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Serving Over 20,000 US Medical Transcriptionists

Yes, I do. Have for 5 years. I didn't ever do SM

Posted By: Me again. on 2005-07-25
In Reply to: 2200 lines in 3-4 hours? - annie

that well at a larger national, could barely feed my family.

I do the same rather large pool of doctors every day. I only do operative notes. These are not teaching hospitals and I don't get much weird stuff.



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I worked for SS a few years ago and while we didn't have the
line count issues they were HORRIBLE.   They e-mailed me last week asking me to come back so they must be in dire straights cause I gave them an earful when I left. 
I didn't file for 10 years (sm)
and have had absolutely no consequences.

The state of california, however, doesn't fool around.
Didn't pay taxes for 10+ years (sm)
and had absolutely no trouble with the IRS, because I filed. My girlfriend, however, was hounded daily because she didn't bother to file. You just fill out their little financial hardship forms for a few years and watch your balance due melt away as the statute of limitations expires.
I didn't file for 10 years either and finally

went to my accountant.  He filed all 10 years and then went to the bank and borrowed the money.  Took me 4 years to pay it off with nothing to show for it at the end of those 4 years except the satisfaction that it was done.


Right after that, I went out and bought a new truck, paid for it for 4 years and had something to show for it.  It will take a little of your time and effort to make the payments, but it's worth it for peace of mind.  I remember hearing the phone ring during those 10 years and waiting for the IRS to come get me.  Don't live in fear.  Do something to get out of it. 


depends on state, I didn't for 9 years...sm
occupational with the city I live in and then the county.....florida is my state.....they didn't require it as long as you had no *traffic* - but the laws/rules changed over time.....
i resisted for years, thinking i didn't need it.
but i finally gave in and accepted the fact that some things have changed, more than a few companies go by it, and i'd better not be such a stick-in-the-mud. I have been very surprised that it has really been so helpful to me. I do recommend it. and no, i don't agree with every morsel of it, but sometimes it is better to go with the flow, than against it, and at least have it for a reference...
didn't realize this video was 10 years ago
I also saw a video of Hunter Hays when he was older, and I thought it was so weird that there were two boys with the same name that both played accordian. I missed the part on the younger version that said it was an old video... still almost too cute to be true.
I didn't increase my line rate for over 10 years!
I am an IC and have one office of three physicians as well as work for a smaller MTSO and have to totally agree with what MTSO said. You have to take into consideration so many things. Do we deserve a raise, you betcha - I think most of us do. However, if you are making good money, love the accounts, and things are working well for both sides, are you willing to jeopardize them shopping elsewhere? I haven't been, but due to the increase in gas prices which are now going to be reflected in many other ways in our cost of living, I find I really need to increase my rate and I did. I sent a memo and simply stated that in 30 days the billing would reflect a 1 cent/line rate increase. Yes, I held my breath waiting for the phone to ring or the OM asking to speak to me in her office but so far I have not heard anything. I am not sure if this is good or bad but I think they have had a great deal for 10 years and I deserve a raise and I need to increase my rate just due to cost of living. 
I proof as I go. I didn't when I first started umpteen years ago. nm
x
Well of course we know that now. Back then we didn't because he didn't allow unfettered access.
c
right we children didn't tattle to the administrator did we. BTW, didn't you think we were &#
because some half-witted idiot said everyone was jealous because some other anonymous poster said they were going to be a doctor. Didn't they call it doctor envy. Oh yeah, that was all about you wasn't it busy-body MT. You with your degree and premed but yet you still post here and acuse others of jealously. I dunno but you and dano seem so close, I can't put my finger on it but I would say you could be computer clones. Jealous indeed. Children indeed. I think you are blowing your covers) dano and busy body MT. This whole "jealously" thing makes me think that you may be one and the same poster.
I didn't go into labor until 2.5 weeks later, so it didn't work. Sorry!...nm
x
sorry I didn't have time to thank you, but I didn't forget!!

Didn't you tell me?!?!? No, Liza, you didn't tell me. Hooray for you! lol
x
58, AHP/self-taught, trained at hospital 5 years, now with 2 of my own accounts for 10 years, employ
Also worn out 2 keyboards in 4 years. I will never retire. DH will come home some day from work and I'll be slumped over my keyboard. I put in 14 hours a day 7 days a week.
Pack years = packs smoked per day x years of smoking - sm
25 pack-years = 25 years of 1 pack a day, or 12-1/2 years of 2 packs a day.

I don't think pack-years applies to someone who smokes only cigars. But I don't know for sure.
I worked for Cbay for 3 years. I was also part of their lay off back many years ago. sm
Even though I got stuck in a lay off era, I still love the company. They paid well then. The people were nice (exception of 1 person) and if I had the opportunity I would go back again. Fortunately (or unfortunately - depending on how u look at it), I have a great paying job right now, so I am not looking for a change. I do know that at one time, they asked management to accept late paychecks, but never sure of the reason why. My check was never late.
I know it used to be 5-10 years back, but the laws changed within the last 2 years. They can only g
x
6 years legal then switched to medical 17+ years ago. sm

I don't mind doing legal and will do it now from time to time, but be prepared to be totally bored out of your mind.


