Medicine transcription - Update - took on new account

Author

Update - took on new account

Donna in Texas

2004-10-27, 2:07 am

Hello, its me (again). Last time I posted about this, it turned out to be a
controversy. Don't know if you remember or not, but I got an account in
addition to my full time job at the hospital. $30 a tape. Well, after a
month, I have figured I'm only making about $7/hr. That's less than half of
what I make at my full time job. I am going to ask for a raise. I took the
job with the agreement that we could negotiate the rate later if need be.
Well, it's not worth it to me to do it for $7/hr. My question, should I ask
for an equivalent of what I am making at my full-time job (which includes
very challenging and difficult dictation), or a little less, say $40 per
tape (which would be $10/hr, about $4 less than I make). He's a real easy
dictator, but this is a side job...

I'll probably get flamed for this deluxe, but if there are any kind souls
out there with advice, would appreciate.

Thanks..

Donna in Texas.

Mariette

2004-10-27, 4:06 am

On Wed, 27 Oct 2004 07:05:04 GMT, "Donna in Texas"
<miladybug1@yahoo.com.com> wrote:

>Hello, its me (again). Last time I posted about this, it turned out to be a
>controversy. Don't know if you remember or not, but I got an account in
>addition to my full time job at the hospital. $30 a tape. Well, after a
>month, I have figured I'm only making about $7/hr. That's less than half of
>what I make at my full time job. I am going to ask for a raise. I took the
>job with the agreement that we could negotiate the rate later if need be.
>Well, it's not worth it to me to do it for $7/hr. My question, should I ask
>for an equivalent of what I am making at my full-time job (which includes
>very challenging and difficult dictation), or a little less, say $40 per
>tape (which would be $10/hr, about $4 less than I make). He's a real easy
>dictator, but this is a side job...
>
>I'll probably get flamed for this deluxe, but if there are any kind souls
>out there with advice, would appreciate.
>
>Thanks..
>
>Donna in Texas.

How funny, I was just thinking about you and wondered what happened
with that. I remember all the widely varying estimates you got here
of what you might make per hour too, if at an average 1:3 or 1:4 ratio
or other, but it seemed that you figured you would make out quite a
bit better than that because of how fast you could do him before, at
about 1:2. What do you think happened to your production rate with
him? Is he recording at the wrong speed or something? What other
factor/s could account for such a big difference from your original
estimate?

Anyway, I would think you would want to ask for enough of an increase
to not only make what you're being paid at your full-time job, but
also enough extra to compensate for your pick-up and delivery too?
Expecting to make at least $14/hr at even just "a side job" isn't at
all unreasonable, IMO. I can't imagine doing something like that for
any less, myself (I recently quoted $15/hr for a non-MT side job of
transcription to someone, but even then I was giving them a big break
because of them being friends of the family and all).

--
Mariette

--
(wabewawa61-at-earthlink-dot-net)

Donna in Texas

2004-10-27, 7:07 am

Mariette, thanks for replying. Well, I don't know why, but this doctor's
dictation through my full-time job (at the hospital) is somewhat different.
In his private practice, the H&Ps seem to go on forever. It's not usual for
his H&P's or consults at the hospital to be 20 to 30 minutes long, but they
aren't that difficult and I can to them in under and hour. It took me 2
hours to do one H&P through his private practice tonight (and I speeded up
the voice), and then I did two progress notes and there is still one left
and that is just one side of the tape. Doesn't seem worth it to me at this
point. He's NOT a bad dictator, easily understandable, so that's not the
problem. I dunno......

Donna in Texas

"Mariette" <me@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:lknun09eie68640gfsu0ke9dctcuhd0dac@4ax.com...
> On Wed, 27 Oct 2004 07:05:04 GMT, "Donna in Texas"
> <miladybug1@yahoo.com.com> wrote:
>
be a[vbcol=seagreen]
of[vbcol=seagreen]
the[vbcol=seagreen]
ask[vbcol=seagreen]
easy[vbcol=seagreen]
>
>
> How funny, I was just thinking about you and wondered what happened
> with that. I remember all the widely varying estimates you got here
> of what you might make per hour too, if at an average 1:3 or 1:4 ratio
> or other, but it seemed that you figured you would make out quite a
> bit better than that because of how fast you could do him before, at
> about 1:2. What do you think happened to your production rate with
> him? Is he recording at the wrong speed or something? What other
> factor/s could account for such a big difference from your original
> estimate?
>
> Anyway, I would think you would want to ask for enough of an increase
> to not only make what you're being paid at your full-time job, but
> also enough extra to compensate for your pick-up and delivery too?
> Expecting to make at least $14/hr at even just "a side job" isn't at
> all unreasonable, IMO. I can't imagine doing something like that for
> any less, myself (I recently quoted $15/hr for a non-MT side job of
> transcription to someone, but even then I was giving them a big break
> because of them being friends of the family and all).
>
> --
> Mariette
>
> --
> (wabewawa61-at-earthlink-dot-net)

