Home     Contact Us    
Main Board Job Seeker's Board Job Wanted Board Resume Bank Company Board Word Help Medquist New MTs Classifieds Offshore Concerns VR/Speech Recognition Tech Help Coding/Medical Billing
Gab Board Politics Comedy Stop Health Issues
ADVERTISEMENT




Serving Over 20,000 US Medical Transcriptionists

Yep, see what our work looks like without the benefit of an American MT making 3 cpl

Posted By: Tinks on 2006-11-01
In Reply to: Employee vs IC - em-tee

to edit!  All you MTs out there working for peanuts just so you can say you're an editor, realize you are making the Indians look good and taking away OUR paychecks!


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

some people benefit from making a list, all the plusses and minuses, and

I do work for an American company
Also, I am professional, and constantly learning anything that I can!!
I work an account where ESLs are better than the American dictators ever hoped to be. sm
There is bad dictation all over - you need to learn to cope with what is out there. Don't be afraid of the ESLs - you can only do what you can do, and for even American dictators, there is just no hope for the report coming out flawless if it is a bad dictator. I have 25 years experience, and there is just the fact of the matter that if junk goes in, junk is going to come out, and experiences helps with figuring out the words, but some words are so badly mispronounced, there is no hope of figuring them out. Blanks are inevitable, but that is why we have QA - they are the next level after the MTs get the rough draft out there. It pays to have a second set or third set of ears, and it is part of the plan - it is not all on just you to get it right on the problem dictations.

I wonder if the cherry pickers will be out of work when all the good speaking American doctors are
Gee, I will still be working because I'm grasping these ESLs pretty dang good, right along with ops and cardiology reports.
Is anyone making you work sm
on your days off? Are you an IC or employee trying to make up work.

If you have the choice, don't work on your days off. Some people have to work because their budget demands it.

To me its a simple thing, either you can afford not to make up the work for your paycheck or you can't. If you can't you will make it up any time you can and if you can afford to go without you will.

Problem with an MTSO is, when push comes to shove its the people who are willing to be flexible that are going to be asked to work or offered new accounts and not the ones who are not flexible. That is just the truth of the business. Put yourself in the MTSO place. If you had a new account or work, who would you ask to do this first? The employee who is willing to work whenever and be flexible or the one who is absolutely not going to be flexible or work any days off? Thats a pretty obvious answer.

I have found also that when a person is flexible, the employee is usually very flexible when the employee needs time off also!
So nobody's making you work there. I don't have that problem because SM

I work where that doesn't happen. So can you.


Now if they give you certain benefits that you don't want to give up, then you can decide to pay the price with your line count. But the bottom line is, it's nobody's choice but yours.


That was the point I was making to myself too, just work more (sm)

and pay for a house cleaner.  That way, I don't have to do it, it is nicer than what I do anyway , and I don't have to fight with hubbie how unfair it is "I" end up doing it.  Sounds like a win-win. 


So about $60 bucks a week or every other week?  That's about the price I've seen.  However, I'm thinking that I may want to go with a bigger company anyway.  I certainly don't want to lose any valuables.


If you don't want to work for 8 or 9 cpl, don't. But people know what they will be making when
:+
Hmm. I'm making 0.095/hr., but the work is tough
That's because the daily minimum # of lines required to maintain employment takes not 8 hours to complete, but more like 12-13 hours per day, 6 1/2 days per week.
making work more pleasant
I've got a small TV in my office that I keep the volume on low while I'm working. Not only do I have low noise in the background, when I feel especially isolated, I can see someone and not feel quite so bad.
Hey how do you get any work done ROFL and LOL and LOL making QA grade
and all the busy little things you need to do? I think you are management and what happens on many jobs is managements fault. And many management decisions are REVERSED by protesting and that is what I am doing. You must have heard about unions haven't you? They exist to change situations for employees and create a fair playing field. You can go along with the plan or try to do something. I will try to do something. In the meantime, pick yourself up off the floor roley poley MT. I don't like the visual.
Hey how do you get any work done ROFL and LOL and LOL making QA grade
and all the busy little things you need to do? I think you are management and what happens on many jobs is managements fault. And many management decisions are REVERSED by protesting and that is what I am doing. You must have heard about unions haven't you? They exist to change situations for employees and create a fair playing field. You can go along with the plan or try to do something. I will try to do something. In the meantime, pick yourself up off the floor roley poley MT. I don't like the visual.
Any tricks on making work more pleasant??

