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As an IC MT, how much should I charge for correcting their mistakes?

Posted By: MT ? on 2008-06-04
In Reply to:

This happens often lately, due to being new at dictation.  I never charge when it is my mistake, but lately I am wasting an hour a day making corrections to their previous reports.  Should I charge by the time it takes to make the corrections and also to reprint the report? What is the norm?


 


Thanks again!    




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Charge what the credit card companies charge when they don't get paid on time!!!!
 
Audio hour charge - what is fair rate to charge company?

Doubt you can charge 15 cpl for VR work to the docs - you can't even charge them 12 for straight
x
Testing - thanks for correcting me, yes. nm

good job
Thanks for correcting me - hidro -
,,,
Correcting commands in Dragon

Good Morning Ladies and Gents:


I am a reasonably expert user of Dragon, having used it for about four years. I recently bought a new computer, and put Dragon 7.30 on it. I got the new XP 64 bit. Wow, what a dream for the Dragon.


However, while I had no problem with this with my previous computer, with this one it will not follow the command "new line" when I want the cursur to drop down to the beginning of the next line.


It keeps typing the word "united." It will however follow the command "new paragraph." When I ask it to correct "united," it gives me options, none of which are the one I want.


I would appreciate any help.


Thanks,


John


depends how often you're correcting
If it is only a word once in a while that your are back spacing and correcting, that's one thing, but if you are constantly going back and correcting as you go you are losing a lot of productivity.  I try to put words I constantly misspell or mistype (like "adn" for and) in my Expander so there's not much correction.
Correcting Dictator's Grammar

I transcribe for one professional that says statements such as: "She DID SEEM in agreement". "She DID START to cry" and "The mother DID COME BACK to the office"  My supervisor told me she doesn't care for how this sounds either and that we just need to go ahead and type it as is.  Of course I am going to abide by what my supervisor says.  Is it just "cut and dry" when transcribing to type EXACTLY what is being said? - - - I also type for another professional with a PhD who will dictate and use certain words out of context, but I know what he means to say.  Do we just TACTFULLY address individual issues like this when they arise with those who are dictating?


doing VR you get paid for reading and correcting
the mistakes, line per line, line per line.....to the end of the document.
What is there not to understand or do you think that reading and correcting mistakes is not work?
They'll NEVER learn the stuff I'm correcting
I've had to do editing of offshored work at two different places now and you see the same mistakes over and over and over. I have started to think that (a) if companies ever get rid of their US QA people they will quickly lose accounts to the non-offshoring companies and/or (b) they will get sick of paying people to edit all the time and stop the offshoring.

One can always hope.

And no, I'm not quitting my job either. I agree with it in principle, and I feel bad sometimes for not doing it "on principle" but the reality of my getting a good paycheck prevails. Alas, my children must have their school supplies and shoes.
I wasn't correcting grammer - I never heard of this before. nm
x
Who's laughing? I'm just shocked that you take offense to the person who is correcting
YOUR mistakes, rather than the morons who are making these ridiculous errors, making the MT profession look silly.  These mistakes should not have been made.  I'm embarrassed for you my dear, not laughing at you. 
As long as you're correcting people, think about "English."
x
Stop correcting. You're not the grammar police. (NM)
Goldbird
if a high school graduate was correcting my transcibed
nm
you don't have to charge $60/HR - all you have to do is charge a good rate and then..
work smart, not hard. If you have a great dictator, charge him 14 cpl on a 65 char gross line, then set up your templates and word expanders, you can make $80/hr. But you need all three to work together, otherwise you might only be making $60/hr. Some people are just really good at what they do - shouldn't they make more if they are more productive?
I'd still charge by line, just charge a lower
rate, like maybe 8 cpl.  Do you have to pickup and deliver work?    You could also setup a one-month contract until you see how it goes and then you can figure out the best way to charge and go from there.  You could also charge a flat rate per page and keep it fairly low.  
One office I charge .12, another I charge $2.25 page--nm
//
Thank you - that is what I have, but wanted to make sure as the doctor is correcting a previous repo
nm
anyone altering/correcting a report is required to attach their initials after the original transcri
:
Most mistakes are not mistakes at all.
They are merely personal preferences other than those found in the the AAMT BOS which, incidentally, is not an "Official Rule Book of Medical Transcription" as AAMT would like it to be in order to sell more copies.
Mistakes

