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Serving Over 20,000 US Medical Transcriptionists

Followup on comments

Posted By: Vet ophth on 2008-10-17
In Reply to: what gets me about this - llandroverlady

Hi, everyone.


I recently had an applicant inform me that my help-wanted ad was being badmouthed at this site, and I have since read elsewhere that I am apparently an overbearing/pushy, basically obnoxious person to work with (I have also posted responses at the other places I could find, in the hopes that the remarks do not keep potential applicants from applying).  There is a reason my help-wanted ad is so detailed.  One reason is to answer all possible questions that anyone interested in the position might have.  Over the years, I have amended my ad due to circumstances that have come up with transcriptionists I have worked with.  The information in the ad regarding "the work is to be typed until it is finished, not a set amount of lines per day," is because I had a Transcriptionist that thought she could type a very small amount whenever she felt like it, leaving the remainder to be typed by someone else later.  As I am sure you know, many large MTSOs only require that so many lines per day be typed.  In my situation, the transcriptionist essentially gets assigned doctors/clinics, so all of the work needs to be typed and returned the following day (the transcriptionists choose their workload when they are hired).  At any rate, I am sure many people will find flaws with my help-wanted ad, but I did the best that I could to fully inform everyone what the job actually entails.  BTW, as the ad states, the .07 cpl is only for one or two weeks, which covers my time for being on call to help out while the transcriptionist is getting comfortable with how the Macros function.  In the beginning, the new transcriptionists only type a few small reports per day, so if you deduct 1¢ per line from the reports they have typed, I am getting paid very little.


jhwm, I would like to say "thank you" for the kind words.  I have read a lot of really vicious things about myself and my company, none of which I feel is deserved.  I understand that I might not have time to chat with everyone who applies, but I do not feel I have done anything to justify the horrible things that have been said about me.  LOL--You're right, there is a lot of information coming at each new person in the beginning.  I am not sure when you worked with me, but these days, I forewarn anyone new about the information coming their way and that they do not need to memorize it.  Some of the information that has been compiled is on things that are not related to the job, such as how to do certain things in Word (basically everything I learned when first switching over from WP.1 to Word).  The pictures of the animal's eye, lab forms, terminology list, medication list, etc. are supposed to be helpful so that the transcriptionist who is learning does not need to look all over the place whenever an answer is needed quickly.  Sorry, I am in defensive mode and keep finding myself trying to explain everything!  Again, thank you for saying something nice about me.  I hope others see your post and realize I am not a total ogre! 




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followup
I do short cuts to remember
nfup= noun = followup
afup=adjective=follow-up
vfup=verb=follow up

Followup in two weeks.

A follow-up exam is recommended.

He will follow up with onc/rad in three days.
followup
I am an MT from Canada. Why would you send your work to India when you co uld be sending your work to CANADA, where we have a lower dollar, have the highest educated people in the world, we have fibreoptic telephone lines, we dont get storms, and we have the highest internet usage of any cou ntry in the world!!!

As for sending work to India, that is outrageous. When did slavery start?? At least in the old days, slaves were paid enough for rent and food and clothing!!The money you people pay MTs is not much more than this!! ANd what do you know about medicla transcription, I bet you couldnt type one medical word under production levels if you life depended on it!!! MTs are the brains and cheap asses make money off of OUR brains and talent!!
followup
I have decided against the company. Thank you all who responded, for looking out for me. Now I have another question. Have any of you heard of, or had experience with, VLC? Virtual Learning Center?

http://www.thevlc.com/
Followup
Okay - so I will check with my attorney or my state about the license thing... but what is the going rate for ICs to charge?? Is it by report or by the line or by the hour?? I know it probably varies, but I would just really like to have an idea of what to tell these 2 doctors if they ask me to set my rate.... don't want to sell myself short.
No followup
Yes this has happened to me too. They loved my resume, I told them I could test the following Monday. I sat around all day waiting for nothing. I E-mailed this company three times since with no response.
If you can put a in front of it, it is followup..sm
For example he had a followup visit scheduled. OR He is to come in for followup in 2 weeks.

He will follow up in 2 weeks. OR

He is going to follow up with me in 2 weeks.

