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

STILL making just over minimum wage! - Ninner

Posted: Apr 04, 2012

I LOVE working from home. I love my CCM, she is extremely understanding and flexible, which is what I need! Due to this, a few weeks ago I decided I just had a "bad attitude" and needed an adjustment. So I put my nose to the grindstone and produced almost 5,000 more lines than normal or required (80 hours). I had quite a few straight transcription jobs, and was confident my paycheck for the last pay period would be awesome! Although it was approximately $70 more than normal, I still figured out I am making only a little over $8 an hour. I figured I would need to produce 250 lines per hour in order to make what I was at my prior position at a local hospital. I am currently averaging 160 lph. I am a trained, educated, and experienced MT of 15 years. I have expertise that you cannot find by simply pulling someone off the street. Yet here I am having had my wage cut in half, barely making $1 over minimum wage. Obviously that experience and expertise account for NOTHING. All I ask of MModal is a little respect. I expect to be treated as a professional, the same as any other professional in the company, and TO BE COMPENSATED APPROPRIATELY! Why is it board members are paid approximately $100,000 per year, yet those of us at the HEART of its operations are paid so meagerly? I don't think a little respect is too much to ask.

sorry - are you using shortcuts

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I dont know what program you are using, but you should be able to do over 160 with the shortcuts. I know that was not the point of your post, but I just wanted to help.

By shortcuts you mean - Ninner

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Shorthand?! I use SH as much as possible. If you have any other ideas, please let me know! :)

Shortcuts - MT2

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You need to stop working for that company. No matter what you do, they will take it away. If you don't think they manipulate your lines, you are sadly mistaken.

no, by shortcuts I mean the ones provided in - DQS.

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Like... Ctrl M and Ctrl Shift M to move to where voice is, or move voice to where cursor is.

Those shortcuts.

if your on docquscribe - throw out the shorthand

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I have used several different programs throughout the years and docqscribe is by FAR the most user friendly..toss the shorthand and start building your shortcuts within docqscribe..it will take a while but you will be much happier..

Nope, in same boat. There is no way to even - do 200 lph no matter what

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shortcuts you use. I cannot produce on my ASR what I used to could straight type. It is that bad.

Yes, there is a way. I do it daily. - sm.

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Maybe there is an ASR refresher course, or maybe you could ask for a mentor to help? I wish they would allow us to help eachother. I would gladly take some time on my days off or after my shifts to help another MT. I dont make nearly what I used to typing, but I am not at minimum wage either.

I don't work for M-Modal but another large - MTSO who was SM

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just purchased. When I first started with VR and the new platform, I was lost. I emailed my TL and asked her to email my team members and ask if they wanted to communicate with each other to help get through this learning curve because I thought we could help each other. A few got in touch with me via email and we got together on Yahoo IM. I would have had a nervous breakdown without their help. We are now close friends. :) Could something like this happen at you company? I am now very worried about transitioning to another company and wondering if I will be alone out there with new platform, etc. I think this should be standard practice with MTSOs. Why not be able to communicate and help each other?

Maybe you'd like to do a stint on my account - and rethink your offer.

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I am not an idiot. I have been doing this forever and am really, really good at it. If there was a way, trust me I would do it. I used to make good money, now I don't. Glad you still do. Be happy you still do, but don't tell me the sky is green. It is what it is.

wow. - thats horrible

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I was trying to help. I never called anyone an idiot. I also didnt say the sky was green. I had no information about accounts, or dictators, or lenght of time on the job.

I said I also used to make a lot more than I am now.

I have no clue why you attacked me that way, but whatever. Maybe its your attitude.

I made what I did in 1991 last year. I don't think - a

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"mentor" or any "shortcuts" are the answer. I, too, thought if I really tried harder, I could produce more. I cut out EVERYTHING, no food breaks, bare bathroom breaks, no interaction with any human, phone or in person, and it made a $40 difference on my check. I am down $20,000 a year, close to $2k a month. Am I frustrated? Yes. At you? Not so much. Why don't I get out? I am trying.

Oh, believe me when I say I am frustrated - thats horrible

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I used to make 40,000 part time. Last year, I made 19,500 part time. That is a slap in the face. Less than HALF MY INCOME.

We are all stuck here until we change it for ourselves. I canot go to school yet, so I tried to work smarter, not harder. I am not at minimum wage yet. That is all I said. I just wanted to help if that was possible.

And I would love help also. Just tired of posters - such as one above bragging

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and wanting to be our "mentor." Like I said, it is what it is. I try to be accepting and change my standard of living, but she really struck a chord with me. I was one of the guinea pigs who volunteered for ASR when they began it. For a while we got 80% of our line rate. You could still do OK. Then it went to 70% and not too bad. So they cut it to 60%, changed to almost 100% ASR, turned it over to the masses who have apparently retaught it garbage, and viola, no more money.

the poster above was not bragging - on the contrary

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I truly believe that poster was trying to help and not at all being condescending.

I think you have such a bad outlook right now that nothing will help you.

I was not bragging - I do it daily

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I said that I wanted to help you, and the part about being a mentor was not about your MT skills, it was about the ASR. I know that I took 4 ASR refresher courses after my pay dropped and learned something new in each one. I also have been doing ASR since conception and was at the 80% range right with you. I also got dropped to the 60% range and I also feel that ASR has gotten worse now that everyone is "teaching" it!

I never meant to STRIKE A CHORD with anyone.

You people shock the bejesus out of me! I am in the same boat darling. I am just not angry at myself anymore!

apparently not "darling." - since you are "doing it" daily

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I am "doing it" daily also, just not making a living at it.

