friends take some of my work while I was recuperating; all of the offices have been very compassionate and understanding so I've been very fortunate in this regard.
It's not easy to take a vacation but I have found that if I explain what is going on and give them plenty of notice, they are very understanding. Everyone in the office gets a vacation, including the docs, so they understand when I'm due for the same.
Sorry, that should have been "I am fortunate to have"
Some of us were fortunate
to get started in this field when it was possible to be hired and trained on the job. Some of us started right out of high school in the transcription department of a hospital where OJT was offered.
After retiring from another career, I took an aptitude test given by MRC, and did well enough that they basically let me train myself in medical transcription. I spent the next several years with my nose in books, looking up every other word and for the first year listened to every report twice just to make sure my work was okay. It took a long time to train my ear for ESL dictators. It was slow going and not very profitable at first, but eventually I began to make fairly good money at it. I've worked for MTSOs ever since, and currently make $20-$25 an hour - depending. But now these companies are really putting the screws to us.
Many employers now demand a ''certificate'' from a ''school'' for serious consideration. Some years ago, with over 10 years of experience with MTSOs, I interviewed with a local medical practice (the type with a staff of physicians and a stuffy professional practice manager). He did not really understand how I could be doing this without any ''formal training.'' I offered to demonstrate my ability, but once he realized I had no ''degree'' I was not allowed to test for a position. I have sent my resume to other local practices over the years, but never got an interview. So it was much easier to keep working for MTSOs, who at least would hire me based on experience and testing.
Anyone who has been in this profession very long realizes that it takes years of experience to become any good at it. However, I don't think a newbie has any way to get a foot in the door without some silly piece of paper from some funky school nowadays. Am I missing a way that the neophyte can get hired, work at MT and ''hone the craft'' without attending some rip-off school?
Again, here, I've been fortunate...
5' 5" and weight fluctuates between 105 and 115 pounds....so I don't have a problem with weight. Why in the world doesn't she try a different rheumatologist? Are you all in a small town? Believe me, it would be worth the drive to go 2 to 4 hours to see someone who can help her. The pain is no fun at all; it is deep within the bones; you can't touch it to make it better; all you can do is wait and know that eventually it will improve. It sounds like she has a really advanced case. Maybe you can help her find another rheumatologist, no matter how far away; I have seen many patients improve to the point where they CAN enjoy life again....she just needs a good doc!!! I'll be thinking about her. Tell her she will not get better until she does something to improve the situation and the first step is finding a good rheumatologist. She probably needs some help here as right now she probably doesn't care too much anymore, especially if she is drinking too much....I know just went through this with a neighbor. She was in the deepest, darkest pit of depression, didn't want to live, drank constantly, lost down to 60 pounds and was totally jaundiced. I called EMS and put her in the hospital for a month. She was angry but only for about two days. Now she is a very happy person and looking forward to life, although with some liver damage. Guess sometimes we just have to take them by the hand and lead them to where they need to go.
make that -- If I ever am fortunate
it is very late and I am very tired. Darn it -- where is my spell checker. LOL
We are fortunate to have benefits.
The problem is that we have a person who can transcribe their required line count in 6 hours or sometimes under that. When there is extra work to be done, she will get on and get her line count in about 6 hours, then get off for about an hour, then get back on and do extra to finish her shift. When there is not extra to be done, she gets on and off so that she covers her shift. This Transcriptionist always produces more than the others when there is extra to be done. We have other transcriptionists who cannot transcribe as fast, but they make appointments in the middle of their shift and take off and come back on and transcribe their remaining lines. The ones who do not transcribe as fast complain about the one who gets off and on, but in reality, they are doing the same thing in the name of appointments or errands, just not getting as many lines. All employees have a base hourly pay. The required line count is 1000 lines per day. The lines are calculated at 125 lines equaling one hour pay. All transcriptionists work in the same pools so the work is distributed evenly. If a transcriptionist transcribes 5375 lines in a week, they are paid 40 hours at base pay and then paid time and a half for 3 hours, even if they have not actually "worked" 43 hours. The lines are registered in minutes, with one minute of dictation equaling ten lines. We would like to go with a straight line count, not minutes, with an incentive program, but our system counts headers and footers and blank lines. Not sure what the solution should be.
I was fortunate enough to have an account
where my Expander stats were running 65% consistently. That meant I was only typing about 35% of each report. Expanders are definitely worth the money. I use ShortHand and love it.
I had one doctor I could do 440 lines per hour on. Unfortunately, those are the accounts going to voice recognition or offshore, so I'm unemployed yet again.
I hope your 70 MTs know how fortunate they are (sm)
Your MTs are very lucky. A lot of us would give anything to have a decent-paying job with someone who cares.
You are fortunate to call shots. Most MTs can't
MQ doesn't give a care about cell phones, noise in the background or whatever would keep you from doing the report. Just do it and don't send it to QA but if QA picks it up randomly to "grade" you, you take a cut because your report may not stand up to QA standards. It's win-win for the companies and lose-lose for MTs.