If the majority of us were QA'd every day they would find mistakes on all of us with the quantity  that we type.  We are all human.  But is there someway TAT they can give you everyone else but that one doctor.  I am the other way because I have one doctor that comma's me to death and so I hate to use a comma.   You have been with them for four years for goodness sakes that should be something especially if this is the first complaint against you.   They should bend knowing that since you are now aware of it you will be extra careful.   Talk with them again and explain to them you need more.   Good luck.   No one is perfect. 


Patti


There would be less mistakes if
there wasn't such a nursing shortage and the nurses and physicians spoke English reasonably well. Our American HMO's and PPO's recruit these foreign physicians. Most hospitalist (and other specialties) are from foreign countries and only take care of patients who are associated with their HMO's and PPO's. With the nursing shortage, recruitment has been heavily extended to foreign countries. A friend of mine recently had CABG and could barely understand some of her nurses, nor could they understand her. The health care system in this country has become merely a business rather than a service to the sick and the system is broken!
mistakes
I caught my QA person making changes to my work a few months back - not small changes, but life-altering changes where a medical record is concerned. She is no longer with the company - having been let go on Friday after I reported it on Thursday. Have had no problems since. I would speak up. If the company has any integrity - they would want to know what you have found and correct it.
Mistakes
Are you noticing any pattern to the types of mistakes you make? Try to notice (if you haven't) and some answers as to how to fix the problem might come from that realization.

I am fairly new also and understand all your frustration. I get so frustrated with myself for not being able to retain info that I have repeatedly looked up.

I absolutely cannot imagine how people did this job before there were word expanders! Hats off to them!! :)
I think the majority of mistakes are
merely typographical or expander errors.  If MTs weren't paid such rotten line rates on production, maybe they could afford to relisten to and reproof every single report.  However, the people responding to the original post have evidently never made a single mistake in their entire lives.  Ah, yes, condescending, snotty superiority complexes on the rampage.  I'd be interested in seeing the MT profiles on those quoted reports, how many lines per day they produce, how many years of experience, and so forth.  For that matter, we could all sit here and rip on the mistakes we've found on completed reports, but personally, I don't feel better about myself by trashing other people.  My self esteem isn't measured by how stupid I think everyone else is like some people on this board.
I make mistakes too

I have almost 9 years' of experience.  I still make mistakes and always will.  There are many things that I still do not know.  I still come across things I have never heard of.  I still get corrections here and there from my QA. 


However, I think that is a good thing, QA.  I like getting corrections back when I have made an error.  That alerts me to the problem.  That makes me a better MT.  Also, I take some comfort in the fact that something I overlooked may be caught by another.  It is supposed to be team work.  The MT and QA are supposed to work together to produce a perfect report. 


It is all in how you look at it.  It is very easy to get your feathers in a ruffle when given a correction.  I believe that reaction is soley out of embarrassment over making the mistake in the first place.  That is silly, however, seeing that we all do make mistakes and no one knows everything. 


Mistakes/errors

I read below about the mistakes and I have to admit, I make mistakes, I am human.  My accounts know I am human.  I just re-read one of my physicals and I had somehow put "See expensive data base in chart" and it should have been "See extensive ..." it is not often but it does happen.  If we were perfect we surely would not be here on earth right now.  It is hard for us to see and find our own mistakes.   But for those who say that they have 98 or 99% error free, what does that actually mean -- for every 100 words you can have two errors, or what.  Never have been able to figure that out.   If I do 3000 lines per day, can I have 30 to 60  lines with errors?   All I know is that the majority of us do a darn good job and the best we can and those that make continuous errors, just like in any line of work, won't  be in it for long but mistakes and errors do happen to all of us.   For those that have no compassion for anyone that does make errors, be careful as it is a long way to fall off of the pedestal.    My two cents worth go ahead and flame me, I have broad shoulders. 


