A community of 30,000 US Transcriptionist serving Medical Transcription Industry

After seeing the ad this morning for the IC and they - sm

Posted: Jan 02, 2012

only want to pay 8 cpl on top of requiring a foot pedal and specific software, has anyone ever emailed these places to tell them how absolutely ridiculous it is for them to expect us to buy a footpedal and specific software when the pay is low? Just curious.

IC - MT

[ In Reply To ..]
When are people like you going to realize that 8 cents per line is the going rate and in order for the work to stay here in the United States, we are going to have to deal with it. Most companies require you to have the software. When you call for a plumber, do you ask who charges the most expensive rate and hire them or do you look for the cheapest possible plumber and do you supply the tools that the plumber needs to do the work because you hired the one with the lowest bid? Seriously, get over it. It's a sign of the times. I, myself, do very well with 8 cents per line and if you can't hack it and make a decent hourly rate at 8 cents per line then you need to find a different profession.

8 might be the going rate but - Beentheredonethat

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I'm IC and I make more than 8 cents...believe 8 cents is *decent* but not good. I don't have to provide my own software, don't believe its true that *most* require you to have it; depends on the company and how much an MT is willing to work for. Companies who offer 6-7 cents a line, now THAT'S the ones we should boycott.

8 cpl and IC - typrina

[ In Reply To ..]
Yes, definitely boycott when they pay less than 8 cpl for IC in my opinion. I started out working at home almost 8 years ago at 8 cpl and haven't made bad money. Anything less than that, I would say forget it.

8 cpl - typrina

[ In Reply To ..]
sorry it was 6 years ago I started working from home at 8 cpl. I just heard this morning from what is reported to be a decent company wanting to start out at only 7 cpl. I don't believe I would want to do this, although they indicate it will go up, slowly though I am sure. I currently make 9 cpl, took me a year after working from home to get to that. I never ask for a raise anymore as I know, well, just forget it with all the EMR, voice recognition and cheap line rates anymore.

And when are "people like you" going to grow up - sm

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and realize THAT is why the rates are so low???

Rates are low because - MT

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other countries are stealing our jobs and so is technology. Between voice recognition and EPIC, be glad there are still jobs out there!! Companies can get away with paying 6 and 7 cents per line and are doing so. Offering 8 cents per line is pretty darn good when others are offering lower. I have yet to see a company offer more than 8 cents per line.

have yet to see a company offer more than 8 cents, really? - Beentheredonethat

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I've been with 3 different companies in 3 years and they ALL offered more than 8 cents as an IC. The company I'm currently with offers production incentives up to 10 cpl for 6500+ lines a week. At 5000+ lines a week it's 9.3 cpl. Some (good) companies do still consider skill and experience something to pay a little more for.

wages and wages - mt2

[ In Reply To ..]
8 cpl as an IC is better, IMO, than 9 cpl as an employee given the tax situation. So many people cry because you have to "pay" your own taxes, when the reality is you are paying 7% for SS. The rest of the taxes you'd pay anyway. Most good MTs can make a decent living off of 8 cpl.

Personally, I work for 2 companies and both pay me greater than 8 cpl (including speech rec). So there *ARE* companies that pay for a talented MT and value those MTs.

But if I were an MT looking for a job, and found a decent job (as in decent work) and was offered 8 cpl, I'd likely take it. And yes, I agree this is part of the problem, that people are willing to work for less in order to be working, but the REALITY (v IDEALISM) is if you want to eat, you have to work. Unless every MT in the country (and that is a much larger audience than will ever be on these pages) says no, I know I can be readily replaced by technology as not, so I'll watch my own bank account first. My days of wanting to change the world have passed.

If you can't make some money with 8 cpl, you may be in the wrong business - Experienced MT

[ In Reply To ..]
Obviously it depends on the platform and the quality of the dictation, but 8 cpl sounds pretty good these days when jobs are scarce. If you can do better than that, fine, but I wouldn't scoff at 8 cpl.

Yeah but the plumber is paid a fair wage for his/her skills. - Voice of Reason

[ In Reply To ..]
Unfortunately, not the MT anymore. When will YOU learn that this dumbing down of the MT profession is only going to backfire. I pointed out some nonsense the EMR tech typed in my very important medical history in the dentist's office the other day and she said, "Oh, I always proofread later and correct things." Sure you do. Just like the doctors do. Which is why you see so much crap (sorry for the vulgar word there! LOL.) in signed patient records these days.

I'd hate to think what kind of work a plumber who was forced to work for the 'going rate' as we are would do on my plumbing. It's already rickety enough.

going rate - typrina

[ In Reply To ..]
well, I don't think men have to worry about a dumbing down of a lot of their professions like women do. Women have come a long way, but still our professions I feel are considered more lowly, particularly MT. Yes, if we continue to allow our rates to go down and accept lower rates that require us to really work harder for less money this is exactly what we will continue to receive. All of this really is not in the best interest of the patient or the healthcare field in general, as far as accuracy is concerned for sure.

I think it's possible to even do well on 7 cpl if you are good enough - nm

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Of course I would rather have more, but it's possible. You have to use expander programs and have good equipment and a workable platform.

