Re: Medical Transcription earnings

May 22, 2002

We have to meet 98% quality at a minimum. QA pulls random lines and scores

us.

p.s. A prerequisite for this job is also being a masochist. <GG>

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Webmedx employee

Career Step graduate, 10/02/01

Experience: 7 months

My Home Page: http://www.renesue.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

RE: Medical Transcription earnings

, Sorry, I guess I should have mentioned that most places also have

quality standards and if you don't meet the standards, then the amount you

get paid for production gets cut. You must work in a hospital that is very

slack with its quality and standards, if the kind of example you gave is

allowed. I have never worked anywhere where that kind of mistake would be

allowed to go on. We have to know enough to point out the errors that

doctors make in their dictation, such as calling a male a female, or changes

the age from 43 to 87. If you don't want to go into transcription just

because you have seen errors made and you disagree with that, then maybe

this is not the job for you anyway. Most trasnscriptionists are very proud

not only of their quantity but also of their quality. As many will tell

you, I am obsessive-compulsive and even anal retentive when it comes to

doing transcription. If my quality isn't there, then I don't want to have

my initials on the report.!

Margaret

May 22, 2002

I'm in Georgia - about 50 miles northeast of Atlanta. I have 3 hospital

accounts (inpatient psych, outpatient radiation oncology, and outpatient PT), 3

outpatient psych accounts, and 1 orthopedic surgeon. Yeah, they keep me busy,

but I try not to work more than 8-9 hours a day and it suits me just fine. Hey

- if they're willing to pay, I'm willing to work! : )

RE: Medical Transcription earnings

>

> When I first started out about six or so months ago at my office

> job with a

> set hourly wage, I made $9 an hour in central Texas. However,

> getting paid

> per line at home I made less than minimum wage. Now that I've

> gotten a half

> a year under my belt, I'm still lucky to average $7 or so an hour,

> but

> sometimes it's still barely minimum wage if I get bad dictation

> and new

> terms or equipment that I have to spend forever looking up. Last

> night

> though, they sent me all of this same doc's dictation that I'm

> really used

> to and could do in my sleep. I was really happy to figure up that

> I

> averaged about $11.50 per hour last night (That's good where I

> live. I know

> a lot of people live where the cost of living is much higher,

> though, so

> that might not sound so good to them. To give you an idea before

> I got

> married, I was squeaking by on $15,000 gross per year at my

> previous job

> before taking MT, in a one bedroom apartment in a still decent but

> kind of

> lower middle class neighborhood, but my car was on its last leg

> and I don't

> know what I would have done if I'd had to take on a car payment

> before my

> husband and I got together.).

>

> Joy

>

> Joy & List,

>

> I cannot believe this! I've been reading the posts on

> earnings and I must

> say I am stunned! I was looking into transcription for a few

> reasons but

> certainly one was that I had heard the salary was GREAT! I have

> not made

> min. wage for years and certainly see no reason to do all that

> school and

> training to go back in pay. Are you all sure this is not some

> kinda

> mistake. If not, MT's don't make that much at all.

>

May 22, 2002

How long did it take you to get to the point where you were making good

money doing transcription only?

Thanks!

Sylvia

MT wannabe....gonnabe

gentlsong@...

ICQ# 383585

RE: Medical Transcription earnings

>

> When I first started out about six or so months ago at my office job

with a

> set hourly wage, I made $9 an hour in central Texas. However, getting

paid

> per line at home I made less than minimum wage. Now that I've gotten a

half

> a year under my belt, I'm still lucky to average $7 or so an hour, but

> sometimes it's still barely minimum wage if I get bad dictation and new

> terms or equipment that I have to spend forever looking up. Last night

> though, they sent me all of this same doc's dictation that I'm really

used

> to and could do in my sleep. I was really happy to figure up that I

> averaged about $11.50 per hour last night (That's good where I live. I

know

> a lot of people live where the cost of living is much higher, though, so

> that might not sound so good to them. To give you an idea before I got

> married, I was squeaking by on $15,000 gross per year at my previous job

> before taking MT, in a one bedroom apartment in a still decent but kind

of

> lower middle class neighborhood, but my car was on its last leg and I

don't

> know what I would have done if I'd had to take on a car payment before

my

> husband and I got together.).

