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Will you share what you think poverty wages means, i.e. pay scale? nm

Posted By: J on 2006-06-05
In Reply to: I hear ya... - Experienced MT

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Congrats, girl, and get your share of any money that you share before he wipes you out. nm
s
poverty
neither!
Perpetual poverty.
.
Regarding poverty in America... A little survey

Do you believe that:


A:  Poverty is mostly the result of poor choices in life, either by yourself or by your parents and grandparents before you, thereby setting up the vicious cycle.  Early parenthood, out-of-wedlock births, no father in the home, recycled boyfriends in and out of a home, lack of early childhood stimulation with books/toys, lack of routine and academic expectations, etc. 


OR


B:  Poverty is societal.  Poor people have no choices in America and no real opportunity or ability to raise themselves out of poverty.  The way to end poverty is to increase social programs until people are not living in poverty anymore.  Poverty is societies fault and the government's fault and therefore theirs to fix.


 


e:poverty..opinion from the inside out

I am one of 6 born to parents who (yes, the same for all 6) who were both born in the same low income area of town, little education past 6th grade, yet what attracted my parents to each other in the beginning was there committment to do better for themselves and get out.  Yes, they started having us kids at a young age (hormones, lack of sex education, etc), but they raised us all with love, in the church and the strong faith that with hard work, we all could do better.  It was'nt easy, going to school in hand me downs, not having the nicest things, but with love and committment,  all of us kids got our education and all graduated from college, some 2yrs, some 4.  My parents were so proud of us but as we got older and dared to speak up to daddy (very firm man), we kinda said...you demand the knowledge for us, then we demand the same for you.  My parents did eventually get their GED's and you would have thought they graduated from Harvard.(I swear daddy did it as a challenge more to not let us kids down).just the same in our book that they even took the challenge. It has opened up such a world for them both, if we can't find mom, she's usually at the library lol.


As I got older I realized that yes, we did get help with food stamps when bills were high but both my parents worked long hours to make ends meet and we were loved and cared for, sometimes rebelling against the strictness, but looking back, I see why. 


On the other hand, I can look at some of my aunts, uncles and cousins, the ones who kept believing my grandmother, who beat it into my dad and his siblings heads that they "won't mount to much, ya never gonna make it out here, so quit dreaming and just let the govrnment folk take care of you"!  I love granny dearly but that is the mentality that She was raised with.  The cycle broke with my Dad and one other Aunt, but ironically, that has caused an uneasy distance from the rest of the family, including granny who not once attended any of the graduations.  We're the "high falooting book smart kin" who are too good to come home...not, we just would like to have them at our homes sometimes and it hurts.  It hurts to see my extended family living in the lowest part of town, can't watch the news anymore because of all the shootings, drug busts, etc and we tend to hear from the cousins and their kids when they call from jail needing bail.


Thank God some of my cousins did come to live with us over the years and they are now educated, productive citizens, living a decent life who have broken that cycle of mentality & poverty.  It's a struggle when you are born into nothing, are told you never will have anything, look around you and see nothing but the projects, drugs and poverty and see the programs that are offered but your parent or parents are suspicious of, therefore keeping the chains on.  This coming from my cousins.


Ok, sorry, did not mean to ramble on and on, just wanting to answer from the inside that I've heard about growing up.


Easy to blame it on poverty

I grew up in poverty, much like Loretta Lynn in Coal Miners Daughter.  I mean poverty.....pair of shoes a year, you name it, yet I never murdered anyone, nobody in my family murdered anyone, we didn't rob the local gas station, we didn't murder tourists.  We also didn't hang around on the street corner selling drugs.  We worked, all of us, doing whatever it took to survive and not a one of us ever collected public assistance.  In fact I had never heard of public assistance until I was in my 20s and had moved out of state to Texas and saw somebody using food stamps and didn't know what they were!  I thought Texas had a special colored money different from the "green" I was used to seeing.