Hope that helps
Maybe it's time for them to do a followup on -nm
.
quick followup
You make some very valid points, and I thank you for your input. Speficially, in my case, I have no platforms to work with -- all docs use 1-800 or digital handhelds and exchange is done on FTP site - very simple copy/paste procedure. Work is done in Word. There isn't a doc on my service I haven't done MYSELF for at least 2 weeks when I took them on and asked myself are they worth keeping? Are they good dictators? (I have virtually no ESL dictators). Did I make money? Even those specialties I didn't know and was slow at, I could refrence to find out what I didn't know --critical in our work. I don't care when MTs work and I don't try to contact them until their work is OUT of TAT - and then often get "i got busy with other stuff" reply. Shouldn't it be ME you tell when you get busy so I can still accommodate the client as I agreed to? I know life happens, and things come up, but tell ME instead of hiding. That's just being responsible. If the work I've given you isn't a good fit, then tell ME and give me a day or two to replace you.. don't just say the heck with it and walk away. But then again, if everyone was responsible in that way, I wouldn't be sitting here on Christmas day catching up work from Friday because yet another new hire just "disappeared" on
Thursday and didn't tell me till yesterday. Maybe I'm just getting old, but seems common courtesy went out somewhere in the mid 90's. HA. Thanks for listening.
Thanks for posting a followup...

That is basically what I thought your reasoning was based on your original post.  There is nothing wrong with questioning anything you are unsure of.  No one will hold it against you.


followup - 3 rules
#1. Follow up (verb): I will follow up with the patient next week.
#2. Followup (noun): The patient will come in for followup next week.
#3. Follow-up (adjective): The patient will have a follow-up appointment next week. I disagree mildly with the post about BOS2 on this.
Grammar good info in BOS/AAMT. Also any good grammar textbook from a bookstore would be good to review/read/study. I tried out Whitesmoke grammar program and hated it. Hope this helps!
And here's the followup article to that one...
See link below:
Followup to resume

Maybe someone can help me!


I have always been advised to follow up after an interview/test etc.


Is that possible after taking a standard computerized MT test?


Any opinions appreciated!


Thanks!


Followup to resume

Maybe someone can help me!


I have always been advised to follow up after an interview/test etc.


Is that possible after taking a standard computerized MT test?


Any opinions appreciated!


Thanks!


Please post a followup when/if you hear anything about this...

Starting to talk to supervisor (and then probably payroll) myself about this, as I'd also like an explanation as to how this figure was derived (so I can hopefully double-check to be sure it doesn't occur again).


I feel somewhat like a stupid unpaid shill for MQ now, having defended the line counts on DQS on several MT boards a couple of times now, because I have occasionally randomly copied and pasted my reports into Word and "seemingly" confirmed that the line counts in DQS were accurate. 


Considering the amounts of these checks in general, being dependent on how long one's been on DQS (mine is less than $8, but I've only been on DQS for six months or so), I suspect it's something like them incorrectly rounding up (like maybe not crediting 64.5 as 65 but as 64?) or some little arithmetical folderol like that. 


Anyway, I'd be very interested to hear what the discrepancy is all about, from anyone who hears anything.  I sure do feel that we were owed an explanation in the letter along with the check, regardless. 


Followup poll regarding bifocals....SM
It just so happens that I went to the eye doc last month, and he recommended bifocals! Yikes! (I'm 44.) I was leery of the progressive bifocals (and their cost) so I ordered some old-fashioned lined bifocals. I have to wait 10 days for them (obviously not Lenscrafters) so I'm really curious how I'll do.

Bifocal people, what kind do you have, and do you like them?
Followup poll regarding bifocals
I have had both bifocals with line and without. It takes some getting used to, but after a day or two, no lines are what I went with. I now wear progressives trifocals, have beginning of cataract in each eye, but I tried one pair for transcription and one for driving and chain around the neck, pain in the neck. My pair cost me 285.00 and I am very happy with them, just got a new prescription for the progressive trifocals. Good luck in your decision.
FOLLOWUP: We are now only $75.00 away from reaching our goal.