At least that's the way I feel.  I love to transcribe, learned legal in college, went on to get my paralegal degree, etc., etc., but I did temp work when the kids were younger, which was about 90% medical and I would never go back to legal except for once in a while.


Booooooring.


 


 


Only 3 years away from reaching total years for retirement
but if I had to do this and raise a family, would feel exactly like you do. The pay is terrible compared to what I used to make. I work 32 hours a week, hope to be able to continue even after full retirement age. I have worked on VR now and unless places get to where they really do not care about how their reports look, think they will need MTs. I very seldom do a report and it is 100%, just cannot remember 1 like that and most take a lot more editing. Working now because want to, not have to anymore, thank goodness!!
I dumped my ex 20 years ago, but got lucky 13 years ago

It would take me all night and pages and pages to describe what a bad person my ex-husband was.  After six years of putting up with his OCD, verbal abuse and alcohol, I left him the house, took the kids (5 and 1) and didn't look back. That was 20 years ago.


I wasn't looking to get married again, but I did.  After 13 years I only complain when hubby doesn't see things my way. :) 


My older kids, who were 5 and 1 when I left, are married and have kids of their own now.  My husband gets the Father's Day cards.  Their "real" father sits alone in the perfect little house I left behind and let him have and he drinks himself into oblivion every night because nobody is "perfect" enough, including his kids and his grandkids that he never sees. 


Sad, but true.  So glad I smartened up and got  out of there when I did.


We have been supporting other countries for years and years now.
What is the big deal.  Look at your clothes, cars, items in your house.  You will see mostly China, India, Indonesia, Pakistan etc., etc.  We have not supported our own people like we should have for years now!!!!
Only 2 in 13 years for me. First Edix for 8 and now Webmedx for nearly 5 years. nm
.
When I trained, back years and years ago
We did not have spell checking nor the internet (Google for instantaneous help). OMG, how did we do it? We used Correcting Selectrics with the lift-off tape to correct errors- you only had dictionaries, both English and medical, to look up things so yes we did have to learn to spell all those big longgggggggggg words.
MT: 24 years. Same company: 11 years same co. after buyout.
x
Grammar Question: 9 years' ago or 9 years ago? *sm*
I have a terrible time trying to remember this rule! HELP!
Worked inhouse for years and years
Inhouse transcription from 1973 to approximately 1992 and we had no downtime for answering the phones and when the physicians came into the room (or others) needing some assistance, just part of the job. I did not feel bad about doing it then and I dont see why you would either. You don’t realize that probably you are making right now more than if you are outsourced, right? You have hourly salary plus incentive. Guess how many of us have that now? Probably inevitable about outsourcing so I would say just enjoy while you can. The pay our here now sinks further and further. I make, for instance, 4 cents a line for voice recognition and 8 for straight. Now, more complaining?
19 years old...married 26 years. nm
n
they've been doing this for years and years (nm)

IMHO


People have been saying that for years and years - SM

however, I am working fewer hours and making more money. I think maybe the answer here is working as an IC for a one-owner company. MTSO was an MT for many years and she knows the secret to making lots of $ is putting your MTs doing what they do best and leaving them alone.


I don't think it is the "national" part of services that hurts. I think the low wages can be gauged by the number of suits in the company. More suits = less $.


And why pay QA? Just hire people experienced/good enough to do the work correctly the first time.


I have been doing Radiology only the last two years after several years (sm)
of acute care. I love it and find it easier although not as interesting as acute care. I was told by those who hired me that a good medical Transcriptionist will be able to do Radiology even with no experience in it. There are some specialized terms but easy to learn. I would never go back to acute care unless there were very good dictators and good sound quality.
30 (!) years; OTJ (don't think there were schools 30 years ago) nm
:)
Years ago it was 7 years. Not certain as to status now.

10 years here, too, and making 8.4....same as i was 5 years ago. nm
f
Shame on me.. Am I the only one with 4+ in 2 years, but with my last one 2 years.

Lots of little "stints" in between, just trying to keep my head above water.


24 years MT, 7.5 years with the same hospital nm.
x
22 years, same company 10 years nm
nm
32 years, longest was 28 years at same co. (nm)
*
28 years, 9 years at 1 hospital..sm

9 years at one hospital, 8 years with 2 services, then went out on my own (11 years ago) and got a bunch of surgeons and I moonlight on weekends for a national (9 years with national). 


If I knew what I know today, with how the MT business has gone down $$-wise for us over 20+ years, if I had my druthers and could start over again, I would have stayed with CODING/BILLING instead of MT work (though I love MT work) as billing/coding is still lucrative in this country....


just my 3 cents


32 years, 18 years at hospital...
7 at Medquist, 7 at Spheris. Starting at Transtech Medical tomorrow.
Do you need to have 2 years full time experience or just 2 years' experience? nm
..
Didn't know you could do that...
I didn't know you could pick and choose, thought you just went with what came onto your computer. 
Didn't know
How come Transcend isnt allowed to post here?  Because of taking on new clients?  I dont understand what that means.  They don't offshore, right?
Wow. Didn't like that one bit.

