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Serving Over 20,000 US Medical Transcriptionists

Citizens against Medical Offshoring

Posted By: Spread the word on 2009-02-04
In Reply to: Outsourcing..Check this out hope it works - xcopper

spread the word - become proactive - fight for our jobs I found this website this morning
http://www.ericacodes.com/camio.html Also, check out the discussion list - its a little outdated (couple of months) but everything needs a fresh start, a little boost somtimes


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Bill in Congress re: offshoring/outsourcing of medical records








 

Just something to think about. 

 


The link below will take you to a page explaining the House and Senate versions of the bill and a link to send an email to your representatives in Washington indicating that patients have the right to be made aware that their personal information and medical records are being sent overseas for transcription. The letter is already written for you!


Help citizens, yes. Do everything for them that they should have done themselves?
NO!!! If each of them had filled up empty milk jugs and their bathtubs or kiddie wading pools with water when they were told to, they wouldn't be standing in line. We should be helping those who cannot help themselves, not those who refuse to help themselves.
about 25-33% for all US citizens as I know it....nm
x
Missing kids/citizens involvement
Thank God that Shasta was found, I don't care who did find her, as long as she's safe. Wish the same could be said for her brother. Once again, if this does not speak for the need to lock those GPS tracking bracelets on the ankles of these sum..could think of an even better body part to put them on and tightly!
I thought the poster was talking about citizens
who were born in another country.  Offshoring is another problem that allows corporations to cut costs to get bigger bonuses created by people in power who us little guys can't fight.  It's a crooked system and the rich get richer and the poor stay poor.  When's the last time you have had a raise?  You know why you will never see a raise.  They can ship the work offshore for cheaper than what we are doing it and as the offshore companies grow older and wiser, we may even have to take a cut in pay to compete.  Thank you government for that.
What's really sick is when American citizens bad-mouth the USA

Govt should help the citizens in natural disasters
I disagree 100%.  If you dont have the govt to turn to, who can you turn to?  What are we paying taxes for..to continue a never ending war around the world?  What is FEMA for..to pay big salaries to Bush's cronies?  My gosh..if families didnt get water and food in time, I say government get your stuff together you need to help the citizens of America. 
Immigration, overseas labor and we US citizens...sm

Here's a point to ponder.


US citizens get upset over illegal aliens stealing jobs and employers state "we hire them because they do the work cheaply".   US citizens are demanding to congress that this stop (which I 100% support!).


US citizens don't get outraged, though, when jobs are outsourced out of the US for the same reasons and demand  to their lawmakers that it stop.


Why not?  Regardless of how you look at it.... illegal immigrants and cheap overseas laborers take away American jobs initially done by Americans.  Do we not stand up to overseas labor only because we don't directly pay for healthcare for their people by giving them Medicaid, give them foodstamps, housing, etc?  We do in a way give them all of this by giving away our jobs... therefore allowing them to make money to buy these things but yet the American citizens are left without jobs, healthcare, etc. 


I would take responsibility for my actions and I would not call citizens of the country
criminals if there is no evidence to hold them and I personally have no evidence to present to the law to hold them.  I am not one for the spotlight even without grieving for the loss of my child.  I certainly would not get up on world-wide TV and insult the people conducting the search and investigation for my missing child.  And I would not be in the frame of mind to get all made up with glitter eye makeup and false eyelashes to tell other countries not to accept "criminals" who the legal system did not have evidence to hold.  She is a loon. 
Offshoring to India...Offshoring.
nm
you don't go shooting off your mouth calling citizens corrupt and criminal in a country you are visi
and you felt was okay to send you daughter to go to so she could drink at the age of 18. NO ONE WITH COMMON SENSE WOULD OFFEND THOSE SHE WAS EXPECTING HELP FROM. Mrs. Twitty has clean lost her mind if there ever was one there in the first place - considering she sent her daughter to Aruba at the age of 18.
As U.S. citizens wages fall/jobs are lost, expect your taxes to increase.
and one day, the editors will be overseas, as well, eventually. Glad you are not stressing over it like me.
I would buy new a Dorland's Medical Dictionary, Stedmans Medical and Surgical Equipment...SM

and Tessier's The Surgical Word Book, 3rd edition.  Books you could buy used I would say would be Stedman's Pathology and Lab Medicine and Cardiology/Pulmonary word book.  These are all the books I use the most during my day.  You could buy other speciality word books as you need them and could probably go used with those.


