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pay per dictated minute versus per line

Posted By: JS on 2005-10-10
In Reply to:

which is better being paid per dictated minute or paid per line? 


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They pay per minute dictated. Sux.
Especially when they assign the work. It's not fun when all your work is less than 1 minute, two line reports, ESL docs, etc.
Dictated Minute
There is/was a transcription service called Alert and Oriented that pays by the dictated/recorded minute.  You might try doing a search on that company to see if any MTs posted their experiences being paid by time using this method.
$2 per dictated minute would be around
$40 per hour. Very nice....
Paid by the dictated minute? sm
Is anyone paid by the dictated minute and if so what is a fair rate?  I was offered what I think is a great rate, however, this is my first experience and I would like to compare.  Thanks!
Pretty sure it's $2 per dictated minute
Humongous bucks if you ask me.  That would make me extremely happy.
How long should it take to type a 36 minute dictated report?
I was just wondering as I talked to a woman that said it took her a really long time to type this report the other day.. I have never actually timed myself, but thought I'd see what you all thought or what it really should take to do a report that length? 
65 character line versus gross lines versus pay by word

I am checking into other options for transcription.  Can anyone tell me how to compare all of these types of lines & also payment per word?  I know companies use different scales, so I wondered how they compare.  I have been paid on a 65 character line with spaces, but I may be making a change in the future - don't want to get burned.


Thank you in advance!


Gross line versus character line....Sm please

I am thinking of taking a job that pays by the gross line and not a 65-character line.  I have never worked this way.  Does this literally mean if there is one little word on a line you get paid for it?  I have not pinned her down on a line rate but I am just thinking I am going to be comparing apples to oranges and am wondering how to accomplish that. 


Thanks for any help!


Line/minute calculation
This way of calculating comes from way back, before actual line counts.  Over the years we've counted documents in Word and then compared them to the minute equal line theory.  If everyone is in the same pools and has the same chance of getting fast and slow dictators, over a week it equals out.  It's bad on days that you have more short reports and speedy dictators and your day will drag.  That's when everyone wants to go to an actual line count; but on the flip side, there are days that you will have more long reports with slow speaking physicians, then you think that--hey this is great.  The reports are usually a variety throughout the day.  We really would like to move to actual lines as this would be an accurate measure for every report. 
line/minute calculation
I only get credit for 30 lines on 1 full page of single-space text, even though it looks like 50 actual lines.
the accepted way to figure line/minute sm
is that one minute equals 10 lines. I guess you have to figure out your line rate from that. Obviously it can be less lines if the dictator is slow and more lines if the dictator is fast. At what seems to be the going rate of 8 cpl these days I guess it would be about 80 cents per minute?

I have worked on a minute basis and it all seemed to equal out pretty much the same unless you are getting a lot of "motor-mouths."

Hope that helps
line versus report sm
There is just no way of knowing until you're there.  It's crazy.  I used to work for a company that paid by report, but they were all MRIs and specials.  Then I worked at Spheris for a few months being paid by the line and could never get my line count because #1 the platform sucked (copy and paste.. it took longer to save a report than to type it) and #2 I was getting a lot of short reports.  A lot of companies pay by the line on certain accounts and by the report for others. So you just have to try it.  If it's not working out for you after a month or so, it's time to look elsewhere.
Per page versus per line
Does anyone know how to compare a per-page rate versus a per 65-character incl. spaces rate?
per word versus per line

I have never been paid by the line before, and I was wondering before I go any further, what would be the minimum requirement of lines per day for most services?  I want to be full time and have benefits.


 


Thanks


Pay by line versus pay by characters; what is
nm
ICs -- what are your rates right now? what are you charging per line, page, minute, etc?

I'm trying to get my own docs and want to set rates that are equivalent to everyone else so as not to undercut and lower our industry standards. But, I can't seem to find out what rates are locally, soooo, as much input as possible would be appreciated.  Anyway, I know that local family practices have been quoted by the hour, by the minute, by the line, by the page, and so on.


I don't really want to do by the minute -- it makes them feel like they have to dictate at sonic speed. Some of them balk at by the line because no matter what you tell them, they feel like they are penalized for having nice formats. They balk at by the page because they think you will extend it to 2 pages for more money. Then there are the ones who gripe about hourly rates because they feel like you will type slower to make more money. I actually typed a sample tape for a local practice a year ago and based on my rate the office manager figured it up PER PATIENT and said it was too much!! 


