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AHDI Misunderstood?

Posted By: Boogie MT on 2008-09-02
In Reply to: They aren't. I think everyone has misunderstood. - Oldie but a Goodie

I do not thnk AHDI is misunderstood at all. I think it is very apparent what they are doing. They are embracing the global atmosphere to make more money for themselves just like the big MTSOs. I personally believe it is time that the Dept. Of Labor get involved with the way American MTs are paid in this country and institute a standardized method of counting lines for all MTSO companie which would include using the same software for all of them.  I think that MTs who are paid by the line should have a baseline line pay that is in dollars and cents just like factory workers do who are paid doing piecework. I would bet there are many many MTs in this country who are working for less than minimum wage for these MTSO companies because they pay so little and expect so much.


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you misunderstood me, sorry...
No, was paid $21 per hour for QA, and I agree it should be paid by the hour. Some MTs need 100% QA, others just blanks.

What I said was I went back to working as an MT because it pays more than the $21 per hour I was making as a QA.

I enjoy QA work, however, and said I would not mind doing a mixture of MT and QA.

I think QA is very important. It is particularly important to give feedback to the MTs because they can avoid repetitive errors. Most MTs prefer to get feedback as long as it is done with a kind attitude.
Oh, I'm sorry. I misunderstood! LOL
I'm not sure what is up with some of the people posting on this thread but they are really ugly.

All I did was tell the person starting the thread that IC/SE status is great for some of us and now look at all the ugliness going on.

You have a nice day!


She said it was LOW at 12K. I think you misunderstood her.
nm
Sorry I misunderstood what you were saying - sm
It is possible to "hide" the icons, hence my instructions. But if you redid your computer then you just need to do shortcuts, which I know has already been explained.
I think you may have misunderstood.
Everybody uses a medical spellchecker in addition to ShortHand. What I would expect it would tell you to turn off AutoCorrect. If you don't, and you have entries in there (or the preloaded ones), you will get conflicts. Say you add in a correction for a misspelling of "the," and of course Autocorrect already does that. When you misspell "the," instead of getting it corrected, both programs will take a stab and you'll wonder why it says "ththe" or something.
Sorry you may have been misunderstood
initially, but you are still defending the use of FEAR tactics to teach a child to behave.

FEAR is fear - whether the fear of losing a job or the fear of getting a spanking.

Seriously - are you suggesting this is a good way to teach a child to behave?

I'm not suggesting a parent is a monster for a pop on the behind or the hand, but when you get to the level of a "spanking" you are physically and mentally abusing your child. Deal with it.

YOU didn't like it either - and for the same reasons...

It's a betrayal of trust as well - love from a parent should not involve physical pain.
I think you misunderstood
I think what some were saying is that with their line counts they were barely making minimum wage when it figured out to an hourly rate.  
I think you've misunderstood ...
Perhaps you didn't understand the line of thought between myself and the OP ... the OP was stating that I could have a flexible schedule as an EMPLOYEE.

I stated that companies don't always offer flexible schedules for employees and that was why I loved being an IC.

I understand the definition of IC and SE. I've been doing this for years, thank you.
You've misunderstood......
I'm not talking about the average homeowner who lives 2 to 3 blocks from the beach. Look, we lived in Florida for 15 years, have relatives who live on the MS gulf coast and Houston AND New Orleans.

I'm talking about the big mansions that we see go up right on the beaches, knowing they can't get insurance coverage. I've even heard them brag that they're not worried, FEMA will rebuild it for them. Those are the folks I'm talking about.

I have family in Houston who also had to flee with four children (one a newborn). I do know what they went through. I have an elderly aunt and uncle in New Orleans suburb who sat it out. I've got friends in south Florida who are now without power with HIGH temperatures. By the way, they live on a canal and DO NOT expect FEMA to rebuild their home should something, Heaven forbid, happen to it.

I've got friends and
relatives on the MS gulf coast whose homes are several blocks from the beach and still are ruined due to mold and mildew. HOWEVER, their insurance won't pay to replace all the sheetrock, just where the water level went to, even though mold and mildew crawls all over. WHat are they to do? But they know people who are already getting help from FEMA to rebuild DIRECTLY on the beach!!! Now explain this.
You misunderstood my posting.
I didn't say it's someone "just like me" that will work out. It's that some personalities mesh better with others.

