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Serving Over 20,000 US Medical Transcriptionists

you fail to understand basic economics

Posted By: sm on 2006-08-03
In Reply to: If all IC's understood what that IC means, maybe... - casey

the market will pay whatever the market will bear. You say "if all IC's set their pay scale like they should have in the beginning, the MTSO's would have to pay it in order to get their work done and would have to charge their clients enough to cover the costs." What you don't understand is that MTSO's don't set their pay scale either. The physicians decide what they are willing to pay and if you can't bid into that range, you don't get the work. When India came in to the picture, the entire pay scale dropped. Therefore, MTSO's must charge less if they want the work. Therefore IC's must accept less if THEY want the work... and so on down the food chain.




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no, I don't fail to understand....
I said, in the beginning.  I have been an MTSO for many years.  I tell the physicians what I charge.  I have lost only 1 account out of many due to cost.  I realize the horrible effect that outsourcing has had, but there are many, many physicians who still care about the quality of their transcription and are willling to pay for it. 
I kind of fail to understand...sm
...why this is upsetting you so much.  She didn't call your husband and flirt with him or ask him out.  She called looking for your husband's friend, and I am assuming from your post that this woman is a friend of your husband's friend.  A lot of males have female friends and vice-versa.  I fail to see how this is your fight.  I would let it go.  It doesn't sound like it's hardly worth getting yourself upset.  Just my 0.02 cents.   
Although I understand the basic premise of your post ...

I can't totally agree with your viewpoint.  Yes, we should all appreciate any constructive feedback that we receive from QA.  It helps us to improve our work process and refine our ear.  A true professional is always looking for ways to better him/herself professionally. 


But I have to continue to contend that the NASTINESS that some QA people think it's their privilege to throw out is neither necessary nor professional.  They're not editing our work out of the goodness of their hearts.  They get PAID to do it, and we shouldn't have to bear the brunt of the frustration that they have for doing a job that they're getting paid to do. 


A basic recommendation for a basic expander use plan SM
If you use your Expander mainly to store text for specific doctors and their specific reports you will 1) Find it extremely difficult and expensive to change jobs (critically so, to the point of eventually feeling you can't or even leaving the field when your employer lets you go) and 2) as someone said, find yourself spending a whole lot of time editing your expansions to the current report.

I strongly recommend instead contacting Linda for her system, then day by day developing your expander vocabulary of INDIVIDUAL words and phrases, untied to any specific report. I can take my abbreviation for "denies any fevers, chills, or sweats" (dyfcos) to any of dozens of companies and use it for dictations of thousands of doctors. No having to change it, because I also have one for "denies fever, chills, or sweats," one for "denies having fevers, chills, or sweats," and so on and so on. As Linda says, with a system the individual abbreviations don't have to be memorized. As you can see, these terms are merely the first letters of the words in the phrase(with Y standing in for "any" instead of A because that's my abbreviation for the word "any" itself).

BTW, regarding that last, editing gets very fast when all you have to type to drop in the word "the" here and there as you cruise through is a T, "his" a G, a "that" a V, et cetera. No special reason for those letters for those words, I was just looking for a one-letter abbreviation I could cut them down to to speed up.

Hope this makes sense. Linda will understand what I mean about the extreme importance of developing an independent dictionary of expansions that will work with any dictator.
You did not fail!
Not every job is right for every person. It is actually a positive thing that you realize that the company is not a good match for you. If I were in that position, I would give a 2-week notice, as it is the professional thing to do. Good luck! Don't beat yourself up. There is something else good out there for you.
You are setting yourself up to most likely fail...

if you try to start an MT business right out of school.  Unfortunately, people take the college courses for MT just to find out that most employers do require experience.  There are companies that do hire newbies, but one must have attended an "approved" school.  It's not too late for you though.  I see you as having 3 options:


1. You attend an "approved" MT course/start over with schooling.


2. You apply everywhere, check your newspaper, keep looking.


3. You attempt to start up your own business and learn as you go, although I highly don't recommend this route. 


 


Good luck!


What happens if you fail your QA audit?
Do they fire you or help you or what? I know it is different at every company. Just curious what might happen.
fried chicken - NEVER FAIL!!
I have been using this for years, beats the heck out of KFC or God forbid, frozen!

