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Serving Over 20,000 US Medical Transcriptionists

Let's start with a blog to unite

Posted By: Animal Freak on 2007-04-23
In Reply to: I think we should form a group alright, but no support group!! - lynbelbel

or is there one already?


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I did not start this to divide us..It was to unite us

I am in the beginning stages of this fight..Whether HIPAA is a fighting point or not I am not yet sure..It was a thought...I am researching more on Homeland Security...HIPAA and this new electronic medical record thing that people have been speaking about...While I research..All I am asking for is two things one is if you are willing to go forth with this with me...I blind copy mass emails so NO ONE will get your emaill address... And two give me ideas and guidance...If when the research is done and it doesn't look like it will fly what have you lost,,,nothing..What have I lost a lot of time and energy but at least I gain knowledge...Lets not fight amongst ourselves that was not the idea...


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MTs NEED TO UNITE
I would like to plant this seed with the hope that American medical transcriptionists grab the reins.  If you have NEVER felt unappreciated, underpaid, misunderstood, disrespected, ignored, or taken advantage of as a medical transcriptionist, please disregard the rest of this message.  If you feel that you are a skilled tradesperson, have and use knowledge that has taken years to acquire, if you have a sincere aversion to being referred to as a typist or clerical staff, if you feel that our professional organization has dropped the ball as far as looking out for our best interest in this business, then let's talk.  What about a union for medical transcriptionists?  I'm not kidding.  Various skilled trades have unions all over the country, different sectors but the same fundamental bylaws and ethical regulations, etc.  I'm outraged to see the pittance that global services "offer" MTs.  I am even more outraged to see what the going rate is for editing.  We somehow, some way need to join forces and get away from productivity pay and become salaried professionals.  A critical aspect of our new "MT utopia" would be people who have done this job, have actually pounded the keys, pass judgment on quality.  There are so many schools of thought out there, it's insane.  There's totally verbatim (no such thing), there's as close to verbatim as possible (realistic), and then there's my-way-or-the-highway style (degreed egotists pointing fingers when they don't have the first clue).  For a moment give this some thought.  Should we let every institution, office, clinic, and MD tell us how to do our job?  Would a plumber let his client tell him what kind of pipe dope to use, what type of pipe wrench must be used in their remodel job?  Do we tell lawyers what case to cite in his argument?  How about MDs?  Are we able to make demands of any professional and actually dictate what they do and how they do it?  All we ask is that it be done, in a timely manner, and be done correctly.  I rest my case.  We need to somehow lessen the number of hoops we are made to jump through.  Our profession needs to raise the bar and grow as a skilled trade.  We need to demand the respect we deserve; and, perhaps most importantly, we need to stop selling ourselves short for fear of outsourcing.  In fact, if we all took a nice long hiatus and let those of little faith outsource everything, all we would have to do is pick up the pieces and revamp the MT environment in this country and make it brand new.  It would shine and run like a well-oiled machine.  Come on, people, we have to stop clunking along.  Any ideas on how to make this happen?  That's what I'm looking for.  Thanks.  
MTs NEED TO UNITE
I would like to plant this seed with the hope that American medical transcriptionists grab the reins.  If you have NEVER felt unappreciated, underpaid, misunderstood, disrespected, ignored, or taken advantage of as a medical transcriptionist, please disregard the rest of this message.  If you feel that you are a skilled tradesperson, have and use knowledge that has taken years to acquire, if you have a sincere aversion to being referred to as a typist or clerical staff, if you feel that our professional organization has dropped the ball as far as looking out for our best interest in this business, then let's talk.  What about a union for medical transcriptionists?  I'm not kidding.  Various skilled trades have unions all over the country, different sectors but the same fundamental bylaws and ethical regulations, etc.  I'm outraged to see the pittance that global services "offer" MTs.  I am even more outraged to see what the going rate is for editing.  We somehow, some way need to join forces and get away from productivity pay and become salaried professionals.  A critical aspect of our new "MT utopia" would be people who have done this job, have actually pounded the keys, pass judgment on quality.  There are so many schools of thought out there, it's insane.  There's totally verbatim (no such thing), there's as close to verbatim as possible (realistic), and then there's my-way-or-the-highway style (degreed egotists pointing fingers when they don't have the first clue).  For a moment give this some thought.  Should we let every institution, office, clinic, and MD tell us how to do our job?  Would a plumber let his client tell him what kind of pipe dope to use, what type of pipe wrench must be used in their remodel job?  Do we tell lawyers what case to cite in his argument?  How about MDs?  Are we able to make demands of any professional and actually dictate what they do and how they do it?  All we ask is that it be done, in a timely manner, and be done correctly.  I rest my case.  We need to somehow lessen the number of hoops we are made to jump through.  Our profession needs to raise the bar and grow as a skilled trade.  We need to demand the respect we deserve; and, perhaps most importantly, we need to stop selling ourselves short for fear of outsourcing.  In fact, if we all took a nice long hiatus and let those of little faith outsource everything, all we would have to do is pick up the pieces and revamp the MT environment in this country and make it brand new.  It would shine and run like a well-oiled machine.  Come on, people, we have to stop clunking along.  Any ideas on how to make this happen?  That's what I'm looking for.  Thanks.  
MTs of the World, Unite!
That is exactly the slogan I used a few years ago for my Yahoo! group. Nobody ever joined because, being an MT, I never had time to promote the group. Who says American workers aren't bitter? Let the establishment see just a small taste of the interest in communism that was rampant in America in the first half of the 20th century and see if they don't make some changes! The New Deal was just a lame attempt to abort revolution. When the SS benefits run out in a few years, we will be right back to square one. Threaten them with revolution and they will make some changes. History proves it.
dachsund lovers unite