You generous donations are amazing and truly appreciated.  Once the goal is reached, I will be walking into Walmart to speak to the store manager about getting a gift card to this family back east and know that the MTs children WILL have Christmas this year!


THANK YOU!


FOLLOWUP: We now only need $15.00 and we will have reached our goal
and I will be on my way to Walmart.  You are all fantastic people to be so giving.  I know that it's hard to scrape bucks together working in this industry and at this time of the year, so again THANK YOU for your emergency donations!
Late Payers Followup
These are all very good responses. As a usually-paid-late IC for a small MTSO, I am learning from your ideas. I hope more folks will add in their comments as well.
Frustrated with SmartLines--Followup
Well done! You have stated the problem perfectly; more clearly than my original statement of the problem.

I have been using Smartype for 6 or 7 years, I think. I have been transcribing for 20+ years. At one point I actually solved this problem, although I don't remember how! I don't remember what I did to solve it, and now it has recurred.

This multiple-SmartLines problem has happened with MS Word 2000, 2002, and 2003 (which I dumped in favor of going back to 2002 because it had too many problems, even with the updated version).

I have used Windows 98 all the way through 2003 while using Smartype.

I believe that I have experienced the SmartLine problem whether in MS Word by itself or in a number of MT programs. I have quit a number of companies because of various incompatibility issues with SmarType, since I have THOUSANDS of entries (both single words and SmartBlocks), and I didn't like the idea of doing the equivalent of rewriting an entire dictionary.

At this point, I am ready to "bite the bullet" and switch to ShortHand or something else, even if it means the equivalent of dictionary-rewriting, just so I can get some work done and some income coming in again!

I saw somebody's post about having put Smartype entries into ShortHand. Did this work, even for all the SmartBlocks? If so, could you please tell me how you did it? I'm sure many of us would like to know. (I will also post this last bit as a reply to that post.)

Thank you all for any help you can give.
Followup story linked below
http://www.gcn.com/online/vol1_no1/41036-1.html
Exanders to the Recycle Bin Followup
Right. There is still straight typing out there.

The point is that once one agency says, "We have ASR and now we are paying our transcriptionists 5 cents/line" what do the other agencies do? Eventually they have to do the same thing and eventually we will all have VR or ASR and eventually all be paid 5 cents per line. That's the way it works. One company can drive the entire business down.
Followup on the foot pedal
I was told by EMDAT support that there is nothing I can do, except buy one of their footpedals!  I smell a scam.  They can program this complex software, but cannot figure out how to make all footpedals compatible?  Oh well, complaining won't solve my problem, Just had to vent a bit.  Thanks to everyone for all your input.  I am off to spend even more money before I can make any.....
Depressing News followup

My PT job was at a hospital that used Meditech so I do have that training on that software, but I have worked via the Internet for years with a couple of diff hospitals so thank God I did have that experience in other software programs and knowledge of Internet.  


Meditech is not a MT friendly  program either but I did make good money so now I am going to have to find another PT job to help the gap.  I sure am going to miss that account.   I have been so lost since I lost my hourly paying hospital job and going back to working by the line for my total paycheck and I hate it.  I really have thought about going back to school at age 58 and doing medical billing maybe.  Hope it improves for all but I really do not think it will for a long long time. 


 


I have a problem with followup versus follow up

Which is correct.


Followup in the office tomorrow or follow up in the office tomorrow?


He was told to followup   or he was told to follow up?


he presents for followup or he presents for follow up?


Thanks so much for any help. 


 


 


 


 


 


Followup for AHDI and Indian transcription
As promised, this is the new response I got from AHDI regarding the special pricing for certification exam from AHDI.

