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Serving Over 20,000 US Medical Transcriptionists

I am contacting AAMT

Posted By: exilesky on 2007-07-14
In Reply to: OMG so its only MY book!? - exilesky

I want to get this straightened out!  I have emailed to AAMT for an explanation of how the heck the book I bought has an error, when other copies of the book don't!  I will post their response, if any, when I receive it.  If anybody thinks I'm nuts I will gladly fax them a copy of the page in my book.


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Contacting
I am lucky that I have been doing this for many years and so have a lot of "contacts" out there.  If there is a transcription group, like local AAMT or a medical assistant group/association even in your town, join.  It helps to get to know people in our field and what is available out there.   But without that, all I did -- is has been 3-4 years since I have done this -- is a mailing out of about 100 to 200 brochures/flyers to local clinics/groups.  Sure 98% get thrown away but if they are in the need of any help it will be seen.   I have a large data base that I use.  But again, I know my local docs, clinics, hospitals and I know who does what pretty much.  But if I were doing this new again, that is what I would do.  Also I would do 2-3 mailings pretty close so my name/logo becomes familiar.  Those that show an interest -- though I have been flamed in the past -- I do follow up after I have seen them with a thank you and cookies or a treat for the entire office.  I have been the receptionist and you need to get past her sometimes.  It is like selling a house, many open house and flyers go out to find that one "buyer" well you have to find a "buyer" for your services.   But look for those clinics/specialists that aren't too large to start off with.  Also oral surgeons, psychologists need help.   The first account may not be what you want and you may have to drive farther than you want or work for someone you would not chose as your doctor, but you gotta start somewhere.   Call some local MTSO's and see if they need overflow help.  Perhaps if enough of us charged the offices with offers of service at a reasonable rate -- not 15 ot 18 cpl, we could bring some of this work back to the US.   Just my thinking,  Gotta get to work.   
contacting doc
You might be careful though, it could be (and I don't know) that the reason you didn't get paid was because the doctor didn't pay. You could be stepping out the frying pan into the fire with that one. Just a thought.
Did you trying contacting Dictaphone
and asking for a replacement? I've done this before, I don't remember is there is a cost.
contacting the docs re. this sm
What she did does seem cruel to you and perhaps she is cruel, but those accounts are absolutely hers to deal with and I think it is wrong for the subcontractor to contact the contractor's clients, totally wrong. I do feel for you. As an IC and MTSO, I have been "kicked to the curb" for cheaper price undercuts by "so-called" friends, etc. You must let it go and move on, perhaps contact your local church if you need help with food, utilities, etc. I do feel very badly for you, but I think to contact her clients would be "tacky" and make you look bad. Perhaps one day you will own your own accounts and see what I'm saying is true. Good luck to you, I am sure you are very hurt, I have been there as well. Not much you can do but log it into your "experience" book. Stay well, things will get better. Sometimes change forces progress, I hope so for your sake. With all my best wishes to you.
Contacting KathyZ

Kathy, thank your for e-mailing me.  I am unable to respond to you through the e-mail though.   Could you please contact me again with your e-mail address? 


email address for anyone interested in contacting me. sm
I really have a passion for teaching. I love MT, but I love teaching more. I was an MT instructor for approximately 3 years at our local community college, so I do have the experience.
Advice on contacting a doctor regarding doing their transcription -sm
I used to work for a small MTSO that did his transcription.  I no longer work there because of not being paid for the work that I have done.  I am still owed over $400.  I never signed any contract with her so there is no noncompete clause.  I would like to do his work as I have done it in the past and I would like him to call me before he goes with another company.  Any advice on how I should handle this would be appreciated.  I have never been here before.  Thanks. 
And they can by either posting on the Religion forums or contacting the Administrator.
/
Tech support is contacting me this morning so we'll see what they say. THANKS everyone!
nm
Oh, someone benefits from AAMT - AAMT DOES!
x
AAMT BOS
Well hey, spelling a lot as one word is commonplace too; does that make it okay?? Do they really think MDs keep up with all the illogical changes they come up with? Do they realize that MDs actually take the time to edit stuff they don't recognize to be correct? What good is it if it actually causes MDs to stop and edit??