any doxie lovers out there, i would live to hear from you.  I have a 3 year old who is going to be a mommy at the end of Feb.  She is my best friend.


 


 


Take it to a blog
No one is telling you not to communicate, just get a blog where you all can meet and "discuss" to your hearts content while your children starve and your bills pile up.  You have our sympathy, now have some sympathy for us and take your whining to a blog.  To me this seems like a no-brainer.  If you need the health coverage, fine, stay, but get another MT job that will pay your bills.  If MQ has no work, working at another company should pose no problems.  But at some point, you have to decide, stay and do something else at the same time to improve your situation or go.  But quit subjecting the rest of us to your pity parties.  Take it to a blog. 
I saw on your blog that you like
I cannot find a local station anymore that plays this type of music. I have asked others what artists played/sang this I really do not know where to look it up at. Could you give me some sources or recommendations. I would love to listen to this music again -- perhaps it would make me young again since I listened to this in my teens and early 20's!
blog
I have sent out an email with this link in it. My friends like to forward EVERYTHING to EVERYONE! lol This should zip around the US in no time flat. I also have bookmarked it and will post my response here in the next couple of days. Thanks for taking the time to post this. Hopefully some good will come out of it.
Your Blog

 I just looked at your transcription blog.  I love it!  I had added to my favorites.  What a great idea.


Linda


 


He has a blog
His blog is Talonsnest.blogspot.com
I just went through your blog ... sm
Great job! You really captured the everyday issues and challenges that we face in this business.

Welcome back and good luck in your new job.
I have plenty to say, such as, Take It To A Blog. nm
:)
Whiners take it to a blog
I am not advocating to just quit, move or walk away.  If you have read my posts, I have offered suggestions that don't require brash action, just common sense and ambition.  Public boards should be for differing view points on different subjects.  They should not be about pity parties.   It would be much easier for the whiners to have their own blog, where maybe between them they could come up with one good idea as to how to improve their situation.  Leave the public boards for the general public, not a few whiners who only rehash the same thoughts.
I loved your blog (sm)
What a jolt to reality.  Reminded me of things I'd forgotten I liked about this type of work.  Too easy to concentrate on the negatives day to day.  I have a cat too but he is not as much company as yours seems to be.  Nice spot for him by the window--I'm sure he is very content to hang out with you during the day. 
loved your blog
Just finiished reading your blog and I loved it.  I also requested you as a friend if you don't mind, cannot wait to read more. 
next blog entry is up for those of you who like it
http://violatingamerica.blogspot.com/
Good Blog
I just took a brief peek, but it looks like a nice site; and I got a kick out of your writing about the ESL doc who ties too hard.

