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Serving Over 20,000 US Medical Transcriptionists

they will continue to offer low wages because there is always SOMEONE who will take it!

Posted By: lkm on 2006-09-01
In Reply to: quite concerned - nn

nm


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Offer 1 week notice, but willing to offer 2 if they would be in a bind. Also, (sm)
make sure your resignation letter is written with class.  Never good to burn your bridges.
I have always said and will continue

to say that you can take all the classes you want for this job, but it's on the job training that is best.  I have seen the on line course that our local college offers, and it makes no sense to me.  Yeh, you have to know grammar, etc., but the in depth English course that you have to take is crazy!  You have to understand the doc, know terminology for sure, have lots of referrences and definitely know where a period and comma goes, but ultimately, isn't it up to the person dictating to be clear and know how they want the report to go.  It's not a job everyone can do that's for sure, but it's definitely a job that requires you to gain experience by actually doing it. 


I was thrown into transcription at age 18 at a clinic that I worked for, didn't know anything about it, and it showed in the reports...I stuck in there though because I had no choice, and when I think back to all the crap I took from docs because I really didn't have a clue...I feel lucky, but that feeling is slowly going away becasue of all the new rules, technology, etc., but I guess that's the way it goes, things evolve, times change.   That's why anyone who comes to me for advice about this type of job, I say, now especially, always have a plan B. 


 


If you continue to work for them under these
circumstances and accept their policies by continuing to work there, why would they change. 
They are getting away with it because you continue to work

for them, even though they are cheating you.  


There should be clear written guidelines as to how they count lines and you should have a system to keep track of lines independently of SS.  If there  is a discrepancy it needs to be addressed.   You can file a complaint with the labor board if you can document discrepancy, also file with Attorney General.


If you know there is a problem and you continue to work there you basically say it is okay for them to screw you.  


Not really trying to continue stirring the pot, but...

it really does seem that those with a negative view just LOVE to post here.  Honestly, that fact doesn't mean a whole lot, since I agree that there are probably many, many MTs with positive viewpoints on most any subject here...they just don't post.  Who knows why?  Not me.  Maybe they are positive people who want to stay feeling that way and don't want to get slammed, so they don't post. 


I know, someone will now tell me that I can't speak for others.  I'm not.  I'm just pondering the reasons for the ABUNDANT negative posts vs. the piddly amount of positive posts on most every subject. 


My point is I'm sure HappyMQ'r is not alone in her happiness with MQ.  She's just more verbal than some. 


Why do you continue to call
people fat and ugly?
If you continue to speak to me
like that I will ban you from my site.  Now, I'm trying to relate to you guys by being honest. You should appreciate that.
are not that nice, but they continue....sm

to take classes and learn even if they are OLD MDs.  I have been treated in France and England and yes, their offices are not SPECTACULAR AND FANCY like most of ours in the USA....but they treat people really nice and are very thorough.....esp in American Hospital in France.


I have spent YEARS in Europe.........and prefer the medical system there than here.


If we built and continue...

....to build corporations in Mexico, they why in the world do they keep coming over here for work? 


I totally understand where you're coming from.  I have had many family members and friends lose jobs they have worked at for 25+ years.  It's a shame this continues to go on.  Maybe our political postions should be outsourced to the American people, not the high-rollers who are put there because of WHO they know and NOT because they care about us! 