McCormick Season 'n Fry Seasoned Coating for Chicken. You'll love it, I promise, and so will your family. Just don't tell them, surprise 'em!
What company test did you fail? - sm
Maybe I can make you feel a little better if I share my experience!
I fail to see how owning a service and going to

x


ha ha eat a Whopper and fail a drug screen.

cutsey seeds and lose a job. 


The thing with the suntan lotion is wow.  I saw some of that lotion at the suntanning salon I go to.  What I can't figure out is why put hemp in tanning bed lotions anyway?


Many people say they fail the test even though it seems easy. nm
s
It's hard so that you'll fail the first time and
Tell your employer that the money you give to AAMT/ADHI for the 'privilege' of taking their test is funding the progressive offshoring of the American MT profession. If you've been an MT for nearly 30 years, you don't need a CMT after your name. You were a professional MT long before that bunch of con artists dreamed up that scheme to make themselves rich by making MTs think they were on their side. Now we all know better. Don't fund their offshoring scam!
If you didn't follow the current BOS style "rules" etc. that's where you might have fail
s
YOU, Busy MT'ing, are one of those that fail to reach mature conversation when you mockingly add
x
Basic 4

Can anyone tell me what Basic 4 MTs is?


THanks


basic 4
Where I have worked, op reports have always been a part of the basic 4...DS/OPS/H&P/CONS. Letters were just a part of the overall package. ER was in a class all its own and not considered as difficult at the basic 4 (on par with clinic work).
I know it's very basic, but have you...
tried Yahoo Geocities? I have an 'information only' site I made myself, and I think it's about $10 per month.
The basic 4s are so much different
than your clinic work. When starting in MTing I thought it would be a breeze. It took me a full year to get up to the expected number of lines per day. The lines they are asking for in order for you to go home, in fact, is probably less than most require in this field. I always transcribed over 2000 lines per day and now with voice recognition and straight it is over 3000. That is the world of transcription. I think their count is lenient myself. Transcription work is not easy as you are learning.
What is the basic
equipment and software that one should have before working as an IC? I currently work full time (supposedly) for a hospital and would like to supplement my income but am afraid of not having the right equipment to start. Also, can anyone suggest a good company? Thanks!!!
Basic 4
The 'Basic 4' work 'types' we speak of are: History and Physical Examinations, Consultations, Operative Reports (including Procedure Notes) and Discharge Summaries (including Psychiatric reports).
Basic 4
What is meant by Basic 4 - NM
Basic four?
Well, imagine the dive my confience took as a new MT looking for work, when I started hearing the term "basic four" and had no clue what that meant. *sigh*

Enlighten me, please?
The basic 4s were around in the 70s
Heard it then, has nothing to do with the MTSOs because I never knew of companies existing before the early 2000s as I was only working inhouse at hospitals. If a person does not know what they are, then how do you suppose a person might be able to do, just wing it? This is a newbie asking the question, not a dumb question but just one that maybe she should know because if not, might hinder her in the ability to do a job.
Basic 4 question

I am a bit confused... I thought that the basic 4 included (Op, DS, H&P, and ER) But I've read that it entails (Op, DS, H&P and Consults). Is this correct?  If so, how do  I go about finding ER work as an IC?  Thanks!


I used to make .10 cpl but have been bumped down to 9 cpl and with new platform just implemented, I have totalled it to be a 40% reduction in pay.  I'm  bummed...


Any advice?  


Basic equipment

I know I am of the "old school" but I think that you do need to have some basic equipment on hand when you are advertising to do transcription.  You don't have to have everything but a basic microcassette is not that much money.  Any account that I have gotten -- though it was years ago -- asked me what equipment I had and if I did not have what they needed --they searched elsewhere.  That is why I invested in my transcribers starting with the micro, then standard and then mini.  All accounts had me start within a week of talking with them.   Last year when I was thinking of expanding and had a couple of inquiries when they found out that I was not immediately set up to do digital -- though I told them I would buy the equipment and get set up -- did not hear back from them.  So I think you need the basics so that you are ready to go when they ask.  Since she has been working for a national already, she has her foot pedal and can do digital, just get a transcriber for the tapes --most of the smaller offices still go with the tapes.  But again, I am of the old school and have not looked for new clients for a while.  But I sure would not advertise or attempt to get accounts without the equipment and being ready to go at a minute's notice since they might use me for overflow and I could get my foot in the door.  A client does not like to hear,  I will be set up in a week for you or ten days.   Though they can say it, when they want your service and you are solicting for the business you had better be ready to do it.  Just me.


