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Serving Over 20,000 US Medical Transcriptionists

I agree that it's cherrypicking. sm

Posted By: editor on 2006-08-13
In Reply to: working in a pool - MrsBTFuller

I don't mean this to be harsh, but if you're going to be a Transcriptionist for a company instead of having your own accounts, you need to be willing to do ALL of the dictators. Why would it be fair for you to pass over the difficult authors, take just the easy ones, and leave the hard work for the others? What makes you think anyone else wants to do them either?




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my apologies...I agree with you on THAT part about cherrypicking...
had that happen first-hand my first year of transcription...supervisor took all normals, easy dictators, etc., all to score points with the Medical Director - constantly making everyone think she was some kind of wizard on the keyboard (haha, it is funny now, but all of us in the office knew exactly what she was doing...)
cherrypicking
what company are you speaking of? kc1
Cherrypicking
You are correct about Cherrypicking. It should not be occurring. If you believe that there is a problem with Cherrypicking, you should contact your technical support person and tell them to change the settings for the "Q" button. If they don't fix the problem, you should be sure to contact eScription. They have a method to stop Cherrypicking.

Good luck!
cherrypicking
That is horrible advice. We don't all do it and it is the fastest way to lose respect of your employer and your fellow workers. You have to take the good with the bad and every good, seasoned Transcriptionist knows that.
cherrypicking
I do not think that cherrypickers can get away with this for a long time, because every report has a trail to see what happened with it.
cherrypicking
I need to vent. I work for a really nice company, have been with them for several years, and really like my work. Lately a couple of new people were hired, and it is obvious they are cherrypicking. Tough dictators get refused/sent back to pool. On our platform, we can tell when a job is sent back. If you are one of those people, why do you think you have the right to pick and choose your work and leave the crap for everyone else. it is only fair to take the jobs as they come. We will all get some good, some bad. Would you like the shoe on the other foot - you get stuck with all the crappy dictators? I am asking here, please do the work as it is assigned. Play fair, will ya? I have seen people post on this subject before but had never experienced it. Now I know why prior posters were so PO'ed about it. It kills the line count for the day, every day, while the new kid on the block is raking it in. Whoever you are, I hope the boss confronts you and assigns you all the junk for a while or fires your butt so those of us who have worked there for years can continue with the jobs we have loved for so long. You are ruining it for everyone else. Okay, vented. back to work. wonder what is in the pool now.
cherrypicking hurts EVERYONE sm
you are supposed to be part of a team! Do you even know or care what that means?  As the other poster stated, SHAME ON YOU!
Cherrypicking at end of shift
What about when you just have a little bit of time left on your shift and you want to shuffle through and pick up some short jobs instead of the 25-minute psych report or the long consult that will put you way over your shift?
Another fine cherrypicking day.
Man, would I love to go on all day about this company and the cherrypickers here.  This is totally 100% unbelievable that they let people do this every single day. 
No cherrypicking allowed here, but....

I know some reports do get shot back into the pool now and then.  Luckily for me, they're nearly always LONG reports by my favorite dictators (ESLs are my specialty), so I don't complain at all.   However, the rule here, which is hard to enforce, is that any skipped jobs or cherrypicking is grounds for being severely chastised for the first offense and immediate termination for the second. 


IMO, why not just type it and be done with it????   Doing that takes less time than anything else, and time is $.


Question about cherrypicking...

I'm on a new account that uses the Lanier. I really think there has been some major cherrypicking going on the past 2 days, but I have no clue how. I'd like to ask my boss about this, but am afraid to stir the pot as I'm so new. However, this is very, very frustrating. I thought I'd start out and see if anyone knows if people can cherrypick such a system. If not, it is all in my head then.


Any advise would be appreciated.