>

> Joy

>

> Joy & List,

>

> I cannot believe this! I've been reading the posts on earnings

and I must

> say I am stunned! I was looking into transcription for a few reasons

but

> certainly one was that I had heard the salary was GREAT! I have not

made

> min. wage for years and certainly see no reason to do all that school

and

> training to go back in pay. Are you all sure this is not some kinda

> mistake. If not, MT's don't make that much at all.

>

May 22, 2002

I started working at the hospital in October 1996, went part-time in November

1998, and went 'per diem' in September 1999 (no raises - no responsibility -

just a regular direct-deposited paycheck for the departments I have within the

hospital). I have been self-employed full-time now for nearly 3 years, and have

consistently made in excess of $50K each year (gross, not net). Of course,

because I kept my employed status at the hospital, I don't have to pay the full

social security and medicare on that income - just my 7.5%. I only have to pay

the full 15% (or whatever it is now) on my 1099 income from my other contracts,

which is a whole lot better when it comes to the bottom line!

RE: Medical Transcription earnings

>

> When I first started out about six or so months ago at my office job

with a

> set hourly wage, I made $9 an hour in central Texas. However, getting

paid

> per line at home I made less than minimum wage. Now that I've gotten a

half

> a year under my belt, I'm still lucky to average $7 or so an hour, but

> sometimes it's still barely minimum wage if I get bad dictation and new

> terms or equipment that I have to spend forever looking up. Last night

> though, they sent me all of this same doc's dictation that I'm really

used

> to and could do in my sleep. I was really happy to figure up that I

> averaged about $11.50 per hour last night (That's good where I live. I

know

> a lot of people live where the cost of living is much higher, though, so

> that might not sound so good to them. To give you an idea before I got

> married, I was squeaking by on $15,000 gross per year at my previous job

> before taking MT, in a one bedroom apartment in a still decent but kind

of

> lower middle class neighborhood, but my car was on its last leg and I

don't

> know what I would have done if I'd had to take on a car payment before

my

> husband and I got together.).

>

> Joy

>

> Joy & List,

>

> I cannot believe this! I've been reading the posts on earnings

and I must

> say I am stunned! I was looking into transcription for a few reasons

but

> certainly one was that I had heard the salary was GREAT! I have not

made

> min. wage for years and certainly see no reason to do all that school

and

> training to go back in pay. Are you all sure this is not some kinda

> mistake. If not, MT's don't make that much at all.

>

May 22, 2002

,

How does 'per diem' work exactly? About how many lines/hr. or day were you

able to do when you started as compared to now? Hope this isn't too

personal.

Sylvia

MT wannabe....gonnabe ...and full of questions

gentlsong@...

ICQ# 383585

RE: Medical Transcription earnings

> >

> > When I first started out about six or so months ago at my office job

> with a

> > set hourly wage, I made $9 an hour in central Texas. However,

getting

> paid

> > per line at home I made less than minimum wage. Now that I've

gotten a

> half

> > a year under my belt, I'm still lucky to average $7 or so an hour,

but

> > sometimes it's still barely minimum wage if I get bad dictation and

new

> > terms or equipment that I have to spend forever looking up. Last

night

> > though, they sent me all of this same doc's dictation that I'm

really

> used

> > to and could do in my sleep. I was really happy to figure up that I

> > averaged about $11.50 per hour last night (That's good where I live.

I

> know

> > a lot of people live where the cost of living is much higher,

though, so

> > that might not sound so good to them. To give you an idea before I

got

> > married, I was squeaking by on $15,000 gross per year at my previous

job

> > before taking MT, in a one bedroom apartment in a still decent but

kind

> of

> > lower middle class neighborhood, but my car was on its last leg and

I

> don't

> > know what I would have done if I'd had to take on a car payment

before

> my

> > husband and I got together.).

