A community of 30,000 US Transcriptionist serving Medical Transcription Industry
My job is phasing out and my employer is blaming - ObamaCare.
Posted: Sep 19, 2013
I work as an IC for a multispeciality clinic. To make a long story short, she told us on the 1st the physicians are only allowed about 2000 lines a month and after that they will be charged. They are pushing the physicians to use an automated system. She says that will decrease our workload significantly and she strongly urges us to pursue over avenues for employment. I have not done hospital transcription since 2008. I talked to my friend who works for a local hospital and she said their workload has dropped significantly and her supervisor said that there are going to be changes in their workload as well but they didn't say what. Now, I am not sure if this really belongs on the main board or somewhere else but I just started taking an online course studying to be a pharmacy technician. I am 40 years old nearly and starting over, getting out and talking to people and office politics is all overwhelming to me. I am recently divorced, I have 2 kids and as bad as I hate too I am going to have to recruit my mom for help. I know I am not the only person out there this has happened to. How is everyone else coping?
Xanax! - nm
[ In Reply To ..];)
How I cope - AM
[ In Reply To ..]Prayer.
And that will get you far! I'll choose action any day. - SureDoesNotWork
[ In Reply To ..]x
I use prayer along with taking action, works for me. - Of course action is taken. s/m
[ In Reply To ..]Or it would be like praying to win the lottery while not buying a ticket - according to your logic, anyway. Besides the question was how do you cope, as in emotionally. Now what do you do to make it happen.
Well, it sure worked for me - AM
[ In Reply To ..]It opened the door to a wonderful career NOT in any way associated with MT. Try it!
being flexible is how I cope - ICforhowlong
[ In Reply To ..]I've been an IC since 2008, working from home since 1997, and other than in 2009 (when the economy really took a downward turn), I have never seen this industry simply disappearing.
I work for an MTSO that cut its workforce in half in 2012 and now is barely holding on. One of my clients stopped dictating. Another of my clients is 72 and only works part time. So I went out and got a job substituting in the local school system, but even if I worked that full time, I would qualify for food stamps and have to do something to supplement my income. I am 52, single, and raising a family so I don't have the time to go back to school (no family to help me). When my youngest graduates from high school, my plan is to fall out. I have no plans past that month - just roll over and stop. Very dismal.
You overestimate the time required for school - My experience
[ In Reply To ..]If you truly want to learn a new career, you can. Where there is a will there is a way. I have watched many people do it while employed full time.
Learning a new field does not require stopping what you are doing and going to a school 6 hours a day 5 days a week -- that is high school. It does not need to require driving to a college and sitting in classes. You can do programs online any time and if you are motivated you CAN do well. If you choose a field that offers several steps of training, you can do enough to get a job and then earn while you learn.
Furthermore, the federal student loan program can provide living expenses.
There is nothing stopping you from crowd-sourcing your education, either.
I understand that this is depressing, but please at least open your eyes to the possibility of something better.
Not ObamaCare as much as Progress and Offshoring - ThisWasInevitable
[ In Reply To ..]This has happened in many past industries as technological advances took place. Blaming Obamacare, or the President, which is what certain groups of people love to do, is like blaming President Harrison when electric lights were first being adopted. (By the way, the Pres. and Mrs. Harrison were terrified of being electrocuted and refused to turn on the switches.) People actually believed that the new electric lighting was just a supplementary thing and would not replace gas.
We are, unfortunately, the gas lantern makers. Some of us will hang on, but many of us will not be needed any longer.
Pharmacy Tech - Curious
[ In Reply To ..]My daughter works full-time in retail but has been wanting to pursue a pharmacy tech certification. Would you be so kind as to share the online course link (or even email it to me?).
Thanks so much!
I am going to Penn Foster - OP
[ In Reply To ..]You can Google their web site as in Penn Foster Pharmacy Tech program. It is inexpensive $365, but some pharmacy tech programs I have looked into are over $2000. Employers are looking for certification more or less and I had been told by someone who worked in retail that you really don't have to have school back up to take the certification exam but she recommended it as there was a lot of math/algebra on it. Different states require different things though and I suggest you do research, go out and ask. hth.
