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

Keystrokes pay change - mtpockets

Posted: Jul 30, 2010

Just wondering how many Keystrokes MT's have resigned or are planning to? I will be putting in my resignation before August 16th. Already have a new job offer. After 25 years experience, just can't live with the pay cut. Used to be a good company...good luck to all of you who stay.

Would you be willing to share - specifics on that pay cut

[ In Reply To ..]
For those of us who don't work there? Just for future reference, in case any of us ever think about applying there?

The cuts were only for PT and very PT employees. sm - Happy KS MT

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If you are full time, you do not have any changes at all.

If you are part time, between 6000 and 11,999 lines, you are 8 cpl, between 2000 and 5999 lines, you are 7 cpl and 0 and 1999 lines, you are 6 cpl.

Personally, it does not affect me as I am much higher than that, and FT rates do not change. I don't think that 6 cpl is a fair wage at all, but they have been saying for a while that they would like to have all FT or at least half time employees.

It is still a great company, and after the conference call, and I glad that they made this decision rather than one to cut across the board or lay someone off. The owner did have a good point yesterday on the conference call. She said that she would rather do this and take care of the full and almost full time employees than ever send work overseas and let everyone go. The call really made me see the reasons and the rationale behind it all, and I felt much better afterwards.

I wish my husband's company had offered cuts. Instead, they let half of them go. He would've taken a cut gladly rather than be out of work the last 17 months. There are no jobs in our area at all.

The Cuts Apply To Everyone, whether FT or PT - Worried KSer

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A lot of us who are full-time on radiology accounts that pay per report will be affected. On my account we type everything--plain films, ultrasound, nuclear medicine, CT/CTA, MRI/MRA and special procedures. These aren't short reports, dictations are frequenty over 5 minutes and up to 15 minutes long. Add in poor sound quality, ESLs, mumblers, frequent client platform problems, and it's impossible to meet the quota. Under the new pay tier structure, if I don't type 1200 reports a pay period--and I never do, even though I work extra whenever possible--I will lose 20 cents per report. That's huge. The decision to pay per report instead of per line was made by the client, so they're getting very cheap labor from us. Looks like it's time to get out of the transcription business altogether after nearly 20 years.

If you were on one of the calls, you know that you need to email the owner and say that. sm - Happy KS MT

[ In Reply To ..]
This is exactly what she was talking about. There is no reason for you to take a pay cut. Some accounts are weighted too. Maybe yours is one of those.

I'm leaving as soon as I have a job. - sm

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I interviewed today with a high possibility of getting the job. Once I am certain I have it, I will be leaving. I have assigned docs and never get over 12k lines a pay. I currently make over 9 cpl. I am looking to lose around $300 a month...I cannot afford to lose that kind of money. I have asked for more work in the past and was always told that there is none available except when someone is on vacation, which cannot be counted on.

If she is saying there is no reason for anyone to take a pay cut, then why on earth send out the notice??? Personally, I think they are trying to back pedal because they know they are losing a lot of good MTs. Too late for me. I'm over their games!

If you can't do 12,000 lines in a pay period, maybe you should look for a different line of wor - HAH!

[ In Reply To ..]
When I started in transcription 20 years ago, we were expected to 1500 to 2000 lines a day, every single day. That was before Windows, expanders, shortcuts.

Not everyone is cut out for transcription. A lot of companies have line requirements, and I see more of them doing it. Hospitals have always done that. If you can't produce, they let you go. That's life, not transcription.

It's kind of hard to do 12k lines a pay when the work - is not there!!

[ In Reply To ..]
.

Not All Accounts Are Created Equal - Worried KSer

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I take issue with your comments. There are so many things that affect productivity that have nothing to do with an MT's skill level. Maybe you have an easy account with people who speak English and know how to use the dictation equipment. Lucky you. Some of us have dictators we can't hear because the microphone is nowhere near their mouth, some docs constantly make errors with their equipment that cost the MT extra time searching for the correct patient or exam, some just won't enunciate or have thick accents, the platform on the client's end repeatedly needs downtime and service, or just completing the log for the account uses an extra hour per day. It's not all plain films and expanders out there. I can literally feel my blood pressure rising when I get a 10 or 11 minute dictation from a poor dictator and there is only a single charge. With the new pay tier I can look forward to a whopping $1.05 for typing that four page report. Does that sound like I'm slacking? Does that sound equitable? I am insulted by anyone who says I'm in the wrong profession because I "can't produce."