I was fortunate with community college
I took courses through my local community college's continuing education program. The instructors were people who worked in the medical field during the day and taught at night. By doing exceptionally well in the classes and being a model student, I was recommended by a couple of the instructors and got a start at the office where one instructor worked before I even finished my transcription class.
Once I got my foot in that first door, I've been working steadily and successfully ever since. I had only a couple of classes under my belt!
The approved schools are probably the best chance for work after graduation, but opportunities can arise wherever you train.
Also fortunate enough to have a separate room. And
s
Fortunate enough to have a DH who has a very good income, plus...
the fact that we have no debt but our house. There are those people who just have to have everything right now, no matter what the cost. We have 1 fairly newer SUV, paid for, and DH drives a paid for, older commuter Subaru that has over 200,000 miles that he drives 66 miles a day round trip to work. We don't have kids at home anymore, don't pay for college, still manage to save a bit. I'm always amazed at the couples with kids who have an SUV or mom van, a big truck for dad, boat, RV, flat screen TV, etc, and all the payments to go with them and then complain that they are broke. If people lived below their wage there would be no problem. Our next big crisis in the US is going to be credit cards...imagine buying $100 worth of groceries and paying 19% interest forever!
I envy you! But I am very happy at your success! Wish more of us could be as fortunate! :) nm
nm
How fortunate that someone took the time to answer your question.
I was merely pointing out that it was possible that you don't need to spend the time or money to do all of that since I apparently wrongly assumed that you knew what you were doing. So much for the assumption that you were totally aware of all that the process involved. You're lucky that after reading your response to the original post that someone even wanted to bother answering your question.
You're extremely fortunate to get those lines. Too many of us deal
s
You're incredibly fortunate. Many of us aren't even getting offered 8.5 cpl for years of exper
m
If it's different for each report, my guess (only a guess)
would be no. I think the macro would work if it was the same each time, but not sure if it will if the documents are different each time.
then I guess it is just a
matter of process by elimination....Thanx for the info....
GUESS WHAT
The post right above mine ISNT ME!!!!! But she did capitalize in her post. OHHHHH. Could there be 2 of US????
Are you 19:13:49? Guess not! nm
LOL
guess not! nm
Well, I guess...
I simply can't afford to go! That and gas would ruin my budget...
Guess not.
/
Well, I guess you don't want more help. :) nm
x
I guess you are SM
just plain stupid and can't read. I have a job and make good money.
Plus that, I can afford to not work for peanuts and hold out for the better paying position because I have a lot more skills than just MT. First of all, I can read and understand the English language which you obviously cannot. AMF
Guess
AND ONLY YOU WOULD KNOW!
GUESS WHAT
A BIG FAT LOSER AS WELL!
My guess
My guess is that since you are the one who noticed, you are probably the one writing the nastygram posts - now you have someone to blame it on because of someone else's misfortune - I have power and I live in Florida, too bad the people who do not have power cannot respond to your rude remarks about the misfortunate.
I guess I am really different
I love OB-GYN most of all. Of course, I have had the same three docs for over 10 years and I have had the liberty of asking them to turn their recorders all the way up and they have obliged. They speak very loudly and clearly. Even after all these years, for some reason, I am not bored with the work. My female docs dictate normally two pages on every patient (my male doc dictates about half a page) so I get a lot of dictation and a lot of canned paragraphs to boot.
When I worked for a large national, I liked the Infectious Disease docs the best but I hated having over 100 dictators in several specialties.
I now work for a small MTSO (plus have my own OB account) and I have nine GI docs and I really enjoy it thus far.
to each their own I guess
I thought the bomb scene was totally realistic, how in the heck did they film that, unbelievable.
guess what I was asking was
how do others break into this? Is it usually done by word of mouth, answering ads, or your own marketing. But, Thx, I will take a look back a few days
Ah, yes, I guess there are...
those kinds of adapters. LOL, ''gender changer'' (rather a misnomer for the female-to-female and male-to-male ones, though, huh?).
http://www.vpi.us/usb-gender.html
And Turtle Beach Audio Advantage link:
http://www.turtlebeach.com/site/products/audioadvantage
Thanks, WeekendMT! Sticking with my homemade equalizer dealio for now, but this is good to know about (never heard of such a thing before).
would guess it is 14-17 cpl now...nm
x
I guess I'm not the only one....(nm)
x
Well, I guess somebody has to do it. (sm)
But it won't be me!
Guess you are right
not to feed the trolls. It is hard though, sometimes, when you see them ganging up on some poor innocent unsuspecting poster who just wanted to post what she was making for dinner that day and all of a sudden she is a target for rude abuse. It is not fair, and sometimes it is not easy to keep quiet. I am done for the day though, as they are dragging me down too. Can't win when they think they are right to be able to hurt someone else. Just glad I am not the only one that feels that way though. Thanks for your input. Keep reminding us not to feed the trolls...it may help. lol
guess we know what Mom would say
You made the income, you spent the income, you owe the taxes. Hopefully you are putting money aside to pay this year's taxes. I feel for you in a way but you gotta be disciplined and put money aside to pay your taxes. You can work out a payment plan with the state but why should they write yours off and not mine.