 


I would just keep it basic, without details. - sm
When I left my ex-employer, I had all kinds of grievances. But the bottom line is, they already knew each and every one of them, because I had already told management about them (in addition to the other MTs telling them the same things!) As an inhouse job, they also dud exit interviews. I skipped that, too. If there was something they didn't know about why I or anyone else that worked there was leaving, they could just figure it out for themselves.
Basic 4 report
Where could I see an example of a basic 4 report?  I've only typed SOAP notes.
While ER isn't one of the basic 4, I'd gladly
take ER reports any day over acute care. They're very repetitive & good lines.
acute care basic 4

Could someone please explain the major differences between acute care basic 4 and multispecialty clinic transcription?   It seems that the job ads usually specify which one and how much experience is needed with each of these categories, but I am curious to know the differences and why someone with several years of multispecialty clinic experience may not do well with acute care hospital transcription.



TIA for any info provided!


Of course, that's basic living *grin* ...... nm
xx
Have you ever known anyone in mgmt. with ANY basic intelligence? (nm)
?
Are there companies that mentor you on Basic 4? sm
I worked in a hospital, but it has been 8 years. I need to get up to speed and want to work part-time for someone doing the basic 4s where I could be mentored until I'm up to speed. Are there any companies out there like this?
acute care basic 4
what exactly does acute care basic 4 mean?  I mostly do ortho and PT and am looking for more work, willing to branch out but Ive only done it for 1 1/2 yrs and not exactly sure what that is.  thanks
clinic work vs basic 4.
Both are very different. One thing that I have found extremely helpful is a good word Expander program. When I used to train MTs when I worked outside my home, one rule of thumb was it the doctor says it twice, it goes into your word expander. I use Instant Text which is a little pricy, but it pays for itself in the long run. If I have to look up and medication or a specific work, it does into my word expander; I never have to type it again. Whatever expander you choose or buy, it is money well spent. Acute care is higher difficulty, but it can be done and a Word Expander can help you.
it is basic English grammar, without that, you can't do the job.
x
Just the basic preferred edition could never
x
basic PC/phone line
Windstream (Houston area) charges about $16 a month for just a basic, no-frills line.  That's why I hoped to hear if anyone else had any luck with MagicJack.  I got one, but something just isn't working right.  May be an OE (operator error), tho!
Basic 4 isn't one report, it's 4 different types. sm
H&P's, discharge summaries, op reports, and ....i'm blanking on the 4th, sorry.
I think it should be changed to the basic 5, and include ERs (sm)

A lot of hospitals have their med rec dept MTs (or MTSO) do ERs, as well.  Those reports are usually sort of a combination H&P, OP (minor procedures) and/or DS--more detailed than clinic SOAPs. 


Acute care basic 4
Please refresh me on what the acute care basic four are.  Thanks to anyone who can jog my memory.
The basic 4 are discharges, op notes, H&Ps and consults. Sometimes
referred to as acute care. 
Sorry, an "MT" should never make such basic mistakes,
FLAME AWAY.
You can start very slow and not even do all of the basic video
start off every other day doing the video and on opposite days, walk one mile. I also changed my diet to high protein and low fat with lots of fruits and vegies. I lost 50 lbs starting like this and after only 2 months, I was doing the full more difficult video plus doing 5 mile hikes 2 days a week and an 8 mile hike a third day a week. It only took 4 months total to get to where I wanted. At age 36 I was looking better in a 2 piece swim suit than most 20 year olds! You CAN do it! Make your goal getting into shape, not losing weight. You'll be more successful thinking about it like that!
Did you look at the margins and formatting and see how your basic template is set up? Never had this
s
The basic Stedman's package is great and they you
s
The accounts we are hiring for right now are for basic 4, oncology and sm
multispecialty clinic. We do not have any radiology openings as of today but if a contract is signed today that is expected, that will change.
Do you do basic 4 for a hospital or clinic work?
``
Basic 4 = op notes, consults, H&Ps, Disch. Summaries.
Most services want at least 2 years of experience and a high score on a screening test. Consider your options carefully and read the archives regarding pros and cons of working for services. A few are great; most are not.
You would think, coming on an MT site, she would not have made a mistake as basic as that.
:p
I am looking for some good basic orthopedic sites -- Any ideas?
nm