IC status - devilsadvocate

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I could be wrong on this, but IC stands for independent contractor, so to ask them to provide their own foot pedal would fall under the INDEPENDENT part of the IC status. It is a tax write off if you purchase your own foot pedal. I have 3 different foot pedals (yes, I work IC) and I bought them all - I believe it makes me more marketable and I am also able to then get a leg up on someone who may not own the correct foot pedal but wants the same job I do. Also, I have heard the radiology reports go fast (though not speaking from experience) so at $0.08 cpl, you could really crank out the work.

I understand that people want to make as much money as possible, as money makes the world go round, but I do fairly well at $0.08 cpl (just got a raise to $0.09 cpl) by cranking out as much work as I can. It really amazes me the number of people I see on these boards complaining about $0.08 cpl beig ridiculous and blah, blah, blah..... but if it's a choice of $0.08 cpl or the welfare line, then sign me up for the appalling rate. I know if I work hard (a concept also lost on some), I can pay my bills and be able to provide for my kids and that's important to me.

not saying to turn it down but - Beentheredonethat

[ In Reply To ..]
An an IC foot pedal and keyboard yes I provide for myself but not software.To insist that 8 cents is the best someone can get or hope for is defeating.

software - devilsadvocate

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the only software that ad mentioned was Microsoft Word 2003/2007. I don't think that is unreasonable to request that you have either.

about that required software.... - NocturnalHooter

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It is obsolete. I just had to buy another Office program for a new computer, and the only thing I could get was Office 2010.

One of my biggest gripes with the MT industry is that the MTSOs absolutely refuse to move forward with the software advancements of the IT industry, OR to provide their own software. My current employer uses a proprietary program AND provides it at no charge. If they were to ask me to provide my own software, I would be appalled if they wanted me to go buy a program that was already 2-3 upgrades into obsolescence (yup, there that NocturnalHooter goes making up her own words again, haha!).

They aren't asking - MT

[ In Reply To ..]
The ad is telling you that they only accept certain software, not that you have to go buy it. If you don't own the software, don't apply...simple as that!

That's just bad business practice on their part then (sm) - NocturnalHooter

[ In Reply To ..]
If they want employees (oops, I meant Independent Contractors) who only use obsolete software and foot pedals that very few manufacturers produce, rather than employees (er., I think that plumber analogy would work well here too) who are up to date on the latest equipment, software, and methods... Then they're quite welcome to drastically narrow their hiring pool so that they only interview the obsolete and the failing...

Sorry for my tone here. I'm feeling snarky today. :)

its the hopstals, facilities that use the older software and THAT is why we - need it in order to do their work - and

[ In Reply To ..]
it has been this way all aloing and is not going to change.

Get the new stuff, I'll get the job with my lil ol' Word version 2003. the facilities will hang on the extra 12 or so years until the software is no longer supporteed....its a money tug-of-war with microsoft.

ummm....no..... - NocturnalHooter

[ In Reply To ..]
Who Moved My Cheese?

I moved it... into a different career...

One that cannot be offshored or outsourced.

One that requires a person to show up "in person" to do the tasks necessary.

I'm leaving the MT field within the next 1 to 2 years.

luvyabye! :)

generalize much? - devilsadvocate

[ In Reply To ..]
NocturalHooter stated: "Then they're quite welcome to drastically narrow their hiring pool so that they only interview the obsolete and the failing..."

So by that, what you are saying is that because I own Word 2003, 2007 AND 2010 that I am obsolete and failing? Generalize much? As someone else posted, the HOSPITALS are using this software/equipment, so if we want to remain in this industry, which obviously you don't, so I don't see why you care, then we have to use what they require. I agree with the other poster who said if you don't have the equipment/software and don't want to buy it, then don't apply, it's that simple.

Going rate - longtimemt

[ In Reply To ..]
I was one who got terminated at WM a year ago with over 20 years experience and believe me when I tell you that 8 cpl is the going rate. I was offered at least 15 different jobs before finding the one I currently have and they were all 8 cpl or less. I was told on many occasions that everyone was paid the same, regardless of experience or we have to compete with other companies and VR is taking over, I think 8 cpl is much better than the 3-4 being offered for VR. I jumped all over the place for a year and ended up making 8.5 for IC but there is incentive so I have the capability to increase that. I made more in 1980 on a typewriter than I can make on VR at 3 cpl, which I did not accept. I am seeing more and more IC positions being advertised, which means these companies are also not having to pay benefits but are paying less per line but I also see a lot of jobs which are not true IC according to IRS guidelines. I remember when IC actually paid a couple cpl more than employee because they did not have to pay benefits. After the last 16 months I am happy to have a job that at least pays my bills, even if it is 4 cpl less than I was making when I got laid off. In my opinion the biggest problem is not the competition between MTSOs for business or the VR, it is all the middlemen between the MT, who actually generates the income and the business owners, team leads, regional leads, national leads, QA, QA mentor, QA supervisor, trainers, and then we MTs are at the bottom unfortunately and get paid whatever might be left over. Again, I am not bashing being an MT, I am just frustrated at the way the business has gone in the last 10 years but again, am happy to at least be able to pay my bills another 5-6 years when I can maybe draw social security. I consider myself fortunate to be employed in this economy.

They need to furnish the foot pedal and software regardless - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
Nothing wrong with 8 cpl, but they need to be furnishing any hardware or software that is required.

I actually look at it like, if they are looking for ICs - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
then that means I work when I can/want and furnish all necessary equipment. But I also expect a decent pay rate!

not for IC status they don't - say what

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An IC should be providing their own work tools.

Exactly! - nm

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