I'm in the wrong profession because I deserve better, and because I'm worth more than what I am being paid.

That's how transcription is now, regardless of the company. - 2Cents

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There are more ESL doctors than before.

Doctors dictate longer reports to cover their own a##es.

Hospitals learned that they can pay less than in the past because of offshore companies.

Technology has changed, not always for the better. Remember WP51 and PRD+? I had better production back then when compared to now, no matter what I do.

I work PT for Keystrokes and hate that I am taking a pay cut, but even with the pay cut, it's more than I have been offered PT anywhere else. I have my in-house job to get benefits and need a PT job to pay bills and live.

That is a reflection on our world now. I'm just glad they didn't eliminate the PT positions.

what a ridiculous statement - HAH yourself

[ In Reply To ..]
Shows how much you know about the industry now, it's not like it was 20 years ago.

As an IC I was producing about 2500 lines a day... I got hired on with an MTSO and CANNOT produce 1200 lines a day. it's called NO WORK. it has nothing to do with having expanders, shortcuts etc. etc. You can't use those when there isn't work to use them on.
You are one of those people that can't see anything but their own ideas. How in the world can you comment on what anyone else does? I type well over 100 WPM. that doesn't make one bit of difference with mush mouth and ESL.

expand your horizons a little and get down off that soap box. I'm now off mine.

Not where I ever worked. They were more interested in quality. nm - CrispyCritterMT

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X

This is not true. SM - FT must meet 1200 lpd

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I understand that FT have to meet 1200 lpd to be full-time status. Not everyone can do that for various reasons. The cheerleaders can come on here and pretend it is possible to do that across the board, but that does not change reality. If you fall below the 12,000 lines for a pay period, you loss money. It is a pay cut, any way you look at it.

It's not a pay cut if you do what you are supposed to do anyways. - 12,000 lines per pay period

[ In Reply To ..]
If you were hired full time, you are supposed to do 12,000 lines a pay period to get full-time status for benefits and PTO.

Everyone is acting like they changed the rules for FT. I have been there for 8 years, and that has always been the FT requirement.

I worked at a hospital prior to Keystrokes, and their hourly was 185 lines per hour, so 150 is less than some hospitals require.

I am not a cheerleader, a manager or even a lead. I am a transcriptionist who is happy at Keystrokes, and as long as I do what I am supposed to, they have always done what they are supposed to.

Will soon be leaving, but was planning on before (sm) - AlmostGone

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all this came down upon us for a better opportunity. For the person who thinks it only affects part-timers is only fooling themselves. I have been down this road before with another company who had a tiered pay scale already in place. As soon as one starts falling below the expected full-time quota, one becomes part-time. I did awesome for almost a year, but then the work dried up. I hope for all those "full-timers" they have the work to keep up their current rate of pay.

Keystrokes - Disappointed Ex-Keystroker

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Many transcriptionists have worked for multiple MTSOs; however, when I began at Keystrokes my experience working online was limited because I had been in a hospital setting. I was very naive. I used to read the glowing of reports about Keystrokes. At that time there was speculation one of the major companies with a questionable reputation was about to acquire my employer so I applied with Keystrokes. I was hired and decided to go with Keystrokes- what I thought was the Mecca.

BIG MISTAKE!!! I had many experiences with many dishonorable people. There comes a point when things are not misunderstandings--they are just lies. I was so happy to leave -- I could feel my mistrust of humanity growing. I never received anything promised in the interview-not the work promised, not the benefits, and certainly not the friendliness and "caring".

I just do not understand all the glowing reports. They must have a Madison Avenue firm doing the public relations.

You said it correctly: USED TO BE - Anonymous

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I cannot help but wonder how it came to this? I know businesses are for profit but I used to think of Keystrokes as one of the companies that were "doing well and doing good". Things have sure changed in my time with Keystrokes!

I think that they have consistently changed for the better. sm - Long-Time KS MT

[ In Reply To ..]
I just posted about about 12,000 lines and full-time status.