I am bilingual. Please continue SM
thinking that you should not have to learn another language, you will be one less person I will have to compete with in the global economy. 
want to continue using her service. If he says
x
If IC could continue to do p.r.n. stats, but I
x
Well, for example- I want to continue to work
Who told you your full retirement is age 70?? On my papers from social security (and the person there told me same plus another person I spoke with from social security) that full retirement is for me age 66, last year it was 65. Who in the world told you full retirement was 70? Do this, just call social security on Monday and ask them. Simple. What you started off saying and the reason people talked about behind bars and the like, sounds like you wanted to be "employee" of husband, he could pay you, sounds totally underhanded- that is what I thought as well as others on here. I work as independent and pay my own taxes, nothing to do with husband's during the year.
I feel the same way. If we continue to use VR, then
our typing skills will get weak and thus if and when we do need to do straight transcription, we will be a low slower because we are not typing every day. I love to type and that is one of the main reasons I became a medical transcriptionist.
Why do continue to work as an MT then?
I work for 8 cpl and earn approximately $4000 a month working an easy clinic account like the OP. Even setting aside a generous 30% for taxes and paying for insurance, my take home pay is around $2500. Not bad for an easy clinic job with little stress. If I was working acute care or a lot of difficult ESLs, then yes, I would expect to be paid more.
How long would you continue to do work for someone sm
when your check didn't come when it was supposed to?  It is a week late now, saying it was mailed when supposed to be mailed to the correct address but i have not received it yet.  I now already have 2 weeks worth of pay supposed to be on next check.  At what point would you not do any more work until receiving payment?  I have worked for this small MTSO for about 10 months now and never a problem before.  Just leiry as the more I type, the more income i am wondering if i will receive.  Not idea if it truly wasn't mailed or if lost somewhere in the mail. 
It was so good. I was thinking they were going to continue it
again.  I just love George, Patrick Dempsey ain't bad to look at either.  What did Izzy used to be in?.  She looks so familiar but I don't recognize her name. 
I will no longer continue to bicker with you...
I mentioned one word being misspelled, as I stated above, not the typos. It was the most important word of the post N-I-E-C-E. Relax.
I'm not a national MT service but I will continue to use IC's

as I believe I can meet the burden of proof required by IDES and IRS.


Ice first, heat later. Continue to move around some.
Bed rest is not actually recommended anymore. Avoid riding in moving vehicles as that will be the most painful time, trust me.
Okay, just for grins and giggles, to continue

I just brought up that document from last night that I had in Word - and this is what I came up with:


 


5889 characters w/o spaces divided by 65 gives you 90.6 lines


 


6959 characters w/spaces divided by 65 gives you 107.06 lines


 


6959 characters w/spaces divided by 55 gives you 126.5 lines


 


Anyway, I am no math genius - and my husband helped me last night to figure out the percentage - but there was a 15.4% difference between 65 character line with and w/o - you will have to do the math yourself to figure out the % difference between your 55 character line - but w/o spaces you definitely lose and looks to be substantial difference when you factor in your 55 character line.  Good luck!!  It sure made our decision easier! :))


What is worse are companies that continue to use
sdf
Why in the world would you continue to work
out there?   Are you mentally challenged???
I would advise you to continue teaching! nm
x
Word ? DO NOT go on this board, but people continue
to post them.  Administrators have continuously posted DO NOT post word questions here.  Most everything else is allowed unless people get ugly and then they are told to take it elsewhere.  If you want to play you need to follow the rules. 
patience prudence..keep notes and continue to try.

I have 26 years experience, continue to learn every day. nm
nm
Thank you. As long as we accept payment like that, they will continue to do it.
If we do not accept jobs that pay without spaces, then they will realize that we are not going to continue to do something for nothing. How many of you do several things throughout the day at no charge? Now this...
Anybody go south for winter and continue working?

Hubby and I are thinking of going south for the first time this coming winter.  I've found some sublets with internet access, mostly wireless, one wired.  My work uses DocQScribe and internet based.   I use a desktop computer for work but have a laptop capable of the job. 


Have any of you done this?  If so, what was your experience?  Any tips or precautions as far as wireless internet security?  At home we have a wired network with a hardware firewall/router so no experience with wireless.  I'm not high tech but not a complete novice either.


As for paying bills and accessing cash in a different locale, did you use online banking and ATMs or some other method?  I confess some hesitation about online banking even though most of my friends and neighbors have used it for years!


Thanks to anyone who can help. 


just wondering - but why do people continue to work for a company - sm
that has no work or keeps running out? I'm not asking this in a sarcastic tone, I'm actually being very serious. When I posted my resume on MTstars bank, I was FLOODED with calls from transcription companies. Might I suggest, if people are not happy where they are currently working, to just post your resume on MTstars and wait for the calls to come in.

It's just a thought. And again, I am not being sarcastic, I'm being serious!
It amazes me that places can continue to get new accounts when they do not pay their employees and h
x
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!!!!
Instant Text can import your SH entries so you can continue
to use those shortcuts you are used to. IT can also import AutoCorrect and AutoText.