AAMT
It's just too bad that AAMT has not taken an assertive stand for the American MT and keeping confidential patient records in this country. For such a long time medical record administrators have fought the concerns of medical transcriptionists since the 60's. There was always a divisive agenda from medical record librarians (as they were called then) toward the transcriptionist. They didn't want to see the Transcriptionist come to the forefront of the medical records industry, nor did they like the income transcriptionists made(then) -WHAT? a transcriptionist make more money than a medical records librarian? I still see it now - you see AHIMA's hand down the back zipper of AAMT puppeting what direction they want AAMT to go - minimize the importance of the professional medical transcriptionist and rushing to automate the medical record with ASR and EMR. Ask youself this question - how many of you believe that many of the "QA" people at the nationals are discarded or displaced medical record technicians or the like? Many of the medical record administrators lost their jobs about 10 years ago during hefty layoffs when hospitals began a surge of outsourcing and many of these people had to seek jobs in the transcription industry for national companies as sales people, administrators, and QA people. I can't begin to tell you how many RHIT people haven't a clue about medical transcription. I've worked with so many who got a lot of things wrong legally but hey, because they were above the transcription department, they were right. Don't question them.
AAMT
Have to afford those trips to Hawaii somehow.
AAMT
I know.  It is so strange.  I was just on the AAMT forum.  I know if I start making "waves" I'll be considered a troublemaker.   It is really said what is happening in that organization when it could provide such a boost.
AAMT
That is how I have been feeling.  A friend of mine says I need to run, but I'm afraid of how it would be handled. -
AAMT
Thanks so much.  You are right.  I will contact this gentleman.
well, according to the AAMT BOS...sm
"Always place periods inside quotation marks."  <<< see, like I did!
Ah, yes. The AAMT.
Medware offshores. They don't pay well, either. I see by your other post that you won't work for acusisindia, what's the difference? Offshoring is offshoring.

AAMT = Against American Medical Transcriptionists
AAMT
I don't think you read my message clearly.  There are many options to AAMT, not just one.  AAMT is pushing for licensure as it is.  That will do just as much harm as anything else in the end.
AAMT
AAMT is nothing but a poor parody of a high school sorority. It touts itself as being a professional organization. It is neither professional nor organized and needs to go the way ot the dinosaur and die.
AAMT
What I blame AAMT for is for touting themselves as a "professional organization" when they are neither professional nor organized.
AAMT/BOS??
I hear the rules are always changing in the AAMT/BOS.

And you have to admit, it doesn't really matter what the AAMT/BOS says, it's what the doctor prefers, right or wrong.
According to AAMT BOS, you do put
an apostrophe to form the plural of single letters and symbols. The values will vary from patient to patient.
AAMT
AAMT is totally useless; everyone knows that. They're a bunch of aging prima donnas. You would do better to invest your money in a good basic grammar book than anything AAMT has to offer.
Jim
Where is AAMT
They're too busy deciding who is white enough and straight enough to belong to give attention to relevant issues. I abandoned them in the 90s when I saw first-hand what their agenda was. It isn't to help the average Joe or Jane Transcriptionist, believe me.
AAMT
AAMT is a dinosaur.
AAMT BOS
Yes, and dangerous abbreviations list instructs cc should be replaced with mL as well. I agree a lot of it is silly, but there is some useful information. Some doctors appreciate it, other doctors want verbatim always and don't care for it.
AAMT
I will conveniently stay anonymous, but I completely agree with you. I cannot afford the membership dues. My former employer is sponsoring a discounted membership with AAMT for MTs who want to join. I think this board is invaluable and agree it probably does have a lot better information. I know of other MTs who used to be AAMT members who could no longer afford the membership and dropped it. Besides, I think you can visit their website and obtain info that way. I bet the book you purchased is a good resource as well.
AAMT
AAMT does not only support offshoring, I believe they are responsible for it. Apparently, you don't know that they offer their CMT test and credentials to MTs in India? Nothing very "American" about that.

Also, you will find that most AAMT officers are from MTSOs that offshore work. If you dig deeper, you will find that these MTSOs were pioneers in offshoring work. I belonged years ago, but then I decided they were just a bunch of egomaniacs out for their own glorification.

I can't see that they have done anything positive for the MT business. I think it's gone downhill since AAMT came into the picture.
Like she said, AAMT...
Yes, the AAMT website has a great instruction guide for setting up and maintaining a QA department.  It is the QA Primer 2004.  I used it to establish a QA department for one of the medium transcription companies and they love it. 
Can one sit for the AAMT's CMT
x
AAMT

If the AAMT gets their way and gets an apprenticeship program apprvoved, MTs are sunk.  Students will come out of the top 3 schools ready to work, but will have to work for lower line rates as apprentices.  So who do you think the MTSOs will hire? 


 


The AAMT has applied to the Department of Labor to get this scheme going.  We are sunk unless we oppose it and state that the AAMT does not represent the majority of MTs.  The group that wants to represent us is sending us right down the tubes.  We have to stop them before they go any further with this scheme. 


Did the AAMT ever ask MTs
whether THEY wanted this apprenticeship program? The AAMT wants to pretend it represents MTs. If you want to represent someone, you take the time to do the groundwork to find out what the people in the industry want. You don't sit down and come up with a deal and send it to the Dept. of Labor, letting the Dept. of Labor think that this is what the majority of MTs want, and THEN try to sell it to those who make up the working body.

That is NOT the way to attract support. This is why the AAMT is accused of being elitist. The AAMT does not use the boards to poll working MTs. It tells MTs what they SHOULD want, SHOULD do, SHOULD think.

Ask first, then act. Don't try to sell us some scheme after it's all put together, and don't try to fob it off as something the majority wants. That is dishonest.
That turns the majority of MTs against the AAMT.

