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

Sure Could Use Some POSITIVE Energy - MTINND

Posted: Nov 25, 2010

Not everyone is unhappy with MT work right now. Lots of times this board is filled with much negativity and I think it is a disservice to each other. Sometimes we need to vent, but sure would like to see people with more positive things that are happening in their life post on here, and not just read on here.

I think it is unfair to dissuade newcomers to the profession. Give them an accurate vision of what it is like, both pros and cons. But, I think it's wrong to tell them that they are going to school for nothing, and will be unhappy.

I'm not ... and am kind of tired of only reading those who are. I KNOW there are others out there like me who are perfectly happy with their jobs ... and yes, I'm talking about people who work for MQ too!

There are pros to MQ that smaller companies cannot provide, and there are pros that smaller companies can provide that MQ can't. That is LIFE in business. That's the way it is everywhere. MTs are not picked on.

If you're truly not happy with what you are doing, then see how it is with other occupations and jobs. It's all the same ... really .... both good and bad out there right now. MILLIONS of people without jobs ... period.

My sister died because her husband got laid off after 25 years when the company merged with another one ... she was ill, and he lost his insurance. They lost their house, all of their savings, and eventually her life. AND, he was a white-collar upper executive who had poured 25 years of hard work into it.

I point this out only because it's not just the MT field. I am perfectly happy with my job. I don't have to spend money on gas to get to work, or work clothes, etc. I don't have to pay babysitters. All money I had to pay when I worked outside the home.

I really hope people with some positive messages will begin to post on here.

I must say - it is refreshing to read another positive post

[ In Reply To ..]
I'm not saying the complaints on here are not valid and justified, and like you, I completely understand that there are times that we all need to vent, but I was very glad to read your post on here. I agree. There are ups and downs and pros and cons everywhere, and with any profession. I left an in-house job where I had paid holidays off, BUT the insurance cost was sky high and childcare was outrageous. This insurance is expensive for me too, but at my former job, it was considerably higher. You just have to evaluate your situation and decide as best you can what will work for you. I know I still have so much to be grateful for. Hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving! :-)

Well said! - Not all bad...

[ In Reply To ..]
Thanks for this post. It is not all bad. I love what I do and feel I am treated fairly. Yes, there have been income adjustments to overcome. Overall, my experience has been positive and gives me the opportunity to care for an elderly parent without having to face nursing home placement.

I'm sorry, but I just can't be positive about making - less per hour than I did in 1976. nm

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Making Less - But Making - Right? - MTINND

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Millions of people in the U.S. are not making anything ... they have NO job. If you are not happy, why don't you find another profession? MT market became saturated because it was such a good gig. MTs are no longer a scarce resource. It is a skilled position, but many people are skilled in it now. It's the law of supply and demand, and it does not only apply to MT. So, even though I understand what you are saying, it is not the MTSOs fault. They are in business, and you don't do well in business if you don't understand the law of supply and demand on the greatest asset companies have ... their human resources. The market is saturated, and the economy is in the TANK. It would be impossible for us to blame the MTSO or whoever the MT is working for for paying less per line. It is what it is. And, it's better than NOTHING as so many unemployed people get (except for UI)

I think anyone who hates their job, or maybe not hate, but resents the way it has "morphed" over the years, should investigate other jobs where the market is not saturated. MTs used to have it made because there weren't a tremendous amount of MTs out there, so they could basically write their ticket. Not anymore, word got out how great it was, and then TONS of people went to school and now we are no longer scarce, but a dime a dozen. If an MT is not happy now, there are always lots of other quality MTs ready to fill their jobs. In 1976 it was way different, and the market not saturated.

At least you have a job ...

There is a scarcity of US MTs but a glut of - dnr

[ In Reply To ..]
offshore MTs and a glut of those in charge who only value the bottom line rather than value a good MT as they did in the past.

As for me, I'm regretably leaving MT'ing. I like MT'ing, but I can't make the rent and utilities anymore with the present pay. I now make 1/4 less than 2 years ago which is $1 more than I made in the 1970s when I first started transcribing.

MQ says not enough skilled MTs - NJA Queen

[ In Reply To ..]
That is their justification for sending over to India. The market is not saturated, they just don't want to pay the old timers for their experience. That is why they are trying to get the old timers who are making more than 8 cpl to quit because they can hire newbies or India at much less. Why do you think almost the entire QA staff walked out? It is entirely possible to blame MQ and ADHI for this situation- they are the ones who negotiate the contracts so low that they cannot afford to give anyone raises except for the suits and they are the ones who encourage outsourcing to India.