Mariette

2004-10-27, 7:07 am

It sure doesn't sound worth it to me. So I guess this is an object
lesson about listening to some of the work (even with someone whose
work you've already done under different circumstances) before making
any kind of rate agreements/commitment at all.

I wonder if $30 per tape was his same going rate with the MT/s before
you? And if so, I wonder how many he's been through because of that.

Mariette

On Wed, 27 Oct 2004 09:08:58 GMT, "Donna in Texas"
<miladybug1@yahoo.com.com> wrote:

>Mariette, thanks for replying. Well, I don't know why, but this doctor's
>dictation through my full-time job (at the hospital) is somewhat different.
>In his private practice, the H&Ps seem to go on forever. It's not usual for
>his H&P's or consults at the hospital to be 20 to 30 minutes long, but they
>aren't that difficult and I can to them in under and hour. It took me 2
>hours to do one H&P through his private practice tonight (and I speeded up
>the voice), and then I did two progress notes and there is still one left
>and that is just one side of the tape. Doesn't seem worth it to me at this
>point. He's NOT a bad dictator, easily understandable, so that's not the
>problem. I dunno......
>
>Donna in Texas
>
>"Mariette" <me@privacy.net> wrote in message
>news:lknun09eie68640gfsu0ke9dctcuhd0dac@4ax.com...
>be a
>of
>the
>ask
>easy
>

--
(wabewawa61-at-earthlink-dot-net)

14tonks

2004-10-27, 7:07 am

Good luck renegotiating. I got the impression the guy was well aware that he
was offering you peanuts for the work. Whether he's going to be willing to
raise that to what he really should be paying you is another question.
However, it sounds like you are still perfectly happy to take less
compensation than someone would need if they were a real IC who actually had
to make a living from their IC work, so maybe you can get him to give you
something you will be happy with, even though a true IC wouldn't consider
it.

If that sounds like a blast, it's probably because it's too early for my
coffee to have percolated yet, and those of us who do have to make a living
from our MT work just get really tired of being asked to match the rates of
people working for "pin money" on the side. If you are a real IC, you need
to make at least a third more than someone makes at a full time job with
benefits, because you have to provide your own benefits. Then you need to
make a little more than that, because you have to pay your own overhead. But
the docs are good at finding someone who figures any money she can earn at
home is some money, and that hubby has her on his benefit plan, and his
salary pays the mortgage, so she will be happy to work for just a tad over
minimum wage per hour, or even less. ARRRGGGHHH!

Of course, sometimes those docs end up calling a real IC back, because the
pin-money person doesn't want the work to interfere with holidays, weekends,
school events, the family vacation, etc., etc., and they get tired of having
their work delayed all the time. Even if you aren't in that category,
remember that if you are thinking of ever leaving that hospital job for IC,
what you are charging this guy is going to be well known among his
colleagues, and you will have a darn hard time ever getting more from any of
them in the future.
--

Sheila
To reply to me, add the prefix real. to my address.