I guess I can see that for
in-house positions or people working with money. But I wonder why they would want that kind of information for someone strictly doing transcription at home. I've had credit card debt and even some collections in the past but not because of irresponsbility but because of illness, job loss, etc. I just think it'd be a shame for somebody with bills to not get a job they need and want so they can pay off those bills, just because they have those bills, KWIM? Thanks for responding!
Okay, I guess that's a little different.
If both of you are on a talking basis already, kind of different. I am just imaging one of my husband's exes, ha!
A ductogram, huh? I hope I never have to have one of those since you say they are so painful. I don't like getting anything done anymore though after the doctor messed me up so bad during my liver biopsy. If I see instruments of any kind, I automatically cringe. I had an IUD put in recently and thought I was going to have a panic attack because the nurse kept messing with those things beforehand.
Hope everything turned out alright for you! :)
To each their own, I guess :)
I do think it is quite ridiculous that God has been taken out of the Pledge of Allegiance, etc. I just guess I look for more practical solutions.
I think everyone should have a right to their religious beliefs, including Christians. To push everything out that has anything to do with God is going to the other extreme. Everything has to be so politically correct now, like the whole Happy Holidays thing.
I'm not into organized religion, but someone saying Merry Christmas or my kids hearing God in school is not offensive to me. God can mean many different things to different people. They both do things organized by churches sometimes. A parent should let their kid make their own decision, in my opinion.
However, we still need an overhaul of our mental health care system and school system for that matter. Those are practical solutions that will work now.
I guess what comes around goes around...
I hope they get sued and lose their $**!
I used work in-house for a local hospital for several years until it became apparent that the MTs were being weeded out. The Director of Medical Records, who has never transcribed a day in her life, had gone to a seminar promoting EMR as well as outsourcing companies to take over the hospital's transcription -- our jobs. She came back from the seminar all fired up with a plan to purchase the $500,000 software and outsource the work that she could, and get rid of her in-house and home MTs to avoid the extra overhead and expense that full-time employees incur. She was extremely evasive with us and sneaky about this until it became apparent to the others what she was up to. I, on the other hand, knew exactly what she was doing and got out before I gave her the satisfaction of getting rid of me. Last I heard, their good ole EMR was not doing what they wanted it to do because they failed to get the extra components to make it work sufficiently, which would have been another $500,000 according to her. Instead, she had the IT department working overtime to "create" software that would work with what she had already purchased and it just wasn't working correctly. HA!!! We MTs started dropping and quitting like flies. Now, she's in a mess because no one wants to work for her after pulling her stunt. No one trusts her.
Needless to say, it was very upsetting working with her, knowing that she was fully aware that I would be unemployed in a short time, while she remained very comfortable in her very nice, secure job that her doctor husband got for her in a deal to come to the area to work. It's all about politics here where I am located -- it's not what you know but who you know -- or better yet, WHO YOU DO (if you get my meaning).
It's all just ridiculous. The Medical Records Department was always in a complete mess. She was incompetent and it amazed me that she was allowed to keep her job.
I guess I was bitter, sure. I do hope to live to see the day that this Director of Medical Records gets what's coming to her because she is totally incompetent and has that area of the hospital in such a mess that I, myself, would be terrified if I had to be admitted to there.
Only if you guess at it, which is what too many MTs do.
x
Well, if I had to guess
I'd say this poster is the same person who sent me hate mail 20 minutes before posting this. I guess you told me! LOL!
Wow, I am sorry for you. It must be an absolutely miserable life, being such a mean and nasty troll. I'm just thankful that I'm not you.
I guess I should be expecting more hate mail now. I'll be sure to read that right away! 
Thanks I guess, but (sm)
I was a nurse before becoming a MT, so I may have a little hands-on knowledge behind my belt, too. I still don't know everything in the BOS by a long shot. Maybe I just wanted to blow some money on a test. 
Ok, well, i guess
No. I guess I could look into it,
but they have been opposed to this in the past and have told me they don't want anyone they don't know doing my work. I will check, though. Thanks!
I'm with you. I guess I can see why
people would say that, but it's not like you're buckled down working the whole entire time you're there. I could work when I wasn't doing other things. Oh man, you have a condo in Hawaii?? Must be nice! I would love that. We went to Jamaica in 2001 and I can just imagine your view while working! Oh, the life! Thanks for the info. So, IF I ever get to do this, I would just need to get a laptop and load the software and that's all, right? But if I work for a company, I probably would have to download the jobs before I left, right? Or can you do it from anywhere that has Internet?
guess you could be right
When you have 3 minds going, you can come up with all sorts of things. Love the work but hate the place where I do it. I certainly would be happier and if their MTs are happy.............I guess we are "thinking" too much into it. Reading other posts, it sure makes you wonder.
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