But it is a good idea to consider similar goals, interests, etc.
I misunderstood what you meant.
I attach one file with gmail then down below click where it says to attach another file.  I am certainly no expert, so there may be a faster way of doing it.  With Yahoo you "browse" for the files to attach.  You may still have to select one at a time, but I am not sure.  I thought you meant that you wanted to attach more than one before sending the message.  I have used Outlook Express, Yahoo, Gmail and the address with my local ISP.  With all of them I have attached more than one file before sending, but have never tried to like "select" multiple files at one time to attach. 
sorry, you misunderstood second post...
I meant that in my first post, I said if IC's had charged correctly "in the beginning."   Anyway, my whole point is that there are so many questions and misunderstandings on this board about IC status.  If people are going to function as an IC, they need to understand they are in charge of what they are paid by the MTSO.  Personally, I tell an IC what I am willing to pay and if they accept it great, if not, I can negotiate.  She should be telling me right off the bat what her charges are, not wait for me to make an offer.  I also think you would be very surprised if you knew how much most MTSO are charging.  Yes, the small businesses have a tougher time, but the large services are doing just fine.
Forgive me if you misunderstood..
I agree that you must be a fast typist in order to make a decent financial living. I just do not think that speed should be placed above accuracy just for speed sake. Speed comes with knowledge, knowledge is obtained by looking over your reports and transcribing correctly.
I am sorry, but I think you totally misunderstood--sm
this person's response. Some computers come with a *trial version* of different programs, such as Word 2003. When the trial period is over, you have the option of purchasing the program from the trial version. This is where the one time install comes in. I have the student/teacher version of Office 2003, which does allow me to place it on up to 3 computers. If one of those computers crashes, you can call Microsoft for another validation number to install it on a new computer.

I really do not see how you got that this person was illegally wanting a download CD from anything. I totally understood what she was trying to say. Perhaps you misread and over reacted? mellow mellow...
Think my post is being misunderstood
I love VR but what I am asking is why if you do say between 500-600 lines per hour the company who puts the VR platform out there wants you to be sure and use their keys instead of the mouse which I was taught on when I first started? There is no way humanly possible if your audio is on fast forward can you speed it up faster, no way. I am wondering why they are so interested? I am not a poke along so use keys, use mouse, what difference? None that I can see- audio on fast forward all the time working. Cannot go faster than the audio.
Think I misunderstood on another board sm
I probably read this backwards before. For hemat/onc as you know, a lot of chemo and radiation involved. With radiation onc, it would be terms found in a radiology wordbook but you certainly would have to know the radiology terms and dosages, i.e, cGy, etc., all your basic anatomy and physiology. As with anything in this business, your basic knowledge plus speciality interest. Get a good radiology terms book and study up. With your hem/onc experience it will be a big help. Perhaps there are some sample reports, just Google and follow through with basic radiology terms.
They aren't. I think everyone has misunderstood.
It looks to me like everyone was wanting them to act as a union, which they were never designed to do.

When everyone realized this, they wanted the American taken out of the name. They did so.

It is an association that has now broadened its scope in realizing how many roles are involved in the medical record.

Considering that offshoring is here to stay, I would think everyone would be happy that they are trying to reach out to those individuals and at least secure some standards for education, etc., for ALL records.

you misunderstood some things

about my post. It is mandatory, not my choice to do this. I'm not new to the MT world and other companies, or the working world in general, and this is a first for me. This is degrading. I'm an excellent MT and employee in general, and that's possibly why you state my 1-1/2 months is long enough to learn this: I actually check my work and grammar to make sure I'm turning in a professional legal document.


The reason I was forced to take a job with such a low rate is because I was a victim of severe domestic abuse psychologically,emotionally, and financially, and was forced out of my home by my supposed new Chistian and godly husband having control of all the money and hiring an attorney and my having none, which was strictly a control issue. I had no job and was living in another state from all my family and friends. I was put out abruptly in a job market the likes of which have not been seen in...ever?


So, I am a very hard worker and do not mind doing extra, but I do very much mind--after this experience--being abused by anyone, my employer included.