"Donna in Texas" <miladybug1@yahoo.com.com> wrote in message
news:KAJfd.6005$186.4676@fe1.texas.rr.com...
> Mariette, thanks for replying. Well, I don't know why, but this doctor's
> dictation through my full-time job (at the hospital) is somewhat
different.
> In his private practice, the H&Ps seem to go on forever. It's not usual
for
> his H&P's or consults at the hospital to be 20 to 30 minutes long, but
they
> aren't that difficult and I can to them in under and hour. It took me 2
> hours to do one H&P through his private practice tonight (and I speeded
up
> the voice), and then I did two progress notes and there is still one left
> and that is just one side of the tape. Doesn't seem worth it to me at
this
> point. He's NOT a bad dictator, easily understandable, so that's not the
> problem. I dunno......
>
> Donna in Texas
>
> "Mariette" <me@privacy.net> wrote in message
> news:lknun09eie68640gfsu0ke9dctcuhd0dac@4ax.com...
> be a
in[vbcol=seagreen]
a[vbcol=seagreen]
half[vbcol=seagreen]
> of
took[vbcol=seagreen]
> the
be.[vbcol=seagreen]
I[vbcol=seagreen]
> ask
includes[vbcol=seagreen]
per[vbcol=seagreen]
> easy
souls[vbcol=seagreen]
>
>

Liz

2004-10-27, 11:07 am

Donna, why not just tell this doc that you're not making enough per hour on
that per tape basis and if he wants you to continue then you'll be charging
him by the line from now on. That way you should be able to consistently
earn approximately the same amount per hour, no matter how much he squeezes
onto a tape. I suspect that the reason you're not earning as much as you
had thought is that he's dictating at a much faster WPM rate in order to get
more for his money. I agree, $7 per hour just isn't worth the
aggravation....personally I wouldn't do anything for under $20 per hour.
And furthermore, I agree with what Sheila wrote...charging less than the
going rate is stabbing your fellow MTs in the back as you're forcing them to
have to lower their own rates to your standard in order to keep their
accounts.

Liz

Donna in Texas" <miladybug1@yahoo.com.com> wrote in message
news:AMHfd.2470$EI6.2255@fe2.texas.rr.com...
> Hello, its me (again). Last time I posted about this, it turned out to be
a
> controversy. Don't know if you remember or not, but I got an account in
> addition to my full time job at the hospital. $30 a tape. Well, after a
> month, I have figured I'm only making about $7/hr. That's less than half
of
> what I make at my full time job. I am going to ask for a raise. I took
the
> job with the agreement that we could negotiate the rate later if need be.
> Well, it's not worth it to me to do it for $7/hr. My question, should I
ask
> for an equivalent of what I am making at my full-time job (which includes
> very challenging and difficult dictation), or a little less, say $40 per
> tape (which would be $10/hr, about $4 less than I make). He's a real easy
> dictator, but this is a side job...
>
> I'll probably get flamed for this deluxe, but if there are any kind souls
> out there with advice, would appreciate.
>
> Thanks..
>
> Donna in Texas.
>
>

14tonks

2004-10-27, 11:07 am

"Liz" <lizhug1@mycomcast.net> wrote in message
news:Q5udnT0-NuWtDuLcRVn-qQ@comcast.com...
> I agree, $7 per hour just isn't worth the
> aggravation....personally I wouldn't do anything for under $20 per hour.
> And furthermore, I agree with what Sheila wrote...charging less than the
> going rate is stabbing your fellow MTs in the back as you're forcing them
to
> have to lower their own rates to your standard in order to keep their
> accounts.

Right--$20 per hour as an IC comes out to less than $14 per hour as a
salaried employee, and even a salary of $14 an hour isn't really all that
great a pay rate for what an MT has to know and do. But as long as there are
people out there who will sign contracts to do MT for what they could get
flipping burgers, that is never going to change.

--

Sheila
To reply to me, add the prefix real. to my address.

Gdubson

2004-10-27, 11:07 am

>I have figured I'm only making about $7/hr. That's less than half of
>what I make at my full time job. I am going to ask for a raise.

If you are an independent contractor, you don't ask for a raise, you simply
tell the client what your rate will be. If he doesn't want to accept that, you
can offer a lower price for a longer turn-around time or change some other
condition of doing the work that makes it easier for you. If he doesn't want
to do that, then you give him whatever period of time you think you can do in
order for him to find another MT.

Gisele

RaeMorrill

2004-10-27, 11:07 am

Donna

I think you said before you are working as employee. This situation is exactly
why I say charge by the line. If they INSIST on an hourly rate, as I an IC I
would not do it for less than 20 bucks an hour, more likely 25. If you're an
employee I wouldn't go below 15 an hour and include at least travel one way
(not a regular commute here).

As has been stated, you just need to tell him how it is going to be and be
willing to walk away if he doesn't accept your terms. For some reason, some
people seem to think doing the work for them is honor enough.