I know family practice docs and nurse practitioners don't make that much money but dangit I gotta feed my family too.


So help, please!!!!


 


 


Gross versus 65 char line
Can someone tell me how a gross line is calculated. Thanks.
...up to you to see if you can make more per line at home versus going
s
QA Pay Preference -- hourly versus per line? SM

I've been offered two QA jobs; one that pays $15 per hour and one that pays 4 cpl.  I'm told that I can make more than $15 per hour on production because you get credit for all lines in a report, even if you make only one correction.  So I figured that to make the equivalent of $15 per hour, I would have to QA 3000 lines a day.  So here's my question, is 3000 lines of QA in an 8 hour day feasible and is it possible to do more lines than that in an 8 hour day?


Both offer employee status, benefits, etc.  Benefit plans are pretty much exactly the same down to the same health insurance company. 


It is not MT versus MTSO we have a bottom line too, & right now it is -
NM
byte count versus gross line-sm

Does anyone know how to compare byte count versus gross line pay?


Thank you


Line rates gross versus 65-character

I recently had a call for family practice dictation and I offered 12 cents per line.  Have always charged by the gross line and was charging 14 cents, which I thought was too high, so lowered it to 12 cents.  However, the more I am reading I see that 65 character seems to be the way everything is getting billed.  I also realize at 12 cents per line I lose a lot going to 65 character lines. 


I also realize with family practice that they might have a lot of times where there is one or two words on a line and probably wouldn't be too happy about paying for gross lines. 


I guess I'm looking for advice on charging.  Is charging for gross lines unheard of anymore? I have already quoted the 12 cents, so that will have to be my charge.  But as far as gross or 65 character, I haven't been asked that yet but would need to have that absolutely straight with them before starting.  Any opinions would be greatly appreciated.  I know I'm a little behind the times and am trying to catch up and stay competitive also. 


Thanks!


USATasp charges 10 cents per minute for voice & 1/2 cent per line
email to info@usatasp.com and we'll get back to you.
Paid by the minute... new to me... does $1.14/minute sound reasonable?
x
Question versus gross lines versus 65-character lines....

I have always charged or been paid by 65 or 60 character lines or per letter or space typed, but have never been paid or charged per gross line.


What is the advantage of this?  If I were to charge 11 cents per 65-character line including spaces, what does this figure out to for an average line rate and how do you do this calculation? 


I'm wondering if it is financially beneficial for me to bill by gross line or to keep it the way I have it.  I do know some accounts will only pay per 65-character line, as this was the deal my first own account I recently acquired.  They were adamant on a 65-character line, but didn't specify with or without spaces and I personally would never not charge for spaces.


Thanks for explaining this.  I appreciate it and hope everyone has a speedy day.


A gross line is anything on a line is a line. A line set at 65 characters means it sm
has 1-inch margins on each side. The maximum number of characters on that line would be 65 and that includes spaces. If there is 1 character on that line it is a line.

A standard 65-character line usually consists of 65 characters with spaces unless, of course, the employer does not pay for spaces and then it would be 65-characters without spaces.
and think, the Dr. may have dictated that
At least you ARE concerned about it. Many wouldn't be. Hang in there!
Has she ever actually dictated a sm
report in the format that she is required to do.  I do forms for a cardiologist in this manner, but when I first started working for him, he actually dictated the letters.  I think all physicians need to include certain things for a new patient, and then can do follow-up letters without including past medical history, allergies, etc.  I wonder if she has any colleagues that would be willing to share samples of their reports, but that specialize in the same field.
ROFL at what this MD just dictated...sm
NEUROLOGIC:  He does have diminished memory.  I did start him on Aricept for this last year, but he has forgotten to take it. 
dictated, not read
I'd take it as a compliment.
If the docs dictated like that, they would never get anything done, lol
nn
H&Ps dictated by a very thorough dictator. nm