Hey guys:


Does anyone have any ideas or tricks to make work more pleasant??  Been doing this a long (too long) time, and the isolation is getting to me.  Any ideas?


Thanks all.


 


I've done all work types also and always find myself making more
doing radiology than any other work type.

I think it's mainly because it's more repetitive than the other work types.

With your three years experience, you should do fine jumping back into it.

Good luck.
People get killed EVERYDAY by making bad decisions. If you go to work
driving while you are intoxicated or sleepy you are more likely to get in an accident. Do you deserve it? I dunno. Maybe people should just use their brains and they would not become victims or killed. Your logic is flawed and you are comparing apples to oranges. How about this? If you wear skimpy clothes and get drunk and hang out with drunk people instead of dressing a little more modestly and keeping your mind sober, who is more likely to be raped? It is logical that consequences of your behavior will decide your fate.
I can see no benefit -
I have never had any problem getting or keeping an MT job. My work speaks for itself. A few companies offer a little more money if you are a CMT, but to me that does not offset the cost of keeping up those credentials. BTW, I used to QA several gals who had their CMT. One of them was a very marginal MT and the other was terrible and could not do anything other than simple clinic work. It has been my experience that the credentials really do not mean a whole lot. Some people may have a totally different experience.
LLC/INC - has no benefit to me

but, company wants that in place to do prn work.  Does anyone see the benefit of this???  It will cost me several hundred dollars to set it up, plus the separate income tax filing, etc.  Anyone with experience here?  I am one person, not a company and I don't understand the reasoning.


The benefit of being an IC is that

you are your own boss meaning that you can choose to work when you want.  Stay away from the companies hiring ICs with a set schedule as they are breaking the law and will abuse you.  Those companies need to hire employees, but don't to save money.


The other benefit to being an IC or self-employed (one in the same) is that you can write off tons of business expenses, i.e., tissues, paperclips, the area in which you work, utilities, staples, paper, ink for your printer, paper, computers, printers, hole punchers, scotch tape, mileage.... the list goes on and on; get a good tax person and not a fly-by-night.  You will get charged a penalty if you owe taxes at the end of the year unless you pay quarterly or have enough from an employee job withheld to cover your taxes.  If not, then I would suggest taking a portion of your income to pay quarterly taxes.


There are a lot of MTs who are ICs but will bend over backwards for their company they contact with because they need the money, but I, for one, will not.  As an IC, I am my own boss and I decide what work I will do and when.  The only requirement I have with the online MTSO I contract with is that I have what work I take from the pool back within 24 hours.  No line quota, no set schedule..  that's how it should be.  Also, as an IC, I have my own accounts; this is what an IC is about; not having all of your eggs in one basket.  There is no such thing as full-time part-time as an IC - it's just IC.  Full-time and part-time is for employees.  Check the site IRS.gov and you'll find examples of ICs and employees. 


sure i was. i'm making fun of the people who are making a case for background checks, etc
to do medical transcription at home as if they may do something AWFUL with the info they receive. So if you want an invasion of privacy let's REALLY invade it and make sure fat chicks don't transcribe because they are so busy eating they can't get the work done, they mess up the keyboard with food and if they are provided health insurance they will raise the rates for the company sky high because their health risks are higher than others. Then there are the psychological issues overweight people bring to the table. After we eliminate fat people, we can go on to eliminate diabetic people who may have low blood sugar while typing and go into a spell and type the wrong thing. I could go on and on through the process of elimination. How about prescribed medications that may cloud your thinking? So you take Ambien to sleep but you have an Ambien groggy hangover when you are transcribing? Should they transcribe. How about your teens are on your last nerves and you take a Xanax? Should you be allowed to transcribe?
benefit ideas

This may be a little late as it takes some planning, but my great niece was in an "American Girl" (the popular dolls) Fashion show which raised close to 40,000 for a child who passed 2 years ago from brain cancer and this benefit went to the fund the parents kept up for research.