Penn Foster? - Been around a long time
[ In Reply To ..]I hope they do a better job teaching pharmacy technology than they did with teaching MT. Most MTSOs considered them, um, shall we say, sub-par. Just saying.
Pharmacy Tech - greyhoundmom
[ In Reply To ..]I worked in a hospital for 27 years (not in transcription). One of the departments I worked in was Education and Training. Our department handled tuition reimbursement. There were people going for Pharmacy Tech. If I were you I would double check about online pharmacy tech schools. One thing we told the employees was to check with employers (such as Walgreens) to see what schools they recommended and what places they would not hire you from. Our Director of Pharmacy was always helpful to the employees. It wold be a shame to waste your money and find out your training was not what an employer is looking for.
Pharmacy Tech - I was a pharmacy tech
[ In Reply To ..]for 7+ years. None of the techs in my pharmacy were certified. Is it a requirement now? Right before I left that job, they started sending the techs for some classes, but if I recall correctly, it was only a couple days a week for 2 weeks. I'm not sure if they then took a test for certification or not, but I believe that was the point of it.
We learned on the job and did almost everything the pharmacists did except mixing compounds and of course giving any in-depth information/instruction to a patient. They had to verify everything we did for accuracy before it went out to a patient. I actually really enjoyed that job and found it very interesting, and it gave me a leg up on knowing meds before going into MT.
I liked it enough to consider getting back into it now. I know a current drug tech and mentioned to her I was considering it, and she actually warned me not to return to the field, said it has changed so much with all the new regulations and constant audits, that it is incredibly stressful and she wants to get out of it. I was disappointed to hear that.
I don't want to leave what has become an increasingly stressful job just to go to another stressful job.
YOGA - mtr
[ In Reply To ..]nm
your employer has no integrity - (changes not due to Obamacare)
[ In Reply To ..]let me guess - you live in a red state?
Yes I do, Texas - OP
[ In Reply To ..]ObamaCare or not, fact is my job is going to start trickling down to nothing come October. So.. I am going to pour me a glass of Jack Daniels, this weekend work on my resume...and Monday start looking for a job outside of MT.
I don't want to work for Nuance or M-Modal and go on Food Stamps. I hear they are cutting the FS program by 40 million anyway. Sorry for any errors.. I already had a glass some JD and don't care right now.
Similar Messages:
Phasing Out US MTs?
Aug 28, 2012
Is it my imagination or are US MTs being phased out by the offshort MTs? It seems that day by day they have more and more of the dictation. QCs are not allowed to work on offshore QC jobs as they have offshore QAs doing that. With the pittance they pay the offshort MTs, is it a matter of time before all the US MTs/QCs are gone? ...
What Can An Old Employer Say About You?
Aug 27, 2010
What kinds of things can an old employer say about you when contacted by a company you're trying to get hired by? ...
Ex-Employer Trying To Scare Me?
May 04, 2010
My original post is further down on this page. I was hired in by a company that told me I was hired contingent upon my computer passing their test. It passed the test and I was offered employment. Their techs downloaded their software on my computer and then for over a week, they worked on my computer, and then said my system was not compliant with their softwared. I asked for new account with different platform, asked for them to restore my computer to its orginal state, ...
If Your Employer Doesn't Pay You.....
May 05, 2010
Only using an employer as an example - my personal example - but my idea is applicable to all the others I have read about on this site Not long ago, I posted a rant about Siance not paying me. I turned them in to the Labor Board. They were given a deadline to pay me, but it could take that Dept up to 6 months or longer to get my money. I thought...HMMM...I HAVE BILLS TODAY - NOT IN 6 MONTHS MAN! So...I filed unemployment against Saince. They did a pho ...
How Is Encompass As Employer???
May 31, 2010
Can anyone tell me anything about Encompass? Website looks good, but then most do. Any info welcome. I want to bail but would not like to go from frying pan to the fire. ...
When Searching For A New Employer
Nov 25, 2010
Check with the BBB. They shouldn't just have NO activity, but be part of the ongoing audit, not just boast they have had NO activity. Heck, I have had no activity!!! It is only as good as what is submitted. You may have been in business 10+ years but screwed people over 5+ years of that time. If no one reports you, the activity continues.... Watch RIPOFF reports. They do not lie. Unfortunately, not enough people file these reports so some of us are ...