I feel sorry for the employees.  I can't believe they were making that much inhouse!  I was only making $12.00 and had to answer phones, file, photocopy, greet patient's etc.  I left to do this and actually make a bit more (and saving tons on gasoline), but to be making $150.00 a day and have benefits?  That's gotta hurt.  My former employer "offered" benefits, but my health insurance was nearly $600 a month out of my pocket.  My husband insures us now for half that.  I can't imagine not having that.


I was offended by the part of the article that referred to at home transcriptionists making errors,etc.  I know for a fact that most big companies do not hire "newbies."  My poor niece was under the impression that all she had to do was take the MT course (don't remember the name, but it was a good one).  Even though she graduated early with high honors, she still can't find a job with a national. She found a few local accounts and is only making 5.5 cents per line.


I don't know about everyone else, but I've been doing this for 16 years and I found the "testing" for nationals frustrating!  I thought I failed miserably and was shocked when I was hired as my testing was 98% (2 of four dictators being fast talking ESLs and ER reports which I have never done and won't do again).


Ad in my paper today says:  "You too can work at home!  Become a Medical Transcriptionist!"  Seminar held at the holiday Inn and the ad gives the impression that anyone that can actually use a keyboard will be hired right off and make tons of money.


No way, tell me they didn't...sm
"they took out internet fees, insurance, etc."

Maybe I misunderstood the above. You don't mean your regular benefit deductions from a paycheck, do you? I can understand taking out taxes, but I'd raise holy heck about taking out benefit deductions. It certainly is not a regular payroll paycheck.

Along those same lines, I recently separated from a company that I worked for 2-1/2 months. When I first started, I had signed up for health insurance and the flexible spending account. You know, there's usually a 3-month waiting period before these benefits begin, and before they start taking out the deductions. Since I gave notice before the 3 months was up, I was shocked to see they began taking the deductions out on my last paycheck. I told the supervisor that I wanted that money back. They did make me wait for the next payroll, but I received that money back just today! It's worth a try!

2 cents, huh? As if you're not insulted already by the fact that they cheated you in the first place. The MTs should demand to know how they arrived at their amounts, and then be able to verify it.

I worked for them for 2 years and my line counts rarely matched theirs. Supervisors could not explain the discrepancy either. Two months after I quit, the news about the MT class-action lawsuit came out. Personally, I don't trust them.

Have a great time shopping on your unexpected money!!
I didn't have any out of the NE
yesterday either...the Warminster office.  Haven't checked yet today...almost afraid to!
No I didn't see
Scarborough Country last night.   This whole mess is so sad and government at all levels is a disgrace.  People quibbling over whether they are "refugees" or "evacuees."  How utterly ridiculous.  Not to mention the quibbling over those who deserve help and those who don't.  Those who have already been receiving social services from the government will continue to receive priority help from the government and those who are trying to help themselves will be forgotten just as they have always been. 
Didn't you know....
It's more important in PC America to have somebody who speaks every other language EXCEPT English, so that those who can't speak English will be able to conduct their business.  In So. California you can hardly get a job dealing with the public unless you can speak Spanish.  Same with the border towns in Texas.  Talk about discrimination.  However, your situation was probably the almighty buck... Cheaper to contract to the call answering centers in India than to hire someone here.  I once had to call a tow truck with my AAA card.  Guess what?  Somebody in India trying to dispatch a tow truck in the United States.  Couldn't understand me whatsoever.  Same with my computer support number... India.  The guy had me clicking on this and that to fix my little problem and before I knew it, he had me return my computer to factory settings (didn't tell me ahead of time and I knew the second I hit the button what I was doing, but it was too late) and I lost everything saved on my computer.  I was LIVID! 
It is 26% , not 30%. I didn't say 30%.
Get it right. Geez.
Sorry, no. But I didn't want to let

I'm sure you already know there's lots of information on line.  My guess is that you wanted to hear someone's personal experience with the same problem.  I'm a relative "oldie" myself.  


I also don't have to tell you that your orthopedist is your absolute best and clearest source of information.  The only suggestion I do have is that you develop a list of specific questions to ask him, and only him, during your upcoming appointment.  Good luck. 


I didn't know
they had any ads posted. I was just searching around, googled Transcription companies and found their name, went to web page, etc.
The Website sounds like a totally legit, US MT co. You would never know it was offshore unless you asked. Good thing you asked before you went any further. Wonder why they ran an ad for US MTs if they are offshore? Maybe trying to get a US side started? I will have to keep the reverse lookup in mind, but Im sure not all companies will be that sloppy. I wish there was another way to find out that stuff. Were they nasty to you when you told them you wouldn't type for them? Thanks for the info!!!!