EVERYTHING BELOW IS A QUOTE FROM AHDI

I believe that information comes from a dated press release that was sent out by our testing company, Prometric, when the exam went live in India. That is the correct price being offered on the exam there. However, we also offer that very same rate here in the US when we run promotions like our current Credentialing Cup. In addition, at least quarterly we offer this discount on our exam to individuals who do not want to participate in the Credentialing Cup. (If you're interested, you can read more about the Credentialing Cup at http://www.ahdionline.org/scriptcontent/CredentialingCup08.cfm. This promotion is our attempt to engage US transcriptionists and encourage them to become credentialed. In India, transcriptionists sit for this exam because they WANT to earn the credential - not because it necessarily pays them more money. We simply don't see this attitude often here in the US. MTs here only seem interested in certification if it is going to directly impact their wallets. I can understand that - having worked for many years as a production MT and watching my line rate slowly erode - but someone needs to take the first step toward professionalizing this industry. MTs need to learn to speak with their feet. If they get credentialed and they engage in continuing education, then there is no reason why they should settle for working for an employer that does not recognize the value they bring to their position. There ARE companies paying more for CMTs. We add them to a growing list every time an MT reports one to us. Check out: http://www.ahdionline.org/scriptcontent/whocarescert.cfm.

I don't blame the transcriptionists in India for our falling wages here in the US. Linda Kloss, CEO of AHIMA, gave a presentation at our annual conference a few weeks ago. She showed us a graph that detailed the profit margins for hospitals over the last several years. It was shocking to see how financially stable hospitals have been pushed out of business. Hospitals that once had huge profit margins are now operating in the red. The rising cost of healthcare and shrinking reimbursements from insurance companies are, in my opinion, the primary drivers behind the drop in wages for MTs. Hospital CFOs see medical transcription as a COST. They don't understand that documentation is the beginning of the revenue cycle, and that medical transcriptionists are the first line of defense for risk management. Many CFOs fall prey to technology vendors who promise that their widget will eliminate transcription, so they buy into expensive technology solutions like templates and speech recognition only to find that it costs them even more in the long run, and their documentation is now substandard. Hospitals aren't making money, transcription services are no longer making money, and, therefore, medical transcriptionists are also struggling.

One of our primary goals at AHDI is to raise awareness about the vital role that medical transcriptionists provide to healthcare. We are lobbying (literally, in Washington DC) to bring attention to the need for accurate, timely, efficient documentation. We are making the case for keeping a human professional involved in the documentation process in order to ensure quality record keeping and impact patient safety.

It's unfortunate that people misunderstand the goals of our association and automatically assume that we do not support US MTs, or that we only want to make money off of MTs. That is so completely far off from the truth. One-fourth of the staff at AHDI have worked as medical transcriptionists. We are passionate individuals who are extremely devoted to our profession and our colleagues in this industry. And we need the help and support of every single MT in this country if we're going to turn this industry around.


My daughter will followup at MCV Pediatric Hem/Onc. for the rest of her life - sm
They said that is the norm there, granted this is cancer followup and not normal yearly physicals for an adult.....she is only 5 now so she still has a long way to go. But as for their normal pediatrician, I will take them their until they graduate high school (I did the same), then onto a regular family/adult doctor.
Two comments....

First of all, everything you say may be true of the mother regarding her suspicion, but as I always try to do before I criticize and pass judgment on others, first try to mentally "walk a mile in her shoes."  You might be thinking the same thing under similar circumstances.


 


Secondly, she signed a waiver for her daughter to go on that trip with full knowledge that these "adult children" were not going to be supervised by these chaperones in any fashion other than just being "available" if they needed them and to help out if anyone lose their passport or suitcase, stuff like that.  The mother knew full well why she was letting her daughter got to Aruba... TO DRINK AND PARTY!   If she didn't know that, then she's a dense as they come.  I wouldn't give my daughter 2 cents towards a trip to Aruba at age 18.  There's only one reason to go to an island like that, to drink.  If the beach is what you want, we've been known to have a few beaches here in the USA, but they don't want that, they want to be free to party it up.  So you can't blame the chaperones, at least not in my opinion.


Comments
Does nobody want to comment on how much they get paid?
comments
Dee, if you do not have one already, try out an ergonomic split keyboard. Those are the best. I notice that for any reason if I have to use a plain keyboard that I start developing wrist pain.
OT Comments
You should keep a separate record of hours worked so that should you ever decide to file something with the Department of Labor that you worked OT hours that were not paid you have a record to submit. Other MTs have done that in the past and indeed been paid the back pay they were entitled to.
thanks for the comments!
I appreciate knowing this can be done...
Comments

Thank you for your posting; I find it very useful.  However, I want to comment on the fact that, during training, I never heard of the BOS and received absolutely no feedback.  So, to think that newly trained MTs are ahead of the others, is not necessarily correct.