Education doesn't cost a dime. I don't care if you have to wear clothes with holes in them, it's your MIND that matters, not what you wear to school.   College is just about free for anybody who wants to go with special programs especially for single mothers, minorities, and those under certain income levels.  I loved learning from a very young age and with my own children, school comes first above and beyond all other activities.  They work for what they want, both inside the home and out. I have four, not one has ever been in trouble, not one drinks or smokes.  So saying poverty breeds violence is an excuse.  What people need are parents with responsibility, and having 5 or more children out of wedlock by different fathers is not responsible.  Not working is not being responsible. Not setting boundaries for your children is not responsible.   I know many all-white absolutely destitute areas in coal country and you can drive through there without getting shot, mugged, or having your car stolen.   I knew many nurses in the New Orleans area who grew up in the projects, went to college and decided they wouldn't raise their children like that.  That's responsibility. Not letting your pre teen and teen children run the streets at all hours, that's responsibility.  Working and showing your children you can succeed with schooling and working, that's responsibility.  Not showing up at school yelling prejudice because your child smacked a teacher and got expelled, that's responsibility.


I did a quick search for crime stats and found this:


http://www.cityrating.com/citycrime.asp?city=New+Orleans&state=LA


Also, my ex is in the national guard in Texas and was there when people were relocated to help keep order.  He saw people dragging in televisions, designer clothes and shoes, etc., all with the vouchers they were given to find housing.   Texas welcomed people with open arms and a small percentage did find housing and went back to work, but the larger majority wasted the money and then were extremely upset that there was no more.   These were people of all races.  One businessman offered his home to a white family of 7 and told them they didn't have to pay until they went to work.  Four months later they still weren't working and when he went in the house to do a repair they requested, the house had been ruined, totally.  Carpets burned and stained, holes in the walls, absolute filth.  The home was worth 256,000 when he provided it to them, and after the finally got them out it took him just under 100,000 to redo the destruction.  Once again, poverty is no excuse!   They should have taken the opportunity to look for work and been happy they were in a great neighborhood outside of Houston with good schools and good churches, full community support.  I have an illness that will kill me and I'm in pain daily, but I work and I'll keep working until I drop.  I couldn't anymore support my family on Disability than sprout wings and fly.   It all depends on mindset and determination and nobody told me when I was born that I should expect our government to just hand me everything and I can sit back and do nothing. 


India jobs and poverty
I agree with mag's post! Mag, you must live in Ohio like me. We are a very impoverished state right now, #1 in bankruptcy and #1 or close to it in foreclosures in the U.S. President Bush has DONE NOTHING for our state. . . many, many jobs have been lost. I quit doing transcription this year because like many other posters on this board, I'm not going to work for 8 cpl with over 35+ years' experience. I might as well work at Wendy's or McDonald's. At least you get the minimum wage and your food at reduced prices or free. . . . which is more than I can say for most transcription jobs. It was a struggle and a very hard decision for me to reach because I loved transcription but the money just isn't there any longer. For the few who say they make a decent living, they must type 20 hours a day to do so. The only reason these jobs are outsourced, whether to India, Pakistan or Mexico, is to SAVE MONEY! Bottom line! Money!

I just listed some items on E-Bay and made more in one week than I made in a month doing transcription. So why bother any longer?

I agree, ten years from now we will probably be a third world country.
Share, share, I've been looking for some time...sm
sending out resumes gallor, have great experience, but they sound like clones of each other in what they offer, yet what they want is it all!!!  I'm so discouraged, in the depression boat myself!  They want you to commit to FT, new equip, DSL, on and on!!!
Poverty in India versus America
Honey, why do you think they work for 4 cents a line on average.  If you have never been there, you do not even know what you are talking about. 
ABSOLUTELY. Poverty doesn't just happen. The programs
shouldn't just pay you to sit on your butt and do nothing. People need to be working for what they get. I wouldn't care if they shoveled public sidewalks in the winter here, just make them earn what they get instead of just giving a handout. After a while, they'd want a better job than what they could get for what they consider "free money" and they'd work to find a job. Pay for training if we must, but compel them to GET A JOB or do the work that the government needs done. Why pay a Dept. of Public Works person $15+ per hour to shovel sidewalks when we could give they welfare patron a shovel and make them earn it???
INDIA WILL CONTINUE LEADING US-BEEN OVERSEAS AND SEEN POVERTY!!!!!
So many of us do not know what it is like to live in poverty.  India is still divided between the rich and poor.  Consequently, that leaves the so many of the poor to work like dogs just to support themselves and their extended family members.  I am tired of everyone talking about the Indian MTs.  We need to be in their shoes also.  All and all, AMERICA IS THE BEST PLACE TO LIVE!!!!!  THE LAND OF OPPORTUNITY!!!!
Open your eyes. Poverty is very much alive in our own country.