I know you have only been here a year but you need to understand the whole picture. Most of us here that were MTs before 2006 are making less than half due to ASR, no bonus, NJA and just corporate greed. In 2006 when we became employees MQ put out tier rates which specified the minimum and maximum they would pay for each tier. You could get a raise as long as you stayed within those rates. Unfortunately, those tier rates are almost 5 years old and it doesn't look like they are planning to up that any time soon. How convienient for MQ to say- nope, sorry, you can't have a raise, you are at the top of your tier. Plus now the ones at the top of the tiers are being audited to death and nitpicked trying to get them to quit. I was told if I wanted a raise I needed to work faster and produce more lines. OMG why didn't I think of that?

Yes, at least I have a job. But before long with FTR and insurance I will be owing MQ money every paycheck. Many MTs could make more on unemployment and that is MQ's fault. I am glad you are in a good situation, but just know you are the exception not the rule.

In reality, that translates to, "There aren't enough - skilled executives." Most are dufuses.

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**

Maybe only a year .. for THIS - MTINND

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Maybe a year now, but have been employed in hospitals for many years, and many of those years as a recruiter. So, I do understand the whole picture ... MT is not the only job these things are happening to. It seems that we are not in a cocoon. The economy is bad for everyone. I know so many people who have taken cuts in pay, cuts in hours, lost benefits ... it all comes down to loss of salary. Not just MTs.

The government should be doing something about the overseas crap. Sick of the conservatives saying that the government should get out of it and let private business do what it needs to do. Yeah .. if that's the case, then they will decrease more and more and more.

And, if you've seen the news lately, it's not just the U.S. Other countries needing to get completely bailed out.

Get more involved in government to have your say. This is OUR country. Don't just vent, bring solutions to the table and keep on persevering if you think you've got good ideas.

I hate it when others just sit back and cry victim. If you don't like the way things are, NOT just for MTs, the whole country, then bring solutions.

If you call making about $6.50/hr. compared to - the $12/hr. I made in 1976, or (sm)

[ In Reply To ..]
the $25/hr. I was making in 2003 "making" (as in "a living") then yes, I guess I must be pretty darned lucky.

I would be making more on unemployment. I just wish the creeps would go ahead and fire me.

1976 - MTINND

[ In Reply To ..]
Someone needs to stop living in 1976. Ask a doctor who gets out of med school how much they make and how long it takes them to actually pay off their education? Now, that is a ripoff.

SAme Here, I agree and have the - same wishes

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

for a job that is so much more technical - I agree

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There are a million more drugs than 20 years ago and all the nuclear medicine stuff and robotic-assisted procedures. It is waaaay harder and pays less. I am NOT POSITIVE.

she's a frigging cheerleader all over hte boards - and gets rude if you disagree.

[ In Reply To ..]
.

Medquist - Pat46

[ In Reply To ..]
Thanks for the positive feedback and I agree with you about it not being just the MT field. Everyone in business is cutting anything they can to make it, even if it is loyal employees. I work fulltime at home for a hospital in the town I live. Have been at home for about 1 and 1/2 years. Have over 10 years with this hospital.

Have applied to several outside services for part-time work just to see if I could make a little extra since the price of everything is going sky high.

Last week I got a call on my phone that I could hardly understand but using google to find out what the company was I determined it was Medquist.

At first I wasn't going to even call them but after reading your post I think I will. Hope they will hire me for some part-time work.

Re: Medquist - Former MQ employee

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I would not recommend anyone working for MQ. I worked for them for 8 years and it got worse as time went on making alot less money towards the end. I would have made more on UE. Now the company is being sold to India so please reconsider. Corporate greed finally took over. Indians would work for pennies on the dollar. 70% of MQ as already been bought by Cbay.

Medquist - Pat46

[ In Reply To ..]
Thanks for the information. I refuse to work for anyone who outsources to India. I was having flashes in my head about the negative things I've seen on here and read also. I know that the people her in the United States don't have a clue about how much transcription is going to India and maybe even China.

I just want to scream WAKE UP AMERICA.

I completely agree MTINND! I have thought the same thing! n/m - michelle

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-

Well I hope you are still positive when you are - sitting with NJA after

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your primary goes to India or in a couple of years when there is no work for US Transcriptionists. Keep on the rose-colored glasses. I am as positive as the next person (or I wouldn't be able to log on day after day), but I don't believe in calling a rose a tulip. It is what it is -- not a great line of work any more.