PS --my accounts have been with me for 5 to 15 years and I make over $50K a year but I do make mistakes.  


I'm not defending their mistakes whether
by intention or accident. That was not in my post whatsoever, so learn to read.

What I said is true -- and the posts above just proved it. It doesn't matter if they owe you money or not, you're going to gripe about it. There's nothing anyone can do to change the past. They found a discrepancy, no matter how or why, and they are righting it by sending the money that is owed. That is the RIGHT THING TO DO...it is also the LEGAL thing to do.

You were po'd because you felt cheated on your pay so you griped. Now you're getting that discrepancy paid to you, so you gripe. You gripe because they didn't make changes. Now they are and people are still griping.

The whole start of my post was directed at the idiot who was complaining over the letter - the letter announcing upcoming changes, whining because it didn't include SEs (in her severely compromised comprehension). I responded to that.

I didn't say anything about defending their actions other than they are making a wrong right by paying money that is owed. They are legally obligated to do so. And no one is relieved about it regardless.

I'm saying what many of us feel and that is if you don't like MQ GET OUT. If you aren't leaving, SHUT UP. It's a good thing we work remotely -- the pathetic pitiful peons who can do nothing but drag their hind end around on the ground whining, "look what happened to me" don't seem capable of saying, "Hey, I'm not going to take that. I'm outta here. I don't think you're treating me fair so adios MQ." Instead, they have to just continually lurch around with their bellyaching and griping and try to keep everyone feeling like they do. They LOVE to feel upset. Makes 'em feel justified in some sick way. Justified perhaps because they're not able to do anything else maybe. Who knows why? Who cares? I don't.

I'm tired of hearing the griping about a situation you're doing nada about. Shut up and do your work -- maybe you'd have some MONEY in the bank then. Otherwise, ship your worthless self out to sea and find new populations of people to cry to.

As for your "...it is not the people on this board who short-changed their people..." remark...you are WRONG. By continuing with a company that they believe is doing them wrong, they are short-changing themselves and their families -- their kids, their husbands, their relatives, their friends. EVERYONE. You have a responsibility to not be poor, provide for your family ADEQUATELY and BE HAPPY. When you don't take care of that situation at work and feel that way, it bleeds over into your life every other way. I bet you people are a JOY to live with. What a horrible negative environment to live in.

I usually let this crap on this board roll off my back. It's usually good for a few laughs. I'm not angry but rather tired. Tired of having to wade through the mires of people who have imprisoned themselves. If MQ did you wrong, GET OUT. If any of these companies did you wrong, GET OUT.

I would be ashamed to sit here and constantly gripe about the same problems over and over and never take action and change it for myself. How handicap is that?

Lately, coming here is like jumping into what appears to be a nice cool lake to enjoy a good relaxing swim only to get out and find there's hordes of blood-sucking leeches on you. It's really pathetic and it's that way because you won't get over what has happened.

Well, guess what? IT HAS. Whatever made all the pay issues happen -- IT HAPPENED. You can't change it. It won't go away. GET OVER YOUR SITUATION. GET OVER YOURSELF. You're not the only people in the world with problems.

Absolutely the biggest group of losers I've seen in a long time. Losers -- Losers every one because you REFUSE, not just fail - which we all do, but REFUSE to get up and get past these problems.

Get over yourselves. This is a great line of work and there are some great companies. MQ is one of them - for MANY of us. If this work isn't paying you enough to live then guess what?! IT ISN'T FOR YOU unless you like to live hungry!!

I agree that everyone has a different experience but you know what? You seem all too familiar now with MQ at least and you are still there -- voluntarily. No one makes you stay.

If you're tired of defending yourself for being so upset about MQ, why don't YOU go start yourself a board somewhere?

I don't believe this board was designed with MQ-haters in mind, was it? No.

So, excuse me, but YOURS isn't the ONLY attitude around! I don't care if you like what I'm saying or not! I have just as much reason and rightness in what I am saying as you do.