Cherrypicking by proxy...sm
 All good and well in a hospital setting: Everyone knows what work comes out, when it comes out, who has done what, etc. What about home MTs?  I know for a fact that my account (a rather large one encompassing 2 or 3 hospitals and seldom getting the same dictator the same week) has predominantly good dictators for the Basic 4 and at the beginning (about 2 years ago since I started) made a pretty good line count.  Now it seems my shift (late evening) has virtually 99-100% ESL dictators.  Now some of these were just dictated, some were dictated 12 hours prior....but whoever gets to assign them assigns a high priority number rating so we can't skip over them.  I don't mind doing my share of bad dictators as long as everyone does theirs, and if even ONE MT gets to reject a particular job or "cherry pick", EVERYONE should be able to do it.  But I'm not going to be singled out to get all the crap dictation at the whim of the work router when I know this is only a small percentage of the work available on that account. I wonder who gets the good stuff?
They are not griping about just cherrypicking, the point of this
whole post was how can an MT who works for Softscript get that many lines when the rest of us had our SPACES TAKEN AWAY AND LINE COUNTS ARE FALLING, WITHOUT BEING TOLD WHEN IT WAS DONE.  We are told on an almost daily basis that the "line count" server is down and will catch up.  GUESS WHAT, IT NEVER DOES.  Although, apparently it does for a select FEW, aka the positive posts on here.
It sounds like you need to look for another job. I do not tolerate cherrypicking at all. If a

company I'm working for is allowing it and I find out about it, I'm gone.  I work too hard to put up with a services poor business habits.


Jane Harner


You are one paranoid woman (?), rather obsessing over cherrypicking.

Her post had not the slightest to do with cherrypicking, you have egg on your face, and you SHOULD apologize. Though I doubt you will, as you get to hide behind your anonymity.


Why does it have to be cherrypicking? The person just asked a question?
x
that should be sympathize, man, my eyes are bad these days...also, about the cherrypicking...
how do people know that, if they are not doing it themselves...in my experience, those who complain the worst about that are usually doing it themselves...

that is my opinion.
Okay, am I completely loopy, or was there a post about cherrypicking?
Just curious, because I responded, or so I thought, and now I do not see any mention of it...anyone know? Thanks!
I was referring to slamming the cherrypicking post
nm
My thoughts on cherrypicking - newbies please read

Cherrypicking isn't right for the obvious reasons.  But another thing, and this is what I decided early on, it's best to just sit down and learn to do those hard dictators, especially if there's QA or somebody else around to help you.  Because someday you may be in a position where you HAVE to type that dictator, either because it's assigned to you or it's a stat and you're the only one available.  It's too late to say you can't do it, especially if you've been on the account for a long time and are expected to know the dictators by then.   I don't ever want to be in that position.  That's just my opinion. 


Cherrypicking - such a cute description for theft.
cc
and let's not forget cherrypicking! That'll boost your lines way up nm

maybe you oughtta try cherrypicking too...force the co. to deal with bad dictators! nm
1
Cherrypicking didn't make our line rates less -
the lower line rates are what started people c-pickingin the first place, so they could make enough each week to live on. Back when I was paid by the hour (and lots more than I'm getting now per hour, I did whatever came along. But I'm sorry, I'm not gonna GIVE an employer a chunk of my change for the 'privilege' of doing a 40-minute report by a gum-chewing ESL with static on the line, partying nurses, or crying babies in the background, that I just plain can't understand, when I have the option to choose something that is at least transcribe-able.
It was rude in nature. 'Thanking' people for cherrypicking was uncalled for.
/
I have heard so many people rationalize cherrypicking and seen too many supervisors not deal with i
It's a scourge on this profession ... like the folks who gratefully accept absurdly dreadful line rates because -- "it's better than nothing"

It's why we're all making LESS than we did 10 years ago, 15 years ago ... made worse because that's even without adjusting for inflation ...
there a note on the company board from QA regarding cherrypicking and they mention "line padding&
This is a new one on me.  I've heard of cherrypicking but what constitutes line padding?  Isn't everybody typing what the doctor dictates?  How can you possibly add extra????
cherrypicking co-worker issue (meant to post it on this board instead of MQ board) sm...

I need opinions please...I work on a very small account with just a handful of ladies.  Because of the nature of the software (trying not to get too specific here) we can see who is working online and what reports they are working on in real-time...



We have one cherrypicker on the account.  Instead of using FIFO method, she retrieves the reports by author ID - usually picking the better dictators of course.  She knows I busted her and she did admit to it in on our work e-mail (not too bright) which I am saving just in case she gets out of hand - so far I'm still able to make money since really most of the dictators aren't bad. 



But every night it's starting to wear on me since she's screwing up turnaround time.  I don't really want to cause a big uproar being that it is such a small account and I need to work with her almost every night usually one on one.



