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Serving Over 20,000 US Medical Transcriptionists

Coding is being sent overseas as well

Posted By: NM on 2006-05-10
In Reply to: I am looking into changing fields..from MT - AVAmq

NM


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Why move all the work for Heartland overseas, are the MTs overseas that much better?
Why? Why do this.  It is my understanding that in time that work will be coming right back.  Are the overseas MT's in Banglador or wherever better.  Don't the companies that offshore worry about the quality of the work, HIPPA issues, patient's confidentiality, etc.  Why don't they care?  Mark my words, those MT's are not better than us, they have US editors, etc to help them out.  They cannot land a new account US-based and compete with any US mt's.  What a  sad day.  I pray for all the Heartland MTs.
Coding, VR?

If the trend continues to let all transcription go to India, what is left for us?  Is anyone paying more than 3-4 a line for reviewing voice recognition work?  Is coding on the way to India too or is this still an option for us who live in the U.S.? I am wondering if it is worthwhile to start taking coding classes now before I lose my job to India.  Can we even do coding from home?


 


Coding
Yes, coding could be the way to go,although not at home yet. I'm considering a course, they say MTs make good coders.
I want to go into coding too (sm)
but don't have the money now for school.  I've been in the biz 20+ years and it's unbelievable how the work has dried up.  Yet they keep hiring when other MTs have no work. 
coding

I was an inpatient coder for a year and I made more transcribing.  I worked for a large chain (that ended up in trouble with the feds) and we were constantly told to find better DRGs so they would get paid more....dig 'em up even if that wasn't the reason for admission.  I enjoyed my job otherwise, I did become nearsighted after a year probably because of reading the physician writing.


Even if you go to school and get certified now, the companies say they need 2 years.


 


Remote Coding
Does anyone have anything to say about the remote coding.
Coding certification

First I would encourage you that if you are serious about coding, do NOT go to a course that does not allow to test for NATIONAL certification.  There are only 2 organizations in the US that do national certification.  AAPC (the first) and AHIMA.  With AAPC there are numerous companies that offer their course.  The cost runs between $1200 and $1600 for a three month course of 8 hour classes plus your proctored exam and membership to AAPC, or you can do the self-study course for the same money (I chose to be in a classroom setting so I could have questions answered on the spot).  You can opt to take the course for hospital coding CPC-H (which few hospitals will recognize as official) or the doctor/outpatient based course - CPC, which is widely recognized.


I don't know the cost of AHIMA's testing but it is as intense as AAPC's but it is mostly taken by people who either already have AAPC certification or are already working in a medical coding setting.  Both organizations offer apprecentice programs if you are not already in a coding setting until you can clock some coding hours.  I think you need references to enter either program as to your character - remember, if you make a mistake the penalty could be monetory and/or a jail term.


Now, can you get a job and is the money worth it.  Most hospitals want AHIMA's inpatient certification and 1-2 years OTJ experience, unless they are hiring for their outpatient clinics and/or ER (which they will then accept the AAPC's CPC).  Most of these positions pay between $15 and $24/hr plus bennies.


It is very hard to get into the coding industry.  It's just like trying to get into MT without any experience, only harder.  I would network, join both organizations as a member and go religiously to the monthly meetings to network and learn.  Both certifications require a high number of CEU's to be earned each year.  It is easier to get into a physician's office setting as a CPC.  Most of these jobs pay $9 to $18/hr depending on geography, but again you'd have to be very, very good and have good references from certified mentors to help you get a job with no experience.


Most jobs are obtained by word of mouth.  If you are very good, you could skip working in a hospital or doctor's office and become a consultant and/or instructor without any working experience (more $$ for the instructor's certification).  It would be like working as an IC.  You would have to hustle to get clients and build a reputation.  I was lucky and got a job with a hospital in their outpatient clinic side at $19/hr with hospital bennies and had an offer with the people whose course I took to become an instructor and consultant for them even before I got the results from my test score (but I had prior coding experience).  My job was basically consulting, doing audits and giving feedback and education to doctors on how to maximize their reimbursement, how to document charts properly and be available for their coding questions.  I loved the respect I got from the doctors.  It was totally unlike what I get directly from doctors as an MT.  They are eager to learn, listen to what is being taught, are interactive, friendly and recognize that you are there to help them succeed.