Rae Morrill in Maine
"Ya can't get theyuh from heeah"
_______________________________
Spam mailers WILL be reported to their respective postmasters and AOL TOSSPAM!

JulieW8

2004-10-27, 11:07 am

I say do whatever works for you but remember you're paying taxes on
this at a rate of +/- 15% to the Feds for self employment taxes - ends
up not being a lot. Whatever you raise it to, calculate the tax off
the top, plus pickup and delivery (printing?) and then decide whether
or not it's worth it.

On Wed, 27 Oct 2004 07:05:04 GMT, "Donna in Texas"
<miladybug1@yahoo.com.com> spilled the contents of his/her brain by
saying:

>Hello, its me (again). Last time I posted about this, it turned out to be a
>controversy. Don't know if you remember or not, but I got an account in
>addition to my full time job at the hospital. $30 a tape. Well, after a
>month, I have figured I'm only making about $7/hr. That's less than half of
>what I make at my full time job. I am going to ask for a raise. I took the
>job with the agreement that we could negotiate the rate later if need be.
>Well, it's not worth it to me to do it for $7/hr. My question, should I ask
>for an equivalent of what I am making at my full-time job (which includes
>very challenging and difficult dictation), or a little less, say $40 per
>tape (which would be $10/hr, about $4 less than I make). He's a real easy
>dictator, but this is a side job...
>
>I'll probably get flamed for this deluxe, but if there are any kind souls
>out there with advice, would appreciate.
>
>Thanks..
>
>Donna in Texas.
>
>

~~~~~*****~~~~~*****~~~~~*****
To send me e-mail, use juliew8@deletethis-alphabest.com

JMorngstar

2004-10-27, 11:07 am

>
>I'll probably get flamed for this deluxe, but if there are any kind souls
>out there with advice, would appreciate.

Didn't I tell you the first time, that no matter what, we would always be here
to help, no matter how much you rebuked the advice. Help is our middle name,
even for people who call us names on other boards (not you, just illustrating a
point).

Janice

Gdubson

2004-10-27, 11:07 am

>>I'll probably get flamed for this deluxe, but if there are any kind souls
>

It's good to take a little side job like this, because sometimes it's the only
way a person can understand the economics of working on this basis. Things
always take longer than you think they will take, and you have to build that
fact into your estimate of what it costs to do the work. A doctor will never
take this into account, and that's why he shouldn't be the one saying how much
he will pay. You need to be the one informing him how much it will cost.

Gisele

djgordon

2004-10-27, 11:07 am

If it was left open to negotiation, go for it. I always say the worst anyone
can say is no.

Dani

"Donna in Texas" <miladybug1@yahoo.com.com> wrote in message
news:AMHfd.2470$EI6.2255@fe2.texas.rr.com...
> Hello, its me (again). Last time I posted about this, it turned out to be
a
> controversy. Don't know if you remember or not, but I got an account in
> addition to my full time job at the hospital. $30 a tape. Well, after a
> month, I have figured I'm only making about $7/hr. That's less than half
of
> what I make at my full time job. I am going to ask for a raise. I took
the
> job with the agreement that we could negotiate the rate later if need be.
> Well, it's not worth it to me to do it for $7/hr. My question, should I
ask
> for an equivalent of what I am making at my full-time job (which includes
> very challenging and difficult dictation), or a little less, say $40 per
> tape (which would be $10/hr, about $4 less than I make). He's a real easy
> dictator, but this is a side job...
>
> I'll probably get flamed for this deluxe, but if there are any kind souls
> out there with advice, would appreciate.
>
> Thanks..
>
> Donna in Texas.
>
>

The Brown Family

2004-10-27, 11:07 am

Well depending on the speed of the tape (1.2 as opposed to 2.4) that would
be twice as much work.

In other words if you thought it was 30 minutes of dictation for $30, but
the speed is actually 1.2 it would be 60 minutes of dictation for $30.

Cheryl B.
(I think you should just charge per line)
"Donna in Texas" <miladybug1@yahoo.com.com> wrote in message
news:AMHfd.2470$EI6.2255@fe2.texas.rr.com...
> Hello, its me (again). Last time I posted about this, it turned out to be