The American Girl company coordinates it, has a whole package thing and the girls modeling are dressed just like the American Girl doll they carry...it was the cutest thing and well worth the money for the ticket.


you're right, but it is a tax benefit...sm

It may very well be a tax benefit for me because I bought my place in 2005 and I think home improvements can be deducted to some extent - I find out tomorrow when I go bring in my taxes to the CPA!!! 


Before then, I couldn't do any home improvements.  The floor $ came from a life insurance policy someone left me in 2005, unexpected to say the very least.  Now, every time I look at the floors, I think about that person!   There IS no extra $$ in this life ever is the way I see it, unfortunately, and I'm very humble(d).


Benefit question
I have worked only in-house for years and am now beginning an at-home position.  For those who work for nationals who have benefits how do you work under the stress of having to keep your line counts at a certain amount or have your insurance dropped?  What if you do not make your required line count? 
he is not American on what was an American site
What we post, jobs posted, and those who are posting jobs have no way of knowing it is off shore because he is hiding it - what a great way to get more of our jobs - not sure why this does not bother you. But as an American it bothers me

The benefit of personal experience

  I was surgically menopaused at 35 after 4 major abdominal procedues starting at 18.   Prior to the removal of my uterus and remaining ovary, I've hemorrhaged multiple times, been critically anemic, etc., etc.   Early on I was deemed a high risk for gyn cancer, although the major scare came at 35 with a necrotic ovarian mass.  I made a conscious, informed decision early on not to have my remaining ovary and uterus removed until the threat of cancer could not be ruled out with testing. 


  Within days of the final procedure,  I became despondent and so hormonally challenged I was suicidal.  HRT took months to help.  I have never regained what was lost by having a cleanout done, despite the obvious need to have it done.  It does impact every woman differently.  Some sail through and others suffer.  I can tell you that in retrospect, the only thing that would move me to have this procedure is a life threatening risk if I didn't.  Think long and hard because there are more terrible things out there than the imposition of monthly cramps and excessive bleeding.   The quality of your life may improve or it may decrease. Please do not misunderstand me - If you are under a cancer threat or require transfusions, I would not hesitate to do it.   Good luck to you.


 


Is there any benefit to getting clients anymore? sm
Most clients where I live (Virginia Beach) want me to pick up tapes. They will call if the MT quit, and then they want to pay only 10 CPL. I can’t hire MTs at less than 8 CPL. Then, behind my back, they look for in-house personnel. Once they find it, I’m out of a job again. Dishonest OMs that just use me. Don’t know which way to go. Don’t need a lot of work, just trying not to work for nationals (f that’s possible anymore).

I’m thinking of getting work outside my state. Does anyone have any suggestions?

I would think a split shift would benefit them!

I know where I work they swoon over people who can pull a split shift...say early in the morning and then again late afternoon into evening.  I think it really helps get places out of TAT jams.  I once did 7am-11am and then 3pm-7pm for a while and it worked out great for me at the time and was equally beneficial to them.  Have you tried pointing out the potential benefits for them, to them?  Might be worth a shot if you haven't already.  Good luck! 



AlphaGrip mousing benefit

When I first began using the AlphaGrip my right forearm, wrist, hand, and shoulder were already in pretty bad shape from typing.  I noticed a new pain on the side of my hand, but I think this was due to trying to get used to using the AG, as I no longer have this pain now that typing flows more easily.  All of the other pains mentioned are much improved now, and it seems that the more I use the AG versus using the keyboard, the greater the reduction in pain has become.  I much prefer the AG and unless I am scrambling to meet a deadline I do not use the keyboard at all.  I cannot wait until the day that I feel I can throw it in the garbage can. 


 


You are right about the mouse.  I think that the pains I was having had a great deal to do with mousing, and that was the number one feature that sold me on the AG.  As I mentioned, I was looking for about two years, but purchased the AG in under a week after first seeing it.  This is exactly what I was looking for in a new keyboard . . . a way to mouse right there readily available, and the traditional mouse was the first thing to go when the AG arrived.  I haven’t looked back!