I used SH for a whole lot of years and switched to IT and have never looked back!
$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.
I don't think cutting wages is against the law.
Not paying overtime for employees, inappropriate classification of statutory employees, etc., those items fall under DOL.

If cutting wages was a crime, then the airlines, factories, hospitals, virtually all businesses would be under "investigation" and in grave trouble.


What are you trying to accomplish with your post? Just put information out there about a company you won't name? Wanting advice? Truly, I don't understand what you are wanting in reply.

radiology wages
If you are thinking of working for a large teaching hospital where they have 10 page Neurointerventional reports, large MRIs and CTs , etc, you will surely find yourself regreting working for per page.  I currently make $200+ per day doing radiology.  Today I did 112 reports and tho I won't see my exact lines until tomorrow I know I am over the $200 mark. You do the math.   Last month I pulled in $4000.
here's an even better link to see ALL about wages in USA
http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/wages/minimumwage.htm
Slave Wages
I dont know who you work for but I make about $25-30 per hour. I work two jobs and 10-12 hours a day and on weekends and I make between $6000 and $7000 per month. I know that is excessive for hours but I am trying to pay off my house, car, etc and I am spoiling my 3 kids rotten!!

I type radiology, which I believe is the easiest and fastest to learn and type.
yearly wages

Last year had small MTSO two part-time IC's working for me, worked as employee parttime in clinic.  Worked 50 hours per week.  Made -- myself not counting what my IC's brought in -- $62 K.  Starting June 1st, quit the employee position -- divorce attorney fees paid off, no IC's and keeping my 4 accounts,  will work 25 to 28 hours per week and make approximately 40K from these four accounts per year.  If I get stuck and need more will do overflow for another MTSO.   But too many headaches and time to take some time for myself.  Looking forward to it.


Patti


Cannot bellieve wages.

Many companies now only want to pay 6.5 to 8 CPL.  This is even for seasoned MTs.  Even ICs are not offered much more compensation.  I have friends working at WalMart making more than some MTs.  If you type 200 LPH at 7 cpl that is $14.00 an hour, but the health insurance is very expensive at these companies.  You must have over 98% on QA scores, but they don't want to pay more for quality and experience.  Plus many jobs are IC and you have higher taxes.  I feel that wages have been falling steadily in the past years and continue to fall.  No wonder there is a shortage of experienced MTs (so I hear).  More likely it is a shortage of experienced MTs that want to work for such low wages and no raises in the future.


falling wages...
Unfortuntely, it is true, falling wages for MTs and experience plays not part in it.  But, there is a reason for it....as we all are aware, hospitals have chosen to cut their debt by outsourcing medical transcription to India for 1/4 the cost it would be to pay us here in the states.  Let's face it...MT jobs here in the states will soon be absolete, and thinking about the wages ever getting better, forget.  My advise is for all MTs to seek another source of income before it is too late....i.e. perhaps going back to school or seeking one of the higher paying jobs or at least equal to medical transcription such as Walmarts, Meijers, restaurants, etc...and eh...even get medical benefits, vacation time, etc....I currently receive none of that from my employer and was also told to take a pay decrease as of this 12/02...along with everyone else, so was paying us 10 cents per line, but little trick to that, lines are 70 characters per line with spaces included....everyone does 65 characters with spaces...now from 10 cents to 9 cents and 70 characters per line...hmmmm, I figure I am making 8 cents a line now.  Yes indeed, I am out of transcription after 25 years coming this income tax refund check.  Transcription has become a degrading job!
quality vs wages

While I do agree that there is a vast majority of MTs who are of extremely poor quality, there also are very high-quality, well-seasoned MTs like myself who are tired of making the same wages we made 10-15 years ago.  If there is such a discrepancy in our work quality and ethics, these corporations (who, by the way, are not slacking at all in their 6-figure income pockets!!!!) should pay MTs based on quality and experience, not just experience alone. 


IS ANYONE OUT THERE BESIDES ME INTERESTED IN FORMING A NATIONAL MT UNION SO WE CAN GET BACK THE DIGNITY WE HAVE LOST?


I remain,


tired