a
> controversy. Don't know if you remember or not, but I got an account in
> addition to my full time job at the hospital. $30 a tape. Well, after a
> month, I have figured I'm only making about $7/hr. That's less than half
of
> what I make at my full time job. I am going to ask for a raise. I took
the
> job with the agreement that we could negotiate the rate later if need be.
> Well, it's not worth it to me to do it for $7/hr. My question, should I
ask
> for an equivalent of what I am making at my full-time job (which includes
> very challenging and difficult dictation), or a little less, say $40 per
> tape (which would be $10/hr, about $4 less than I make). He's a real easy
> dictator, but this is a side job...
>
> I'll probably get flamed for this deluxe, but if there are any kind souls
> out there with advice, would appreciate.
>
> Thanks..
>
> Donna in Texas.
>
>

ChrissyPete2

2004-10-27, 7:08 pm

>but
>also enough extra to compensate for your pick-up and delivery too?
>Expecting to make at least $14/hr

I agree here. You also have to figure out the costs of operating and
maintaining your own equipment and supplies, as well as the extra cost of
self-employment taxes you pay for this type of income. I do know that the last
time I checked in with an office manager that the costs of bennies -- vacation,
sick, SS, health insurance, etc. -- ran around $6,500 per employee per year. I
think that $14/hour average would be the lowest I would go for and that would
have to be just one of those things -- like due to a difficult dictator or
something with the hopes of finding ways to improve my speed after getting used
to him a bit, hence a higher hourly average.

ChrissyPete2

2004-10-27, 7:08 pm

>what you are charging this guy is going to be well known among his
>colleagues, and you will have a darn hard time ever getting more from any of

That is the truth. I had started out at one rate and when I was referred to
another group, the referring group shared the price. They tried to make me
charge the same quoting "Well we are all under the same hospital group so we
will work with the existing contract...." I did it for a month or so and then
went in and said I could not do it for the same price. I managed to get two
cents more, but it was a big gamble -- they could've very well said "never
mind."

Donna in Texas

2004-10-27, 7:08 pm

Liz, what do you think a decent "per line" rate is? I have no clue. I have
7 years in-hospital experience, and 5 years psychiatric experience. I think
I'm worth more than 7 cents a line for sure.

"Liz" <lizhug1@mycomcast.net> wrote in message
news:Q5udnT0-NuWtDuLcRVn-qQ@comcast.com...
> Donna, why not just tell this doc that you're not making enough per hour
on
> that per tape basis and if he wants you to continue then you'll be
charging
> him by the line from now on. That way you should be able to consistently
> earn approximately the same amount per hour, no matter how much he
squeezes
> onto a tape. I suspect that the reason you're not earning as much as you
> had thought is that he's dictating at a much faster WPM rate in order to
get
> more for his money. I agree, $7 per hour just isn't worth the
> aggravation....personally I wouldn't do anything for under $20 per hour.
> And furthermore, I agree with what Sheila wrote...charging less than the
> going rate is stabbing your fellow MTs in the back as you're forcing them
to
> have to lower their own rates to your standard in order to keep their
> accounts.
>
> Liz
>
> Donna in Texas" <miladybug1@yahoo.com.com> wrote in message
> news:AMHfd.2470$EI6.2255@fe2.texas.rr.com...
be[vbcol=seagreen]
> a
a[vbcol=seagreen]
half[vbcol=seagreen]
> of
> the
be.[vbcol=seagreen]
> ask
includes[vbcol=seagreen]
easy[vbcol=seagreen]
souls[vbcol=seagreen]
>
>

Donna in Texas

2004-10-27, 7:08 pm

Rae, I agree. I am willing to walk away. I really don't need the money all
that bad. I just wanted to try it and maybe if I liked it enough, could get
other accounts and leave the hospital, but ain't willing to work for peanuts
and no benefits.

"RaeMorrill" <raemorrill@aol.com.com> wrote in message
news:20041027100938.16217.00001519@mb-m01.aol.com...
> Donna
>
> I think you said before you are working as employee. This situation is
exactly