it's spelled right. Exo means outside and you know what phrenic means. nm
:
MQ pay scale
Specifics have not been announced yet, however, my TC sent a memo stating SE part time employees are required to do 4,000 lines/week...Well, sure I would, if there was enough work!  My invoice just went in at midnight and because the work was low and no work over the last two week period of time, I only did approximately 7,400 lines.  So, if they want to make a rule 4,000 lines/week for part time and 6,000/week for full time, I hope they provide the work.
wow, the pay scale has gone down since
I was there three years ago.  How do they stay in business?  When I was there, the flat training rate reflected how much you would be getting in cpl, depending on how they think you did on the test.  Me having about 6 years experience under my belt at the time, scored the lowest according to them, and the starting pay was 7.5 cpl an hour and 12$ per hour during training.  Of course that is still mortifying, but what you're talking about is not even minimum wage, and this is a skilled profession!!
pay scale
I'd like to know which is the best way to charge for radiology, by the line or by the report. If by report, how much? TIA!!
pay scale for MTs
Why is it that we continue to allow the MTSOs to offer a pay scale of only 7 and 8 cents a line for the work we do? They want experienced, hard-working MTs and then want to pay us entry level? I don't think so. Until the MTs take a stand on this issue, the MTSO's are going to continue this. No wonder they keep saying there is a "shortage of good MTs"---it's because the experienced MTs won't work for what they are paying. We have to make a living just like everyone else. Who else do you know that works for 7 and 8 cents a line?! Come on, MTs; don't take those low-paying offers! YOU ARE WORTH MORE THAN THAT, AREN'T YOU?
Pay scale
I've looked into new jobs on the site and noted one company out of MO stating they would pay .06 cents/line. I have been a Transcriptionist for over 35+ years, retired, worked contingent, then thought I would seek another part-time job. The last job I had was .08 cents/line which wasn't terrible but not good either. Who would work for a measly .06 cents/line if you were experienced? What a disappointment. Guess I'll finally sell my foot pedal and earphones. Have already sold my two transcription machines. Sad, because I loved doing this but I could take in ironings or clean houses for more pay than that--besides which, it would be mindless
Here is how I scale it myself

General Transcription with no ESL $45-50 and audio hour add $5-10 for multispeaker or ESLs.


Medical is $60 minimum for clinic and no ESLs.  I add from there depending on what else they want and ESL content.


Also, if this is general transcription and they require that you put timestamps in anywhere, I charge $1.00 each for that because it is a pain. 


This is all if you are the one typing though too.  If you are planning to outsource any, you will have to go up at least $15/hour to cover your overhead or end up with unskilled labor and/or India for subcontractors.


QA scale
Forgive my ignorance, but what is a weighted QA scale? I really don't know.
Does anyone know what the pay scale is for MQ? At what line

anyone else with ideas on pay scale for
Can email me if you'd like. Sure would appreciate it!
Amphion pay scale

Can anybody tell me what pay scale is at Amphion? Just curious about them because they have clinic but not sure about how it would balance since it looks like they require computer rent and internet expense. What kind of clinic work do they have? Is it just letters and short notes or more meaty clinic stuff, like neurology consults or things like that? Oh, and do they require a schedule set in stone or do you have any flexibility in getting lines in? TIA


Hospital MTs: What is your pay scale?

Just wondering what your base pay is, and how your incentive program works.  If you would like to give your city or geographic area that would be nice, but not necessary.  I'm just hoping to get an idea.


Also, what benefits does your hospital offer?  I'm specifically wondering about 401K and whether any hospitals match the employee's 401K contribution.


