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This was the same time I worked for her (sm)

Posted By: SDS on 2006-09-08
In Reply to: REFUND AND PAYMENT - Angela

I didn't work very long with her because I couldn't ever log into the site. She said there was "system failure"... right, a system failure for a week. What it sounded like to me was she didn't pay the fee for the website, just my opinion of course.

I never received my foot pedal either. I repeatedly asked her what the hold up was and she either told me she would check on it or just not reply to my emails. Finally, after I stopped working for her, she told me that she had a receipt where FedEx tried to deliver the foot pedal and no one was home. This I know to be false, the FedEx driver for my area is a personal friend and knows what to do with our packages if no one is home. I receive packages fairly often and this has been the only one I have ever had problems with. She told me when she "sold" the foot pedal she would send me the money for it. I won't hold my breath waiting for it.
As for the paycheck, same thing. I never received it. She said she would check and see if it had been cashed and if not, reissue one. This was at the end of July and I have still to receive anything from her.
As for what is going with her now, all I can say is she got what she deserved. The only thing that bothers me is the number of people that she scammed.


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Have worked for two years part time straight out of school. sm
I have never worked "full time" since graduating from the VLC two years ago. I have always worked about 3-5 hours per day, five days per week. No weekends unless boss really needed to get things caught up, which I think was only once or twice. I have three kids and love spending my time with them as much as possible. I volunteer at their school for just about everything under the sun, so part time is what works for me. You shouldnt have any trouble finding part time as a newbie. Good luck!
I have traveled and worked for several years. I worked for a company

where I could download work, work off-line and then send completed work, had a 6 hour TAT.  That company went out of business and the company I have now supplies the computer and I have to be on-line to work, so short of taking their computer and having high-speed access, I am no longer able to travel/work.  It can be a good thing though because sometimes you just have to have some down time. 


This is what I have talked about time and time
and time again and somehow the MTs get completely out of joint by just my saying it. I could not believe this "newbie" said she could not leave her home, she had to work from home. I did not get to start working from my home until 1993, hello!! This has not always been a stay at home job and then we did NOT ASK to go home, we were sent home because the hospital needed our space. We never demanded a job at home. Apparently you sound like really don’t want a job at all. If I were employing someone, I would certain run very fast away from you. The first little nosebleed from a child, you would stay off from work for 2 or 3 weeks. This again, folks, is why our profession looks really bad. These posts and yet people are highly inflamed when I call it to their attention. Same story, again and again on these posts. I cant work, junior is bothering me, gotta do the housework. Wake up, everyone! Do not ever expect to gain any respect for the job you do when you have someone like this tearing it down as just a reason to stay at home, oh yeh and I guess I might throw in a little work on the side. Enough said!!!!
Don't know about course, but I have worked for them.

It has been a while and things have changed since then, but if you go to the company board and read through the archives there isn't much good to say about working for the company.  I don't think I have ever seen a post about the school.


They are training women in Trinidad and some other country to become MTs.  Every time I post this it gets deleted, but it says it on their website so it isn't just gossip. 


Any one worked for
A+ Scripts 'N More Corporation? I am thinking about doing their externship program to gain more experience (while I am currently working) and was wondering if any one has done it and how it went for them? Thanks.
I have worked VR
The hospital I work for has VR for everything but radiology. It takes too long to recognize and the we also have to edit it before it is sent back to the docs. Most of the doctors don't like VR where I work. Several asked to have their dictations typed by the inhouse transcribers.