I wouldn't bother with buying a drug book, new editions come out every year and I just stick to the FDA website and RXList as my drug references.


Also FYI, not a book, but I use my Stedman's Electronic Medical Dictationary a lot.  It's easier to open the program than it is to pick up a huge 30-pound dictionary.


Medical Transcription In The Era Of Electronic Medical Records
EMR has revolutionized the healthcare industry in recent times. Many experts felt that EMR & Voice Recognition would totally replace Medical Transcription - however; the industry soon realized that transcription has certain advantages over point & click charting and many physicians preferred to dictate notes rather than document the data at the point of care themselves.
Offshoring
Just remember YOUR elected representives allowed this offshoring to happen. Nothing illegal thanks to the politicians is happening when work is shipped offshore while allowing Americans to lose jobs while increasing taxes.

This is all the fault of the greed and power of the politicians and the corporations. It's not about an Indian worker who has been offered a job and can't lose their accent to please the consumer.

As far as contacting you in a few years when our jobs are overseas, they are shipping them out daily. Where have you been? Check OSI, Precyse, etc. They all offshore some outright and some undercover.

I don't have problems with the workers. I have problems with the government allowing this to happen and the corporations who cut costs while cutting quality by shipping work out of our country.

Keep you eye on your enemy and it is some Indian who is trying to keep a job to make a living.
To those against offshoring...
Have you noticed that anywhere you call, whether it be the phone company, the gas company, the insurance company, you get someone foreign on the phone.  Oh yes and do not forget Microsoft and other computer related companies.  I realize this cuz i get so damn mad because i can't understand what they are saying to me and they don't understand what i am saying to them.  Now I noticed the post below about Earthlink and I am wondering...all of you who are against this..what are you going to do about the fact that the computer company that creates most of the software you use has places in other countries..your gas company..you insurance company, etc. etc. etc.?  I, too, do not agree with offshoring, but I do not think there is REALLY anything we can do about it.  Not working for companies that do it, yes thats a start, but what are you going to do about the rest of reality and everyday living?  Just curious to opinions on this.  I am not flaming..just concerned.
Offshoring - don't be too sure.
Look at history....work will be outsourced whether we like it or not. What happened to the steel, printing, shipping, automotive, and many other manufacturing efforts is happening to transcription. While we may produce a better product, if it can be produced cheaper somewhere else it will be. Sometimes MTSO's are forced to look at other avenues because they can't hire and maintain TATs. Clients want their costs reduced when it is already at rock bottom. Transcriptionists want higher pay and the profit margin isn't there to allow this. The transcription business has changed and will continue to change. After all....the only constant in life is change. The offshore MT is hungry and willing to give up just about anything to put food on the table. They probably don't argue, call in sick, complain or quit without notice. They don't bad mouth their employer. They just want to work...much like American workers decades ago. Take heed. I'm in the same boat and don't want to see it happen, but there are many factors that result in change. Transcriptionists are by nature not an organized group. We are mostly solitary and therefore have no voice or at least not one loud enough to be heard. We're all on production. We don't have time for such things. There is no large group lobbying for us. There isn't enough money in transcription anymore to have lobbyists and that is how...regardless of our protests...change happens...silently. People in India and other countries will learn to transcribe. It's only a matter of time. For myself, I am just going to try to do the very best job I can every single day and hope it is appreciated and know that I am not adding to the problem. Actually....I need to get back to work.
A - As soon as I tell them my pay has gone down about 40% since the offshoring (sm)

they are no longer interested in entering this field.  In fact, their mouths about drop to the floor.


Having another American MT is not going to save another American job.  They will send their work offshore if you are living next door and can do a 4-hour turnaround, just because the price is lower.


I'm getting out also, only doing part-time now and probably won't be doing part-time much longer.


offshoring
Don't know about this company, but there are companies that offshore and lie about it.  Know this for a fact.  I work for one.
OSi Offshoring - sm
If you are an employee of OSI, you should be able to access that article from the employee web page, try going back to about April or so...it should still be there, where it was originally posted. Read it for yourself and maybe then you'll believe it.
Offshoring

Ah, thanks for clearing that up for me. All this happened before I started. New employees are probably not aware of it, like me.


I probably got myself on the $hit-li$t now, but that's okay for something I did today to see any reaction.  It wouldn't be the first time I've been on the list and probably won't be the last.