 


It actually was not strange to hold at all and fingers fall into place naturally, and a lot of the keys are struck with the same finger as one would use on a conventional keyboard, though not all, and it is a matter of getting used to the new positioning, which is the same reason that some of the ergo keyboards that have a normal key layout are awkward to learn to use and will slow one’s typing speed down. 


 


There is a lot of information available on their web site for learning to use and customizing the AlphaGrip.  While I’m sure it’s not for everyone, I am very happy with mine and glad I found it.  


MQ letter/comprehensive benefit package
 I really did not make much of it.  It would be GREAT,especially if they can offer something for the part timers, but I'm not holding my breath to hear the news.  It's been promised/talked about for forever, sure would be nice to finally hear.
Give them the benefit of the doubt the first time.
x
I'd give them the benefit of the doubt....especially since it has never been a problem - sm
It could have gotten lost in the mail, it does happen, or mislaid by the P.O. (that happens to). My checks had been a big late recently myself but it was the fault of the mailer, she was not too responsible in getting them to the mailbox....the office has since corrected the problem since 15+ MTs kept wondering why their checks were 5-7 days later than usual. --If you don't have it by the time you invoice for your next check, ask them to cancel the missing one and either cut you another and mail with the current check due or just combine them into one check.
by hour definitely $15-- I am not super fast so this would benefit
x
That is a wonderful benefit...and I am sure your daughter appreciated you being there...
nm
MTSO usually also repeats benefit of padding
x
What did you make of the comprehensive benefit package they talked about

For decades, a company benefit has been health insurance
along with retirement plans, paid holidays, PTO, etc. Only in the world of MT (and maybe Wal-Mart) are many companies not paying for these benefits.
Sheila, saving one from "Micky Mouth" mistakes is actually a big benefit. SM
I make few typos as I go along these days, compared to without an expander. Although some peculiar things can get inserted into a report when the typo turns into an unintended expansion.

But as Shipaddict says, there's just no comparison.
You realize by doing that they're making more money & you're making less? You should reconsid

the american way
it's always someone else's fault. forget she was drunk, forget she was trusting her life to a complete stranger, forget there is no evidence to hold other suspects, it couldn't possibly have anything to do with natalee and her mother's bad decisions. or could it?
Might as well, they certainly are not the AMERICAN
They not only sold us out to the highest bidder, now they are courting the very people they gave our jobs away to.  I can't wait until this organization just self-destructs.  They have done NOTHING for us except take our money.  They are useless. 
are you an American???
you're kind of making a bit of a generalization here, the implication would be that all American workers are the same. I think you're getting a little carried away with the generalization and if you are American you have to lump yourself right in there
Yes I am an American
Yes, I probably would lump myself in there with the Americans that are lazy, as my expectations are very high, but I must mention that I am also a hard worker that does not come on this board to say "I can't make any money because the Indians are taking my jobs".  You say what you want, but that is just another excuse for us to be lazy.  Give up?  NEVER!  I am lucky in that my resume is packed to the limit.  Every job I have applied to, I get a response, which is pretty darn good considering these jobs are up for grabs to anyone in the U.S.  So, yes I guess I am lazy, because I will no longer test or take 6 cpl.  I will however accept 8-9 cpl because I do not have to leave my house, and the work is easy (for me anyway).  I already have two accounts that I do solely for myself (18 years of experience here), and I have to be responsible for all of the inquiries (which are not QA issues, they are archiving issues or STAT reports needed), keep my own records, make invoices, and also go and pick-up/drop-off the work.  Both of these accounts pay very, very well (I've cut out the middleman/the MTSO).  I am the MTSO.  So, yes, I speak from a lot of experience.  And, yes, I am American 100%, and yes I still think that sitting around complaining is not going to get us anywhere!  JMHO!    I have to hand it to India to be smart enough to get in on a good thing!  I guess they can't be lacking too much! 
Since I am American
My first concern is and will be USA jobs - If the India MT is getting screwed over - as you put it, then they can begin their own little MT riot over there. I for one will not worry about over seas workers - seems like our government does enough of that for me. I will continue to put my energy here on US soil. Sorry if that offends you - but I have kids that will need jobs at some point in the future, and if they go over seas I would like it to be for pleasure not work or war.
This one is American
born and bred and thoroughly grossed me out. I was lucky enough to get several of his reports today - sucking snot up his nose every 2 seconds. Say a few words, suck some snot -- gross!!!
They took American out of the name...
I assume because they offer international membership now, although I think they always did.
Well, there is no way American MTs can
compete with the rates in India. It will not be too many years before we are out of MT work in America.
Absolutely not - I am just an American MT. sm