What would you all do?  I want to handle this as delicate and professional as possible because we can't really afford to lose anyone on this account.  In other words, I refuse to stoop to her level by cherrypicking right back.


My boss has asked me several times why so-and-so does so much more than I do...I just bite my lip at that point but one of these days I think I might explode and just open up a can of worms....


Agree, agree, agree! Just listen to Benny Hinn..

he speaks perfect English, especially when asking for money!  Also, in my opinion, blanks should be left in the doc's dictation if not able to be transcribed, maybe then they will know that are NOT understood.  With QA fixing them, what need is there for them to care if we understand them or not? 


I agree with you....

I mean afterall there is no evidence that she is dead.  From the beginning I thought they were guilty and I still think that Joran knows something (not saying it was an intentional murder-- probably an accident)  The biggest thing that plays on my mind is why did they lie in the beginning if they were innocent.  I believe that they were covering up for something.  There have been theories that she went for a swim and drowned but there has been absolutely no trace of her.  No shoes, handbag, nothing, which leads me to believe that everything was gathered up and taken somewhere. 


I feel for the family but they need to let the Arubans do their job abiding their own laws.  I know the mother has said she will stay until she finds Natalee but you can't live in Aruba forever.


I agree....

I think you have to blame Natalee herself before you blame the chaperones.  What was she thinking going in a car w/ three strangers in a foreign country???  And also, what about her friends.. what were they thinking letting her go to the bar or leaving the bar alone?  Back when we were in college and were on spring break or just bar hopping in this country..... you NEVER let your friend go off w/ some strange guys.  That is just common sense.


I agree!
It is stated above, "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."

Thank you! Me either!

I feel awful for this girl and her family. I really do. But no way in Jerusalem would I have allowed my 18-year-old son OR daughter to go to Aruba (which is a colony of the Netherlands, where pot is legal and who knows if there's any regulation on alcohol).

An 18-year-old is in no way socially savvy or emotionally prepared to be turned loose in a strange place with very loose laws and be expected not to get into some kind of a situation that he/she is in no way prepared to handle.

NO WAY

I really hope they find this poor girl, but it's not looking good.
I agree - for all we know
they could have taken out a second mortage on their home to finance this "vacation".
I agree with you...
besides if I sat all day and typed an American doctor who dictated in monotone speech I'd be sleeping by 10 a.m. I look forward to the challenge of transcribing the ESL's every day..it makes our jobs more rewarding!
I agree
nm
I do agree with that...

Evil does exist no matter where you go and my post was meant in no way disrespectful to you or your opinion (I hate it when a flaming war starts like the ones above).  I just know how one seemingly insignificant comment can start a whole line of growing misinformation...  Kinda like that game we probably all played as kids..telephone or whatever 


I did not hear about the comment of America being the Great Satan, that is interesting, I am going to have to check that one out! 


agree...

IN some cases we did, but do you really think the Indians didn't do the same?  There is a myth about indigenous peoples on any continent being "noble savages," but in truth, there were warring thieving tribes among the Indians here who leeched off the peaceful tribes before the Europeans got here.  Lying and cheating are not exclusively European virtues.


I still say they need to get over it.  We spend way too much time in this country talking about mistreatment and ills of the past - we need to spend more time and energy on building a future for the children and grandchildren we say we love so much.  The best way to give them a successful, peaceful future is to let go of our resentments and choose to love our children more than we love our grudges.


