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

Any old timers out there? - Texas MT

Posted: Oct 04, 2013

Just this morning I was talking to my husband about "the good old days" in the medical transcription world. I remember when we would type a report, I mean "straight" type a report (no VR), send it off to be signed by the physician and then it was placed on the medical record. Back then, it was the physician's responsibility to make sure that all the information on the report was correct before he signed it. Anyone remember those days? Technology and new ways of doing things are great and I'm really trying to embrace all of that but... darn it... I just wish we could go back to simpler times... don't you? I started doing transcription in 1978.... I've seen all the changes... some are good... some are not so good.. Of course... I was only 12 at the time.... HaHaHa. Happy Friday to all my fellow MTs ;)

I sure do remember the good old days! - nn

[ In Reply To ..]
When we were able to do the things you mentioned in your post and the doctors, not the MTs were held accountable for mistakes made and the fact as well that we were paid a decent salary as well, whether it be hourly or by the line. I remember being able to make $1000 a week, but those days are long gone.

Old Timer here, Texas MT - SAM

[ In Reply To ..]
I started in 1987 on a "new-fangled" Wang PC, I believe it was, with huge floppy disks using the latest version of WP. We transcribed from tapes, printed off the reports, put them into the doctor's boxes for signature and any revisions/corrections, and then put the signed document over to medical records for filing in the chart.

Each MT had her own station and we were a really tight group, all working days, Monday through Friday (it was a psych facility), all holidays off and paid, and no weekend work ever required. The group of us would meet up a couple of times per month to have breakfast at a local pub before work and had a big hospital cafeteria (which actually had good food, imagine that!) where we'd have lunch.

I'm still very happy being an MT, and I'm fortunate enough to work for a great small MTSO. Nonetheless, I do still miss greatly those days when I was new to the field and the friendships that were made working in the office.

Nice to meet you, Texas MT. :)

old timer - missy

[ In Reply To ..]
I worked in hospital environments where we all helped each other get through the difficult dictators. Then we thought working at home was a good thing, made lots of money, still were able to communicate with other transcriptionists if we needed a little help with a word or two. Now they discourage you from communicating with other MT's and everything you do is scrutinized and complicated.

Memory Lane - Ex-MT in WA

[ In Reply To ..]
Ah, those were the days. I started doing MT in 1974. My first job was at a hospital. We all had typewriters, Liquid Paper and IBM magnetic belts for some of the dictation, then we had those big tanks that would shut down if they got full! I used to make "rounds" and go around the hospital and pick up the belts from the dictation stations. If the docs didn't fill out the log slip someone would have to scan the belt to see what was on it. Yes, the doctor had to sign everything but I also remember the delinquency list and lost privileges if they didn't keep up on their dictation and discharge summaries. Now that my memory has been jogged, some of it was not simpler; I don't think I want to give up my PC to go back to a typewriter and those scratchy belts. We thought we were hot stuff the day we got those electronic typewriters with the display...remember those? Happy Friday to all, have a good weekend.

Memory Lane - Texas MT

[ In Reply To ..]
I agree, I don't want to give up my PC or my InstaText. There are so many tools out there to make our jobs easier, that is for certain, like the internet. I remember being excited about a selectric IBM typewriter and whiteout. I also remember accidentally erasing a cassette tape that had several x-ray dictations on it, not yet transribed. Yikes! But all in all, those were great times. I still love my job. I'm doing QA right now because these old hands just cannot go as fast as they used to. Not a very popular subject on this site but I try to be fair and helpful. Oh... I remember my very first transcription job. My supervisor sat with me and listened to what I was listening to and talked me through several reports. How cool was that? I'll never forget her. You have a good weekend too. PS: I worked in Seattle from 1987 until 1992. Moved to So Cal because of the rain in WA. Pretty state though ;)

I would only want to go back to the - old days

[ In Reply To ..]
of MT that were the sweet spot when WordPerfect 5.0 and C-phones started. In-house work with all hospital bennies and decent pay. Field was not saturated, so with experience almost guaranteed a job any place we applied. I don't consider belts, tapes, Selectrics and White-Out part of the good ole days. LOL.

Old Days - Texas MT

[ In Reply To ..]
I'm with you! I miss in-house work, bennies, decent pay and the feeling of appreciation for our experience. White-Out and Selectrics were fantastic when they first came out. ;}

I also remember - being allowed to

[ In Reply To ..]
smoke while working in the office (Mad Men anyone?) Don't think I want to go back to that either!

Similar Messages:

Apr 24, 2011

Need some of you “old timers” to help settle a difference of opinion. We can’t seem to find any accurate information using the web. I was having a discussion with another MT friend about timelines in regards to when SR/VR started and when they started off-shoring. I say everything happened within the last 5 years. My friend thinks she started using SR over 5 years ago at the MTSO she works for. Anyone have any accurate info? 1. Year Speech Re ...

Sep 11, 2012

Have dictators you have to turn the volume all the way up and press the headset into your TMs to hear? Do you have to only chew during pauses because the sound of your chomping would obliterate their tiny whisperer? Have doctors who never learned to use the "Pause" making you listen to them review the past 5 years of a patient's chart? Are pauses so long you can take a nap or make lunch while they are thinking? Do you use swear words against the doctors, calling them mother __ ...