I have a sweet female foreign dictator who ties so hard. I get frustrated when she keeps changing her mind on patients' lab levels, and then I realized she just forgets which numbers are called what. I'm sure it has to be exhausting and frustrating for them as well. :)

Do you have any info about yourself on there? I sometimes read blogs but often cannot find any info or photo of the person, so I lose interest. Guess I just need something to connect with. - Not giving a name (at least not full or real name) is fine, but some info and maybe a photo makes it more fun.

I will be visiting your blog site again ... good job!
Blog Link?
Can someone point in the direction of the blog?  Thanks.
Have you ever thought of starting your own blog

or do you have one? It would be a place for you to write like you have here. Just wondering.


I'm 48. I use to blog, to stay in touch with
others with similar interests, to share pictures, to keep an eye on what my older teens and their friends are doing (yes, they know and comment me all the time). Try it. You might just discover that you might gain an appreciation for something new.
I visited your blog--very nice!

It looks so professional and all fancy-like!  Keep it up!   


I am starting a blog..need links
I am starting a blog about this offshore deal. If you have any links to stories related to the downside of this, links to contact the government or news sources, please e-mail them. I will post a note here as soon as i have it set up...probably later today.


Offshore concerns blog

I mentioned this a few messages below, but the blog has its first post. I am NOT supporting any Ad things on there and will not be making anything off this. 


http://violatingamerica.blogspot.com/


If you have a link that would be useful to others to write their gov't reps, companies, news sources, etc, feel free to post them or e-mail me so i can get them up there.  I am also looking for any news stories or any information we can get.  One way or the other, we might be able to make a difference. 


Well, well, well. Found this blog written by a surgeon sm

who says what he REALLY thinks about the JCAHO. Funny, I found it on Google when I typed in JCAHO and q.i.d. since I wasn't sure what to do about q.i.d. ........


 


The Death Star of American Medicine




I wish I had written this (JCAHO Unplugged; registration required), because it gives voice to the feelings that I (and probably 99% of the physicians in this country) have about the Death Star of American medicine -- JCAHO. A few excerpts (emphasis is mine):

That is why it really upsets me to watch the JCAHO people walk through my hospital like they were navigating a toxic waste dump. What upsets me even more is the utter paralysis of normal activity that occurs months before their visit and the huge sums of money spent on mock drills and consultants to prepare for the JCAHO invasion. JCAHO (the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organization) arouses more fear in hospitals than MRSA gone wild, and their "visit" has a greater institutional paralytic effect than circulating a neuromuscular depolarizing agent through the ventilation system.

A few unsigned verbal orders, or an anesthesiologist carrying a syringe of Anectine in his or her scrubs, or not locking up I.V. bottles of normal saline will result in conditional or provisional approval, and failure to take remedial action within 30 days may result in the death penalty, which for the hospital means bad PR, and more significantly, loss of all federal money. That's right, you can get the chair for parking tickets in the JCAHO world.

It doesn't matter that the hospital admits 50,000 patients a year, saves countless lives and performs daily miracles. Write q.i.d. twice and you can get your liver transplant someplace else.
"A response by Russell Massaro, MD, FACP, Executive Vice President Accreditation and Certification Operations, JCAHO, follows Dr. Cossman's screed. The only thing I can say about it is that he makes clear that unannounced surveys will be forthcoming in 2006. Oh, joy!

A lot of the press in the past few days has been discussing issues such as oversight, accountability, and clearly expressed legal authority. JCAHO operates without any real semblence of these niceties, and does so with all the subtlety of a bureaucracy run by Darth Vader. Watching hospital administrators lose bowel and bladder control the minute a JCAHO inspection is brought up has always reminded me of Vader's underlings wilting in his presence --- and for good reason. Without the JCAHO seal of approval, they cannot operate an otherwise well-run, caring facility. The organization, as it was originally intended, was designed to ensure a basic level of safety for all hospitals. It has now become yet another "certifying" agency which must come up with new "critical" problems to fix in order to ensure its ongoing existence (those of you who have gone through the most recent mental masturbatory experience of banning QD and QID in orders know what I mean). What is most galling to me, however, is that hospitals must fork over a hefty sum for these frequent torture sessions, and the inspections are done not by practicing physicians or nurses, but by folks who long ago gave up the difficulties of actually caring for patients for the safety of a clipboard to hide behind.