I will stay, though, as I really do like working for them...and I like the work..


OSi Offshoring

Ah, thanks for clearing that up for me. All this happened before I started. New employees are probably not aware of it, like me. This breaks my heart.


I probably got myself on the $hit-li$t now, for something I did today to see if there was any reaction, but that's okay. It wouldn't be the first time I've been on a list and probably won't be the last.


I will stay, though, as I really do like working for them. I like the work, and really don't have much of a choice anymore.


I think if these companies are going to offshore, they should send the work from the ESL's that can't speak English correctly. That work should be easy for the offshore companies for them to do.


Offshoring
I just wonder who these big businesses think is going to buy their products/services when all the jobs are in foreign countries.  Not only that, when there are no jobs, or only minimum wage jobs, who's going to pay the big fat salaries of our idiot politicians?  Heard on Lou Dobbs the other night that while the minimum wage remains stagnant, the senate voted themselves a hefty $30,000 raise!!!!  Doncha wish we MTs could "vote" ourselves that kind of raise?  Or maybe we're not so greedy and we'd settle for a fraction of that.
Offshoring
Is there any way you can share as there are others of us who suspect this also and maybe it's the same company. If not, that's understandable too.
Offshoring
Keystrokes does not!
MQ OFFSHORING

 


I need some Positive Proof that offshoring is occurring.. .will help in our hospital's fight against outsourcing all of us..  thanks


 


Offshoring
There was an article on the internet quite some time ago where a MQ bigwig admitted to MQ offshoring. I have posted on here before regarding offshoring, tell all your family and friends that when they go to the doctor, they need to tell him/her they do not want ANY part of the their medical record being offshored, including transcription. You have that right as a patient. My family and friends know. Unfortunately, none of us have been to the doc lately.
offshoring

I agree.  I am also wondering where they are making out on this deal.  I have lost 5 Docs due to outsourcing to India.  They are not making out in the end.  They just think they are.  It is such a shame that the US Transcriptionist is the one that are suffering because they do not know what they are doing.  Maybe they should have asked one of us to do the math and we could have showed them that they are not making out.  Also, you have to take in consideration that all these people's(patient) records are going over to another country.  I bet they would have something to say about that.  It is such a shame that someone thought they were going to save a buck and did not do the math, and now we are the ones that are being hurt.


 




 


Offshoring
I too have been affected by offshoring, and whether we see some advantage or not, it is here to stay, and will eventuallly grasp more than half our work in this country. In my experience, I too am amazed at how much doctors will put up with this poor quality work. I personally know of, and have seen large medical offices, radiologists, large clinics, send their work to India, and put up with their error rate as if it were an acceptable part of the equation. BUT, if an American Transcriptionist put out an inferior report, we would most certainly get that pointed out immediately. I watch with amazement at how much those clients are willing to put up with all because they are paying 6 to 8 cents a line. AMAZING. I know of one radiologist who sent his work to India three years ago, kept one transcriptionist in his office to edit. Three years later, she is still marking all the reports in red ink. She has confronted him with the red-marked reports under his nose, and told him how much he is really paying for the reports as she spends her whole day editing. He won't look at her in the eyes, ignores her comments as if she were not in the room, and goes about his business - three years later! I have been told by CFO's that this is only a transition period, that eventually, the Indians will get it right, and it will be worth the hassles, as this makes "good business sense." We all need to realize that right now is the time to be smart and start training in some other field because even if it takes the Indians 10 years to "get it right," this offshoring has dropped the American wage to a paltry low.
No Offshoring
This may have been asked in the past, but I am pretty new to the board.  What nationals do not offshore their transcription?  I am currently an in-house transcriptionists, but I am looking to do some at-home transcription on the side.  I do not want to support any nationals that offshore.  We need to keep our jobs in the US!!!!!
Offshoring
Yes post a list, and I for one will write..as that will be so helpful.. can you post addresses also?
because that is offshoring
and nobody wants that.
Say something against offshoring and see how
x
offshoring
Excellent letter. You've inspired to start writing my senator too.
Offshoring going away too?
Hi all;

Offshoring may not be the problem. All of the local med facilities here are moving to EMR (Electronic Medical Records) and releasing ALL of the transcriptionists, both in-house and contracted. Truth be told, we are more than a little worried over this. Has anyone else seen this move in their area? Is there a way to 'cash in' on this move to EMR? Thanks.

so does offshoring. nm
xx
Aside from offshoring
Regarding a post down the list a ways ... what about the EMR software that the president might be pushing for? - I think that is probably a bigger threat. Shouldn't we write about that as well?