Nov 18, 2010

Hey all you loyal MQ people who have been here for years (why we do it, I don't know) Remember when....they used to tell MTs DO NOT ENTER S/L in the QA NOTE, because it made QA "think" they would hear that word....well guess what...and this is for the suits and the managers who are looking, and we know you are .....ASR is nothing but a full report of sounds likes. They wonder why errors are being seen in ASR reports? DUH!!! ...

Jan 15, 2011

I just read on MQ Central that as a part-timer you are eligible for "partial" benefits. I had asked on this board before if part-timers were eligible for health insurance and was told no. What does "partial" benefits mean exactly? I'd like to drop to part time but absolutely need to keep health insurance. Thanks in Advance! ...

Nov 23, 2009

Of the part-time MDIers who have already gotten their packets, was your pay decreased if you were making 9 cpl? Also, I am beginning to think I was the only person making 9 cpl at MDI! ...

May 05, 2010

dear night timers -- i normally work days, but just wanted to let you know that after filling in for a couple of shifts working nights that I appreciate you guys now more than ever. I do not know how you do it day in/day out (or is that night in/night out?) Anyway, I just wanted you all to know that I have a new appreciation for the night timers who work thru the night. It was an eye opener and it was actually nice to walk in someone else's shoes for once! ...

Aug 18, 2011

Anyone here from M-modal? All of you, M-modals, ex-Spheris, and MQ people -- watch your backs!!!! Watch out for yourselves only! MQ is about the most dishonest MT company out there. Every deal they have made has been crooked in some way shape or form. Google it for gosh shake. With every merger, they cut the best people (usually the ones making the most $$ with the most experience) so they can send more over to Cbay, naturally...since they own 97% of the compan ...

Dec 20, 2011

I am starting to wonder if Transcend has more part time workers than full time, excluding the TLs. It just seems like it is such a fight to get enough work to be full time. It also seems like it saves them in the long run to not provide insurance and now gift cards at Christmas if they have more part timers, just my feeling. ...

May 16, 2013

Can anyone tell me if part timers can get health and prescription insurance from Nuance? Has anyone been full time and then dropped to part time? How much of a drop in benefits was it? Where can I find this Enrich program? In advance, thanks!! ...

Nov 12, 2009

nm ...

Aug 10, 2012

At least most of the time? Thinking of changing status, but don't want to get into a no-work situation. FT work available is already much less than used to be before Transcend buyout. ...

Apr 03, 2013

This may be a naive question, but, when you resigned from Keystrokes, did you get paid for any PTO that you had on the books? I sure hate to give that time up. Thanks in advance. ...

Aug 17, 2013

I am part time 24 hours and not a peep out of my CCM/TSM/whatever she is yet. I would think I would be first in line because she is always giving me a hard time about my hours and my pause time, etc. Is it still coming? If not, why are they lying? ...

Feb 13, 2014

Did I dream this or did I not see a while back that part timers would still get 5 days of vacation time for the year? I don't see it on my PTO balance. Anyone have any information on that? Thanks in advance. ...

Jun 01, 2014

I looked on the MModal website and it doesn't tell about part timers, only full timers. I know we don't get paid but was wondering if we get any days off or we have to use excused absences. Anyone know? ...

Mar 16, 2010

I'm short 3 hours this PP (not even sure why, prob signed out early a few times too many here and there)...... Am I in danger of losing my medical insurance if I don't have my full 40 hours? I thought I may have heard that you had to go 2 pay periods in a row short before they would take away benefits. Anyone know about this? Thanks!! ...

May 08, 2010

how many of you only work 3 or 4 days per week (24 hours). Do you split your schedule up and work only a few hours at a time? I'm considering working only 3-4 days per week instead of my usual 5 and would like to know how you schedule your hours. Thank you! ...

Apr 04, 2013

Should be an interesting, wild ride. ...

May 03, 2014

up during the day - working 2-3 hours at a time - or do you work a straight 8 hours with breaks and a lunch? Thinking of going full-time and just cannot sit at my desk for 8 straight hours. I'd rather split my hours up but this then makes for a very long work day. Just wondering how others set their hours/schedules. Thanks for any information! ...

Jul 15, 2014

No need to name your company, a yes or no will do. Just wondering if it's even too much to hope for as I can only work PT but since I'm not married and don't plan to be ever, it's important for me. THanks in Advance! ...

Jun 21, 2011

I saw below where Transcend may be offering health insurance to part timers in September, just wondering if anybody has heard anything about that. I would like to have insurance again, so am very curious if that is true. Thanks for your help! ...

Feb 23, 2012

Does anyone know if Nuance offers health insurance for part-time employees? If so, approximately how much does it cost? ...

Oct 26, 2012

x ...

Feb 09, 2013

x ...

Apr 04, 2013

I think severence is just for full time but not sure. ...

Aug 17, 2013

We have late work pending in multiple accounts (unusual for a saturday), and TSM is frantically sending out emails to try to get part timers to work extra because corporate won't allow her to have fulltime employees go overtime. This place is run by idiots. ...

Apr 04, 2013

Just waiting for the other shoe to drop, wondering who is next. ...