> >

> > Joy

> >

> > Joy & List,

> >

> > I cannot believe this! I've been reading the posts on

earnings

> and I must

> > say I am stunned! I was looking into transcription for a few

reasons

> but

> > certainly one was that I had heard the salary was GREAT! I have not

> made

> > min. wage for years and certainly see no reason to do all that

school

> and

> > training to go back in pay. Are you all sure this is not some kinda

> > mistake. If not, MT's don't make that much at all.

> >

May 22, 2002

No, I don't care how personal it is ... I'm proud of where I've gotten.

Per diem is simply another hospital employment level - full-time, part-time,

PRN, per diem. Basically, if I were to physically work at the hospital in one

of the departments and clocked in, I would simply get my regular hourly rate (up

to $13.82 and holding). It also means that I get no benefits, no raises, and no

recognition for anything. On the other hand, I also don't go through the annual

evaluations, and I still am able to get my paycheck direct deposited and my

employment taxes paid. I think it's a pretty fair trade, considering that I'm

not being paid by the hour to do my transcription, but instead being paid by the

line.

As far as lines per hour or day, I'm not sure. See, the departments have grown

over the past 3 years and as they've grown, I've done more work. It's really

hard to say. In the beginning I wasn't working 40-hour weeks (heck, I barely

work a 40-hour week now). I was only working about 20-hour weeks.

I also don't have to deal with quality assurance or anything like that. If

someone has a correction or if I leave a blank, they fill it in or cross through

it and correct it themselves. I always ask that they leave me a copy, but it's

been about 2 years since anyone left me any corrections ... and I know there

have been some because I have left blanks in some of the reports!

Everyone I work for is fairly laid back and easy going. I am really lucky to

work for [most of] the people I do. Some of the physical therapists had to be

taken down a notch or two when I first started, but they're pretty much okay

now. They all give me a fairly good amount of " creative license " when it comes

to their dictation so I can make them sound like they know what they are talking

about. However, one of the therapists get her stuff back verbatim because she

feels it's necessary to spell EVERYTHING - even though I have been typing

physical therapy for 4+ years. She spells the most idiotic things - hamstring,

dorsal, etc. - so she knows it all and she gets her stuff back verbatim.

Unfortunately, she is also the worst one to say things like " the patient had,

you know, like a lot of stiffness in her neck ... " And you know what? That's

exactly how she gets it back. The kicker was when she decided to spell a

patient's name: J-E-N-N-I-F-E-R. Hmmm ... I couldn't have guess that one.

Guess I got off on a tangent there, sorry.

Jen

RE: Medical Transcription earnings

> >

> > When I first started out about six or so months ago at my office job

> with a

> > set hourly wage, I made $9 an hour in central Texas. However,

getting

> paid

> > per line at home I made less than minimum wage. Now that I've

gotten a

> half

> > a year under my belt, I'm still lucky to average $7 or so an hour,

but

> > sometimes it's still barely minimum wage if I get bad dictation and

new

> > terms or equipment that I have to spend forever looking up. Last

night

> > though, they sent me all of this same doc's dictation that I'm

really

> used

> > to and could do in my sleep. I was really happy to figure up that I

> > averaged about $11.50 per hour last night (That's good where I live.

I

> know

> > a lot of people live where the cost of living is much higher,

though, so

> > that might not sound so good to them. To give you an idea before I

got

> > married, I was squeaking by on $15,000 gross per year at my previous

job

> > before taking MT, in a one bedroom apartment in a still decent but

kind

> of

> > lower middle class neighborhood, but my car was on its last leg and

I

> don't

> > know what I would have done if I'd had to take on a car payment

before

> my

> > husband and I got together.).

> >

> > Joy

> >

> > Joy & List,

> >

> > I cannot believe this! I've been reading the posts on

earnings

> and I must

> > say I am stunned! I was looking into transcription for a few

reasons

> but

> > certainly one was that I had heard the salary was GREAT! I have not

> made

> > min. wage for years and certainly see no reason to do all that

school

> and

> > training to go back in pay. Are you all sure this is not some kinda

> > mistake. If not, MT's don't make that much at all.