But, it is VR is sorta alright now. I expect in the future, as most technology does, it will improve.
Has anyone worked for
Focus Infomatics Inc?  I received an email from them saying they were interested in my resume.  I just want to make sure they are legitimate.  Thank you in advance.
CS worked for me
I did Career Step, not M-Tec, so I can't comment on the differences, although I have read repeatedly that Andrews and M-Tec are much better.  Maybe they are, but I felt that I was prepared with the Career Step course, and I also did the Spheris Training Track and got hired on immediately after graduating, which is a wonderful way to bypass the whole first job issue.  That being said, I studied the Career Step program like a madwoman, looking everything up, going slowly, and typing every report in their FOMS section (even though it is not required).  If you feel comfortable learning on your own and don't need a lot of feedback, then Career Step can work for you.  I don't think the 4 month time frame is realistic....give it a good 8 months to a year.  I have had great QA scores since the beginning, and I don't regret doing their course.  JMHO!!
No, it's not your job - when I worked in a hospital (sm)
I was paid hourly with bonus for production.  Therefore, we could occasionally do other work (like the charting) if the clerk was off, answering phone, etc.; but being strictly on production, I would say, no it is not your job.
I worked inhouse and got little or no help from anyone
Everybody seemed angry and competitive. I guess they may have been angry because they weren't allowed to work from home. They were not friendly and certainly not helpful. Working from home with someone to contact when I needed help was ideal for me.
I worked for Focus
for about 6 months. It was my first job. I really liked the account I was on, and my team manager was very nice. The only reason I quit was because I couldn't get fast enough to make any money on voice recognition. I was not in the apprenticeship program though. It was kind of hard understanding the technician that got my software downloaded because he had a very thick accent. If I didn't understand him, I would just ask him to repeat himself. He was very friendly and even laughed sometimes when I asked him say something again. Overall, I had a very good experience with them. Some people weren't so lucky. Good luck!
I also worked for Focus
It was also my first job.  I only lasted a few months only because there was no work.  There were days that I only got 5 jobs....I'm sure this is not the case anymore.  The guy who trained me also had a very thick accent and that was frustrating at times.  At that time I had to purchase a $40 foot pedal that is NOT compatible with anything but there system.  It was also difficult for me to make any $ editing VR because the reports were so bad I ended up re-typing them...for .4 cpl.  Not a great experience for me. 
I have heard of them, but have never worked for them.
I would check the archives and see what posters have said about them.

Good luck!
I worked for probably 12 years with only one
computer, but I was the only one who pretty much used the computer.  That was years ago before the internet became what it has and you weren't downloading music, uploading pictures, etc.   I would make sure you have a good virus protection program.  If you have a SO that likes to play on-line games or computer games or have kids who need the computer for research I wouldn't spend the funds for a second computer, especially if funds are tight. 
Has anyone worked for Meditec?
If so, can you make any decent money with them? Do they have good accounts, support and platforms?  I'm thinking about applying.  I'm so tired of working long hours for less than minimum wage. 
I just recently worked with someone - sm
who "graduated" from there. They were lousy to say the least. They were let go as far as I know; did not learn from their mistakes and took forever to QA, had to go over everything with a fine tooth comb. They received thorough QA back but they either did not read it, or just did not learn not to make the same mistake over and over again. If they had learned from their mistakes though they probably wouldn't have been let go. It was a very frustrating experience.
Hours you worked

Starting as an IC, did that mean you were able to determine the hours you worked in a day?  For example, I would like to work early morning part-time and finish in later evening and night.  Is that something that was common to do as an IC, or do you have to give them a detail of the hours you are working?


I have worked at home since day 1 of graduation from M-TEC
I had multiple job offers when I graduated. I make excellent money now, after getting out of the learning curve of new accounts, etc. You might contact them and see if some of your training already received can be credited. Just an idea. I called around before I even went to school. All the employers told me to choose Andrews or M-Tec if I wanted marketability.
I work for a national but I have worked...sm
for MTSOs.  I am actually waiting to start work with a national for the first time.  I am not sure how different this is going to be compared to working for a MTSO.
Worked for Spheris for 6 months.
there are better places to work for that pay much better. For the new MT, they have a great training program and mentoring, but I did not stay there longterm as the pay was very low and the benefits were awful. I only wanted to be an employee for the medical benefits, but their medical was more expensive than if I purchased it on my own. The account I was on was also horrible (mostly ESLs). I was stressed day after day trying to make my line count. Since being away from Spheris, I have never had an issue with meeting line counts and actually do 2x the amount of lines each week working 10 hours less. I don't know what it was about there, but I just couldn't get over 120 lph. I would never go back there, but I did learn a lot while I was there.
I worked for a bank that did the same thing
and laid off about 3000 US customer service reps (3 call centers in 3 states). I was a CSR on the phone and luckily left less than a year before that happened. It was WaMu (and look how great they are doing with their home loans too. I hope they go down the tubes).
I worked for 2 years on site before I went home, but that was just
the hospital I worked for.  You technically had to do one year or so in the office, depending on how good you were.  I didn't really want to go home at first, but they kind of forced the issue. I hear Medquist will hire right out of school to start at home.  Good Luck!
I have worked exclusively on a laptop for nearly 6 years.