How long has your account been on ASR? and - how long have you been

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doing voice rec? Because you can make 200+ lines per hour on voice rec.

I used to feel the same way, but after about 3 months on it, once I adjusted to using the shortcuts and the ASR got better with my accounts, it became A LOT easier.

I do however, do the best I can to stay focused, take my lunch break, and maybe a 15 min break and thats it. I sit there from the time I punch on till the time my shift is up working steadily.

The key is staying focused, adjusting to shortcuts, and not doing anything else but working when you are punched in.

Even 200 lph at 4 cpl - no name

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is only $64 a day. If you are trying to do anything besides earn some "mad money," that isn't much.

You should send this to Amy A. who had the - SM

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All Hands meeting. Maybe it would help?

I don't have your 15 years of experience, - but I do have

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5, and I am right there with you. If it is of any comfort, I think there are many of us out there experiencing this.

what do you think is the problem? - missindale

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Don't mean that in a negative way, I'm just curious. You increased your production by a lot! is it that you can't get lines with the SR? or are you not making enough per line?

Could be they are not making enough per line. - that makes a difference too - sm

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When I was at 4cpl, I was very discouraged. The amount you get per line for ASR makes a world of difference.

I am doing 200+ per hour and finally above minimum wage, but I am hoping to get even faster. I am a living witness that you CAN get faster with time.

Then are you saying - you typed

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100 lph? If you do 200 lph on ASR, that sucks if you type 200 lph. I don't care how many shortcuts you use, you can not double your production if you type fast. ASR is there to screw the workers, that's all there is to it.

I could type 200 lph regularly. I struggle to get - required

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150 on my account's ASR. I will have 1 good hour and then not-so-good hour, but average 150, which is down 25%, at ASR pay, which is 60%. It is so discouraging to say the least.

No, I average 250 lph - typing - see msg

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The original post was about this person saying she could not do 200 lph on voice recognition.

Of course I type way more than 100 lph. I was just letting her know that it is possible to at least reach your straight typing speed, but I have yet to double my straight typing speed and reach 500 lph.

Also, I dont make the standard 4cpl either.

it's just not right - MT Gone

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Dear Ninner, when I left the the Q (now M*Model) I had seen 2 pay cuts after they bought us out (less than a year.) I was doing close to 250 LPH on an account I'd had for over 10 years, and my pay was still shrinking. They cut my pay, I'd try harder, get my pay back up (sort of), they'd cut my pay, I'd... well, you get the picture. Take it from me, killing yourself to be more productive will only make things worse for you. My account was finally switched over to EPIC and I was fortunate enough to have another job lined up (non-MT) and was able to leave fairly graciously. The more I hear of the direction of this company the more I'm certain I made the best decision I could. I miss being an MT, but I like having my bills paid with a little extra left over for ME!

STILL not making minimum wage continued - Ninner

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I should be been more clear, the 160 lph is straight ASR. I do so little straight dictation that I'm not even sure at this moment what my lph is for straight. My main "beef" is with the fact that when I started I was getting 7.5 cpl, and am now down to 4.5 cpl for ASR, which is 95% of my work flow. I don't know how they JUSTIFY cutting my pay rate almost in half just because I'm not actually typing everything anymore. I just want someone to explain to me why the company felt it was OKAY to do this, or why they felt it was JUSTIFIED! Am I not still the same educated, experienced, and qualified person I was BEFORE ASR?! Although my fingers aren't moving as fast, do I not still need the knowledge and experience I've gained over the past 15 years? What I want is to be paid that 7.5 cpl for ALL the work I do, whether it's ASR or straight typing. I'd also like a raise once in awhile. I don't think that is asking for much. I'm not sure who mentioned it, but I am currently still on Cornerstone and have yet to move to DQS so I'm not familiar with those shortcuts.

Also on Cornerstone - CornerstoneMT

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I can do 375-400 lines an hour on Cornerstone ASR, and am still not making the money I used to, and now my account will be going to Docqscribe in the next few weeks and I'm fit to be tied at how much more my income is going to drop while I get used to a new system.

Cornerstone? - losingit

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Are they doing away with Cornerstone? If so, why would they do that???? I did so much better on Cornerstone than I do now on DocQscribe :( For me, it was much easier to get my lines in on Cornerstone with ASR.

check policies on that - missindale

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It's a little known fact that you are to receive extra compensation when changing platforms. I bet your CCM does not even know this.

you have 15 years experience and only getting 7.5 - typing and 4.5 VR?

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hmmmm

hmmmm - -

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hmmmm

Yes, 10 years at a hospital/clinic/nursing home - Ninner

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and 5 years with MModal (first Spheris, then MedQuist). Obviously that rate is very low?! Perhaps it is due to my level?! I at one time asked about raises and they indicated the only time a wage goes up is if you go up a level, but at the time I asked there were no "opportunities" at higher levels. Make sense?! Just feeling overworked and underpaid. I honestly don't know how anyone gets more than 200 lph in CS, even with ASR. And I'm not sitting around polishing my fingernails or getting a pedicure, that's almost no breaks and a very short, if any, lunch break, which we are all entitled to!!!! Ugh, oh well, I'll just keep plugging away until I win the lottery! :)

minimum wage - here's how I see it - slave wages

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If you are only making minimum wage, then really, I mean this in the most positive way, get out of the profession. There is no reason for you to stay doing this crappy job for minimum wage. If that's all you're making you might as well look around and find what you REALLY want to do. that's what I'd do. I may say "slave wages" but maybe I should change my handle to "indentured servant wages" because it's still more than minimum. I WOULD NOT DO THIS JOB FOR MINIMUM WAGE. I don't like it that well.

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