You misunderstood my note.
I meant to actually work doing MT, either transcribing or editing, in vertical portrait. You turn your monitor 90 degrees.
You misunderstood my whole post (probably the way I did it - in 2 parts)

Here is what I mean.  I learned in 1965 with no training.  Then several years later, someone told me I was spelling Fahrenheit wrong.  Now fast forward to 2006.  I've been doing this for 30-40 years, very few medical spelling errors, and NOW is when my company nitpicks.


You misunderstood - I left the bad company...sm
You misunderstood the post, evidently, or might have possibly bought into your company's hype. We had plenty of "indoctrination" about India where I worked.

I tried to avoid job-hopping, but after 2 years of abuse, it was time to go. I could not make quotas required because I was getting all the crap work that no one else could transcribe ALL the time, not some of the time; then the benefits were reduced every time we turned around, and that I depend on with a terminally ill spouse.

When you start messing with people's money, whatever job you're in, you're going to lose employees. If you have a good Indian-based or owned company, you are one of the few I've ever heard of, and I'm happy for you. As for this MT, I refuse to work for them. No matter what, they are taking work from the U.S. MTs that need and want to work.
Maybe I misunderstood but you said they pay you "off the books" -- so you don't report THAT
.
You completely misunderstood me! And see how quick you are to fly off the handle??
That's why supervisors don't like to send friendly Hello emails!! I was talking to you, but saying the OTHER MTs - you have no idea how many of them are nuts, really, and do NOT want to hear from anyone, and even a friendly simple greeting email can provoke wrath from the masses!  I was NOT lumping you in with that, but you totally misinterpreted a simple post!! That's why emails are not worth it unless 100% necessary for job performance! You proved my point!
I didn't mean to sound touchy. You misunderstood and
whether or not you MEANT to reply to my post, you did. What else was I to think?!

I don't have all the answers but I was quite aware of that information already.

No offense taken by me! Just felt like you misunderstood, that's all!

Wait. I misunderstood. MS4 = student, a Mr. - R4 = MD, but not finished SM
with residency in his specialty.
Aaaaawww! I do not think that you are insensitive, you are misunderstood and you should not apologi
nm
Maybe I misunderstood the OP's concern. Pardon if my response doesn't pertain. nm
x
OK, I misunderstood. Didn't know there was another way. I'll check out Google Desktop. Thanks.
`
AHDI
I had been a member of AHDI, but when I had a problem with a MTSO not paying I contacted them. The reason I contacted them was to ask in their assistance, not in my instance, but to protect their membership from this type of company. They completely ignored the context of my letter and referred me to local agencies. My thought was that with this industry being so new and unprotected online, that they should take an interest in have legislation passed... went right over their heads. Thus, I did not renew my membership.
SO well-said! I think AHDI should be
nm
what is AHDI and sm
why are only 1/4th of them medical transcriptionists?

Wouldn't you think they all would be?


AHDI

I started a thread below about the government stepping in and making the MTSO companies step up to the plate and conform to a standard form of counting lines for US based medical transcriptionists and to perhaps have a baseline pay so that MTs are not sitting all day long waiting on one more report to try to make a count that is making the MTSOs richer. While not everybody agreed with my points, let me say that there are probably far more MTs in this country who are not independent contractors and who are trying to support themselves than not. ICs would almost be classified as (mini) MTSOs. Not everybody has the luxury of negotiating what they will work for. That whole conversation is moot when we are talking about the industry as a whole. ADHI has spoken for years that they support standardization but when they were recently asked about "policing" the MTSOs methods of counting lines, they dropped the ball. This is just my opinion, but there definitely needs to be an accountability to the U.S. worker concerning this industry. While on one hand we are described as highly skilled workers with a wide base of knowledge, we are then described as home-based, bunny-slippered, pajama mamas.  It cannot be both ways. We are highly skilled and do have a wide base of knowledge and we need to band together. I do like the name United States Medical Transcription Association. Works for me. 


AHDI

I am not sure it matters who is behind ADHI or their corporate sponsors. The reality is that the U.S. based MTs need to quit taking a knee jerk reaction to them. ADHI started small. Your comment about the displaced workers just proves my point that the government and the Dept of Labor do need to be involved in the restructuring of the MT Industry.  When a major MTSO company can initiate a program whereby it cuts the salaries of thousands of it's employees for its own gain, there is a problem there. In the area where I work, there was an article in the newspaper about the outsourcing of the radiology dept on weekends to Australia so that coverage was 24/7. This is a U.S. owned company who employs radiologists from Australia. I am betting those doctors over there do not make less than their counterparts over here. So, it is up to us, the MTs of the U.S. to start to organize in order to reinstate the true value of the work we are entrusted to perform day in and day out.


