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All accounts are VERBATIM, so there couldn't be any normals.

Posted By: ??? on 2006-04-26
In Reply to: Normals - Happy MDI MT

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I HATE verbatim accounts
for every reason you mentioned and then some . . . like the fact that the company I work for says that it is a verbatim account, but they want certain things corrected, which I might could handle if it weren't for one QA dinging me for something that another QA will ding for when I do it the first QAs way.

Can't win for losin', but at least QA dinging me does not affect my pay :).
And even tricker is verbatim accounts...
I'm always torn between my nearly overwhelming desire to clean up every single misspoken word they dictate, but when it's a verbatim account, I usually leave the decision to Q.A. (my MTSO has a great QA squad), because a lot of times the word/s they're using make no sense at all. It goes against my grain after 20+ years of MT work to NOT clean things up.
Why do MTs who are paid by the hour cherrypick the normals off accounts.

Line counts shouldn't be that important to them. 


I hated YOG. I had horrendous accounts, couldn't get
samples, they called 24/7 wanting me to work extra, even 6 months after I left.  I was only there about 4 months and left before Carole sold-out despite saying she would NEVER do it.
All I meant was that I couldn't address the RAD portion of the Wbx accounts. nm
.
Verbatim means VERBATIM
where I work. Nothing is to be changed that the doctor utters. When I look at my flagged reports later I see that QA left all the discrepancies in there as well. What does that tell you?
I used to have a QA guy that couldn't transcribe, couldn't fill in a blank,

but was anal retentive when it came to punctuation.  You would have a report with 10 blanks in it because of poor sound quality, and he wouldn't fill in one blank, but he had put commas all throughout your report, or taken apostrophes out, etc. and he wasn't correct in his punctuation a lot of the time.   Several of the MTs complained about him and asked to not have him do their QA, so he was demoted from QA to an MT.  Well, as I said earlier, he couldn't fill in a blank.  I saw a couple of his reports and there was blank after blank in reports that I had no trouble with at all.  He also didn't proof his reports because he would have inapproriate/incorrect expansions in them.  Not sure if he left on his own, or didn't really have a choice.  Anyway, talk to your supervisor.  Maybe this person is just on a power trip, knows you are new and wants to train you to do it her way, even if your way isn't incorrect.  I think punctuation is a valid issue, but if it doesn't change the integrity of the report and there are no other errors it shouldn't be flagged by QA.    You could also take into account her corrections and maybe try to use a few more commas, etc. and that might help.  


Oh, I couldn't understand them. I didn't try them all, but the first couple, I couldn't und
nm
Normals
I have a lot of normals for my primary account but not as many for my secondary as it is a large teaching hospital with more dictators rotating in and out.
Normals
All accounts are verbatim.  What I mean is I have many, many macros set up for PEs, operative reports, etc where the dictators basically say the same thing every time and then I will edit as needed.  Both of my accounts do have a few normals set up in BayScribe by administration for some doctors.  Those are usually operative reports.
There are normals? Never saw one. nm)

verbatim
I totally agree 100%! Verbatim is verbatim. I work for a verbatim account now and that is the exact reason I have been looking for work elsewhere. In my situation it is verbatim BUT not verbatim according to what Editor is QA'ing the work. Makes me nuts. It either is or it is not. There should not be a gray area when it comes to this. I have actually been scored down on QA because I dropped a when the doc said patient had a pneumonia. To make matters worse, there is not 1 person doing the QA, it is 1 of 5 editors who rotate doing the assessments, so what one will let go by another probably will not. It is frustrating to say the least and I spend more time checking and rechecking things just to satisfy.  
verbatim
I hate verbatim accounts. I too want to clean up their reports. Some are so insistent that it be absolutely verbatim, that I say, okay, make a fool of yourself if you want to. I thought part of our job was to make them sound like intelligent members of society. I wonder what would happen if we took them at their word when they say: I seen the patient, and rather then come back next week.... This is a verbatim sentence from a real doctor.
can you still use normals?
thanks for your honest feedback.  i appreciate it.  More positions open on your side according to email this morning.  Guess you guys have a lot more work - I have gotten NSA 5 times already this morning! 
I ignore verbatim
and use common sense. If it is obviously a woman, ADT screen if you are on DocQScribe will tell you that. The doctors have these degrees but they are not perfect. Nobody is. I have a doctor who does not even know how to count, 1, 2 4, 8, 7, ??? Now I do not type this.

We are smarter than the docs sometime and just forget about verbatim in those situations.