Hope you people sleep happy in your little tight little drawn-up world!! I can tell you without any hesitation that I have no problems sleeping and no problems making my bills and no problems going to work because I don't have the attitude you do!

Good night, little ones! Sleep tight!!
and you know the mistakes that happen
!!!
Speak for yourself. I want and need to know my mistakes.
I'm sure there are those who get offended but not all are that way.


The mistakes were trivial
They did not tell you the rules and you did it correctly. They should have told you that you were to change it. I just hired on with a hospital system who really appreciates good MTs and you can find someone who will, too. Hang in there!
we make mistakes
but what makes us better human beings is that we try to stand up and do better. Forgive yourself for that mistake and be thankful for a good husband and move on. Be praying for you!
she acknowledged her mistakes
-- no doubt she got high on herself -- there are very few that handle their fame and fortune well from the beginning. I still say she definitely has more honesty and decency than the rest of them.
mistakes in other's work

If your job is not QA, you have no reason to be looking at someone else's work. Someone should be supplying you w/ the appropriate, properly de-identified samples.Viewing a report typed by another person is a potential HIPAA violation.  Don't mean to preach, but that's the way it is....



clarifying this - okay, the mistakes that come through
are not grammar or nitpicky mistakes, but these are mistakes with lab values, especially ones that were clearly dictated. These are mistakes with drugs and dosages (THIS SEEMS TO BE THE OUTSOURCE COMPANIES BIGGEST PROBLEM). There are TONS of times that reports come back with extra sentences and things typed in the reports that were NEVER said.

I could even go on to say certain types of mistakes, but then I think the company would know who they are and I would get in trouble.

All I'm saying is, supposedly this company "tests" transcriptionists, which obviously they do not. The QA department of the company just doesn't give a crap and gets paid for doing literally nothing (I want that job for this company when I quit the hospital) and the so called "supervisor" of the outsource company wants a copy of all mistakes, but never does a darn thing about it. So basically she must have a stack of reports that go as high as her ceiling that she has probably used for toilet paper, because she sure as crap isn't doing anything else about them.

So this is not about grammar or certification or piddly little things, but major mistakes and tons of blanks on a hospital account that has but only a few ESLs and some really easy dictation. This is about an outsource company that is quite well known that gets paid for crap.

wow! I feel better again.
I sometimes make mistakes
On this board I am sometimes going so fast to get my message done and have come to rely on spellcheck so much that I find myself making mistakes.  But I must admit never have I in a resume.  And I also admit that sometimes my docs catch a mistake or two and perhaps three per month but with typing 2000 to 3500 lines per day and me being QA and MT, it happens.    We are only human and it is hard to proof your own work.  But on a resume I would have someone else check it.  On this board though I try not to worry as much.    I just don't think people take as much pride in their work and whether this came around when cpl was started, I don't know.   
mistakes all the time, tsk tsk tsk...(NM
x
Mistakes happen. Yes, there are some. Just
nm
everybody makes mistakes
One time, during my newbie days, I typed "slap reconstruction" instead of "flap reconstruction." Hee-hee! It's funny now, but it sure wasn't funny at the time!

I've typed the wrong doctor's name, too. They will surely understand; if not, well, nobody's perfect.

Stoopid mistakes
Oh, I've done far worse, and I am too ashamed to admit what that is here, but I agree with the other replies when they've told you not to sweat it. You are only human after all. Humans make mistakes. It's just how it is. The fact that you owned up to it, recognized it and feel bad about it proves to me that you're a good MT. No need to beat yourself up over this. This too shall pass.
carless mistakes
Only after she brought it to your attention just like you did hers.  Man people are such children about stuff.  When humans are perfect no one will make mistakes anymore so get off it.  Do you really think it makes you a better person, MT?  It just makes you a **tch
Are you making mistakes? If it is something

like punctuation I wouldn't worry too much, just try to do whatever they say.  If you are making big mistakes like spelling terms incorrectly, using Google to research and just because there are severl hits you decide the word/term/spelling is correct and so with it, although there is a ton of misinformation on google.  Did you spell a drug wrong, a doctor's name wrong, just did guess at a word rather than leaving a blank, etc.


