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one last comment for me, then I'm back to work. sm

Posted By: cil on 2005-07-07
In Reply to: only path.....only path....only path to the mountain - nm

Consider that someone (lets say Magdelena) is Buddhist (or whatever) and Jesus is "just a nice guy" in her opinion.

Then lets say she led an exemplary life, servitude to others, love of mankind, everything "good".

Then lets say Jesus was THE only path. Would Jesus, a man of his magnitude, deny Magdelena the kingdom of Heaven if she lived her life with Jesus' principles but didn't believe he existed. I think not. He would say, pleased to meet you and come on in!


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    I sent a comment to Advance and heard back from them
    supposedly, they are going to put my letter in the next edition in Letter to the Editor .... we'll see. But I did not cancel my subscription.
    Yes, you get back to work now. Go back to
    some routine, and it does start to hurt less. I know  And remember, she is still there at work with you. Always will be. I figure at this point I have a whole herd of loved dogs under my desk each day - along with a couple horses, hamsters, parakeets, rabbits...If only I could see them - must be quite a happy zoo! But I know they are all there I sense their love.
    Sure does, if you are going back to work (sm)
    and want to get screwed out of your disability money.
    Back to work
    I started working 2 or 3 weeks after I delivered via C section. I might have even been back sooner but I had twins. But I am only part time and ~at the time~ had a flexible schedule.

    Good luck! A bit of advice, don't resume a regular diet right after the C section. Liquid diet the first 24 hours. Soft diet the next 24. Then resume regular diet, as tolerated. Take it from someone who ended up with a bowel obstruction and NG tube (terrible!!!!) because the nurses said GO AHEAD AND EAT!!! when the cafeteria brought me chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, some kind of veggie, and a dinner roll.
    Let's take the work back!
    I agree that unionizing is not the answer at this point. I would like to see us take the work back from the MTSOs from the hospitals and physician offices. Let us talk to our local medical facilities, explain what is happening with their work (nationals, overseas), and ask for a chance to prove ourselves. If we offer a reasonable rate and perhaps even a small free sample of our work, maybe, just maybe, we will find facilities ready for a change back to a more personal transcription setting.

    No, I don't have all the answers - wish I did - but this is my suggestion, and the only one I can think of at this point. I am one of those MTs who has been an MT for 20+ years who has seen a decrease in pay, as many of you have also seen.

    I will read with interest any other reasonable suggestions from my fellow MTs.
    Frank, I will go get back to work as soon as I
    fix my makeup and put shine serum in my hair to look beautiful typing today for you.
    sending back work
    I have made it a point to learn the *hard* doctors, cause they are sent to me quite a bit, cause MQ knows I can do the *hard* doctors..Its crummy having to learn them and knowing you are losing money in the process but once you learn the *hard* doctors, you know the ones who are ESL or English as third or fourth language (smile), you can do them and then it is no big deal.  Yesterday, I got a half transcribed report with at least seven blanks for Q/A..I was able to do the report with no blanks cause I have learned this doctor, who has what I think is a Middle Eastern French accent..He is quite hard but I can do him as I have learned him over the years (since 2000).  Practice makes perfect and the way transcription is going with voice recognition, I think the only transcriptionists who will be left in the end are the ones who can do the ESL, mumblers, speed talkers or speech impediment doctors, the ones who voice recognition cannot do.
    Made more back then, did not work
    for a large service, had my own business and also worked for a clinic, better pay.  Services are stingy.  I hard one complaining because half their expenses were MT salaries.  I asked him why don't you just get rid of the MTs, then you won't have to pay them.  Cheapskates. 
    Not! They are why I went back to work for a hospital
    to work
    Going back to work after c-section
    I returned to work two weeks after my c-section working 6 hours per day. I however made sure to get out of the chair frequently so as to not get so stiff from sitting for so long, which does happen so soon after a c-section. I wouldn't go back to soon though, as it can be very stressful with a new baby and a job to tend to on top of it all.
    Tell her NO exceptions, work has to be back. If she is not

    able to do the work don't give it to her.   You wouldn't tolerate it with the other MTs and I sure which I had an account that wouldn't drop me if work was that late.  Send her (if you haven't already) a form where you state TAT and ask for her commitment on a monthly basis.   You can state in the form that failure to meet TAT could/would result in termination.   She is taking advantage of you but only because you allow her too.  


    Maybe only give her work 2 days a week  and give her only an amount that she seems to be doing currently.  If you give her less work maybe she will be able to meet TAT. 


