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I've found that most physicians who

Posted By: andromeda on 2005-08-17
In Reply to: Fast dictators - just me

dictate at such a ridiculous pace are trying to make up for other deficiencies....you know like "male menopause" where the older guy goes out and buys an expensive sports car, etc., etc.  Seems most of the speeders on my account are DOs, NOT MDs.....guess they feel inferior in some way. 


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I think most recruiters are NOT MTs. They know very little about MT from what I've found. nm
x
It is in NJ, which I've always found weird. nm
x
Without a doubt the best I've found!

I searched and searched for someone who could design a small simple site with digital dictation file upload and download capability, and www.sitefever.com made me a great site and maintains it for 40 dollars every month, and for a one time fee of $150 they custom designed what I needed to upload and download my dictation files. They have been great and I have had no problems with them at all.


Hope this helps!


Dawn


I've found files sm
I have "lost" files before and found that sometimes if you click on "start" at the bottom left of your screen that you may find a temporary saved file under documents. Sometimes it doesn't save the whole document, but part is better than nothing. Probably a long shot, but thought I'd mention it.
The only way I've found to avoid this is to.....

have three part-time jobs.  I used to have one full time and two part time, but just recently went to three part time.


I NEVER run out of work now, but always have in the past six years in the business.  This works for me, but took almost a year to balance the three so I'm not working a ton of hours.


The only solution I've found is....
to just totally quit every so often, get totally out of it and if you find no new way to make money, go back to it.  The break helps, but honestly it's happened to me half a dozen times over the 20 years I've done this.  It was so challenging when I first started and I enjoyed it.  The catch-22 is when you finally get to high line counts it becomes monotonous.  What didn't help was when the line rates went into a freeze...kind of kills the motivation to sit there and type.   For me, I would get sleep attacks transcribing and would wake up almost falling out of my chair;.  More than once, I've quit and said I'm never going back.  Now I just quit for awhile but knowing deep down I may be back again.   All in all, if you can keep the right attitude, it's a great job that offers a lot of freedom as far as flexibility and freedom to travel around the country and keep a paycheck coming in.;
Yeah, that's where I'm at, too. I've found these
for half the money I used to make. And the work isn't easier, it's harder. I used to do about 8 docs that I knew like the back of my hand. I usually knew what they were going to say before they said it, because their thought patterns had become second nature to me. But now I do several accounts, hundreds of doctors, plus nurses, PA's, med-students, etc. The reports are longer, and it's all straight typing, no templates. Even though I'm home all day, far less gets done around here than before, because I always have to work if I'm going to buy food and pay my rent.
I've found, fortunately, that

those types of people are not the "norm" in the MT world or I would have quit a LONG time.  The sad thing though is they are becoming more prevalent lately, but perhaps I'm becoming jaded.  I can think of only 5 truly glaring examples in the past 23 years.


I think some of these unpleasant B's are just on power trips because they have a position of "authority" (big deal - I'm certainly not impressed).  I always let management know, even if they choose to be in denial or blow it off, I've at least gotten it off my chest and had my say.  When I complain to mgmt. I stick to the facts/issues/dates ONLY and there is usually silence on the other end of the line (no arguments) as they are taking it all in.  Funny thing though, even after numerous complaints, they seem reluctant to eliminate the offenders. 


I've found that it's not just one website
I have found that the manufacturers' websites often show the brand names of the equipment used.

Not every employer or hospital will acknowledge a manufacturer's website as being a legitimate source, but at least the manufacturer often gives you a direction to look in and an idea of how a brand name is spelled.

Here's an example:

http://www.medtronic.com/your-health/bradycardia/device/index.htm
I've found it more lucrative to charge .... sm

... by the report, although others might disagree.  $1.10 to $1.25 is average when working as an employee.  If you're working as an IC you really should charge more, considering your overhead, etc... and make sure you charge for every report, not page.  For instance a report that includes more than one requisition, such as a foot and ankle, would be two reports.  If the radiologist is getting paid for each study(which they certainly are), then so should you.


Hope this helps !