I have traveled through 34 states and Mexico and worked the whole time.  I have sat by the pool many days while my children swam.  I have sat out on my deck on a pretty day.   When space allows I use an external keyboard, but it only takes me a few minutes to readjust to the laptop keyboard when needed.   I obviously use a wav player for my work.   I have a bus card, a foot pedal, my earphones plugged in and sometimes my keyboard and I don't notice a significant difference in the drain on my battery whether I have these attached or not.  If your battery is running low that quickly you need a new battery.   I do not have an external mouse but use a touch pad.  I find that a mouse is necessary if you are using an external keyboard, becauase your computer will be elevated and it will create a strain on your wrist to use the touch pad.


She didn't say she worked in another state. That's why I asked WHY?
x
Everywhere I have worked, coders made more money than MTs.
nm
I've worked on-line for 15+ years and never
had to take a timed typing tests.  I've had to take terminology tests that were timed and I've had to transcribe some reports, but never a typing test. 
I love the work. If I worked at Wal-Mart
I would hate every minute of it.  I am not really a people person and need an intellectual challenge to be happy.  I learn new things all the time with MT, so it is always interesting.  Also, I love being available at a moment's notice if my kids get sick at school, being able to change my schedule easily if they have a field trip, etc.  Money isn't everything, and this is the right career for me at the moment.
Indian company with base here in USA..stay away..I worked for them once.
I would rather work a lemonade stand before I would work for them again. When you first get the job, you might possibly speak to an American voice. After that you will be dealing with Indian Team Leaders, Indian QA..Indian everything. Not to mention the fact that the Indian QA will tell you that you are wrong on something when you are right. Also, once I had a team leader (Indian, of course)who questioned me on whether or not I knew what headings when into a physical examination...I was transcribing surgery notes. Nonsense like this happened all the time because I would point out the error that QA would make (usually Stedman's to back me).

There are great companies out there who are strictly USA workers, and they are posting on here all the time on the job seeker's board..you just have to keep looking.

Hope that helps! Have a wonderful day!
I did 10 years ago and have worked at home doing acute care ever since! sm
They prepare you for the real world of working from home.  It is worth every penny! 
Most people lucky enough to be paid hourly worked on-site first.
Otherwise those jobs are very rare.
I do believe its time....

Peggy


Thanks for the push.


I was sitting in the auto shop today, contemplating how I can afford to put the money down when I have all of these expenses this week:  $100 tune up and oil change today, plus $600 for new tires for hubby, guestimate (my own) of $400-800 for 150,000 MI maintenance and fixing of a leaky tranny on my 93 volvo tomorrow, when I realized I CANNOT afford to wait. 


My kids' school is not going to waive my tuition because I haven't gotten off of my butt to go to school and get a job.  My car is not going to miraculously run forever on routine oil changes and tire rotations.  Life is going to get more expensive and I am going to have to work at some point.  Why not do it in a field I love (medicine) in a job that will give me the flexibility I need to work 5am-630, then 830-230, or something like that?  Its either that or work 8-5 as an admin med assistant/receptionist for $8.50/hr and deal with all of the fun stuff that goes along with that.  OR, even worse, work at Starbucks or Walmart because they are the only places that I can work "mommy" hours (ugh hate the term). 


Plus, it seems there are a lot of MTs who have 4 year degrees so I don't think I will feel like my education was wasted because there are plenty of other MTs out there who have the same level or more and love their work as an MT.  But I digress.


This time next year, I can be starting a job as an MT for a national company, but only if I start.


Time to go finish the paperwork and clean the house.