I think the majority of QA is helpful.  Some get off on a power trip, but most really want to be helpful and help you be the best you can be. 


I recently made a job change and I felt like I would never get a report back from QA that there wasn't something wrong with it.  It wasn't so much an error as it was that the account was extremely particular.  I would fix one error, only the next day they would find something else.  I have 20+ years of experience.


Try not to take it personally, look at it as they are helping you to be a better MT.   If you continue to make the same mistakes get you some brightly colored sticky notes and write yourself notes and put them where you'll see them as you work.   Even though you probably want to get a high line count you need to concentrate on quality first.  Take the time to proof thoroughly. 


 


How do you handle your mistakes?

I am an IC and for the past 5 years have worked for the same doc.  He still uses tapes so I deliver on a daily basis.  I already load the work on his PC and make sure the pages line up etc. and do not get paid extra.  I also convert some reports from WP to Word and e-mail to him at no extra charge.  Now he starts calling me after I leave the clinic and expect me to either turn-around and come fix the mistakes/changes (15 minutes later) or I must wait in his office until he is finished with a patient consult, can go through the work to check for mistakes/changes for me.  The mistakes range from doctor's names misspelled (workmen's comp with lots of different doc names, impossible to search and find as no clue where the doc is located) or template changes etc. and sometimes silly mistakes which is totally my mistake.  Am I fair in stating that I do not mind doing the corrections when I return the next day but that I cannot wait around in his office for him as he does not pay me for that and I will also not turn around after I have left the office to go back when they call me? How do all of you handle this type of situation? 


 


I see really bad mistakes all the time
here on this site. I probably would not say that ESLs could do better but I do not think it could be worse either if trained properly.
Very true, but the stupid mistakes get old after you tell them
over and over and over and over again. They just blow you off. What makes me so mad is they DO NOT read over their work and if they did, half the mistakes would be caught. The sentences that make no sense...for example. He has pain with driving the walking on concrete that lessens on lass. That sentence should have been...He has pain with driving and walking on concrete. It lessens when walking on grass. (THAT IS WHAT THE DOC SAID).
it is still being entered by people, and there will still be mistakes (NM)
xx
They are calling me on all sorts of mistakes
formating, headings (they say things like "use your best judgement" and then say you did it wrong), abbreviations, for some rules they follow AAMT and some they dont. I feel like I will never get it right.
Article on Medical Mistakes (sm)

Very interesting article in the New York Times today. When you compare what this reporter has to say about doctors' survival statistics and compare it to medical transcriptionists, this is what one can discern:


1.  Doctors are fatally wrong 20% of the time (we are allowed 2% errors).


2.  Medicare and other insurance carriers are looking for ways to provide "incentives" for doctors to get it right (sounds like a QA bonus if I ever heard of one).


3.  Doctors have available to them a program called "Isabel," where they can punch in symptoms and get a diagnosis. (More machines replacing more people.)


My conclusion? Maybe it doesn't matter what level you perceive yourself to be at in the heirarchy of medicine, there exists a group of people trying to replace you with a machine that they believe does a better job than a human.


What are your thoughts?


I make mistakes too (who doesn't?) but (sm)
some of the more obvious errors, like the difference in "their, they're, there", definitely spelled definately, accomodate, things like that are what I mean; they are not typos, but errors.  If someone told me I was spelling "definitely" wrong, you'd better believe I would put it in my Expander or SOMETHING.  I still say a lot of people just don't care and don't like being told anything.
Ditto on below, mistakes happen -sm
I had several errors at a previous job, sometimes short, sometimes too much. I would always let them know and they would make the necessary adjustment in my next paycheck (unlike Missy I had to wait 2 weeks for my discrepancy). It happened about 3 x, but is was always just an accounting error. Since you did get paid, at least I am infering that from your post, I would suspect it was just an oversite on their part. Email or call them, be nice about it though, and I am sure you will have it fixed relatively quickly. Good luck.