AHDI
Completely with you. making almost minimum wage for over 30 years of work. mostly because of account specifics, slow platform, always blaming it on the Internet, awful audio.
AHDI: BOS...............
Yes, it is:
For instance:

AHDI tells us:

5cc's was injected.

????

1. Why has there to be an apostrophe cc's? It is just only the plural of cc, css is right, like MTs, the 70s, etc.....

Why 'was' injected; ccs is plural, consequently 'were', this is the right grammar.

But, AHDI says:
'NO, you have to look at it as a UNIT, 5ccs, is a UNIT, so you have to type 'was'. BS!

And there are a lot of these examples.

Yes, but AHDI is quite the
wishy-washy change horses in midstream type - maybe they will smell conflict coming and hop on the no-outsourcing bandwagon if too many MTs lose interest in AHDI membership.  At any rate, it will be fun to see what happens.
ahdi

I have been reading the posts here for many months and I agree with everything said above regarding AHDI.  I resigned as treasurer of a student chapter after realizing they seemed to care more about foreign MTs than us here in the US.


Now all US transcriptionists have an option.  There is a new organization "American Transcription Association", ATA.  The mission of this organization is to bring to the forefront the situation here for out MTs and all the off shoring to India and elsewhere.  This organization will only accept US transcriptionists.


Check it out at www.ataus.org


Maybe we can make a difference!


 


This has nothing to do with AAMT/AHDI.
This has to do with a gal going out and taking a difficult test and passing it and wanting a tiny bit of validation from her peers. I am a nurse and lived through globalization with nurses coming into our country from everywhere .. transcription has been left alone for a long time and because it is us, we all scream like crazy. Did you care when it was nurses, or auto workers or garment workers or is it all about you? I am a nurse who came into this grind by choice .. can hear the grass grow and know how to punctuate and create a sentence. I read my account specifics and I follow the rules and make a very good living. Let your politicians fix what they have destroyed. Exercise your arm and vote for people who will not solicit money and gain off the backs of the constituency and turn their backs. Don't beat up a gal who is proud of an accomplishment .. this is part of the reason our industry is a mess, we cannot support each other first and throw out even a crumb of kindness. Stop feeling entitled .. nobody owes us a bloody thing.
AHDI is the new name for the AAMT.
nm
it's AHDI now, not AAMT.....sm

because they became an organization NOT for the American MT - and over the years, many of us griped about it and so FINALLY they changed their name (last year) to AHDI............since they have promoted offshoring for the past 15-20 years...........


 


AHDI allows scammer because THEY are
x
as long as it has nothing to do with AHDI or whatever - nm
x
AHDI members.

Did you know there is a corporate member of the AHDI that is known to be a scam? I am not allowed to post the name on this board evidently as it keeps refusing my post when I try to post the name saying it is a “bad word,” but it is a company that will train you for free, have you pay $400 for software, and then tells you they will hire you and pay you once you are up to their standards.  However, somehow, the MTs they train can never live up to their standards.  How do you feel about this company being a member of your organization?  Who exactly does AHDI represent?  Why do they allow a company that is known to scam MTs and is a complete ripoff to be a member of their organization? Will this company soon be an "approved" school? LOL.  Any thoughts on this?  Please share.


CE's Online at OA-AHDI
You can get many CEs online through the Online ASsociation of AHDI. They offer live webinars monthly and they are all preapproved for CE credits from AHDI.

You are also able to purcahse downloads of previous presentations and view them at your leisure.

Visit www.oa-ahdi.org and you will find some information there.
No, and I'm am more of an AHDI/BOS-2 supporter.
There are few changes in it and the ones that are there are ridiculous, in my opinion. Makes us (as MTs) look like idiots for following:

No more periods after abbreviated personal and courtesy titles! WHAT? So, now you should write Mr and Mrs Happy (not Mr. and Mrs. Happy).

No more commas to separate names from titles with roman numerals! WHAT? So, now you write Harry Happy II (not Harry Happy, II).

No more hyphens between numbers and their units, even if it is a compouned modifier! WHAT? So, that means you would write ... close the 2 cm incision (not .... closed the 2-cm incision).