As a matter of fact, the very first time that I ever heard of the AAMT Book of Style was upon receiving the graded and corrected FINAL EXAM for my course (Career Step) which made reference to my use of a dangerous abbreviation.  I then inquired as to WHAT IS A DANGEROUS ABBREVIATION, at which time someone did RESEARCH and, after a few days of research, reported to me that she had to ask someone else and discovered that a dangerous abbreviation was defined by AAMT, as mentioned in the BOOK OF STYLE.  I immediately purchased a copy of the book and studied it on my own.


I think that none of us fits into any one category.  I hate it when I am stereotyped, especially with regards to what a potential employer may think I know or do not know, or may be capable of doing, as determined by the exact number of years that I have been working.  There are plenty of exceptionally good companies out there who have totally rejected me due solely to the fact that I have less than the number of years of experience that they require, while my current employer constantly gives me the most difficult jobs because I am, in his mind, "one of the best."    Of course, I can't wait until I have those required number of years of experience so that I can reject those very companies that rejected me back in the days when I only had 2 years of experience!!


 


thanks for the comments
I appreciate the replies to my inquiry.  Everyone have a good day. 
Any comments about...
Has anyone ever heard of TransRx?
More comments

I appreciate this thread.  It has been very educational. BTW, not only can it be a difficult situation when you work for a "family" business with the wife being the office manager, but I have had negative experiences as a patient when the wife was the doctor's manager.  It just doesn't work out.


While I agree that "other duties as assigned" can be interpreted in many ways, there must be a limit to this.


What I have learned from this thread.


1.  If you have two professions such as Nurse AND MT, write a separate resume for each.  Whether or not you reveal your transcription skills to an employer who is employing you as a nurse is your decision, but should not be required.
2.  As an IC MT, write your own contract.  Stipulate that your MT "business" includes certain duties only pertaining to medical transcription and performed at your location during the hours that you decide.
3.  Stipulate that because MT is your private business entity, due to conflict of interest (or whatever terminology you decide), you do not conduct your private business functions during the same hours as the employee job unless you want to and it is clearly understood that there will be separate charges.
4.  Once you have an established business and income for that business you may need some kind of business license or need to be registered.  The laws vary determined by your state and/or city, county, etc.  However, usually you do not need to register your business until it is actually making a profit.  In the meantime, the existence of your business on paper would offer you some kind of protection against an employer who has employed you as a nurse and is attempting to take advantage of your transcription skills. 
5.  If an employer attempts to have you do transcription on the side, out comes the contract.
6.  Do not offer discounts to anyone simply because they are a friend or employer.  Treat them all the same, require them to pay extra for extra services.  Spell it all out in the contract.  In other words, protect yourself and set them up in the beginning so that they know they will not be able to take advantage of you.


Last I looked, the nurse practice ACT, at least for RNs, is rather specific and does not include such tasks as mopping floors or transcribing dictation.  You sound like a very nice person who has attracted someone who seeks to take advantage of your kind nature.  Don't let them do it.


 


website comments
You should go take another look at ripoffreport.com. Read the rebuttals, there seems to be more of them than the actual complaints. Pretty much most of the complaints are people who signed up to sell and decided they didn't want to anymore. Definitely not a fault of AmeriPlan. And like most of the rebuttals say on there, get your facts straight before you post your allegations on the web. There is always going to be some people with every company who are not going to be satisfied and complain about it.
some various comments you all might relate too

When asked what I do for a living, I tell them, the response I get the most is this "oh, i've heard of that.  Been wanting to get into it as a side job."  Gee thanks. 


Or "Did you have to go to school for that?"  And actual disbelief when I tell them I did. 


Or "Don't you get sick of not being around people?"  Again...gee thanks.  What am I a shut in?  I still at least go out and check my mail a couple times a week!


Or "Whats that"  Blank look on face or extreme disinterest or disappointment.  Gee, thanks again. 


And here's the meanest one that I received from a guy I was dating for awhile "Are you just afraid of being successful?"  Hmmm.....can I get a gee thanks?