If your MTSO is also adding a coding department to their company, that would be an easier way to get into coding as it could be done from home with access to electronic medical records.  There are a number of tools available to coders that help to electronically code and flag potential errors, hopefully your company would pay for all that because it can be quite expensive.


I tried to portray a clear and realistic picture with discouraging you.  It's a lot like going into MT without someone being realistic with you, so the fact that you asked is a good sign.


good luck,


d~


medical coding
Does anybody know about going into medical billing/coding. I'm looking into getting out of transcription, and I know of 1 national company that supposedly hires coders, but I don't want to spend the $$ for school and then have no work or a low paying job
Has anyone left MT to go to coding? sm

I have 16 years experience as an MT, but I am just tired of it.  I have completed a medical billing course and I am now working on  a coding course.  I am really enjoying the coding and it seems to come easy to me, which is a miracle :)  So, if anyone has switched, I would love your input.  Thanks!


In 5 years, coding will be just like MT--sm
rates dropping, offshoring and big services taking over.  Mark my words.
They have coding and transcription
nm
coding at home sm
Would you care to share what state you are in?  I assume you do the coding via computer and have computer access to patient's records.  Do you code directly into the hospital system?  I only had exposure to coders back when they had no computers.    Do you have coding certification?  How many years experience do you have?  I want to get into coding and I would love to work at coding from home.  I've taken classes and really enjoy it and have done well, but am not certified and I heard its really hard to get into coding.  I do have lots of MT experience though, 33 years.  Thanks.
Coding Recognition Software
I see that Nuance is now pushing its coding recognition software. Maybe I should put off that AHIMA coding course. I can't wait until they come out with HIM Director Botware, CFO Botware, and CEO Botware.
Thanks for warning me, but this is the other company - no coding LOL. NM
xx
Augusta Coding nad Transcription
This company had a job posting on mtjobs.com several weeks ago - anyone else apply and actually hear anything back?  I've even sent a follow-up email and nothing.  Just wondering if I was the only one.
Augusta Coding and Transcription
Amen, brother ben. They are not cool. Do not confuse with AugustaMedicalTranscription.com which is a great Christian owned (2 people, Mike and Pam, friends), run this business.

Augusta Coding will screw an MT by charging for software, paying low and charging high. Beware beware. I did not and I did work there, but found making about 3.00 hr was not possible.
make better money coding...sm
I do earn more money coding, mainly because it is hourly pay (so no fluctuations like you get with line counts) and the value of the benefits. I do think there are coding jobs which are much less stressful than where I work. Actually, I think most of them are. Our facility is huge, actually has it's own little city, with 3 hospitals, one with a level 1 trauma center which is shared with a children's hospital, 150-some clinics, an eye institute, and a cancer center plus is a teaching facility so we do the coding for the college facilities. Most coding jobs in my area (midwest) are working from home. Our benefits include health, dental, life, disability and vision insurance, FSA and HSA accounts, tuition reimbursement, AHIMA membership paid, 403B match, 4.6 hours of earned vacation and 1.8 hours of sick time per pay period (2 weeks) so they're pretty good. I do know coders in other facilities around here who do not have the same stressful conditions which we have and who love their jobs. Much of it is due to size and our remote management. I used to work at a smaller hospital and really liked coding there. I left when my daughter became ill and needed me home. I ended up at the facility I am with now because they were one of the few places who did have home coding available at the time that i started. Now I just think I am too darned old to start over someplace else and give up my seniority, vacation accrual, etc., so I will stick it out until I can retire. So it's my own fault I'm miserable 'cuz I don't make the change! If you go into coding, I hope you get to be one of the people who does love it and would venture a guess you would not find the stress level to be what ours is unless you work for one of the largest of facilities.
Augusta Coding and Transcription

Watch out for this company.  They have a horrible platform they use and are extremely rude in QA (main gal running the company).  Please beware, as life is too short to live like this. 