When we are making the same wages as the MTS who live in other countries, maybe the AAMT will wake up and feel a little bit of guilt about their part in taking us down.




Thank AAMT for this. nm
x
AAMT now just AMT?

This is in reference to their now teaching overseas to outsource our work:


 


I myself do NOT feel comfortable having my information sent overseas, including my name, DOB, and often SSN listed in the demographics screen of each note. I have heard stories of prosecution (or lack there of) by identity theft from people in other countries. Maybe Americans should start boycotting or protesting the healthcare industries that outsource overseas!!!!!!!!!!!!


 



Re: AAMT BOS, etc.
Thanks for your honest, non-rosy answer about switching from in-house to at-home. We have actually been gradually switching over to a more rigid adherenct to the BOS, but it's been a hard sell for lots of the older docs, who want it their way or no way at all. And some of us older MTs aren't too thrilled with lots of the idiotic, picky-picky stuff the BOS throws at us. So far we've reached a compromise, where we MOSTLY adhere to it, but other things we do the doctors' way to keep them happy. I would have a hard time with with verbatim, because one of our ways IS to do SLIGHT changes in grammar for some of the ESL docs. But they can be only very minor, and the rule of thumb is when in doubt, don't do it. For the most part I sort of like the ESL guys better, because at least they try harder to be understood than many of our English-speakers.

I found your answer very forthright and valuable, and will definitely add it to my "cons" list! :)
AAMT
Throwing good money after bad, and sending our work to India.
AAMT
What a waste. You can get all of that free off the internet. Those CEC's you are talking about are worthless and not transferrable.
AAMT

Is it still the rule with AAMT to spell out WHOLE numbers zero through nine, use numerals for 10 and above or did they change this with the 2nd ed.


Also what is the standard font and size used nationally.


Thanks - Sandra


According to AAMT BOS 2 sm

"With proper nounds, capitalized words, numbers, and abbreviations use a hyphen to join a prefix to a proper name, capitalized word, number or abbreviation, i.e.:


non-CMTs


non-Hodgkin-type lymphoma


 


AAMT
What is the AAMT guidelines for position of the discharge diagnosis. I have docs who dictate at the beginning of the script and some who dictate it at the end.
I don't think AAMT....
addresses this formatting issue in the BOS.  I just type them like they are dictated, but would like to see standard formats for all reports.  Unfortunately no one has ever asked me!
aamt
I have never used them. My Manager agrees with me. AAMT is using the acceptable English language in the BOS. Well I have been doing MT for 20 years. Never needed other MTs to tell me how to do my job.
AAMT
Right on Sharon!! I'm down here in Thousand Oaks, and was involved deeply with AAMT many years ago - could not believe their insanity on pushing offshoring of patient records without full disclosure to the patient, AND other professional industries such as IT stick together to provide American jobs FIRST. AAMT has not publicly addressed the issue of disclosure to the patient that their record is going offshore. Offshore is here to stay, we can't stop it, and I would not take offense to it if there were some decent common sense checks and balances in place to protect the American worker FIRST. What we see is sheer insanity, stupidity, and corporate greed. Not until we are in deep do-do with a gigantic job loss in all fields, will our government say, duh, what happened?
AAMt
I think this is bull! I have 4-year medical schooling and now have some experience, and still the AAMT dictates how we take the test. This is why our work is going overseas. Yes, you should have experience but not have to be neice of Einstien! This organization will put MTs out of business, or give away our jobs. They make it so hard and it shouldn't have to be.
AAMT
Hi Ana... These are all good programs. Good solid training and education is what you will definitely need to get started. Once you get your education though be aware that you don't need the AAMT... They have become more of a joke to most MTs than a source of helpfulness.

Good luck. I think it is a wonderful career.
AAMT

Like I said, it may not do any good, but I am willing to try, at least then I can say I did.  I totally agree with you on the offshoring being the major problem, but there are also other problems with the organization as well.  I would be happy to see MTs being required to have state licensure like nurses and a lot of techs need. They are asking for responses so I am gonna give em without hesitation. I have a couple of months left on my membership and I am dumping after that if I don't see real progress.


How often does AAMT put a new BOS out? Thanks. nm
x
AAMT

Card carrying member 1980-1998 - American Association for Medical Transcription, used to travel miles for educational seminars. Now you can write a paper from information on the Web. Quite a difference in today's requirements and the $$$ to keep it up. Oh well, it was nice while it lasted!


I wish they would offer affordable membership to those who helped them back in the beginning, but I guess that was a "past life" experience!


CMT/AAMT
No kidding. My CMT expires in January and I won't be renewing it. No one has EVER paid me extra for it. What a waste of money. Besides, I wouldn't join AAMT either.
AAMT
I do not belong to AAMT.  Actually I have been an MT for years in rural clinics and I am now wondering if you could suggest an organization or magazine for transcriptionists?  Thanks for your help.