Tell The Potential 2nd Employer About The 1st?
Sep 20, 2011
Took me quite awhile to figure this out. You need 2 MT jobs because they all overhire to keep many more employees less busy to pay less. In my day, you kept your 2nd job quiet, but what is the way to do it now? Is it good or bad to be looking for a 2nd part-time job, do you tell them. Is there anyone who left the first job to go full time with the 2nd one or switched them? And is it better to go IC in the 2nd job because of flexibility? I sound pretty dumb! ...
Contacting Former Employer
Jul 09, 2012
Has anyone ever contacted a former employer to see if they would re-hire you? Reason I am asking is, I was working with this MT company, but had to quit because something happened to my computer and my back-up didn't have the specifications required to run the software they use. It's been about 4 months since I've quit, and I have a new computer now that would work with what they offer. I am hesitant to ask to see if they would consider re-hiring me because when I quit, even thoug ...
How Is M*Modal As An Employer?
Oct 02, 2012
Can anyone, current or past employees of M*Modal, give me an idea of how they are as an employer? Were you confined to set work times or were you able to work freely as time permitted? Also, if anyone is willing to share, what is the pay rate? (per line, per minute of dictation...)I am in Canada and I know M*Modal branches out here (they have e-mailed me informing me of job openings) but I currently work for another really good company. I am just curious as to the possibility o ...
Any Recourse When An Employer Wont Pay Their ICs?
Aug 02, 2010
any ideas? I live in one state and my IC "employer" lives in another. He owes me a substantial amount of money (almost 3K). Do I have any recourse against him? Could I file a suit against him with his state attorney generals office or small claims court or anything??? ...
Good Employer With Benefits
Dec 27, 2010
OSI & NUANCE: Please tell me about these companies. What can i expect for per line? For editing? I have 20+ years experience in acute care, radiology and multispecialty. I am a newbie to online work. HELP. TX ...
Dear Prospective Employer,
Nov 24, 2011
Dear Prospective Employer, It would have been great if you had specified in your ad whether the opening was on-site or if it was available to telecommuters. If it is not available to telecommuters, then I just wasted over an hour of my time and your HR department has a unqualified application to process. It would have been great if your HR department had done a trial run through your online application to get the bugs out of it. It would have been great if you had not designe ...
Reviews On Transcend As Employer
Jan 11, 2012
I'm looking into maybe working for Transcend. I would welcome any and ALL reviews. Feel free to post here, or e-mail me privately. Thanks very much. ...
If An Employer Interviewing You Asked For Your
Mar 25, 2012
This story has been popping up in the news lately, and I find it very distressing! How low will a company stoop to find a way to practice hiring discrimination? Imagine yourself interviewing in an office or on the phone, and they ask if you use Facebook, Twitter, etc., and request you to hand over your password! Would you do it? I sure hope not! Most likely I would lose my cool and laugh in their faces, but still no way would I ever do that. WHAT an invasion ...
Opinions On M*Modal As An Employer?
Oct 14, 2012
Hi Ladies - anyone recommend this company? Do they have good benefits?What is their line count requirement? Thanks a bunch... ...
Does Anyone's Employer Use Epic Systems?
Oct 15, 2012
Does anyone's employer use Epic systems? Our hospital is thinking of switching. ...
Alphastaff Employer For 2012 On W2
Mar 02, 2013
How about that. No *paper* record of me ever being employed by Nuance Transcription Services. Are they hiding something? ...
Do You Put Your Current Employer On Your Resume?
Apr 01, 2014
I am wondering, because I am not sure if I want to show another company name to a prospective employer unless asked. I like the current place and am going to stay, but it's only part-time right now. ...
Inscribe Illegal Employer
Jun 05, 2014
Only hiring I.C.'s? Inscribe is full of it! It costs more upfront to be a 1099, and helps them evade paying taxes. There is tremendous liability on top of it. IT'S AGAINST THE LAW! *see link. http://www.treasury.gov/tigta/auditreports/2013reports/201330058fr.pdf ...