I've found the answer and how to declutter.
Get diagnosed with cancer.   Got the diagnosis yesterday and today I've been going through the house like the Tazmanian devil.   I'm throwing stuff away, boxing stuff up to go to Goodwill and Freecyling some stuff.   We were in serious need of a Clean Sweep (though I never would do it because I'd be too embarrassed that I let my house get like that).   I know it is a bit of an overreaction, but both of my parents died and didn't have things in order and I was left to deal with it all and don't want the same for my family.  I also don't want to look at the clutter anymore and want my house to be relaxing and not be afraid to open my door when the doorbell rings.   It also helps keep my mind occupied.   I only made a teeny, tiny dent in the clutter, but at least it was progress.   I also don't want my kids growing up thinking that our house is "normal."  I have boys and I don't think their future wives would  appreciate a slob for a husband. 
the lightest touch i've every found
was the Kinesis -- they are not cheap but man, i wish i would have found them years ago. Some have said before that the Goldtouch keyboards have a good touch too.
I've found an adapter that has the 2-prongs
and then you plug your headphones into the other end, just didn't want to buy them from TVPS. 
I've found nothing has a higher pay level (sm)
all same across the board these days.
I've found you have to work more than 8 hours a day to
If I had to stick to an 8-hour time period, I couldn't afford to continue.
I've moved to 4 different states until I found what I want that pays what I want
The world isn't going to come to you. You have to make some effort yourself.
I've actually found Medicare very easy to deal with...
wouldn't dread the call. It will probably go better with Medicare than with the nephrologist.
I've found it helps soothe the mania and keep me
x
This is the best site I've found about treating fibromyalgia. It works for me, maybe it will for

I'm lead transcrip for small ofc, in the field since 88, and I've found (sm)
that depending on the person, it can take up to a year. You either have to be very smart and very driven to make it shorter, or you would have to have some exposure to the systems/docs etc. It takes a longer time if you are also new to the field of MT. But after about a year, if you don't find yourself relaxing when you are at work, talk to somebody. That's long enough, and you should be finding a niche for yourself by then.
In our area of NY, I've found that hot summer weekends are terrible...sm
for sales. No one wants to get out of their cars in the heat! Have done best in early spring or in Sept/Oct., here anyway. And a Fri./Sat. combo is more successful than a Sat./Sun. weekend. Have BIG signs at major intersections and showing the way into your neighborhood and right to your house. Run an ad in the Garage Sale section of your paper. Be prepared for early birds coming down your driveway or right into your yard 2 hours ahead of time. Block your driveway with a car or sawhorses until you're actually open, but be ready to say 'come back later' when people show while you're setting up. Have prices on everything or group things by price in one location. Have lots of singles and quarters for change. Bring your phone outside with you. Paper and pen if people want to call you later. Have packing material for glass and china, plastic or paper bags for purchasers. Some hard candy/mints on a table out of sun helps people stick around longer. If you have big jackets, long dresses, bedspreads, etc. put them up for display - on hangers, in trees, strung up between ladders. Try and keep all your displays up at table height - people aren't keen on getting down on the ground to paw through boxes or check out stuff spread out on a bedsheet. Use every card table, picnic table, folding table, etc that you can find for displaying stuff. If you have anything electric to sell, have an extension cord plugged in so people can see that items still work. Keep expensive small items near you at your 'check out' station to keep them from walking away. And always be ready to come down on price as everyone will ask you, "can you do any better?" Or "what's your best price on this?" Enjoy your sale and treat yourself to pizza after all your hard work! :)
I have found that honesty is always best. I've quit a job right after receiving the equipment S

because a better offer came along.  I have always just been honest, tell them that I've decided to accept another position.  I apologize for any inconvenience, ask them to instruct them on how they would like me to return the equipment, and then I always ask that they keep my resume on file.  They are usually pretty diplomatic about it.  They'd rather you tell them up front than waste their time and yours in training for a job you're not going to be happy with.


I've found this resource pretty useful for rehab work. Link inside.

Have this as one of my bookmarks - found this handy whilst handling rehab work. Hope this helps!


http://medicaltranscriptionwordhelp.googlepages.com/rehabmedicineterminology


I've also found it varies from editor to editor -
In one case I researched it fully, and found that both of them were wrong, and I had been right all along.
[Sigh........]
You are so right. Its up to the physicians and
also your local competition. Its all about offering the physicians something better than the competition - better rates, better TAT, and if your competitors are certified, you can bet that's part of their "sell"...But you could never predict the certified issue until you check the waters. Good luck to you! Its not that hard to pick up a local account or two. Enjoy!
Do you think ER physicians actually do as thorough
a physical exam as they dictate or do you think they fabricate a lot of the details of the physical exam?
Not all physicians are like that .....sm
I work for very generous, kind and caring orthopedic surgeons who see patients, with little to no income, and charge them nothing. They ask for no payment and nothing in return. These docs would give you the shirt off their back.