     


    I have work going back years - sm
    others keep it a month or two. I have one doctor who sees patients on a yearly basis, I pull the previous report so I don't have to retype a lot of it, as he basically repeats the old one with a few changes, I'd have a lot more work to do otherwise. I have another account that constantly misplaces their work, I have to retrieve work from months earlier because they cannot find their copy. I can either pull it from my stash, or the MTSO has a FTP where we back up all our work just for this purpose, she keeps it all there going back years. I have no idea how often she cleans it out, but she hasn't in the almost 2 years I have been with her. On another note, I only keep the sound files for a month, then I dump them.
    yes, when all that overseas work comes back
    after it becomes illegal to outsource work with our personal information.  I am hoping that day comes soon.
    bringing back the work!
    In addition to doing MT, I also work as a coder at a very large teaching hospital and academic facility with 160'some clinics. Our transcription is outsourced and recently started going overseas. Guess what - our hospital is bringing it back to the States AND will not accept voice recognition! Too many errors that affect coding, AR days and, thus, reimbursement. Our dictation will continue to be outsourced but will not be allowed to go outside the US and can only be done by a real MT. Too bad it had to be the reimbursement that was the only issue that will bring the work back and not simply the fact that the quality is just not there but..at least there is something that will keep the work here in the US and keep it from being doing by VR. I just thought someone might like to know this is happening. I am hoping other hospitals get the hint.
    I work on an account that just came back from India sm
    They had an outsourcing company that sent their stuff to India. They were so unhappy, they brought the account back to be done by AMERICAN MTS.

    But the poster below me is right, the government IS doing something, they are making it easier and more financially rewarding to go overseas. One day and sooner than later, the American worker will be so poor and so economically depressed that America will no longer be able to import goods/services from overseas because we can't afford them. By that point, we'll be gardening in our window boxes and stockpiling foods that we will no longer be able to have or afford.

    The tip of the slippery slope towards another Great Depression.
    It's a different world now of course, so I'm thinking about going back to work.
    Well, you may be rusty at first but start out slow and build up speed and knowledge. You have a huge advantage I think over newbies in the field as it's there in your memory cells and all you have to do is "open the file" so to speak and build on what is already there in the hard drive. Just going on vacation makes me rusty so I can imagine that you have your work cut out for you but its still the same job and you know the drill.
    Oh well, as long as it gets our work out of India and back to us
    I would go back to the office in a second for decent money and affordable benefits. 
    I went back to work when babies were 9 days old
    And yes, you can transcribe with TWO babies on your lap. It's a royal pain getting spit-up out of the keyboard though!

    And before anybody starts a flame war on me, the boys are 10 years old now and now I get to work while they're asleep.... ;)
    Going back to Office Admin Work

    Hello everyone.  I wanted to sign in and thank everyone for all the info that has been posted on this board.  It was a very important web site for me during my short transcription career.


    After being laid off from a company in Michigan 3 weeks ago, I have searched for and found an office manager position in a non-MT environment.  I'm going back to my routes in Admin.  I tried to make a career change a few years ago.  Maybe it was not the financial environment to make such a change or maybe it is just not for me.  What ever the case is, I'm leaving.  I have invested a large amount of time and money into this dream but sometimes you have to know when to "fold 'em."  Lucky for me hubby is on board and not making me feel bad about our investment or how this dream of mine drained our finances. 


    So, again, thanks for all the help and good luck to everyone. 


    DId NOT work. Had to pound the keys -- took it back in 2 days. nm
    x
    Sorry, I got cut off and didn't realize it. I was told it was more of a way to get the work back
    I was told it was more of a way to get the work back and forth.  Does it actually affect the line counts? 
    You might be sending finished work back to an FTP site
    s
    I work whatever hours I want, as long as I have the reports back in TAT...
    I have assigned doctors...
    Mind is willing to work but legs and back aren't cooperating.
    Any cures for MT body aches?
    Get samples. Proof your work. Have back up equipment. Meet TAT.
    dd
    I would just supply one digital copy, either send the work back
    via an FTP site or email attachment or whatever, or keep addending to a CD, but let them keep their own archives. And why can't they print when you deliver the CD or the work in digital format? I don't do any printing at all. Everything goes back digital and they keep their own copies. Once I bill for the month, everything gets deleted, as it should be under HIPAA.
    Just say it's not going to work out, quit, and send the stuff back. Not like you'll be using t
    s
    Was offered 7.4-7.7 cpl for clinic work back in 2005 and 8 cpl for hospital. Is it still
    s
    looking for people that used to work for small MTSO in Suffield, OH a few years back.
    ss
    if you purchase bytescribe/docshuttle, you can actually upload the completed work back on there. nm
    ;
    I didnt ask for ANYTHING. Merry Christmas and watch your back when u work for a national.
    thats MY point.
    Worked in clinic for 30 yrs and have tinnitus. I am used to back ground noise, hard to work
    :+
    With short arms, I need chair with shallow seat, good back support and high back. Want arm rests
    :+
    OK! I'm glad you're back down here. Now don't go back up there and read those evil posts ag
    Okay? But I have to leave you now, sadly. Thousands of noble dictating doctors are anxiously awaiting my help with their "dictations"....They're all loading up on chips, drinking lots of soda so they can burp, and then have to go to the bathroom...You know the routine! Off I go to earn some pennies!! But, truly, I am thankful that I have a job!
    PS.. It apparently worked..I heard back and already submitted the paperwork back.