What about medical coding? Is that a lucrative..sm
and somewhat secure field to consider?  I am doing a lot of re-thinking after this MDI-Transcend stunner and know that being an MT today is nothing like it was 30 years ago when I first started my career.  Does anyone have any opinions or knowledge on medical coding and if that is a viable alternative to MTing?  Thanks.
OOPS! Supposed to be Coding and Transcription
nm
Anyone ever hear of Augusta Coding and Transcription in SM
Georgia? Any comments. There are 2 in Georgia. Thanks in advance.
Make sure it is not Augusta Coding and Medical Transcription....
that company is run by 2 psychos, Ann and Stella...it certainly is not Christian either, and you will have to pay their license fee to use their software. In other words, you pay them to work for them.
is this ACTI (augusta coding transcription inc) in Evans, GA or
Augusta Medical Transcription in Augusta, GA? I'm trying to find out which company is better. I want to work in ChartScript. Thanks!
I don't know about overseas, but I'd say if they
don't have a separate line for a business then it is probably a tiny company and I wouldn't feel comfortable working with them.   I'd at least get some history from Joanna about how long the company has been around, where they are located, etc. 
you must be from overseas.

 


They get what they pay for when they offshore.  period.


Part & Full Time Data Entry & Document Coding Position - Sara McDaniel - HR Administrator
This company has ads on other web sites. You have to pay them $55 to do a background check up front. Guess what? If you don't get hired, they've got your $55. Don't know if it's legit - just posting facts.
Thanks. Do you know if TT outsources overseas?
nm
How much work is still going overseas. Anyone know.
:
Where is it going. Not overseas I hope.
:
Overseas MTs and US companies
I was over joyed this past Friday when I landed an interview with a company in my area that called me out of the blue for an interview.  I do not even remember sending my resume to them, but I must have over a year ago.  Well, I was up for the interview and ready for whatever they wanted me to test on.  I was very anxious to quit the big national I worked for soon.  Well, I pressed my skirt out and as I drove, I a started singing all the way there.  Today was going to be my lucky day.  Well, boy was I wrong.  I met the lady that called me and it went down hill from there.  She told me that they only had 2 US MTs and the other 500 MTs they employed were over in India. UUUUUHHHH.  My heart sank.  She was calling because they needed to immediately set up a new account that was going live in 2 weeks, and they were caught with their pants down. The overseas MTs would not be able to catch on as quickly, so they needed at least to hire 2 more US MTS to get the ball rolling.  I knew right then and there I was the Guinney pig to help set this new account up for the MTs overseas.  My heart sank,and I could not even remember anything else she had said.  She gave me a writtent test and I told her I did not know the terms. I said that because I was trying to get the HELL out of there fast.  She said do not worry.  I want you anyway.  Then she gave me an OP note to transcribe. I sat there for about 2 minutes and told her I was sorry, but I could not get it.  I grabbed my coat and hussled out of there.  As I was leaving an Indian man was walking by, and she said he was the owner.  Is this the way our business is going?  He clearly was the owner and employed all the MTs from overseas.  Can we go over to their country and do the same? I don't think so.  I am sorry for venting,but I was so darned mad.  He learned the business, used the United States, and employed all from his country.  She also said that eventually, all work go over their, but some clients need to see the work first before sending it over there.  Translation, the US MTs do the initial work and it looks good.  Then, when the client thinks everything is good, they ship it over to the overseas MTs.  Did I handle this situation wrong?  I feel like a heel for not giving my best, but that is what I was feeling at the time.
*overseas help* are not employees....
zzz
It'll NEVER all be sent overseas.

MTSO's are now rushing to jump on the USA bandwagon.  Hospital administrators have had to deal with lawsuits and redundant protection (QA'ing every overseas report), and they want the work back in the US. 


Outsourcing overseas has made more work and ultimately cost more than having had on-site MTs. 


The work will NEVER be sent, en masse, overseas. 


What we're also trying to point out to you is that even without a full-out union organization if, one by one, we begin refusing the 0.057 VR jobs, we an make a difference in numbers.  We're not suggesting ANYONE quit their job, no matter how low the pay rate, but begin emailing/mailing/calling members of congress, senators and service owners, urging return of our precious medical records to the US, and level our pay out to pre-offshore standards. 