They do not even know how to spell many meds either but you can't go verbatim here either.

You will give good patient care by typing what is right and ignoring the doc.
I just type them verbatim
Ehhhhhhh, this is Dr. Shinegagophoria dictating a discharge summary for Eggster Jonnnes. Ehhhhhhhh, ummmmmmmmm, discharge diagnosis: Sufanothupa, left knee. Ehhhhhh (19 seconds of silence) Ehhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. This is a 68-year-old, nooo, ehhhhhhh, go back, ehhhhhhhhh. This is a 67-year-old ummmmmmmm female, no, sorry, male who prezented to the E Rrr complaining of ehhhhhhhh, uhhhhhhh pain to his uhhhhhhhh (11 seconds of silence) left knee, no, no ehhhhhhhhhh, ummmmmmm, right knee. Errrr he suga DE rima ehhhhh kinlin aga foad she pte. He now prezents dieg shile feid ona. Make sense?
Normals/templates
I let my IC's use them especially in my psych accounts.  However there was a time that one of the gals forgot to change the name on the header and I was gone and it went to the doctor directly with the incorrect name on the Header and big, big HIPAA violation and the doctor almost pulled the account since he did not catch it either.  So I understand where your MTSO is coming from but again, I would not keep the help that made these mistakes rather than make the other MT's pay for the incompetent ones and be unable to use their autorcorrect, ShortHand or whatever normals/expanders that they use.  The account stayed with me but we do watch the names closely now.   Why make all suffer for the mistakes of a few.
should be reports will not be verbatim...
couple of minor errors, but I am not on the clock, and I am furiously writing so I can get the point across.
Verbatim nonsense!
Thuh patient ah, um, ah presented ah came in ah today with a complaint of ah um left-sided headache, a headaches of a daily basis, um.........(shuffle through some papers or something).....um -  Comment:   So when they say verbatim don't we have to use common sense?  He had a hysterectomy, and that 5-year-old quit smoking last year.  Duh.......Verbatim accounts simply wear me out!!  Do they want it verbatim because they think they are saving money or what?  Ending sentences in prepositions, mixed tenses, no conjunctions or prepositions, etc.  A punctuation nightmare!!  Also their insisting on using acronyms, which have multiple meanings.  Am I alone out here?  I am so tempted to type something just once exactly, I mean exactly, as dictated.
are they paying you for the normals?
 
Expanders/Normals sm
As the poster below states, the way this is possible is by working an account that uses many normals and that you can utilize your Expanders with.

Chances are whatever national MTSO you work for will begin to use VR technology sooner rather than later.

After all, if you can use your normals/expanders to make astronomical line counts due to the repetitous nature of the accounts, it will be much easier for those accounts to go to VR.

I wish Normals had what I needed.
Most the time, what I am looking for can't be found in Normals, Alt G, or even Echart. I have enough experience on my primary that I know the usual sayings, it is just that I struggle with the not normal sayings that a dictator rambles off so fast, while chewing, yawning, etc. These things can't be found in normals (trust me I look every time before I submit a blank) and so far consist of way more than just 7% of my monthly dictations.

Whatever. I should just quit complaining. I do really like it there other than this part. I know you are trying to help, but I just wanted to point out that I use ALL the resources I can and still send over 7% to QA.
One job I worked for did not pay for normals at all.
They had loads and loads of normals and the docs used them consistently. When I would check my line count it was not where I thought it should be. When I asked I was told they did not pay for normals. That was something they did not tell me before I was hired. It was a company in Florida.
Does verbatim equal garbage?
Do they say they want verbatim so they can blame the "dumb typer" when the patient record is incorrect?  The doctor says over and over that the patient is a male, yet "he" has had a hysterectomy, C-sections, etc.  Now, this is in a report where I also heard nothing about transgender. That is a minor example, but you get the point, right?  We are told to type what we hear.  When we hear garbage, we have to type garbage.  Apparently the hospital thinks the docs are flawless.  I want to give good patient care and provide accurate reports, but I can only do so much.
Glad you can ignore verbatim -
We were told very specifically to type word for word. We can send things to QA if we question them. Also have one doctor who specifies all his numbers be left out of order because he has some nutty system in his charts that he likes to use. What you do cannot be applied across the board, much as we all might like to do it!

verbatim should NOT mean putting in errors: SM
As a QA, this is how I pass on the guidelines (and verbatim is usually requested by the client, NOT QA!):

Verbatim means: Transcribe what the physician says but correct obvious punctuation, spelling, and grammar errors - like "there is 3 moles."