Not every physician cares only about money.
It is bad enough for the ESL physicians but
today I had an ESL PA dictating and when she dictates hypertension she says hypertensions, as in the patient has hypertensions and heart disease is diseases and lukemia is well you catch how it goes EXCEPT if you have the patient's wife, then she says the patient wife or the patient daughter. I am TICKED
Is it just me, or are physicians getting worse
with dictation. I transcribe several that use speaker phones to dictate. I think ER docs are the worst. Not only do they use the speaker phone, but that talk at a rate of about 150 miles per hour. Do they not realize (or maybe they just don't care) how difficult they are to transcribe. I really don't understand why the companies we work for allow this.
I ask the physicians! Haven't had one yet
who didn't tell me what they were already being charged. You should be able to call the MT department at your hospital and ask around there too.
About incompetent physicians...
Yes, they are definitely out there and getting scarrier day by day. Actually, the great majority of them are quite pathetic.
local physicians

I was wondering if any one knows if local physicians would rather hire certified MT to do their work from home.  I am thinking about supplementing my income with a national and wondering if this would be a good way to go.  Any insight into this would be greatly appreciated!!


Prospecting physicians??

I currenlty have one account of my own and am an IC through a very small local transcription company.  However, I want more of my own accounts.  I have sent letters and am willing to do more.  Does anyone have any idea on what it takes to "land" an account?  Thanks so much for any ideas/help/suggestions!!


Physicians by State
www.healthcarehiring.com.  Scroll down to the bottom and you'll find all of the states.  This is a great site to search by state, and you can search by specialty even within that state.  It is in alphabetical order, which is very, very helpful.  I love this site myself and use it every day.  
Yep, been there,done that. Many physicians today
have gone to EMR. I talked with one not long ago who said I needed to find another line of work since EMR is replacing the MT. Even my own personal physician uses EMR.

We are either being replaced with technology (EMR or VR)or work is going offshore. Somehow for me, editing is really not something I am interested in, as I would rather transcribe.

Hopefully, others here will be able to direct you and encourage you, perhaps giving you ideas of how you can obtain clients. Much success in whatever path you choose.
We have many Muslim physicians in the US.
Would you be so quick to condemn someone who had a problem with "We took a moment to praise to Allah"? Would you be as tolerant as you claim to be in that situation?
The physicians used to have to be bribed
to come in and dictate charts, have seen for myself. I would love to know how it went from not wanting to dictate to suddenly everyone getting out their EMRs and typing away.
My take on how these physicians dictate
I question and I mean question about every day whether the person coming in as physician is really that. I have 1 that basically cannot string a sentence together, changes sentences 3, 4 or 5 times each sentence. I have physicians who pull the same stuff, going several paragraphs down and then asking you to add or delete something. I get really ticked when I hear all this and don’t hold my cool. The person in the room with me usually hears my ranting and raving. It is hard enough to get through the ESLs, mumbling, crunching, snorting, eating, sucking, sniffing, sorting papers and the list goes on without putting up with this. One change that was made at the hospital I work for was to tell dictators they could NOT use a cell phone to dictate. It worked. I only wish I were in charge so I could tell them more about how to dictate!
Oh, I found it really creepy when you said you found the flowers not so skillfully arranged on your
steps, and from your own flower bed.  That's what I was worried about, having gone thru some psycho kids myself with my pups.  Someone's been in your yard and in your garden and at your door without your knowledge.  Its just creepy to me, and I'd still be very, very careful.  Especially valid sounded the other MTs warning you about potential fake molestation charges.  You just NEVER know nowadays, and these people have already turned on you big time once. Luckily (though I don't believe in luck), you had it on film to save yourself and your puppy.  You might not be that lucky next time, and the whole thing just sounds very unstable to me right now.  I know you feel sorry for the little girl, but probably the only time I have ever made BAD decisions regarding my life is when I felt sorry for someone, particularly kids.  My son even has an evil kid in his life, but one who has a million reasons for sympathy, and I was saying how we should "be bigger" than the situation and invite this kid over to play.  Thankfully, I regained my sanity long enough to remember - ever time I have done something like that on a personal basis for someone just because I feel sorry for them AFTER horrible behavior, it has always been a disaster... Be kind, but you don't have to risk your family again. Be kind from a distance.  Its sorry she went thru this horrible experience, but YOU didn't cause it, and its not really your problem.  But it could be your problem if this kid acts out in your life.  Know what I mean?
Physicians are willing to share their knowledge with (sm)

anyone who will listen.  They love young bright eyed students. I expected the MT world to be just like medicine.  