> >

May 23, 2002

Thanks Jen for being so forthcoming about what you're earning which is a big

help and encouragement to me and surely the other newbies and students. I

realize that I won't be earning anything like that to start off but it

really helps to know what the potential is.

It's the kind of info I was dying to know but was afraid to ask for fear of

offending anyone. You've made my day with your series of posts.

I'm marrying an Englishman who'll have to go through the green card process

and etc. once he gets here so I'll be the main breadwinner and I really

needed to know the earning possibilities in MT.

Robyn

p.s. I'm so glad that one therapist taught you how to spell . You

might have gone through your whole life without knowing that >.

Re: Medical Transcription earnings

> No, I don't care how personal it is ... I'm proud of where I've gotten.

>

> Per diem is simply another hospital employment level - full-time,

part-time, PRN, per diem. Basically, if I were to physically work at the

hospital in one of the departments and clocked in, I would simply get my

regular hourly rate (up to $13.82 and holding). It also means that I get no

benefits, no raises, and no recognition for anything. On the other hand, I

also don't go through the annual evaluations, and I still am able to get my

paycheck direct deposited and my employment taxes paid. I think it's a

pretty fair trade, considering that I'm not being paid by the hour to do my

transcription, but instead being paid by the line.

>

> As far as lines per hour or day, I'm not sure. See, the departments have

grown over the past 3 years and as they've grown, I've done more work. It's

really hard to say. In the beginning I wasn't working 40-hour weeks (heck,

I barely work a 40-hour week now). I was only working about 20-hour weeks.

>

> I also don't have to deal with quality assurance or anything like that.

If someone has a correction or if I leave a blank, they fill it in or cross

through it and correct it themselves. I always ask that they leave me a

copy, but it's been about 2 years since anyone left me any corrections ...

and I know there have been some because I have left blanks in some of the

reports!

>

> Everyone I work for is fairly laid back and easy going. I am really lucky

to work for [most of] the people I do. Some of the physical therapists had

to be taken down a notch or two when I first started, but they're pretty

much okay now. They all give me a fairly good amount of " creative license "

when it comes to their dictation so I can make them sound like they know

what they are talking about. However, one of the therapists get her stuff

back verbatim because she feels it's necessary to spell EVERYTHING - even

though I have been typing physical therapy for 4+ years. She spells the

most idiotic things - hamstring, dorsal, etc. - so she knows it all and she

gets her stuff back verbatim. Unfortunately, she is also the worst one to

say things like " the patient had, you know, like a lot of stiffness in her

neck ... " And you know what? That's exactly how she gets it back. The

kicker was when she decided to spell a patient's name: J-E-N-N-I-F-E-R.

Hmmm ... I couldn't have guess that one.

>

> Guess I got off on a tangent there, sorry.

>

> Jen

May 23, 2002

Congratulations on your upcoming marriage!

I always tell anyone when they ask what I earn that I put in many years of

dues " to get to this point. I worked in the office for $9 an hour, then quit

and did subcontract work for 10 cents a line, working all the hours and days

no one else wanted and sometimes with not much work. I have never worked for

the MT department in a hospital or for a company and do not wish to do so.

There is more money to be made in doing the same accounts on a daily basis,

and eventually you get to pick and choose.

I am getting older, and I can no longer work 8 intense hours a day, so I end

up working a couple of hours in the early evening, another hour later in the

evening, then from about 7 a.m. until 2 p.m. with breaks for grandchildren

and doing laundry, paying bills. I do not make what does, but I do

charge 12 cents a line (60-character line with spaces) and went over $40,000

last year. My " company " made over $60,000, but I subcontract some to my

daughter and pay for her transportation for pickup/delivery. I could make

more, but I do not want to work any harder than I already do. As I said, I

am not able to do it as " intensely " as I did a few years ago.

If you subtract the years I put in making considerably less, it is not quite

so impressive. The potential is there if you are good at it.

-- Re: Medical Transcription earnings