    I'm not sure how many people they are hiring but you shouldn't stress too hard over it. Do the best you can.


    QA comment
    I just wanted to say a few things from the world of QA. There are some MTs who get dictators the likes of which I just cannot even describe as far as ESLs. Oh my. My heart just bleeds for you all - I mean it.  I don't know how you do it, the dictators are that awful. But most of you MTs who get these language-murdering dictators struggle and persevere thru usually endless reports.  It IS noticed, though you might think its not.  Not that peon QA people can do anything for you, but I do notice and applaud you. And I DO mention names of these MTs to account managers on a regular basis, praising their effort on these impossible dictations. Don't know if it helps, but I like to believe it does!  On the flip side, there are other MTs who are just a disgrace to our profession - they're not learning or new (we can tell). They are simply lazy and sloppy, making the most horrendous careless STUPID mistakes one can even imagine.  Sometimes my mouth just hits my desk in horror.  And I just shake my head and wade in and fix the entire report myself - that's what I'm there for, right? And for those who take offense that some mistakes are stupid - well, there are some that are stupid! No questions are stupid, but mistakes sure can be!  I wish all of you could see firsthand what is out there as far as the quality of MTs.  I know you would be amazed at the disparity between MTs.  And we ALL makes mistakes, yes, but its how you handle them that counts. I try to be so kind and respectful to all with my corrections, even the lazy sloppy ones.  So many MTs are so sweet and write back and thank me for the help, which is totally not expected, while the lazy ones write back screaming at the injustices of their errors!  Or they call the president of the company screaming in indignation! Its a shame - I could give dozens of examples of absolutely incredible lazy not-thinking mistakes, but I would never want to embarass someone who I probably QA'd and who might read my post.  I never want to hurt a soul, but really wish some MTs would just think while they were transcribing.  Some MTs do try so hard - and with all the odds stacked against them by the dictators from outer space! Just my rambling thoughts at the start of a long night shift in QA-land!
    Comment

    Please also check borderline personality disorder on the internet.  True bipolar has fairly long periods of either mania or depression and cycles.  Bipolar is more ongoing pervasive personality of poor coping skills and conflicted interpersonal interactions.


    My advice is to realize there is probably nothing you can do to help them or change them other than altering the way YOU deal with THEM for the good of your own mental health!


    Comment

    Not sure why you needed the computer as I am assuming you already had a computer and the equipment?  Most computers with fairly new Windows system would work okay.  I personally feel the rental fee is kind of a bad idea in the long run at $48.00 a month.  Sounds like you may need a phone line again unless you can get wireless.  You'll have to talk to tech, I guess.


    As far as learning and training, are you on DQS? 


    comment
    With any job anymore be it MT or something such as an engineer, there is no such thing anymore as job security. I myself am 27 having 7 years experience as an MT. I actually got started in MT after my first year of college as I wanted something part-time . . so much for that:) Do I moan and groan sometimes about work, sure, we all do either if you are an MT or not, but at this point in my career I am confident that if I do not feel that I am getting enough work to provide myself with a wonderful life and not just getting along that I can submit my resume with confidence that I will find something to suit my needs.
    can you say what the comment was?


    I think it was the comment
    that you type fast that got everyone's goat. Being an MT is just not that simple and hardly something to just learn on the sly for some "extra money." By the way, most of us at-home MTs actually started out in the workforce and got enough experience to BE ABLE to work from home, not the other way around.
    Thanks for the comment but this is...
    exactly what I mean. It is like there are those in this field that think just because you can pick on an error "clarity" vs "clearity" it makes you better then the next. I will admit I am not the best speller or and expert in grammer but I am not DUMB and no one should be made to fell that way. Especially if I am looking to the QA for guidance.


    COMMENT

    Hayseed, Aren't you the gal who did 1700 lines in 6 hours or something like that?  In that case, it's likely you wouldn't have any problem making their quota.  But, how about that hourly rate?  Will they be saving money by putting you on hourly, will you be making more money than when you were doing MT work?  Ask for all the details in writing, would be my advice.  Ask them to also state, in writing, if you can return to MT if you don't like QA.  Congratulations and good luck!!


    Comment

    This is a good solution; it puts it in their face, so to speak.  I've heard that people have to hear or see something an average of 3 times before it sinks in.  If they receive no feedback, they think everything is okay or totally horrible, depending on their own point of view (this is for all people in all aspects of life; I suspect that doctors will just assume that everything is okay).  If they receive negative feedback with a smile, they tend to believe that improvement is optional.  A more dramatic, serious approach is necessary. 


