Re: Can anyone make a living at 8 CPL?

"Jeannie" <jwilson421@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:Xns999D5AFE3776Fjwilson421comcastnet@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Su" <memphis.su@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in
news:AlQBi.29550$mp6.404@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx:

My thoughts tend to be discombobulated (sp?), but I hope I explained
things better.

I understand what you are saying but I still don't get why it is the fault
of the MT for their pay scale reflecting their level of expertise.


Absolutely nothing ... however ... from my seat (in this movie theater) the
MT not only wants to get paid at a level that meets their level of expertise
but they also say "You MUST accept our level of expertise!!!"

Say you.

And, as often occurs with businesses, rates increase. Doctors. Health
insurance. Car repair shops. People who watch your kids. Restaurants. (and
so forth) That's business and they're "in the business to make money." The
same is true for the MT. There's nothing wrong with it.

But here's a little insight. Forgive me if I'm repeating myself ... A couple
of years ago I came upon a web site that was related to speech recognition.
I don't know the product they were using, but I'm presuming it was from
Dictaphone. They stated that about 75% of their physicians were using the
product and there were in-house MTs who would edit the reports *IF* that is
what the physician wanted. Sort of "my report, my choice." Why should it
matter to you (or any other MT) if the doctor wanted their reports left
alone? If fact, some even want their reports transcribed verbatim. So be it.
The legal issues fall on their shoulders ... it's their problem ... stop
taking ownership of it. (although I will admit that unless the late Sir
Laurence Olivier is dictating the report, I cringe at doing any report
verbatim).

The MT insists upon a specific level of expertise and want fair compensation
for it, which is understandable ... but who else is making that sort of
demand? It seems rather one sided to me ... the MT. As such, the industry
has been offered a choice: you MUST accept the quality of the work we
provided, and you *MUST* pay us what we feel we're worth.

And in all of this mishmosh, the AAMT changes the line rate. What was billed
at X-cents per line for gross lines is now the same line rate for the
65-char line. And, to boot, the 65-char line may include spaces, tabs, bold,
etc ... or just the character itself. And while all of this is going on, the
AAMT keeps pushing quality, quality, quality ...

As the "quality of expertise" increases, so do the rates, maybe every couple
of years. And with that, a serious problem was created. Medical facilities
wanted to maintain that level of quality (you folks taught them that), but
they could not afford to anymore (MT rates keep increasing). They had a
problem and they took ownership of it. Send offshore (or use SR) ... return
for editing ... put it on the chart. One Kansas-based hospital saved
$2.5-million dollars a year doing this. How many others will follow suit?

In the final analysis, we all have choices. If you feel in your heart that
your skill level is worth so much per line, then stick to your guns. But
keep in mind that while you adhere to your principles you are at risk for
somebody with a lower level of principles taking your client(s) away from
you, 'cause they could underbid you.

Hey, look, I've got my principles to. I currently earn between 10 and 13 cpl
working for other people. Am I worth that much? I don't know ... but, to my
knowledge, their clients have no complaints (I would have heard if they
did). But one day I may no longer be working for these people. What's
available is only 7-1/2 cpl for a 65-char line count. "Are you kidding me?
I've got nearly 30 years of acute care experience. I ain't taking that." ---
Well, it's either take that or work 14-16 hours per day, 6-7 days per week."
I don't think so.

It's choices, Jeannie. You may feel that your pay should reflect your level
of expertise, and rightfully so, but sometimes you need to ask yourself
what's more important: your principles or your ability to pay your bills.

Like the words to "The Gambler" ... you gotta know when to hold up, when to
fold up.



.

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