RE: Hospital MTs: What is your pay scale?
I work for a hospital in Tennessee and my base rate is $23/hour. Full health plan with medical/dental, hospital pain retirement plan, also contributory 401K, sick/vacation days, etc.
There is a standard scale!
I know this is an old post, but I just ran across it.  There absolutely is a standard scale.  The AAMT website has it under an article titled Metrics for Measuring Quality in Medical Transcription (2005).  I wish I could give you the exact page, but I only have the .pdf of that article - but it was only downloaded last week, so it'll still be there. 
I am in need for a weighted QA scale sm
I need to give some feedback and I'd love a weighted QA scale to use. Would someone be kind enough to email me one? I can't find the one I had and I didn't lift it off this site when it has been mentioned.

Many thanks.
QA scale--see inside--sm
I would think each company woudl have its own criteria, but this is one from an account I helped draft.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF Quality Assurance SCORING CATEGORIES

Medical Word Omitted (CTRL1) Point Value – 1.0
Omitted medical words found in a trusted medical publication source (dictionary, specialty word book, drug index etc). In CS.com, there is not a distinction between critical/noncritical.

Medical Word Misspelled (CTRL2) Point Value – 0.75
Misspelled medical words found in a trusted medical publication source (dictionary, specialty word book, drug index etc). This includes failure to adhere to AAMT Book of Style Dangerous Abbreviations list, as well as other medically related errors addressed in this reference guide, that could potentially harm a patient. In CS.com, there is not a distinction between critical/noncritical. Measurements typed incorrectly. Typing wrong form of word.

Punctuation (CTRL3) Point Value – 0.25
Punctuation that is omitted or included in error that changes the meaning of a sentence, having the potential to cause harm to a patient.

Capitalization (CTRL4) Point Value – 0.25
Capitalization that is omitted or included in error that changes the meaning of a sentence, having the potential to cause harm to a patient.

Grammar (CTRL5) Point Value – 0.10
Any grammatical errors.

English Word Misspelled (CTRL6) Point Value – 0.50
Misspelled general words.

Omitted Word Minor(CTRL7) Point Value – 0.25
Omitted word that is not critical to the meaning of the sentence.
Typed extra word that does not not cause misunderstanding to the meaning of the sentence.

Omitted Word Major(CTRL8) Point Value – 0.75
Omitted word that is critical to the meaning of the sentence.
Omitted modality in the title.
Contrast vs. noncontrast
Changed format (no techniques on required studies, no history, etc.).

current pay scale
I am an IC with 30 years experience. I am currently making 12 cents a 65 character line with no benefits, no time off, no taxes taken out, which is nothing compared to what I used to make in the hospital with all benefits.

None of us make enough, nor are we appreciated for our speed, knowledge and hard work.

Good luck! I hope you get your raise. You deserve it.
pay scale and benefits

I do not agree with you there.  It does not matter if we are all remote or not.  If ALL the qualified MTs would take a stance together and stop working entirely for a very short period of time ALL companies would have to give in.  Without the backbone of their company, which is the remote MT, they would have no other choice but to close their doors or pay what is fair.  Remember, when this industry went to the national carriers, they made the largest portion of their employees home-based, and for a reason, to cut down on their overhead.  With that being said, who is doing all their work and lining their pockets with money.  I have been involved, not as an MT, but in many other employment areas that had similar problems and demanded it to be rectified.  It was not done by a union; however, very similar.  ALL QUALIFIED PEOPLE MUST STOP WORKING, but prior to this must state why and for what they are demanding.   Example... until we get benefits and a fair pay scale we do not work... PERIOD!   I understand there is a group called AAMT with a BOS and an AHDI???? not sure of this one.  But they make you do standarized formats.  What I would do is contact these big groups, AAMT and tell them.  We that are CMTs or qualified MTs are going to cease all work functions until we have a standardized package.  We are expected to have all this knowledge and keep up all these credentials... and we demand to be compensated with a benefit package and fair pay scale.   The way I see it, the MT has taken a decrease in these areas, yet expected to know and do much more.  Does not make sense to me, but I am not an MT.  I was directed to this board by an MT who was looking for ideas to get something done in these areas.  


MediTech is in Marietta, not sure of their pay scale though
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Where on the scale of conditions would a guarded

condition be?