NJA - MTINND

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My account has been with Medquist for MANY, MANY years. They have not gone to voice rec, they have not sent overseas. SOME accounts do not allow their work to be sent overseas.

Don't you think those accounts have a say in the matter? They do. They have to agree to have the jobs sent over there. This account doesn't and the whole system has over 4,000 doctors in total, and 15,000 in-house employees. They are HUGE. AND, they do not allow their accounts to be sent overseas, or MQ would have done that by now. Seems to me, not every big business doesn't care about U.S. employees.

You can't blame the MTSO for trying to save money when the account says "go for it".

I live in a small area, and believe it or not, there is an MD practice with about 20 docs in it, that have sent their transcription overseas. They do not belong to an MTSO that did it, THEY did it.

When I found out at the hospital where I was working at the time, I worked up the courage, went to the main doc and told him he should be ashamed of himself for doing what he did. I know SO many people in this area without a job, and they sent it overseas. He told me, it's the bottom line ... $$$$ ... he said he can get his transcription done for 4 cpl. He said they are spot on with medical stuff, but the English in the reports suffer.

If they are willing to compromise like that, then there's nothing that can be done.

UNTIL the government gets it's hand OUT OF THE POCKETS of the large companies and puts the law down saying any company that ships jobs overseas will be taxed HEAVILY. Companies that keep jobs here should be given breaks. Believe me, if that were to happen you would see a MASSIVE turnaround.

But, if the long-term congressman who no longer care about anything but themselves, continue to align themselves with "lined pockets" then this is the way it will be.

I mean come on ... let's at least place the blame where the blame belongs.

Start venting out in public. Pick appropriate venues to bring up the situations.

I know I am very lucky to have been assigned to this account. Very lucky. But, I can tell you this, if I wasn't this lucky, I would get out and do something else.

This is OUR country. WE are supposed to be in charge. I'm tired of the politics saying this is a "free market". It is not. Not the way it USED to be. Those days are gone. Once the internet came in, it opened up the door to all kinds of abuses.

The government, yes the government, should be making laws to protect us. They are not because they are too busy fighting and trying to keep THEIR cushy jobs, with wonderful pay, wonderful benefits, outstanding retirements.

Take a good look at the politicians that make the laws .... that's where the responsibility belongs ... and it is OUR responsibility to keep THEM in check.

These are SOCIAL issues, not just MT issues.

POSITIVE ENERGY - SillyRabbit

[ In Reply To ..]
I was moping about not being able to live on what MQ pays medical transcriptionists, but it has forced me to look for something else. MTs are among the fastest and most accurate typists in the world, and I am finding out the World is My Oyster. I used to tell myself that I was saving on transportation, lunches and wardrobe costs, but MQs pay is so low that it offsets any benefit I used to think I was getting. On the plus side, it has forced me to be brave about exploring the workforce during my middle age and opportunities are a lot better than I thought for someone with my typing and grammar skills and years of experience; and everyone pays better than MQ.

Way to Go - MTINND

[ In Reply To ..]
Sending you POSITIVE ENERGY! Perhaps, there is another plan for you on the "outside" and you are on your way.

MANY blessings, as you find exactly what you need.

Go get 'em!

Positive LIFE - Making the best of it

[ In Reply To ..]
I have never posted here, but I read all the time. I am a 30-year veteran MT who, about 1-1/2 years ago was displaced when my hospital outsourced. I had worked with them 26 years, so it was a shock. BUT I have a job with a company now. I am totally dismayed that my talent is worth about $8000.00 per year less than it was 1 short year ago, but I had to learn, before I went crazy, to separate my fun life from my work life. I LOVE medical transcription, so I have decided, and it wasn't an easy decision as I was furious and bitter for almost a year, to remember to love my patients, and then walk away and enjoy my real life.

I know NJA status is horrible, but instead of sitting waiting for jobs, I just swallow the loss and get up and go to my back yard to watch the birds, grab a good book and read, or even go for a walk with my camera, give myself a little break, then come back and try again.

When work is over, it's over. I know that sounds easy, and sometimes it is impossible to accomplish, but if everyone can just take a breath and smile and unclench their jaws (also not easy for me), then things sort of start to fall into place and the stress is relieved. Even if the peace lasts an hour, that is an hour of peace...and I hope that for all of us.

Happy Holidays, MTs!

Well said!! - nm

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MTINND - do you work for the Q??? NM - just wondering where belong

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