    Comment

    My situation may be a little bit different from yours, but you are not alone, and ER reports seems to be the main star.


    I don't have any answers, but I'm kind of in the same boat with you.  I have been working on an account that has all worktypes.  I begin working very early in the morning, when I might be the only one working on this account.  The ER reports supposedly have top priority, right after the stat reports.  My problem is that lately I've noticed that once I complete all stat reports and am getting to the good stuff--the ER reports, whoever is managing the queue changes the priority of the more difficult OP reports and consultations, so that they float to the top of the queue, above the ER reports.  This maneuver would sometimes make sense, but the account specs are such that the ER reports have top priority. 


    So, then, it takes several more hours to get to the ER reports, at which time there are so many workers on board that I end up getting 1 or 2 ER reports.  I've lately gone from making over $22/hour to a mere $7/hr.  I feel like I've been messed with, simply because I really got used to the account the way it used to be and now someone has come along and purposely made it more difficult for me.  I have the option of signing off, changing my hours, or going elsewhere.  I do have another interview pending after successfully completing the testing at another company.  I know that the grass is not always greener, but there is a limit to what type of treatment that I will tolerate.


    Comment

    I agree with you. 


    This situation seems to be the end result of long years of MTs trying to do their best, while plugging along and accepting the treatment of the facilities, that filtered down to them through the MTSOs, who may or may not be addressing the issues of bad dictators with the facilities, for fear of losing the contracts.  I believe, it is the job of those who have direct contact with the doctors (i.e., those at the facility in the HIM dept).  According to what I have observed, they are not doing this job, and are either clueless, don't care, or enjoy this special power of oppressing the workforce from afar.  It also seems that they are not required to properly train their dictating clinicians.  Some of them are very active, however, in checking reports for proper comma use and such details, and do not hesitate to contact the MTSO to complain when the MT left out a comma, or failed to select the proper date of service on the header, failed to read the doc's mind and did not realize that when he/she coughed in a certain way, it was a clue that he/she wanted a copy sent to Dr. Joe Doe, etc.  Of course, they actually do not pay for headers and footers and they do not provide the MT with enough information to fill in all the details on the header and footer.


    I have an egg timer.  I spend exactly 3 minutes trying to figure out a blank or the correct name for a doctor that requires a courtesy copy, etc.  If I cannot accomplish this in 3 minutes, given the lists that I have been provided or internet resources, the report gets a blank and it is sent to the QA department to figure it out.  Each report gets a grand total of 5 minutes for multiple look ups of blanks that are the fault of the dictator or due to me not having enough information to fill in headers, footers, consulting doctors, etc.  If it is my fault because I do not know the terminology, and the word was dictated clearly, I will take more time researching.  If the MTSO wants to address the issues of poor quality dictators/dictations with the facility, that is their choice.


    If I were to have my own accounts, I would hope to have a deep pool to draw from so that I could include sanctions for such difficulties in my contract with the option of discontinuing service to those who proved to be so difficult.  However, I do not wish to be a dreamer, and don't think such deep pools exist, at least not in my part of the country, so I haven't even tried this option of having my own accounts.


     


    Comment

    I"m not sure I understand your comment, and I am not here to debate, but the account that I work on has plenty of difficult dictators, as well as plenty of easier dictators, comparatively.  My point was that you cannot depend on what type of report you will get at any given moment; there is no picking and choosing and the next in line might just change due to major shuffling.  It is not predictable by worktype either.  Whether there is plenty of work depends on how many MTs are working at the time, whatever jobs have been added to the pool, etc.  There is often no work during third shift.


    Comment
    Don't let the naive and trusting cause you frustration.  It will be their loss in the end.  Per the well-known phrase--The only way for evil to prevail is when people do nothing or continue to choose to remain blind and trust and support those who have proven themselves to not be worthy of trust.
    Comment
    Unfortunately, the "come around" part does not happen automatically; action is required in order to stimulate a reaction.  I admit to being part of the movement to treat doctors as regular human beings and requiring them to respect us as human beings, as well.
    If you don't want to comment so be it...sm
    You don't know me, I don't know you. I didn't see the harm.
    wry comment
    Maybe TravelinMT was just "wryly" commenting. How did I know she had been out of work? If so, why wasn't she commiserating with me, instead? Why did she even bother to read the post or comment at all? I was simply asking for advice, not trying to step on anyone's toes. I am in no way feeling sorry for myself. I am actually working, but will probably be out of a job in several months, so am searching now. I was simply asking about the possibilities of finding work.

    I appreciate all the helpful posts, though.

    I basically wanted to find out if anyone thought I could still find a job, period. And, if after a month, I should be feeling worried? It is amazing to me how many companies do not respond to resumes sent, so is hard to know where a person stands.

    Thanks to all of you who gave me actual advice and encouragement. It is much appreciated.