Doesn't have to be dictated...but he does
xx
Exams Dictated But Not Done
I transcribe for a local multispecialty clinic and have seen many of my own reports. It just gripes my butt when the doctor dictates a standard physical exam and I know for a fact that he/she hasn't even touched me. Did not check my heart, lungs, abdomen, neuro, extremities, etc. The only things that are legit are the vital signs. It's like if I come in for a sore throat he looks at my throat but nothing else. My fibromyalgia clinic NP only talks to me - no exam at all - yet she dictates an exam, review of systems (that we didn't even talk about). She will say conjunctivae and lids are clear; PERLA, etc., and she hasn't even gotten within 6 feet of my eyes. This just doesn't seem right. And when you have labs or other tests, they NEVER call you back with the results. My PCP never suggests any preventive testing - I have to ask for it myself. I know they're not all like that but my eyes are opened much wider than they used to be. It's all about getting it done in under 15 minutes and on to the patient in the next room. 
I always leave these as dictated.

Let's say you're Asian and have a doc who seems to possibily have a bit of an ''attitude'' about your ethnicity.  In perusing your own medical records, you see that this doc uses the term Oriental instead of Asian.  There's some confirmation that your suspicions were correct, allowing you to make a more informed decision about your medical care and who you want providing it.  Especially true with the word Negro, IMO, which I haven't heard in quite some time but have actually had dictated and left as is, even if I had the leeway to change it.


IOW, I think it's a patient's right to know if a doc is using words like that, so I don't change them.


Doctor who dictated during the PE sm
I had a doc I used to do who treated a lot of brain injuries and strokes. He always dictated during the interview and PE. He would say, in front of the patient...the pt is completely obtunded...the pt is befuddled...the pt is extremely obese, just enormous...the pt's mom is once again out of touch with the pt's needs...and so it went.

The noise was sometimes out of hand, he was a grumbling gravely dictator and that IS all part of the job. It is the thought of being his patient and having him be so brutally honest, well it smacked of unprofessional behavior.

I had a podiatrist who was "too busy" to dictate the day of service, so he would dictate on Sundays. One weekend, he dictated 8 reports...from the bathroom...in the span of about 20 minutes. I got to hear the toilet flush no fewer than 6 times in 5 dictated reports. He kept pausing to concentrate and it wasn't on the report he was dictating!

If the noise is too bad, it gets a blank. I don't care what they say and I don't care where they are when the dictate, but please don't make me know that you have the crap$ while you are on the phone with me. Plainly, I don't want to know.
I would type it as dictated. nm
nm
type as dictated

The word lesbian, unless used in a derrogatory manner, is simply stating the patient's sexual orientation, which could be quite relevant in a psych report.  It's the same as describing a patient as a heterosexual female.  Not intended to "label" someone, simply stating a fact.  I see no problem with typing it as dictated. 


I transcribe just what is dictated.
x
I do think, if the doctor dictated this
you should put it in the report.
transcribe as dictated...(sm)
Transcribe as dictated: "Patent shotty veins." This is perfectly acceptable as is and does not require rewording.
dictated / typed
Doctor says "jiddo, jiddo, jiddo" - what does this mean"  Why.... 0-0-0 - OMG. The things we put up with for no money.
But they are not dictated when the IC has to work.
They are alerting the potential contractor to when the work is available. If the contractor does not wish to work when the contractee requires the work done, the the contractor should not seek that position.

Now if the contractor accepted the position and signed a contract committing to working those hours, and the company attempted to force a change in the agreed upon hours to make the contractor work a different schedule, that would be a violation.
My dictated funny for the day
Dictated: He lives with his third wife. First wife was a widow, second wife divorced.
He just dictated she has lots of poop in the
GI tract.  Would you type that or change to feces????
Yes, that's why it's funny. If we only typed exactly what they dictated....
-
One more question - why then are they dictated as MS4 and not MD? Enlighten me please sm
Maybe I have been misinformed all of these years by physicians themselves.
Need help asap - Doctor dictated the following:
a sixteen one-thousandth split-thickness skin graft.  How do you type it?  Is it  0.0016-inch or 16/1000-inch or something else?  HELP
Can I play files dictated in DVI on my PC?

I was recently approached by a local doctor and asked if I would like to type for them.  The doctor's office uses a DVI system but they did not know anything else including what equipment I would need to play the files.  I was wondering if I could purchase software that would alow me to dial into their DVI system with my computer instead of using a separate DVI machine.


Thanks,
Mariah


You can't transcribe what hasn't been dictated. I don't see
p
And so you would spell it incorrectly as dictated?
Just wondering.