See Link Inside. What An Employer Can/cannot
Dec 04, 2014
when it comes to docking your pay, and docking our pay is now the law of the Nuance landscape, sending reports to QA, etc. I have seen nothing or heard anything good, including during the conference call. Did you agree to this new and exciting plan~~~in writing? The link below, as long as the title may be, is from U. S. News and World Report. Wonder if Nuance had their lawyers look at what they are doing? ...
Isnt It Illegal For A Potential Employer To Ask Your Age?
Nov 16, 2009
Have any of you had the feeling you weren't getting callbacks from employers you applied with because of your age? I've been getting that feeling, and I thought that discrimination based on age, among other things, was illegal. So of course, the answer would be to just not fill in your date of birth, right? Well, lately I've applied at a few places where the ONLY way to apply was online. I had actually called them because I wanted to either come in and fill out ...
Regarding Webmedx Being AHDI Employer Of The Year
Aug 12, 2010
This is funny. I just called AHDI and asked how many nominees were there for Employer of the Year for this year? With such fanfare as Webmedx makes over it, it must be quite an accomplishment, right? What's your guess? .. . . wait for it... . THREE! LOL lololol three. 3. hahaha sorry, I couldn't help it. And asked whether that's typical of previous AHDI Employer of the Year awards (because they really like to tell everyone about that title), I was told by Mi ...
Dear Employer: Today's Pet Peeve
Nov 13, 2010
I've been a transcriptionist for more than 25 years, have worked for 7 different employers, and every one of them has always said that it is required for everyone to work one weekend day, you either work sunday through thursday or tuesday through saturday. Then I see an email to all employees that says, "please consider changing your schedule to work a weekend day." WTF? There are people not already working a weekend day? That makes me feel pretty stupid for all the ...
My Employer Is Moving From Trans To MQ's VR Platform
Oct 05, 2011
My employer use MedQuist’s DocQScribe software and is moving us all onto its VR. So far, what we’re seeing from the VR is almost completely garbage, but MedQuist claims that our corrections will “teach” the VR to recognize our dictators’ speech patterns. Of course, our wages are being renegotiated, as well. We have about three dozen MTs and I think a few hundred dictators. So far, it takes me about 25% longer to correct this VR trash than it ...
Employer Not Giving A Time To End A Shift?
Nov 03, 2011
Has anyone ever heard of an employer asking you to start at a certain and not giving a time to end a shift? What I've been getting is "just work until the work is done". Any comments are appreciated. ...
Payroll Company Listed As EMPLOYER On W2???
Jan 25, 2012
Ok, I'm being careful here because I'm not sure what companies names' we can/cannot post so here we go: I've been working for the same company (let's call it company TYPE A for now) for approximately 6-7 yrs as an IC. When I got my 1099's, the company's name TYPE A was always listed. As of January 2011, I became an employee and started recieving my checks via a payroll company, let's call them PAYROLL A. I got my W2 (online) the other day. When I ...
I Was Fired And Now My Former Employer Is Fighting My Unemployment!
Apr 30, 2012
I worked at home as an employee for a local hospital for the last 4 years. Always worked my shift and averaged at least the minimum productivity requirement. According to the employee handbook ALL hospital employees get two paid 15 minute breaks and one unpaid 30-minute lunch. One evening while I was working, I took one of my 15-minute breaks and ran to pick my daughter up from school. I was gone literally 5 minutes as the school is like one block from my house ...
LIne Counts Apart From What My Employer's Software
Sep 12, 2012
How do I figure my own line counts apart from what my employer's software says? I am just not trusting these days as my line count has suddenly dropped drastically in the last couple of weeks??? ...
I Was Warned Of A Potential Bad Employer By Checking
Apr 30, 2013
this forum and I backed out because I had to purchase software and would be "micromanaged" too closely. I found myself on the offensive and caught the recruiter off guard because I told him I had no money to buy software because MTs are so poor. It was beautiful just to hear his jaw drop! I felt tremendous just to boycott this industry in my own way. ...
Review Of Prohibited Actions By An Employer
May 15, 2013
A little "refresher course," from the EEOC. I particularly like that last paragraph of this page. Prohibited Employment Policies/Practices Under the laws enforced by EEOC, it is illegal to discriminate against someone (applicant or employee) because of that person's race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information. It is also illegal to retaliate against a person because he or she complained about d ...