> why I say charge by the line. If they INSIST on an hourly rate, as I an IC
I
> would not do it for less than 20 bucks an hour, more likely 25. If you're
an
> employee I wouldn't go below 15 an hour and include at least travel one
way
> (not a regular commute here).
>
> As has been stated, you just need to tell him how it is going to be and be
> willing to walk away if he doesn't accept your terms. For some reason,
some
> people seem to think doing the work for them is honor enough.
>
> Rae Morrill in Maine
> "Ya can't get theyuh from heeah"
> _______________________________
> Spam mailers WILL be reported to their respective postmasters and AOL
TOSSPAM!
>
>

Donna in Texas

2004-10-27, 7:08 pm

Cheryl, yep, he is the one who told me "30 minutes on each side".... not
so...

Those who said colleagues would expect the same I agree with... and that's
not worth it. Right now, at the hospital I have very good benefits, which
keeps me staying. Told ya'll I have a lot to learn, but this just fell into
my lap one day and I jumped on it.

Gdubson

2004-10-27, 7:08 pm

>Told ya'll I have a lot to learn, but this just fell into
>my lap one day and I jumped on it.
>
>

Well, it sounds like you didn't have to invest a lot of capital to learn about
this, so not much harm done. I think it was good of you to come back and give
us the follow-up. Please let us know what happens next.

Gisele

Liz

2004-10-27, 7:08 pm

Donna, you should be able to figure out how much per line you've been making
on the current $30/tape charge by calling up a batch of finished dictations
and running your line count software on it (assuming you do have such
software). Once you know how many lines you typed for that $7 per hour,
then you should be able to set a line rate by tripling the number to bring
you to $21.00 per hour. I really can't tell you what is the best line rate
for you because I don't know how fast you transcribe, etc.

"Donna in Texas" <miladybug1@yahoo.com.com> wrote in message
news:uFQfd.6246$lM1.2032@fe2.texas.rr.com...
> Liz, what do you think a decent "per line" rate is? I have no clue. I
have
> 7 years in-hospital experience, and 5 years psychiatric experience. I
think
> I'm worth more than 7 cents a line for sure.
>
> "Liz" <lizhug1@mycomcast.net> wrote in message
> news:Q5udnT0-NuWtDuLcRVn-qQ@comcast.com...
> on
> charging
consistently[vbcol=seagreen]
> squeezes
you[vbcol=seagreen]
> get
them[vbcol=seagreen]
> to
to[vbcol=seagreen]
> be
in[vbcol=seagreen]
after[vbcol=seagreen]
> a
> half
took[vbcol=seagreen]
> be.
I[vbcol=seagreen]
> includes
per[vbcol=seagreen]
> easy
> souls
>
>

RaeMorrill

2004-10-27, 7:09 pm

>Cheryl, yep, he is the one who told me "30 minutes on each side".... not
>so...

He has it on slow speed. What an XXX - no way he didn't have that figured out.
If that is true, then I'd be telling him that he owes you the difference NOW.
If that is what he did, it is 60 minutes per side.

Rae Morrill in Maine
"Ya can't get theyuh from heeah"
_______________________________
Spam mailers WILL be reported to their respective postmasters and AOL TOSSPAM!

RaeMorrill

2004-10-27, 7:09 pm

As far as decent line rate goes, I don't believe a fast MT should have to
charge less per line simply because she can type 400 lines an hour. They
wouldn't care for it if you were slow and charge more per line to make up for
it. As an IC I'd think at LEAST 13 cpl (65 character-based) for an IC. At this
point for a private client presuming I was not desperate I wouldn't go less
than 15.

Rae Morrill in Maine
"Ya can't get theyuh from heeah"
_______________________________
Spam mailers WILL be reported to their respective postmasters and AOL TOSSPAM!

Donna in Texas

2004-10-27, 7:09 pm

Yep. I'm "living and learning". Thanks ya'll for all the input.

"RaeMorrill" <raemorrill@aol.com.com> wrote in message
news:20041027162838.16253.00001369@mb-m01.aol.com...
>
> He has it on slow speed. What an XXX - no way he didn't have that figured
out.
> If that is true, then I'd be telling him that he owes you the difference
NOW.
> If that is what he did, it is 60 minutes per side.
>
> Rae Morrill in Maine
> "Ya can't get theyuh from heeah"
> _______________________________
> Spam mailers WILL be reported to their respective postmasters and AOL
TOSSPAM!
>
>

RaeMorrill

2004-10-31, 4:08 am

RaeMorrill

2004-10-31, 4:08 am