So much to do, so little time

I think I must have posted on the wrong board earlier...I got 55 views, but no responses to the following message..if anyone can help with info, I'd really appreciate it.  I'm sure I had too many questions, but any answers will do just fine. Thx


*************************************************************************************************


Hello,


I am really hoping to get some detailed information about anyone's RECENT experience with TASK as a transcriptionist.  Are you working steadily?  How long does it take to get on board with them -- I returned the contract to them recently with no results yet.  Just a little concerned.  Also, I only found posts here on them from 2003 and 2004 which didn't sound great...how are they handling the growth spurt now? Have the checks been submitted in a more timely manner?  Sorry about all of the questions, but I really want to start working on a full-time basis and want to know who/what companies to contact that will get me started and paid as soon as possible.  Thanks for any help everyone!


Q & A time

Hi all!


Does anyone know anything about Allstate Transcription and the mentoring program through AIM? They are telling me that I would have to take this mentor program and that it would be $99. I am newbie and wanted to see if this is legit or just someone trying to scam me outta $$$$$.....are you hired on there after the mentor program? Someone please.....give me an A!!!


Thanks, Sher


not all the time

Thanks, Keri, for sharing your experience.  The unsettling thing is that I *do* find myself missing the occasional word--not all the time, but enough to make me feel that I need to be re-listening to the file.  I am always surprised when I've missed a word because I am listening so carefully.  Sometimes I feel like a dog with its head tilted, waiting for the crunch of the family car's wheels in the driveway!  Any advice on how to be a better listener??


Doing MT Part Time

I work 8 hours per day, 4 days per week, at my job outside my home.  I'm doing transcription on Fridays and what I can fit in on Saturdays and Sundays.  I'm an IC.  I love doing the work, but you really have to discipline yourself to sit there in that chair and do it.  It's very easy to get up and wonder off or take off somewhere and say "oh I'll finish this later.  Before you know it the weekend is gone and you have to hustle to get it done.  Luckily the company I'm working for has a QA person that is the greatest and she knows my schedule and time limit and sends me work accordingly. 


The company I worked for before would send me work all during the week, and I was busting it trying to do that and work during the day too.  It was tough.  Best of luck to you.


She's been trying for some time to find
someone to tell her she can take the $1.95 MT course, then get a job making big bucks working only when she wants. She's been told the truth, she just doesn't want to hear it. And I don't care what you think of me, Carol.
I don't have to time or patience...
for people like her! MAYBE she needs to find a new career!
I have a FT job (not MT) and do MT part-time.
It's worked for me for over three years. I drop off the previous day's work and pick up my new work on my way home from my FT job. They want a 24-hr TAT, so that works out all right. Of course, it wouldn't work with a shorter TAT. It can work if the logistics are acceptable. The fact that I can do the MT work at home makes it easy to fit in with the rest of my life. If you're organized, it can be done.
Get another part-time to go with this one if
it is full-time. Don't wait for the work to come in. Do you have set hours or can you work when you want. I mean are you employee or self-employed independent contractor?

If you are an employee, you could get unemployment or partial but I doubt that you are an employee.

Do something soon. Don't sit and wait till there is no work.

There are typical times when there is not enough work but I don't think this is particularly one of them.

time with hubby
On the weekends..lol. He usually leaves me alone during the week, and he knows if I don't get my work done that I need to do, I'm not in a good mood anyway.
Time to complete
I keep careful track of my study hours with a timer. I have spent 790 hours studying so far. I am in Month 12 midway into Week 49. There are 77 weeks in the course. According to my quick calculations, it would take me 61.5 weeks to complete the course if I studied 20 hours/week, 49 weeks @ 25 hours/week, 41 weeks @ 30 hours/week, and 31 weeks @ 40 hours/week. I am a slow learner, but I have had most of this material before, so it is review for me. Also keep in mind that the estimates above do not include any time for illnesses, vacation, houseguests, etc.
Don't waste your time
Focus is known to hire new MTs, but then they rarely have work available for these MTs. Currently, they have hired a lot of people from my school and have postponed training because there is no work available. I would look elsewhere.
put your time to work for you
If you're with a company and you know what Expander program you will be using, you can spend your free time working on that.  Look up sites on the Internet that give free lists.  Practice with them.  If you have any reference books like Stedman's with sample reports, start building your program from them.  Most of what you type on every report is common English phrases -- you can concentrate on entering them into your expander now while you wait for work.  When the work comes, you'll be able to do it faster.  Don't worry about what medical terminology to enter now.  You'll type "the patient" and things like that many, many more times than medical terms.   Enter phrases that begin with the words "was, were, in the, on the, over the, below the, into the, under the."  Make shortcuts for blood pressure, pulse, temperature values.  You'll get ideas from the Internet sites.  In the end, it will really pay off when the work comes.  Just practice condensing words and phrases into their least amount of letters and work on developing a system that works for you.  Train your mind to think in "expander mode." 
Takes time

My friend made $50,000 last year and has only been doing MT work for 4 years now.  It can be done.  You just have to find the right companies and work hard to get what you want.  She has never worked for any nationals.  She does do IC work for 3 companies right now.  I just graduated and am looking forward to getting my first job. 


