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

Need moral support - Awakening

Posted: May 17, 2012

My first post here. I've been doing this too long, in deep pain every day I work. Financially struggling. Just some comfort knowing others can understand. I've been doing this so long, I have lost faith in my ability to try anything else, ya know. Anyone relate? Blessings.

Boy oh boy can I relate! - dc

[ In Reply To ..]
I too have been doing this for a very long time, almost 30 years and transcription used to be a specialized job and a respected one. That has now turned around and there is no respect anymore and no one (except us transcriptionists) think of it as specialized. I hear more and more people say, "Oh, yeah, that's a job where you just sit down and type." If they only knew! I am tired and frustrated, but love the type of work I do and hate to change, especially now at my age. But last year my husband lost his disability even though he is still considered disabled and has been disabled from childhood. So that cut us financially big time. We have been trying to fight it, but the will to fight is gradually being worn down. So we live on my income which is very little and are barely making it day to day. I am searching for work elsewhere, but we live in a very tiny town and there is a lot of competition for all jobs here of any kind. We don't want to move, especially since we could not even dream to afford to if we tried anyway. You are definitely not alone!! An awful lot of us are struggling badly. I keep hoping things will get better, but on one hand I too slip in the faith dept, yet I try and keep a glimmer of hope.

With you both - MT2

[ In Reply To ..]
I was doing well about 5-10 years ago. Suddenly without warning my pay was cut in half (straight typing). They went to VBC and no headers, footers, demos, etc. Then, all of a sudden BAM VR. I got divorced thinking I could carry it on my own. Nope. My company kept track of my hours by saying I worked 24 when I actually worked 40 a week so they could say why (no minimum wage that way) I could make less than 200 a week on VR and no work (NJA). Lost my apartment and car. Now I am with the M (really the Q) and at least they pay minimum wage. Glad I can afford an ok apartment again, and utilities, but still no car. So, no way to find anything else. But I work hard there and at least I don't have to spend money I do not have on gas. Hang in there, b/c like it or not there are lots of us out there like you. I just say be careful where you work, hoping that the labor laws catch up with those companies who fudge time sheets like mine was when I was sitting there for more than 40 hours a week but got paid for 20 or less. Hugs to you.

I can really relate to this - Another MT

[ In Reply To ..]
I have shed many a tear over my latest job, and have become depressed as well. I hurt 24/7 and it is a struggle to be able to just sit at my desk and type all night. I have had 5 back surgeries, surgery on both knees, fibromyalgia, and diagnosed with carpal tunnel in both wrists, and also removal of my coccyx because of deterioration from arthritis..it even turned in the opposite direction. No wonder I couldn't sit without pain! I babysit 3 days a week for my 15-month-old granddaughter from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. because the father of my daughter's 2 children just up and left because he has been dating someone else for a year, and even during the time she was pregnant with her last child. She even bought a home on her own so he and the children could have a nice place to live. All of this is weighing on me every day. My husband and I are also not doing well, and he is just plain cruel and dislikes my working at night and won't hesitate to come to my office and either pick on me or complain about everything. I really feel for what you are going through, and sympathize with your pain. This profession was not like this a few years ago, and it is now harder than ever to get a decent salary with VR and the pay scale. It is really demeaning to know that with the education and knowledge we have we are making even less than someone who works at Burger King, McDonald's and Dollar General, and I don't mean that in a derogatory way. Please know that I am on your side and if you want to talk, please e-mail me.

Yes but Wake Up - anon

[ In Reply To ..]
My employer laid off dozens of my transcriptionists by Dec last year; I still have the title of Transcription Supervisor. We were promised "Editing" jobs but within a few weeks we heard that the doctors were told not to send jobs to us. It's down to a few employees doing "cleanup" work. I decided on my own to take a short course in coding by a local lady. She got me ready for the Certification Test which was last Saturday. I will find out on Thursday if I passed. It's using medical terminology we know, surgical procedures, diagnoses, etc. that we are already familiar with. The job will be in front of computer screens where you pick out the codes when prompted and salary ranges as high as $30/hour I heard from other students. I can't wait to make the move over. Everyday I'm reminded of how I lost my people in such short period of time (we were told they would make the switch in a year - but they actually did this while I was out on surgery leave!! Nobody got my say on this but apparently they don't care)... Think about coding or working in a hospital. It's not the end of the world. Good luck to all.

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