I agree with you (sm)
it takes a village to produce a perfect report! LOL! I embrace the feedback from QA, both positive and negative.  And I make notes and try not to make the same mistake twice.  Life is a learning process, anyways.  The day I stop learning, I guess will be the day I die!
don't think so, i agree, it is a
x
I don't agree.
We get a lot of local coverage, but what about national coverage like on Fox, MSNBC, CNN, etc.? Every single news network has been focused on this one single incident on just about every show from 7 to 11 p.m. for months.  Nancy Grace gives a 30-second blip in her missing person segment, but the majority of her hour-long show is devoted to the Holloway case.  Look at all the help that was donated to the search effort in the Holloway case because of media attention and contrast that to the help that could be focused on other cases in addition (not instead of) had they received the same saturation of news coverage.  It's not a generalization, it's an actuality.
I agree
Yes I agree with both of you Joran was involved.  I think it was drug related probably not to her knowlege, an accident or something and then they panicked and did whatever they did.  When you hear that the father actually said, "No body, no case", that sends off bells to me.  My fear is they know she will never be found, and he will just do his 116 days in jail or whatever, and her parents will never have any closure.  Sad.  I hope we are all wrong.  I hope she shows up somewhere like Elizabeth Smart, no matter how traumatized, it can be dealt with.  However, I still don't think it is fair to all the other parents with missing children who cannot get their story on CNN for 3 hours a night, not for even a minute.  That has to be a plight worse than hell, not knowing; and thank God I don't know how it feels and hope I never will.
I agree with almost everything you said except for
the fact that you don't think our work impacts patient care. I have to disagree with that one. So many times the things that we transcribe are read and re-read to help those giving direct patient care a better understanding of what is going on with their patient (I used to be a nurse and quite often read previous transcriptions). While we are not directly involved in patient care, we do have an impact on their care. Anything that is placed in the chart has an impact on the care because if we transcribe something incorrectly (which we all do)whether it be MR#, wrong med, whatever and nobody catches it then it becomes a part of the record and may be referred to many more times down the road.

I do agree that a lot of transcriptionists would be happier if paid by the hour with incentive bonuses for QA and/or production, but like you said, that is not likely to happen.

I am glad that we can get on this board and discuss our different opinions with others. Sometimes it gets a little lonely working at home and it helps to know other people's insight into different things.
I have to agree...
Degree in advertising and marketing and promotion and choosing to do MT. How pitiful is that?
I agree

I can do 1800-2000 lines a day, so 1000 is a piece of cake.


I agree
On of my good friends is trying to get pregnant now and she thinks becoming an MT at home is going to be easy. She is planning on taking the education direct MT program. I told her, she better know what she is doing.

I doing all the research I can, so I won't make a big mistake.

After reading the posts I don't think it's worth it. I feel I can be a better mother to my child if I continue to work outside the home now. Like a pp said being home physically isn't enough, you need to be their for your children emotionally and mentally. At least once I leave my office, my work stays there and I can give my attention to my baby.

You all have helped so much!!!

THANK YOU:)
Have to say I agree with you
Luckily, I didn't have to do it at home part time, but I had a job away from the home during the day, and worked at home typing in the evenings and weekends.  I had 3 kids to raise by myself with no help, so I did what I had to do to make ends meet.  But I know they felt neglected when I was at home, and "always working."  Luckily, they grew up okay, but it was hard, and there is always the guilt of "always working".  I remember them saying those words very clearly.
I actually agree with you. What gets me is SM
when people in this situation go on to make things infinitely worse by having two, three, or MORE kids. Get some common sense, people! It's bad for the kids, and the rest of us are sick of being expected to pay (literally and otherwise) for your mistakes!
agree
Agree you should get it all. Sorry she had a stroke, but you are working your butt off to keep her afloat.
yes, I agree

That is what I am working on, keeping at it.  Hard right now for me with 3 kids at home and in my face sometimes.  But only 1 month till school.  Ahhhhh, cant wait!  Still, I find that after my 1000, I start to dwindle a bit.  I want 2000 a day, so that is my goal I am working towards.  Have to find ways to motivate myself. 


I also strongly agree with you about the attitude component.  That plays a major role in our jobs.  With changes coming on board at my company, I find the better the attitude, the better it all goes for me. 


I agree - sm
Career Step is the BEST I have found in my research, and have had the best luck with girls coming fresh out of that course and training them... diamonds in the rough, and they were OUTSTANDING!  It is a course you do on your OWN, so if you are successful in the course in managing time and focusing, then you will do well as an MT.... just realize we all SUCK at first... it is experience that makes the MT....  Don't take constructive criticism to heart, USE it to the best of your ability.  I have been a mentor, and OSi actually has great mentors for "newbies"....   Good Luck.... and let me know if you need any help or have any questions....  Bobbie
Unfortunately, I have to agree with you on this one.
American customer service people over the phone, who probably think they are too good for the job they are doing and feel the need to take it out on me by being short, condescending, and sometimes nasty on the phone.  The Indians are very cordial, friendly and patient and are grateful to help.