Thank you for your comments, but I would not be posting

and asking for any more money if I had not checked into the situation thoroughly first.  UPS even said that they hire extra drivers over the holidays that do not use UPS vehicles, so anything could have happened.  I'm not pleased about this situation, but I am trying to at least provide a Christmas for the kids.


Sheri 


They deserve the comments
x
If you follow comments by a well known (sm)
senator, Pat Robertson, this is probably happening because you are all such evil people. If you would straighten your act up, quit taking vacations, work 24/7, quote the Bible all day long, and make sure you invest all your money in countries that promote torture (i.e., his diamond mine investments in Africa), then none of this would ever happen to any of you.

But if that is how I would have to live to avoid bad weather, I will take the bad weather any day.
Couple of comments

I have been dieting for three years....just trying to lose about 25 pounds.  It's been hard.  Now I have to tell you that I am just under 5'8" and now weigh 140 pounds.  Sounds great doesn't it?  Well, my significant other has never seen me naked in 8 years because I think I still look kind of gross.  My point is, that while being fairly slim is, of course, a good thing, you may continue to have issues with your looks.  I still focus in on all the places that I find unattractive or flabby.  I don't think I would ever be happy with the way my body looks.   


I think part of the problem is cultural, in that we are daily bombarded with women on TV, in magazines and in movies who are not representative of what women generally look like. 


Yes, your weight right now is probably too high but perhaps you should set some realistic goals rather than trying to look like, well, you know, all those women I was talking about.  I found that exercise combined with the dieting was the most beneficial.  But you probably already know all this.


Looking for opinions/comments too.
Thanks for starting this post. I'm looking forward to reading some "real" comments as well. Hubby & I are also planning a cruise this yr, we've never been before.
Comments on Accutane?

My son's acne started when he is 12.  He's 16-1/2 now and it's as bad or worse than ever.  Started off trying various over the counter things; didn't work.  Tried Proactive; didn't work.  Went to a dermatologist who tried Retin A, antibiotic capules, antibiotic cream, steroid injections to inflamed zits, etc.  Basically no change.  We kept going back but it never got better and finally son refused to go again.  The doctor had mentioned possibly using Accutane.  The dermatologist said he had never seen so many blackheads on one person (said that in front of my son too, which I think was kind of poor judgment).  But I was thinking my god - if he's the worst a DERMATOLOGIST has ever seen - geez!


Anyway, he has blackheads, whiteheads and bumps deep under the skin.  The bumps you don't notice so much until he is in the light - sunlight or for instance the spotlight the dentist shines into your mouth - and then holy cow - they are everywhere, hundreds of them, each probably the size of a BB.  The bumps are only on his face but he also has very bad blackheads, whiteheads and pimples on not only his face but his neck, shoulders, back and upper arms.


My son doesn't ever act like it bothers him at all but I'm sure it must bother him and I'm sure kids must say something about it.  He seems to pretend they aren't there.  My husband thinks he is just overwhelmed by the sheer number of them and the fact that nothing has worked so just ignores it.


I know Accutane can have very bad side effects but I'm wondering if in a case like his if we should try it anyway.  I think I will make an appointment with another dermatologist although I KNOW it will be over my son's protest.  He will try to refuse to go.  He is the one who decided he wasn't going to the other dermatologist anymore.  I think maybe I will try to find one that specializes in acne, if there is such a thing.


Has anyone here used Accutane or had a child who did?


snide comments

Keep your chin up and don't let that attitude get to you.  Always do your best and it will show in your work.


I haven't ever had any sarcastic comments, but once a doc complained because the report type was incorrect on something I typed. Not bad for 7+ years working for the same place.


Many of the people I type for say something like, thanks for typing, at the end of a dictation.  And I have to say I really appreciate that.  Atta-boys in this business are pretty few and far between.