 


 


First thing I would point out is that 8 cpl is the low end of the pay scale
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Any MQers heard of 'new pay scale'?
There has been some rumors about this on this board.  Some say they have recently received communication (har, har, har...sorry) about this.  Anyone know any specifics?  Any other changes?
What is paid by page per sliding scale?
New one on the job board.  Never heard of such.  Just wondering.
Or they could have "restructured" (i.e., cut) their pay scale and lost most of their editors.
shhh
How is QA score measured? Is there a standard scale? sm

Is it per report?  Is by the number of characters in the report?  I am guessing that a missed comma is counted differently than a wrongly used medical term...


Thanks for any help!


My economic dilemma is the same only perhaps on a higher scale...
I have had my cable connection shut off so many times for nonpayment, my utilities are not being paid in full because we simply never have enough money, groceries are now a luxury rather than a necessity as are utilities by the way...my pay has diminished greatly due to the global market and competing with countries like India in Medical Transcription.

I am aware of India and their problems but I am concerned for my own situation and survival.

got interrupted, cannot finish, but had to make my point
Current pay scale for radiology transcriptionist

Hello Cyberspace,


I am wondering if anyone can direct me to a website that will help me calculate if I am getting paid correctly for the work I am doing.  I would like to know the going rate per line and per report for radiology transcriptionists. 


I have several years experience and need some documentation in order for me to request a pay increase. 


Any help will be greatly appreciated.


Leslye


"Example... until we get benefits and a fair pay scale

http://forum.mtstars.com/main/v/1/128040.html
1000 lines / 1.5 = 667 X incentive pay scale rate?

Ok, I inquired about a job and this is what they told me.  Does this make sense to you all?  What are they trying to say they pay for QA work? 


We have an incentive pay plan ranging from 0.07 cents to 10 cents per line. 
Our editing accounts are converted into typed lines.  If you edit 1000 lines,
it is divided by 1.5 to  get 667 typed lines and then paid on the incentive pay scale.


Thanks


$25/hr. = Low Wages?
I think at $25 per hr. I'm making a bit more than the manager of the French Fry Department at Mickey D's...
QA wages
Anyone out there have an idea of what a QA person should be paid per hour if working at home?
wages
If you keep abreast with current events/news pertaining to the economy you will find that ours is not the only profession whose wages have not increased from levels in the 1990s. It is a lot of people as well who have to leave their homes to go to work for maybe the same that we make every day.
wages
I am not putting you down but if you have been in this business for 20 years and have been reading this board  --give me a break you should be able to project what you will be earning especially if you have had your own accounts.  Especially if you have seen your wages go up and down, cannot believe you are asking this if -- like I said -- you have been in this business 20 years. 
Wages
I don't know about anyone else but I make the same amount of money if not more doing VR than I used to doing transcription, at least when there's work.  Lately the middle to end of the week I have nothing to do!  I personally am only doing this while I finished my bachelor's that I needed to apply to grad school which I start this fall when I'll quit.  I don't think that VR will ever replace MTs entirely because it just is too important to have perfect medical records and VR just isn't perfect especially since doctors do dumb things like talk to other people, correct themselves, mumble, etc.
wages
Just know from my experiences in the last 25 years that doctors are notoriously CHEAP... Do the best you can and if you can't get as much or more money than you are making now, I'd stay where you are. Just my humble opinion. Been there, done that many times.
wages
Wages also depend on where you are located. In house jobs and small independents are going to pay less in rural and struggling areas because they can. In rural areas jobs also depend on who you know. They would rather pay a untrained local rather than a trained outsider. Speaking from the voice of experience.
the wages were no more than they sm
are now when I started, the books were just as expensive. you buy one at a time and build from there. A good reference library is a MUST in this business. If you can get by with the internet search I guess that's ok, but I see people who are not searching at all.

I think 90% of the questions would be answered if folks would invest at least in a Medical Phrase Index. Sorry but its part of the job.
wages
What no one says is that MT wages are considerably lower in rural areas and small cities. Do not be specific but it would help if geographic locations, were mentioned by posters if making more.
Biller wages
Can someone give me a ballpark figure of how much a biller would get that has no experience? I've been offered a possible job, and I got a feeling they are going to ask me how much I expect to make.