Since starting with Keystrokes 8 years ago, I have seen many improvements including PTO, insurance, then paying half for insurance, now paying 60% for insurance. I have seen them go from disorganized to organized. I have a solid account and a back-up account that I rarely need. I know that not everyone has a perfect account, but I also know that they will work with you to find an account that works well for you.

Yes, they made some changes but when I heard the alternatives on the conference call, I understood the one that they made and am grateful that it was that one.

They are still "doing well and doing good", but they have to be realistic with the economy.

I, for one, cannot wait for things to start getting better but for purely selfish reasons. I want to move to NC to be near my grandchildren, but houses in CA are worth less than half what they were worth 2 years ago. Even if I could take the loss, I probably couldn't sell it because the house kat-korner from me has been for sale for over a year.

I am grateful to have a job that pays my bills and to work for a company that didn't outsource the work or sell.

With everyone quitting, surely there are positions open - MT2020

[ In Reply To ..]
I hear the best place to work if you do Radiology transcription is Keystrokes? What do they pay per report? Is it dependent on your experience? 12,000 lines in 2 weeks is not hard to do, so I could make pretty good I think. Do they provide equipment?

You should be ashamed of yourself. - Compassionate

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Granted, here are some chronic complainers of this board. However, that does mean every negarive post is from a chronic complainer---I am not familiar with the situation but these sound like very somer valid concerns.

Congratulations that you are happy!! It is unfair, though, to dismiss everyone else because you are happy. I think it shows a complete lack of compassion for those who are genuinely concerned.

Here's an example for MTs to stand together! What if... - Old MT

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there is a mass exodus! I don't work for Keystrokes but I too used to see great threads until recently, and now ALL bad. So, if getting paid by report isn't acceptable, don't do it-REFUSE-QUIT! If they can't cover the accounts and TAT, THEY will have to change it to something that is acceptable or lose the account. There are MTSOs out there who are good to work for, maybe one of them will get the account once Keystrokes loses it because they can't cover it. Once again, this will take a majority though-which probably won't happen unfortunately. They will always have those resumes of MTs who will do it. Why do you just sit back and take it-THIS IS YOUR LIFE!

Most won't do it because it is a great company to work for. sm - Long-Time KS MT

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There are a lot of part-time, most very part-time employees who are unhappy with the changes, but most full-time employees won't see a difference, other than they might have more work if the part-timers aren't on the accounts.

This board always has more negative than positive. I do not usually post but when I read something like this, I have to.

Keystrokes won't lose their accounts because they won't lose many employees because most aren't getting a pay cut. I was on one of the calls, and it was very positive from both management and the employees. I also talk to many of my co-workers and not one is leaving or sees a reason to. Most of us are very happy. The loudest people are usually the most unhappy, which is what is happening here.

Something to consider: Even with the pay cuts, Keystrokes still pays more than a lot of services. Part time at 8cpl is not that low. I agree that the very part time at 7cpl and very, very part time at 6cpl is too low, but I also know that they would rather have full and part time than the very part time employees working for them.

same ole story - d

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in past 15 yrs this field has changed for the worst, lower rates, changes constantly to hold your jobs over your heads with threats of lower pay without unlimited hours to obtained your line counts or lose your jobs...its shut up do it and many of us can barely make enough to pay our bills. All you see is IC adds no employee no benefits, nothing - nannies have laws not to protect them where are they for us? no shift differentials, no o/t pay, when was last time you saw an incentive for typing over your quota?????

so true - KSworker

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So true. Sadly, we don't expect overtime or incentive anymore. We work the 9 or 10 or whatever amount of hours it takes to meet our line counts. Now even on weekends the incentive isn't offered until 1000 lines have been met. After working all week for 40+ hours-NOT getting OT-why would I give a rat's tail if TAT is one zillion on the weekend?

Keystrokes - SusieQ

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I think it all has to do with greed!! The American way anymore. We are just a number. Just like doctors that are required to see X amount of patients in a day. Real sorry!! Mostly sad.

keystrokes pay change - mtpockets

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Well my last day is Friday, so glad I found another job before the 08/16 deadline, and at higher pay. Funny thing, but as soon as the notice went out, my accounts all started running out of work consistently. I wonder if it is people taking advantage of their old pay rates before the reduction happens next Monday? Good luck to all of you KSers who decided to stick it out; myself, I can't do a $300/month pay cut!

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