 


 


test comments
I would not let it go either. These are the same companies that will deduct for erros, or limit your work, but there are errors in their work?  For the perfection they insist upon, they should be perfect in their correspondence. I have even had e-mails from companies that had spelling errors.  I say be persistent and call them back IMOO
Insensitive comments
You are absolutely right!!!!No one should be treated in this manner, no matter what circumstances. I can only imagine the negative posts and whippings here are probably from one or many company officials that read this board. How f rude you are and to kick someone when they are down!!!! No one should put up with mistreatment, you don't have to, there are tons of MT jobs out there. I would give any other MT the same advice, give a company 2 weeks, if things don't click, tellem to shove it and move on....next.
MTs are really really treated horribly these days, and ya know what? Its not gonna change until we change. Now go ahead and give me some bad mouth all you creepy creatures out there.
FINAL QA COMMENTS

My main complaints with QA are when the individual QA's opinion regarding commas and such affect my QA scores, with the threat of deductions to pay, withholding of raises, benefits, etc.  I did actually receive a payroll deduction once, but it was due to the QA's error.  Thankfully, I discovered their error and was able to prove it.  It was extremely inconvenient, however, because I received no advanced notice that my entire paycheck would be reduced by 15%, and I had to wait for the next paycheck to receive the correction.  I also resigned that position based on the rude treatment I received from the payroll department and the subsequent hassles that I experienced while proving the QA's error.


Again, it seems that QA has very little to do with patient care or document accuracy.  Recently, there was a big controversy with our QA regarding the proper way to indicate military time.  QA had decided that a colon was required and deducted points because I did not use a colon for '1925 hours', while the BOS indicated that a colon was not required and the customer specs didn't specify anything about it.


I have some Stedman books, but it galls me when a company says that Stedmans is THE SOURCE.  Most of the time, I have found answers on good Internet sources; accuracy is easily confirmed.  My books are not easily searchable, and I have not invested in the electronic versions.  Also, I have found discrepancies/inconsistencies between different Stedmans books.  I just purchased my BOS Second Edition 3 years ago, along with the PDF searchable version.  I'm not anxious to purchase the Third Edition so soon.


Again, I believe that all this stuff is more about control than about providing accurate reports for the benefit of the patients.  IMHO, there is more than one accurate way to form a sentence, and this QA grading process is a bunch of unfair baloney.  If the dictators were grading according to a similar QA process, it may seem more fair.


Maybe the persons who began the QA points/grading process were just bored and needed some drama.  Or maybe the objective, again, was simply to devise a method/excuse to reduce MT pay and prevent payout of benefits?


 


In response to your comments...

You said ....


I am a slow typer, I am only paid 7 cpl, and have 20 different doctors on a daily basis.  I am feeling like maybe I have wasted the last 10 years as an MT.  I hear so many talk about their perfect accounts, making $100+ a day only working 8 hrs a day, and I the only thing that keeps me going is the fact that I am home for my kids when they get home from school.  Where are those good accounts, good platforms, and good paying MT jobs that we experienced MTs deserve?


By NO MEANS do I have a perfect account!!!!  I not only type more than 20 doctors a day, I usually have to do all those different doctors from about 10 different accounts!  NO EASY WORK... mostly ESLs, poor sound, but hey, that is my job. 


By the way, when I got out of school for transcription, I could barely type 40 words a minute and I was shocked when I got into the real world.  Shocked even more 2 years later when I went home to work.


This is not about easy platforms, easy accounts, or easy money.  This job has to be about a total love for the work you do.  It cannot be about being home with your kids.  You have to have an awesome memory, ability to use Expanders efficiently, and mostly it is either in you or not to be able to understand these ESLs. 


I do wish you luck. 


Sorry - just saw your comments today.
My boss is logging in to my computer this morning to redo something. She had to call Stedmans herself because there is something not compatible with the program and every one of us "new hires" are having the same problem.

Thanks for your help!

To reply on both your comments sm

I too have to use the antenna with it but according to the map, I'm well within the coverage area.  I usually have 3 to 4 bars.  I'm currently using Bayscribe with it too.  In fact, the company I work for wanted me to work on Escription and said the wireless would be no problem.  However, decided I didn't want to do VR. 


The person I spoke with just didn't seem very knowledgable about it.  The first time I spoke with her she told me the problem with it was going out in bad weather.  Then today she thought I had a card. 


Thanks for your comments.  I'm just bummed.  I can't get DSL or cable where I am and I thought this would open up more job opportunities for me.