Just nitpicking crap to make us look bad and make them more money.

Use the BOS-2, it's much smarter. Use the AHDI for its good stuff and leave the bad stuff alone (i.e., if it benefits you, use it...and BTW, you would just periods with that latin abbreviation any longer, lol).

BTW, the BOS-3 won't be available electronically. Have to buy a book or pay a monthly fee to have web access.

Better stop my rant now. LOL
MTIA **is** AHDI
see "driving directions" in post below.
Why I despise AHDI
see link.
Dropping AHDI and CMT - anyone else?
It took me several years to make up my mind - I decided this year to drop my AHDI membership as well as not do my CEUs for my CMT (due this past January). I've been an MT for over 23 years. I joined AAMT 18 years ago and was thrilled to be part of it including in my local chapter for a long long time. I passed my CMT in 1994 - 15 years ago. I have never been paid any extra for my CMT.

I worked for MQ from 1997 to 2006 and finally found the guts to leave and have been happier for it. I don't make any more money. In fact, I'm making the same cpl that I was in 1997 now - that is no raise in 12 years. That is in spite of my CMT, in spite of taking on every new and difficult account I could, etc., etc.

I will leave AHDI and the certification process because I am finally admitting to myself my thorough disgust with the connection between MQ and AHDI - that started well before this so-called settlement. I sure wish I had checked in here before now, I didn't take note that there was a deadline to send in objections.

Most of my coworkers, with more experience than me and with similar hard-working, transcription loving ethics, long ago left AAMT in disgust at how they were not doing a thing for us to raise wages and how they paid more attention to MTSOs, hospitals, etc... and then, the whole offshore thing.

Anyway, thanks for listening to my 2 cents. I would appreciate hearing from anyone with their thoughts. I've been reading and listening to pro-AAMT stuff trying to wade through and made my decision. My final bottom line was that I listened to my gut, my instincts, and and accepted that I know in my heart and head that for AHDI to still pretend they are for us MTs is a sham - and shameful - and their getting anywhere NEAR a company like Medquist says all that any of us should need to hear. Or, rather, that I need to hear.



AHDI should be investigated by the gov't. - sm
because they've defrauded MTs by leading them to believe they represented THEM. If they can be dishonest in one way, chances are very good that other misrepresentations are taking place. (Such as with the IRS? Labor board?) There's most likely a lot more to this shifty bunch of people than meets the eye.
Not anti-AHDI but pro-US MTs
So, does anyone have any experience starting up groups such as this? Please contact me via email? I work full-time and then some - and don't have oodles of time, but my guess is we are all in this same boat (not having extra time). I would be willing to try to create something for us.

On a tangent - I really struggled over the years about the whole U.S. MTs versus "them." I truly believe we are such a melting pot and feel strong about not excluding anyone. I do not think the us VS them viewpoint is very positive. That being said, I do believe that one of the biggest problems in our economy today is that govt (both sides) let our jobs (of all kinds) go overseas so the corporations could make more money. This left Americans without jobs or having to retrain, etc. I have finally come to conclusion that I am not being exclusionary OR protectionist to want our government AND groups like AAMT to advocate for US first, for those of us who live here, create this economy, and who keep this country going.

In bringing up the idea of having a new group for MTs, I think it is important that we are FOR something (us) and not against something (AHDI, MTSOs, overseas MTs). This is only my opinion. Even though feel angry and disillusioned about what AHDI has allowed to happen, I prefer to find a more positive way to help ourselves. I'm not sure exactly what that is...but eventually it likely will require for us to be proactive and take steps.


Suggestions on how to get the tea party started? I'm willing if others are. Even if just a few of us brainstorming - the point is to set into motion something that gives us hope. Something that will eventually grow and help each other. MT Stars does this in its own way, by providing the avenue to be real and share the good and the not so great about our profession.

Please email me, let me know what you think. Or post here.

The tea party opens...













dropping AHDI
I will also not renew membership to AHDI this year. Haven't been paying that much attention, but now that I have lost my job to VR after 14 years, I am paying attention and don't like what I see. I will not continue to support an association that is supposed to represent me, a hard working U.S. MT, that promotes MTSOs who offshore. I'm just sorry that I didn't realize that fact years ago as I would have dropped membership sooner.