From below: "Basically just wondering if we should write to Obama regarding keeping the same systems in place and just putting the electronic files now dictated together (rather than specific software for the docs to do their own).

We could mention that we don't want to lose our jobs."

again, offshoring.
nm
Offshoring and tax time. sm
Don't forget, a lot of these big box tax preparers and even some local accountants send the work to India to be done.  Ask ahead of time.  I did, so I went back to doing them myself. 
Offshoring is still an option

I am working in an offshore MT company and our US client is happy with the result of our transcription work. To those against offshoring, do not be greedy. Have the heart to share! ... PLEASE check your spelling, it's "REQUEST" not "REQUIST."


If the company offshoring gets 8-9 cpl, then YOU, an
You should sell your services on the QUALITY of your work, not how cheaply you can give it away. If you work for less than 9 cpl, you ARE giving it away.
You asked how he could not be offshoring if he was from
But no, I'm not the rimrod poster. No, I don't have any other information.
Offshoring may not be the problem
Hi all;

Offshoring may not be the problem. All of the local med facilities here are moving to EMR (Electronic Medical Records) and releasing ALL of the transcriptionists, both in-house and contracted. Truth be told, we are more than a little worried over this. Has anyone else seen this move in their area? Is there a way to 'cash in' on this move to EMR? Thanks.
Unless Offshoring is reversed.. SM
(BTW, to the moderators, I responded to this already and a bunch of other people did… when posts are moved are the responses deleted or something?)

Anyway, back on topic, until the trend of offshoring American medical records to other countries is reversed, I don't see how anyone would find this a good field to get into (again, at this point in time) unless you can find your own accounts and they will pay you what you are worth!

offshoring to Canada sm
My supervisor said offshoring includes what MQ does which is "offshoring" to Canada.  Are they saving money there?
OFFSHORING JOBS
Would also recommending sending it as a CC to all your state's congressional delegation.
Take Further Action On Offshoring

Please, PLEASE people, especially all who left posts on the news story below, call the White House.  It is your right.  I do it all the time and I have not been abducted by the FBI yet.  They do not ask for your name or phone number or anything.  They usually are pretty decent to talk to. 


Tell them:  I AM CALLING CONCERNING THE OFFSHORING OF AMERICAN JOBS, ESPECIALLY OUR MEDICAL REPORTS LEAVING AMERICA WITH SENSITIVE INFORMATION ON THEM SUCH AS OUR NAMES AND SS# . Then take it from there.  Tell them that you MUST make your feelings be heard and you want the President to take action on this situation. 


As one person, I am only making a peep with my calls and emails, but if we all start calling and emailing in droves, we will make a roar.  Please, don't be afraid, we have to start taking action here folks.  Time will not wait.   


The White House Phone: 202-456-1111


ALSO: 


The Capitol Switchboard:  202-224-3121


Email:
Obama and Biden:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/


 
Middle Class Task Force Questions:  Tell them to save jobs and stop all offshoring:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/strongmiddleclass/
 
Your senator: Upper right hand corner, "find your senator"
http://www.senate.gov/
 
Your congressperson: 
https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml


Let's do this together people


excuse for offshoring.
nm
At ease, soldier! This isn't a medical document. I repeat, this isn't a medical document. nm
x
I've thought about coding. My DH does medical coding and I think with an MT's medical termino

background and anatomy and physiology knowledge, a transition into coding wouldn't be hard at all.  From what I can tell by looking through my husband's books, an MT would have to learn insurance regulations and legalities.  We've basically got all the medical background down or we should be if we're worth our salt as an MT.


I even contacted AHIMA and found that the qualifications for taking the CCS or CCP coding exams are completion of the a coding program, RHIT program, or RHIA or related work experience.  Transcription is part of HIM, albeit the red-headed stepchild of the HIM department, but a part nonetheless and so satisfies the qualification of having work experience.


The test is tough though.  My husband didn't pass it his first time out and I think I read something like only 20% or so pass it the first time.  So it would probably be best to take some sort of formal coding class, in my opinion.


The point is they LIED about not offshoring.
x