Headings and exams are transcribed when and as dictated, not adding in headings, not changing PHYSICAL EXAMINATION: to OBJECTIVE:, "rearranging" the report, or changing an exam dictated in paragraph to block format.

You do not add additional words to clipped sentences in clinical notes. If the doc says "A 56-year-old patient," you don't transcribe "This is a 56-year-old patient."

If the doc says right leg in one place and left leg in another, a blank is left and it goes to the clinic for resolution.

If a medication is spelled and you can't verify it, it is blanked and goes to QA. If we can't verify it, it goes to the clinic for resolution.

Verbatim should NEVER mean transcribing errors like have been described here, at least IMO.
Verbatim Transcriber Wanted
*PLEASE READ BEFORE APPLYING*

We are seeking highly qualified experienced transcribers to handle the increased workload. We are ramping up for a very busy season and with that we are structuring our staff to handle the new volume of work.

Transcribers must be highly proficient and experienced transcribers. Only transcribers with experience transcribing from digital files will be hired. Please indicate your years of transcription experience and your current WPM. Please-No beginners, no students- you will not receive a response.

We prefer transcribers who can transcribe from digital video files as well as digital audio files. (MP4, MOV, WMV, RM) using the StartStop Transcription system. If you use a different system please state which one you use.

We have a series of interviews and conferences in digital audio format that need to be transcribed verbatim. This includes every single utterance and noise in the audio. Our client will have a linguist specialist go through the audio so it is important the transcript is exact. The content is not technical, speakers sometimes will have heavy southern accents, and the audio is mostly clear.

Accuracy is the key with these transcripts.
-Ability to include every phrase, word, utterance, and background noises
-Above average grammar skills
-Speaker recognition skills (ability to correctly identify multiple speakers in the audio)

There are quite a few of these and we would like someone dependable to work on this project.

Candidates must have the ability to transcribe from home with high-speed internet, a foot pedal, and up-to-date computer software.

Please email all relevant data and resume to careers@anptranscriptions.com


We DO get paid for expanders & normals
nm
Axotol testing----is it verbatim or per BOS?

I've seen others post their transcription is verbatim, does that also mean their testing is verbatim or is it per BOS?  If per BOS, is it 2nd or 3rd ed?   Any info would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks.


TGIF


Has anyone ever heard of Verbatim Medical?
I just got the strangest E-mail offering me a job.  It sounds like they are just starting out and looking for MTs to begin in about 2 weeks.  They are out of NYC.  I'm already with a company that promises to start me in 2 weeks on a new account and so far their practices are questionable.  What is up with these companies?  At this rate I can quit a company a week until I find the right match.    
I bet they billed the client for normals
You can make alot of reports nothing but normals if the patient has a normal exam.  I bet that company bills for those normals too.  That is like asking a waitress to work for low wages, and she can't keep the tip!!!!!  What will they think of next?
Yes, their normals, not yours. Not all places are like this apparently. nm
xxx
I love your verbatim...that is hysterical. It also made my day....nm
x
Do you get enough repetition so that one could create/utilize normals? Nm
nm
My MTSO sends us normals for those few doctors

that you them.  They are usually a fill in the blank type thing with the doctors only giving the blanks, so there isn't much to mess up.   We do have a few normals that need to be modified and there are only a few MTs that get these dictators, because of the same issue your MTSO, that changes are not made, etc.   I am allowed to create my own normals and do.   If I have a doctor that needs to have the same normal, but occasionally does change things, I only have my normal including what is ALWAYS the same and then I have macros for statements that are frequently dictated that I can use to piece together the rest of the document.


I can't imagine my company forbiding us to use normals.  My company wants the MTs to be productive, because if they are producing they are making money and if they are making good money they are happy and the MTSO will have good retention of MTs, which they have had.  It also benefits the MTSO to have high producing MTs, so that they can have fewer MTs and less costs/hassle.


 


 


 


I used to be a supervisor and we allowed all MTs to make their own normals, BUT...

it was the responsibility of the MT to listen to the dictation and make sure that the normal reflected exactly what the physician dictated.  And any QA issues specifically attributed to an MT's personal normal resulted in a three-phase disciplinary action, i.e. written up for the first offense, written up and forced to come in-house to work for a determined period of time for the second, and finally termination for the third.  Also any incentive money the MT may have earned for the day of the infraction was forfeited.  It seems extreme, but we had such a problem with QA issues and many complaints from physicians especially with radiology normals that we really had no choice.  We needed to make it clear how vital quality was over quantity.


