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

I just started with a new company and - Worn out

Posted: Jan 21, 2014

I am totally worn out. I have never in my life worked so hard for so little money. They nit-pick everything to death and there are so many pages of instructions that you just can't remember everything. I don't know how these companies expect us to manage a gazillion accounts, each with different directions, etc., but they do. McDonald's is looking better all the time.

I agree completely - CLB

[ In Reply To ..]
Until 2011, I worked for the same (wonderful) company for 18 years, who appreciated me. Within a year of starting there, my boss recognized I was very good at what I did. I was training new employees, and I eventually wrote the training manual and helped train the VR software. By year 3 I was the top producer, and remained so for the next 12 years. While doing QA and training, I NEVER nitpicked the MTs' work, I didn't make BOS more important than the dictator's actual words, and certainly didn't "grade" MTs and take off "points" as if they were in elementary school.

Anyways, fast forward to my boss retiring, I fortunately found a good job with another company, and then ended up through a merger with one of the national MTSOs. This year, I was given 2 days of training on a new platform, and then given 1 week to become familiar with 20+ different facilities across the country on that platform. Not only did I have my work picked apart for not correcting "the patient" vs "patient" (VR), but because I was sending more than 5% to QA for questions, my pay was docked 3 cpl. Yes, if you were making 4 cpl, that means you would be making 1 cpl. Honestly, how could anyone work for this? I quit. I actually hated to be a 'quitter', but my husband reminded me how bad it had become (working every holiday, the stress, the eye strain from staring at a screen for hours because of clocking in and "active" time, my wrists/back/neck hurt, and I would literally cry from frustration because of less experienced "QA" picking apart every report for subjective, inconsequential 'errors').

BTW, in my instance, fortunately I could afford to quit and take some time to look for a new job/field. I absolutely understand those who who can't leave because of circumstances. I personally don't understand why people derisively tell MTs who are venting and complaining to "just leave". That's not realistic.

CLB, I just quit... - me too

[ In Reply To ..]
...from the same evil empire as you did. It is unfathomable to me that they will dock the MTs' pay that way. Evil evil evil company.

There must be a law against stealing your pay this way SM - Matt

[ In Reply To ..]
They need to be reported to the labor board.

Why the DISLIKE?? sm - Matt

[ In Reply To ..]
Are you against the DOL or just don't want to be paid a fair wage or anyone else to either?

Not trolling, not stirring the pot, just a question.

How could a co. dock you 3cpl SM - SamMT

[ In Reply To ..]
and leave you with 1 cpl? After taxes, that would leave less than 1 cpl .... and way below minimum wage for ANY state. E.G., to make $7.35/hour, you would have to type/edit 735 lph ... a physical impossibility!

They dock and then make up the difference to pay minimum wage. - anon

[ In Reply To ..]
But who wants to work such a high-stress job for minimum wage after decades of experience? Not me.

It must be MM. - they are bad,

[ In Reply To ..]
but I think N may just a little bit worse.

No, it isn't - Worn out

[ In Reply To ..]
Now I am being told I'm not fast enough after working for them less than a week. I am trying not to make mistakes so am being extra-careful and now I'm too slow. I am crying all the time because of other personal issues as well and I don't know how much more I can take. I used to love being an MT and now I can't stand it any more.

Worn out - Effie

[ In Reply To ..]
Worn out, just wanted to send a hug... just remember, this too shall past.

I have SO been there ... sm - Kindres Spirit

[ In Reply To ..]
Here is another big cyber hug for you. I think we've all been there. I've done the crying at the keyboard for sure. It's just not fair, I know.

On the bright side, you have gotten over the worst part of starting a new job - that first week is always the worst. I will bet your second week will go a lot better.

MM is not bad at all, they're a cake walk compared to some. - nm

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

If I shut out all distractions and concentrate I can do 500 lph - at MModal

[ In Reply To ..]
trust me you could do worse.

I could do 300 lph at MM - on a good day, with the stars aligned just so.

[ In Reply To ..]
if there was any work

If, if, if - Lucky

[ In Reply To ..]
You must be lucky. I could also increase my LPH if I focused for awhile, a couple of hours, but then my BOB would run out and I would be thrown into the cesspool with unfamiliar accounts, having to scour CPs for the smallest details, and my LPH would then fall. I just pace myself, don't go too slow or too fast. Fast or slow, I still end up with the same LPH.

Totally get that - longtimemt

[ In Reply To ..]
NJPR is hiring, not a lot of instructions, very simple program but the account is extremely lopsided with ESL, more than I have ever encountered in my career.

worn out - cloverport

[ In Reply To ..]
I am beginning to think we work for the same company. I just started a few weeks ago with a company, and the same thing is happening to me. I am making less than $3 an hour for this crap. I am looking elsewhere.

sad posts - whatwzthat

[ In Reply To ..]
I feel sad when I read these...I hope y'all can find something better and soon. Good thoughts! ;)

It's harder yet when you're old - Worn out

[ In Reply To ..]
You don't "catch on" as fast and they don't appreciate the fact that you have been doing transcription for 40+ years. It is all about hurry, hurry, learn everything yesterday, hurry up and type to make US the money while you are making pennies a line, etc. When you're old, you also don't have the option to start over with a new career by going back to school and having nobody wanting to hire you because of your age, etc. It is a lose-lose situation all the way around. You can't live on Social Security. It is VERY depressing!

60+ and struggling too - oaf

[ In Reply To ..]
You are so right! I too have 40 years experience. But you are right - hurry, hurry is all they want. I have health issues but too proud to go for disability - but it may be an option. Just know you are not the only DEPRESSED OLDER MT trapped in this awful situation. Also I hate VR!!!

worn out - beenatherendonethat

[ In Reply To ..]
Sounds familiarly like my experience with Patient First. Total waste of time!!

But, as to your situation, think of it like this -- You can work for so little with any MSTO, they all pay peanuts, so why stay with a company that stresses you out and makes you cry all the time. In that situation they are actually getting all your time; as the hours you are not actually working for them they are getting free because you are crying and stressing over the job and cannot enjoy it as YOUR TIME!

Move on..don't give a company YOUR LIFE for so little income.

There are virtually no MTSO companies that SM - Sam

[ In Reply To ..]
DON'T stress you out, keep you broke, make impossible demands ... so moving around is not really an option for most of us. We're stuck ... we know it and THEY know it and are using it to their advantage for all it's worth.

It's very difficult for older workers also to get hired for an outside job, whether in a hospital or at McD's. We know age discrimination is illegal, but it's still there, alive & well.

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