Personally, I have no complaints with them.  I am paid on time all the time by direct deposit and no one bothers me. I work as an IC, do my job, and get paid.  I work on 2 accounts and contracted only for certain worktypes, and that was fine with them. 


I know all about the "India thing" and to be honest, I don't care.  They have taken our jobs, the hospitals don't care they want cheaper rates, so why fight it.  If you can't beat them, join them.  That is what I decided to do, and so far they are not so bad. 


Everyone has different experiences for different reasons. I am just giving mine so far.  If it changes or if things get bad or someone is out of line and arrogant, or whatever, I will be sure to let you all know ASAP.


I am not saying this company is for everyone, but it is fine for me as an IC part-time backup job.


 


Yep, there is definitely that American "attitude" you

Getting anything done, that goes with cashiers, phone reps, you name it.  Indians have a different way about them, theyre tone is completely different, no airs about them, just want to serve you. 


I actually had THE RUDEST grocery cashier help me out last week, so bad I almost didnt want to go back there after going there two years.  First of all, his tone, very sarcastic, and like he was speaking through his nose at me.  So I of course take on the same tone.  Then at the end of our cold encounter, he asks me, dripping with sarcasm "Is there anything else I can do for you ma'am?"  I know this sounds innocent when typed here, but the tone could have made your ears bleed.  So I figure just to keep up this horrible exchange, yes, there was something more.  So I asked for a pack of cigarettes, which he would have to walk across the store to get because they keep them under lock and key.  He sighs dramatically, looks at me and goes "Huh?" ...i repeated, using the same exact tone.  Just the whole thing felt like someone was trying drag my self esteem over gravel, it really ruins your day when you have people like this serving you with bad attitudes.  If youre not good with people, get the heck out of customer service. 


And what would that amount to American?
x
American as apple pie
Many years ago I heard someone quote a prophetic statement - "The East shall look to the West and the West shall look to the East."   I just never thought I would live to see such a rapid switch in my time.  Let's see, we have Bush who sports an all American personna.  I can't begin to count how many times he uses the word(s)  "American way of life,"  yet never in the history of this country are we seeing hundreds of thousands of jobs in America in all fields given away to the far East and China.  Even our military, the Navy, is considering having their fleets built in China!  We fight a war with much of it under private contractors, we send our private information to third world countries but our leaders are touting the Privacy Information Act, huh?   How can I support my president in his "all American as-apple-pie" agenda when he has demonstrated no regard for the American worker, our healthcare mess, or our jobs?   The front door looks good, but the back door is something else.   We work for big corrupt unethical corporations who require us, in our case,  the lowly transcriptionist, to declare our integrity, and almost every day we hear scandal after scandal from these mega corporations who only get a slap on the hand for their unethical practices.   I don't know about you, but it does bother me to work for or with a company that has no integrity.   I'm not saying I work for one now, but it bothers me that so many people have to do so to keep food on the table. 
American-based here!
x
I have nothing to hide from anyone, American or otherwise.
It has been on the news that our own government is offshoring IRS returns. I guess my point is what difference does it make from a "secrecy" point. There are gossips and big mouths in every country and if they want to harm you then can. I just don't see where this is an issue.

Now the issue of offshoring, taking jobs away from Americans by our politicians via NAFTA is a whole different subject. That matters a great deal and I wish I could personally offshore every politician's job. Could Ravar Singh in India be any worse than these crooked politicians? And we know he works cheaper some we can count on our taxes going down we pay to support these lying theiving politicians.