Why is cost the only issue? It is unprofessional to only think about money. What about pride in the profession and wanting to share knowledge? Isn't that how professions advance and grow? 


I am surprised.


 


 


 


State Licensure for physicians
I use the State licensing agency for whatever state the physician is in.  I just Google State License or Health State licenses and it brings that particular website up and then I do a search.  Great Tool!
When do physicians give feedback to MTs?
x
I have heard American physicians say that. What is the
big deal? You know what they mean.
A lot of physicians refer to their patients
as heterosexual or having same sex partners, it is very relevant in some aspects, as in exposure to AIDS/HIV, etc.
physicians pinching pennies
while making over $100K a year (after insurance premiums), for a service that is tax deductable.... they really dont have a clue...
To my knowledge, you can't print the physicians'....sm
list and I doubt they are in there by specialty, too. You can print the contents of your ESP file if you save it to your desktop and then print it. Hope this helps.
There are no dictators, physicians, nurses, PAs or the like
who don’t dictate on the VR I use, wish I did not have the crap dictators as you call them but they are not left out on my end. I really, really hate it now when I do get a straight report to type I am so happy with the VR I do. I think before long most big places will go that route, little ones not so much as I think VR costs quite a bit.
A great site for referring physicians

that includes credentials and you can search by state is:


http://www.healthcarehiring.com/physician_pennsylvania.php


Down at the bottom you can change the state.  I have used this site quite a bit. 


 


Good gried!!! Plenty of physicians
mispronounce terminology, medications, etc. that they are not familiar with in their specialities. Get a life and find something worthwhile to gripe about. Did you understand what they meant? Apparently so, so just do the work.
Physicians and caring or lack thereof

recently I have experienced both sides of this aspect.  In January I was hospitalized for asthma by my then family physician.  I had been to him 3 times in the month before that with problems but he made no effort to adjust meds, etc.  About a month later, he walks into his office and tells his staff today is your last day. I'm closing the office. 


I got strep throat and went to a different doctor.  She was absolutely the best.  She looked at ME while she was in the room, not at the chart or her PDA in her hand (like the first doctor used to do).  She talked to ME.  Asked ME questions and answered any I had.  asked about allergies (which I have many). The first doctor tried to give me medicine I was allergic to (and he had been told multiple times).  Two weeks ago I was hospitalized through the emergency room with another asthma attack (brought on by the flu).  My new doctor sat down beside me in the room. Talked to me.  Got a very detailed history.  Explained what tests she was going to do.  Explained the results of what tests had already been done.  Told me she was going to refer me to a pulmonologist to evaluate if my meds need tweaking.  Even asked me which one I preferred based on how my insurance would pay.   I have only seen her in the office twice and then while hospitalized and I already feel more at ease and reassured that 2 years of using the other doctor. 


Also, at work this past week a patient was admitted after lunch.  Because the patient had missed the noon meal, the PHYSICIAN went to the cafeteria and bought lunch for the patient and took it to him.  Now THAT is a physician that cares about the welbeing of their patient!


I wish all doctors could be like these two - both of them female!  Maybe it has something to do with our nurturing instincts! 


I have to agree. I would be uneasy having some ESLs as my physicians - sm
at times, too, for that same reason -- I've seen too many errors creep into the medical record because of the language barrier (though I would place equal, or greater, blame upon the MTs and/or QA who allowed it to happen through the "god help us, we can't have a blank so fill that blank with SOME kind of word, quickly!" mindset).

I once had an ESL psychiatrist who had a terribly thick accent. After doing hundreds of his reports I would still have a difficult time understanding him at times, yet when he was interviewing his patients and they didn't follow the conversation well he would often enter that into the record by saying that "the patient had a difficult time understanding this examiner and following the conversation" ... well, h--l, anyone would, doc.