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

One more thing! - Susan

Posted: Mar 11, 2010

Just one more thought. I have never, ever, known anyone who has left Medquist or Spheris and regretted it. They may bounce back and forth just to get by, but in the long run, when they are finally finished, they are finished. For all of those MTs who don't want to start over, please don't take that attitude. I did and it only got worse and when I did change it wasn't that bad at all. Again, could it get any worse?

I left twice and regretted it both times - Passing through

[ In Reply To ..]
I tried 2 other nationals and none were any better and in some ways worse than MQ, and another small MTSO that went out of business, so I came back. In my opinion, they are all (the nationals) pretty much the same except I found MQ to be a better fit for me in terms of higher pay (especially for ASR) and a schedule that better fits my needs. The small MTSOs are better, but many are being swallowed up by the big companies or going out of business because they cannot compete and still give the better pay and benefits they once did...and MQ will probably end up buying a lot of them out eventually anyway.

I am glad that you have found something better and I hope that continues, but for now I have good accounts with plenty of work and a good management team here at MQ and have a paycheck I can count on to pay my bills, unlike elsewhere in my experience. It is too hard to "start over" with another company, especially knowing what I know now about most of them. I do not like some of the changes MQ is making, but I don't see much difference in what other companies are doing. Most of them offshore and most of them are cutting MT pay whatever way they can. I cannot wait for retirement and glad it is just a few years off as I think this profession is a dying one.

A paycheck you can count on? Not the norm at MQ. - How funny!

[ In Reply To ..]
My FT paycheck from MQ this last pay was LESS than my PT paycheck at another job!

There might be a small pocket yet left untouched by all the changes as far as NJA screens and speed of work coming in, but it certainly will not stay that way for long.

I was like you for a long time. I would get on here and tell people they were full of it because I had LOTS of work and they were just whining because something was wrong with THEM not MQ.

Then one magical day, OVERNIGHT, we were told absolutely NO MORE OT. Then our CCM disappeared, then all of us in my group were scattered to different CCMS and service areas. Then the work started getting thinned WAY OUT -- the NJA screens started happening.

Now the work comes in SLOW with long pauses between jobs, NJA screens, and sometimes getting put on a client, you are not familiar with, but appreciate anything for money at this point. But it is like night and day from just a couple years ago.

Oh it will get to you eventually.

There is GREAT LIFE outside of MQ. DEFINITELY. WAY BETTER. I will be leaving soon for my new job -- NON MTSO. But even that is temporary, only until I finish school.

This career is over. Maybe for the newbies they are hiring it will be okay for what few clients will be left who will not offshore their work, but then again those newbies don't know how this job was back in the day, and how much REAL money you could make at this job and how HONESTLY FLEXIBLE it used to be.

And keep in mind NO MATTER WHAT -- a couple of things:
1. MQ MUST send 80% of whatever work they get to CBAY in INDIA. No ifs, ands or buts about it.
2. MQ is actively working on their own EMR system to sell to clients. That too will eliminate many jobs.

So, hang on to that piece of driftwood if you feel safe about it, but honestly, the next ship that comes by, I would hitch a ride if I were you.

Eventually that "great management team" you have will be GONE, as will most of your work. Then when you see that PAYCHECK YOU CAN COUNT ON" shrink to almost NOTHING. You will wish you did not wait until the last minute. Like most of us.

When I started with MQ they had over 10,000 employees -- they used to display that proudly right on their home page on their website. Now, according to one of their latest SEC filings, they have about 3,500 employees. Almost 7,000 employees GONE. Also -- that TAA certification number granted to MQ employees? That would not have been done unless there were a SIGNIFICANT amount of employees laid off due to offshoring of once-domestic work.

MQ has been ACTIVELY cleaning house.

But, I guess if you don't want to leave transcription, you will have to adapt, change your lifestyle and spending habits to fit what your eventual shrinking paycheck will handle.

I hope things work out for you, but I can't say that you will be safe staying at MQ or even staying in transcription because that would be a lie.

Agree, I recently left and it is so much better. No corporate - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
bull and constant changes & cuts, not top-heavy, plenty of work without India being a priority over us, no time clock, and on and on. I'm so glad I took the leap & don't know why I was so scared to do it in the first place!

I really like your posts Susan - Keep it up. Please?

[ In Reply To ..]
As soon as I see your posts, I smile. Thanks for posting!

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