Now that I work as an IC MT, I create and use my own normals, but I listen to every single dictation and if there is even one tiny, seemingly insignificant change such as the physician says the instead of a, I change it in the report.


I think a company forbidding their MTs from using personal normals will end up costing themselves money in the end.  The solution is to institute very strict policies regarding the use of personal normals and enforce them.  Let the client know that these policies are now being enforced and if they see any mistakes whatsoever, to please let the MTSO know.  It's hard being an MTSO, I'm sure.  Assuring the client that their concerns are your concerns and making the MT's feel respected and appreciated for their hard work is like walking a tightrope sometimes.  The sad fact is that you can't make everyone happy all of the time and in the business world, you have to schmooze the one who writes your paycheck - that goes for MTSO's and MT's alike.


I just recently started a verbatim account...

and I have to stop myself from making corrections and have to really concentrate on typing exactly what they are saying.  It's HARD!  But hey, they are indirectly signing my paycheck, so I gotta do what they tell me to, ya know?



Keystrokes makes you count out for normals.
nm
That is way low! I also transcribe for a producer, verbatim, non-medical,
any typist could do it (unlike MTing) and I get $100 per 1 hour of dictation. That's ridiculous.
couldn't -- you couldn't care less
lol
Couldn't...you couldn't care less.
nm
Employee. 0.09 cpl, 100s of normals, and downtime paid.
x
Co I work for, large national, allows normals. Of course, you must listen
zz
I have normals, lots and a huge expander glossary sm

I also have 20 years in this business, which helps.  I am not a fast typist really and I can't type at all without the expander, not anymore.  I have a photographic memory for terms and how they are spelled...see it once, know it forever. 


There are exceptional MTs and there are very good MTs, there are good ones and ones who can just about pass muster.  Don't beat yourself up trying to be exceptional.  I think exceptional MTs are born, but very good ones can be built from scratch.  There are MANY MANY facets to success as an MT.  You have to have quite an ear for voices and even the very best of us can't do every accent.  You have to either be a great typist and/or Expander user, and you have to know it well (I have used my same one most of my career).  You have to know your terminology inside and out.  You need to know how to properly organize your normals so that they are consistent and easy to use.  You have to have an excellent platform to work on, preferrably a Word client.  You also have to have a company who stands behind you and makes sure you have enough work with QA people who can and will take the time to teach you what you don't know.  My favorite QA gal is a font of knowledge, a BOS2 expert and she even corrects my emails for grammar.  I have learned a lot from her.  It helps to have someone on an IM who can answer questions on the fly for you.  I have had those in the past and now I am one of those who does the answering. 


Most importantly, do your very best at whatever mode of work you are doing.  Show up every day, give it your all.  Don't worry about what the rest of us are doing, be the best you, you can be.  Things fall into place when you do that, I know because this is how I had to approach the early stages of my career.  Persistance pays off.


Here is the dummy office manager's verbatim response
The allogations you just made are unbelievable. I want to see the information you have as proof. Please call me tomorrow morning at 739-7500. Can you be at PROSC at 10am with your unaltered reports?


Do any companies allow you to edit the dictation somewhat or are you strict verbatim? First time do
,
I have 1 acct that's verbatim but they don't mind if I edit a little. I used to type insuranc
interviews where they would call people after accidents and I had to type every um, uh or cough. Kind of nervewracking!
I get paid per gross line. I utilize normals and macros
as much as possible, though I could do more than I do.   I also type 100+ wpm.  I don' t have demographics to fill in, just patient's name and I type in straight WP5.1, so no cumbersome formats.  I download via FTP and I batch my work insteading of having save each individual report.   I make 8 cpl per gross line.  
Sorry to hear that because that was a good account with great normals. Hope
you find a new home where you will be appreciated and with good line counts!
I've always thought verbatim is not only an insult to the doctor, but also to our profession. sm
We are supposed to medical language specialists with an excellent grasp of proper grammar and command of the English language. What do I know? I've only been doing MT for 25+ years. It completely befuddles me to be asked to type verbatim because I have probably typed for 2 doctors out of 100s who can form a proper sentence! Just my take on the verbatim thing.
My previous post was verbatim from the company when I inquired at employment. Maybe (sm)
they tell everyone something different, like what they THINK they want to hear.....Guess I should have put it in quotes.