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

Average length of line question - myka

Posted: Apr 15, 2010

Can all IC and empolyee MT's weigh in on this. Is the average line figured on 65 characters? Does anyone charge the "old" way where a line is a line, regardless of how many characters it has? Thanks in advance!

Yeah, who comes up with these crazy methods for calculating a line? - mrs.krabs

[ In Reply To ..]
Please don't say ADHI. When and how did they come up with an all black character line, a 65-character line with no spaces, a 5-cent 48-black character line, whatever???? It's like freaking calculus trying to figure it all out. Pay people what they are worth to you for goodness sakes!

the days of the gross line - are all but gone

[ In Reply To ..]
Just look on the job seekers board, and you will see all kinds of creative ways these companies are coming up to pay us less and less. The ICs are especially taking a hard hit given that they have added expenses of doing business.

65 character line is invention of AAMT - and AHDI

[ In Reply To ..]
The history of the concept of counting characters and dividing by 65 is the sole invention of those who were supposed to protect us. Instead by using this method, they have cut our pay by 1/3. The reason why we used to count by the gross line is so that we would be compensated for style formatting, demographic lookup, cc lookup, etc. which is not quantifiable on the page. Now, they want to strip out spaces and go with VBC. But the hospitals love them because they have turned their backs on us and pressured us to go along with it. I still charge by gross line and once I must abandon that, I will leave the profession.

wow - in what state

[ In Reply To ..]
are you getting your docs to still pay by the gross line?

I still get paid by gross line, as well. sm - myka

[ In Reply To ..]
Not sure if you read here, but I got slammed with a pay cut of 3 cents a line. Well, after negotiations, they but me by 2 cents instead of 3, but now they are questioning how I calculate my line.

What exactly is gross line? - mrs.krabs

[ In Reply To ..]
I remember counting lines manually with the printed paper in my hand (1980s) until Sylcount came along. Yes, I am that old (45 haha!). Selectric typewriter too! We counted every single line, be it long or short. I was just wondering why transcriptionists are paid piecemeal instead of hourly? Who started that trend? And Myka, you are worth every penny of that gross line count. Don't let them take advantage of you! I think we should all be paid what we're worth. You're probably worth your weight in gold to your doctors. Remind them of that if it ever comes up.

Thanks, mrs.krabs. I am trying! sm - myka

[ In Reply To ..]
A gross line to me is a line period. However, long and/or short it happens to be - that is a line. If I type it, I count it. That is how I have always worked. I am an IC, BTW, so that makes a difference IMO.

I agree!! You get what you pay for... - Diana

[ In Reply To ..]
I've been doing this for almost 30 years and I'm not about to change now. The way the line counting is now has help destroy this profession. All it's about now is getting the job done. Who cares if it's right or it looks professional. Sad, sad days.

I am IC with five accounts - and no QA (sm)

[ In Reply To ..]
Two are .15 per gross line.

One is .13 per 55-character line.

One is .10 per 65-character line.

One is $5 per page - regardless of how many lines are on the page - plus $20.00 delivery fee added to each weekly invoice (I receive the voice files digitally, deliver printed reports to his office weekly).

As an IC, I set these rates, taking into account various factors particular to the individual client/account at time of negotiation of contract.

I am West Coast based - three of my accounts are local, one is Midwest, one is East Coast.

Thanks for replying. I am impressed. sm - myka

[ In Reply To ..]
I am impressed that you are able to charge the .15 per gross line. I have done calculations and it seems to me that the 65 character line drops you about 1 cent from the gross line rate. Do you find this to be true? Would you mind saying which of those 5 you listed is on the east coast? TIA!

see message for reply - 5 Accounts

[ In Reply To ..]
I start at .15 per gross line, and negotiate from there. Those two accounts (local-west) accepted that quote without question or haggle so that's what they pay.

I've not calculated the difference, one account to another like that, so can't say how I find it... I'll take your calculation as word.

The East Coast account is the .10 per 65-character, and I had to practically unbolt his eye teeth to get that. Pretty much guaranteed I will never get higher than that with this one.

Thank you very much for replying. sm - myka

[ In Reply To ..]
Just 1 more question. Hope you don't mind. When you said - No QA. What did you mean by that?

No QA - 5 Accounts

[ In Reply To ..]
No Quality Assurance (QA) person going over my completed transcription - editing, making corrections, dunning me based on their protocol or some book - before sending it on to the client.

I am my own QA. I proof my documents for accuracy, blanks are left for the office or doctor to fill in, and any changes or corrections to style, format, or terminology are made by the office or doctor.

There is a straight, unimpeded line between me and my accounts. I deal directly with them, they deal directly with me.

Ok. Gotcha! Thanks so much for your reply. sm - myka

[ In Reply To ..]
That is pretty much what I do. However, the office I type for wants me to make the corrections (such as letters where the doctor changed his mind about what to say) free of charge.

Since we are our own QA, the offices have to be saving money. I would assume the MTSO's must charge a rate to cover both a transcriptionist and a QA person.

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