It is clear by the mistakes edited daily, that VR is not the answer across the board, and may not be for many years.  EMR is not comprehensive for all facility scenarios.  OUR SKILLS ARE STILL NECESSARY AND WE DESERVE A FAIR WAGE, AND THE RESPECT THAT OUR KNOWLEDGE COMMANDS.  I know many people with bachelors' degrees who could not perform our jobs.  We are skilled, dedicated (in most cases), and well worth what little we are seeking.


overseas work
I agree - these companies and hospitals supporting to send work overseas make it sound so wonderful - cheaper rates and fast TAT.   BUT have you ever read some of the work that domestic/US MTs and QAs have to repair?   So the hospital gets a break on the costs from the MT Companies but who has to fix the mess?   I frankly do not want my medical records going off to India to be incorrect when it comes back.   I remember one in particular where the overseas MT put PORN instead of PRN.  How would that patient like to see that in their record?    I hope the new administration imposes fines to heavily that it will stop these companies from supporting overseas companies and give the work back to the US MTs - we need jobs here too and we should be taking care of us first !   Remember those cheap rates - you get what you pay for !  I remember getting a good salary and even Christmas bonuses 10 years ago but those days are LONG gone now.  

Merry Christmas to all and let's hope the New Year brings much happiness with jobs and decent wages.
jobs did not go overseas did they?
No union in the U.S. would have let their jobs go overseas. Because we had no unions, our jobs left. As much as I hate to admit it, because we are in a female-dominated field, we did not band together in a union...and our jobs left. The only chance of retrieving them now is because unemployment is going to rise....and we may have a shot of saying the country needs as many jobs as we can muster up....
All I know is that they send work overseas. nm
x
outsource overseas a percentage, which could go up...(nm)
xx
Does anyone know of DocuMed outsources overseas? nm
:
saw they were hiring for an overseas position
in which someone would be going to various locations and training them to become MTs. I suppose that is the same as offshoring, but even worse since they are offering the training!!!!
Your moniker is Overseas MT, which is very confusing.

Your post was fraught with errors.  You didn't even get the gender of the owner right. 


I realize this is a message board, people write quickly and are bound to make typos.  Many of your errors simply weren't typos, though.


If I were an MTSO reading your post, I don't think I'd invite you to work for me.  Sorry. 


saw they were hiring for an overseas position
Not too long ago on some employment web site for MTs. How nice, another company going outside our borders to train people for their workforce.
I believe I believe Cymed outsources overseas also...sm
Unfortunately, we are going to continue to be in this same boat as long as medical transcription is outsourced to overseas countries. I used to think it wasn't a big deal (outsourcing), but I can see now that our jobs (and pay) are going to continue to deteriorate as long as outsourcing overseas is in the picture....and it is going to be in the picture for a very, very long time. :-(
IBM hires overseas accountants
They pay $60,000 to Americans and the same job is done for $3,000 in India. Only difference is that in India you can live well on $3,000.
We are all screwed.

Most overseas companies doing business with the US
..
MDI does NOT send work overseas.
x
even if they send work overseas...
Please help me find a company to work for that has WORK and pays on time. That is all I ask at this point.
working from overseas - Not offshore!

Can a medical Transcriptionist travel overseas and still work for a U.S. transcription company, as long as he/she maintains a U.S. residence and pays U.S. taxes?  Is there any legal reason why they could not do so?  Are any of you transcriptionists presently doing this, and which companies do you work for?


They dont outsource...THEY ARE AN OVERSEAS COMPANY
check out www.spi-bpo.com  you will see that they are 100% owned by the Philippine Telephone Company now.   The US venture holder sold them.   I know they have lost many accounts over the last year or so.   I know they also have a lot of turnover in management.   I'd steer clear of these folks.
Business Acquisitions and Overseas Work
When you are trying to be one of the top 3 International MTSO's you buy every company that you can buy that makes sense financially after due diligence has taken place. Believe me - if a purchase is in the works, you won't hear any corporate announcement until the ink is dry on the paper (or the paper is torn up), which will be way after the word is leaked to the street. If SPI is trying to acquire other MTSO's to get into the ring with the big boys - so be it. There isn't anything any one of you can do about it except keep your head down and your line counts and quality up. Quit fretting that your work is going overseas. Transcription is going global. It's a fact, not a fear. A great MT is a great MT wherever his/her chair happens to be.
Not uncommon to have U.S. address and be based overseas.
Cannot speak for this company though. It's amazing when you speak to companies who advertise as U.S. based and given an Indian name as a contact, only to speak to this person at an 800 or 888 number, and quickly know that they have an extremely heavy accent and are likely with an overseas company.
I bet Vandy doesnt know all their stuff is done overseas now.
wonder if they would pull out if they knew.  i know for a fact spi is lying to them
Would cost too many $$ to give bonus to the overseas help
and the US citizens who pay taxes, so they probably sent it to just overseas help along with all the work.