Good luck! 


It takes time

I think most do, but I have heard some do not.  You just get to where you can proof as you go.  I know it seems like you are not very fast right now and that 1200 to 1600 lines a day is completely unreachable, but it is possible.  There is an MT with the company I work for who commits to 2300 lines a day.  I could not do that.  It just takes time to build up your speed and make as many shortcut keys as you can. 


You will get better, it takes time
We have all struggled in the beginning.  Pretty soon, you will find you look up less and less each day and many days you won't have to look up anything at all!  Hang in there and persevere.  You will be okay.
Sorry it took me some time to reply (sm)
It is totally normal to be nervous when you first begin a job.  I have been an MT for a long time and I still get nervous when I first begin a new account.  You will make mistakes, and that is to be expected.  My best advice for you:  Always be polite to QA.  Do not take their advice personally.  Thank them for the advice that they offer and let them know that you will always be open to that advice.  Do not be afraid to ask for samples.  Many times they are available.  Make notes of all QA feedback and keep those notes on file.  That is the best way to prevent repeat mistakes.  It also shows that you value your job and are serious about learning the account.  Good luck!
Part time MT?

Hello everyone,


I am interested in becoming a part-time MT and thought I would ask anyone willing to respond a few questions.  Though it may make no difference whatsoever, I am about to graduate with a master's degree in education. I am interested in supplementing my current income. I have been researching MT for several months and would really appreciate any feedback. Here are a few questions:


How difficult is it to receive job offers without any formal training like Career Step in MT?


Does anyone know of a place that offers internship or other opportunities where I can obtain practical experience in lieu of formal MT training?


Is it realistic to make the amount of money publicized on many of the training websites without working 12 hours a day?


 


Thank you for your responses!


 


I had a hard time
I had a hard time getting through this course too,  I found that I was marked off for things that were not wrong on the previous chapters.  So I would argue every grade I got and although most of the time they fixed what they counted wrong they still never gave me a higher grade.  I finally got finished with the course and the only job I got was one that has a severe history of not paying their employees.  I trusted the school to provide me the jobs for life like I paid for and being new at this I didn't know any better, so I took that job and never got my money and when I contacted the school they said that they had looked up and researched that employer and was very sorry for all my troubles.  I have not gotten another job yet and it has been since September.   They do not provide doctors to work for like they say, they provide assessment tests and I have tested with  hundreds and still had to take a part time job that has nothing to do with transcription work.  I strongly urge you to research any job you get from them.  I think the grade all depends on the mood of the grader that day,  I did great the first half, above the expected grade and then about chapter 10 they were confusing on the grading and it took sometimes 2-3 weeks before they posted a grade and by then I was ready to submit my next test and was again waiting,  Very rarely did anyone return my calls and so I e-mailed everyone that I had an e-mail address for with my questions, I figured somebody would answer. haha.  It worked.  Well good luck to you, but one thing I did find when I was working is that you learn so much more on the job than the school ever teaches you, Good luck to you.
This is not a good time to be SM

a newbie trying to get a job.  We have a number of services not hiring at all right now and one that even just laid people off.  You have a lot of experienced people out there looking and they will always have a leg up on someone with no experience.  As long as the economy is bad and the MTSOs are tightening their belts, it's going to be tough for you to find a job.


4 hrs may be what they think is full-time
A lot of MTSOs staff based on the least amount they know an MT can do. They may be considering the amount they give you to be a full day's work.

If you are finding every MTSO to provide less than what you can do, it might be better to work for two MTSOs. Rather than changing jobs entirely, get a second job. That way, you'd have TWO assignments of what is, for you, a half-day's work.