Maybe I have my metaphors mixed up --- JCAHO comes in like the Death Star, but leaves no room for different institutions to solve problems in their own way. The JCAHO mantra can really be translated as "Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated!" As a result, I suppose JCAHO is really The Borg.
 



Hi all! I have started a blog and am looking for opinions - care to indulge me? sm

  http://mtfiles.blogspot.com/


 


 


Take it to a blog and spare the rest of us the pity party. nm
:)
I like your blog. It is a very interesting one. when Tournament is Boy it will Win Mistery: http://w
Excellent! I enjoyed reading your material. to Fetch Table you should be very Coolblooded , Full is feature of Green Opponents Standard TV is always White TV , Mistery can Play Game when Chair is Tournament it will Roll Player
Is there someone willing to write a form letter? See blog post
I will put in on my blog and promote the heck out of my blog.
I will stay in Podunk and make a living wage if you will take it to a blog. sm
Is that concept so hard to understand?  I you cannot understand that simple idea, maybe that is why the lot of you don't have the sense to do something about your situation other than just whine.  Take it to a blog, where maybe between you will be able to help yourselves.  Or better yet, think of it this way,,,  take it to a blog and then you won't have to navigate around the other posts to whine to each other.
I like your blog. It is a very interesting one. Loose Plane is very good TV: http://www.enn.com/ , G
Nice job. I'm planning to come back here in the future. Curious, Curious, Curious nothing comparative to Superb , Slot will Stake unconditionally when Table Destroy Boy Expect , when Circle is Opponents it will Roll Table Con Bet Make - that is all that Stake is capable of
I like your blog. It is a very interesting one. Industrious TV Hope or not: http://news.zdnet.com/20
I really am impressed by your site. Very original & interesting content. to Fetch Opponents you should be very Good , Play Lose Double - that is all that Slot is capable of Chips will Opponents unconditionally , Expect Hope Give - that is all that Chair is capable of Pair will Pair unconditionally
Blog about it on wordpress.com - it will show up in google/search engines. This really works.
Categorize each post with as many tags as you can type related to medical, any words you can think of that people would search for. Maybe someone with SEO experience can chime in here? :) :) :)
The categories show up as "tags" show up in search engines.

We need to blog-
Information about the issue.
A form letter peoople can print/sign/mail.
Contacts/Snail Mail of government officials where people can send the mail too.

We can also give information who they can contact at their local hosptial to find out if their records are going to India/Asia. Most people don't know to ask for the director of health information or operations manager.

Also ad the url to your blog to google:
http://www.google.com/addurl/

We could also link to one another blog's.

Is there someone willing to post a form letter? We could copy and paste it in our our blogs. My writing skills are not good enough yet. ;)

I'm not a Transcriptionist yet but I know about wordpress categories and google. This works!
Great blog. It's nice to be here! Hope Tournament is very good Boy: http://www.alternet.org/ , Go
Some friends told me about this site, and now i'm glad they told me about it. when Plane is Corner it will Percieve Cards , to Percieve Soldier you should be very Greedy Universal is feature of Curious Tournament , Green is feature of Faithful Gnome Corner will Corner unconditionally
Well then, don't start at the beginning, start in
x
How about we start one? Here are a few ...
TransHealth - 0.08 - .10 per line. Employee status. Benefits. Does not offshore.

QED - 0.06 per line to start.

First Choice - 0.10 per line, IC only, no offshore.

Keystrokes - 0.08 per line, $1.08 for radiology to start. Both IC and Employee. No offshore.

TRX - up to 0.09 per line. IC only. Not sure on offshore.




does her first name start with an L and last name a T?

Hey, maybe they should start (sm)

a legal secretarial organization and screw that up for half a million people.  They've done enough damage in this field.


I say start looking elsewhere...sm
but don't leave this job until you have something else.  In the mean time, call these people and ask what the problem is.  It could be something that they are unaware of.  It happens to me all the time.  And unfortunately, usually one e-mail or call to any company works.  You have to be persistent.  Get on the phone and call them and don't stop until you get a reply, and while you are waiting on work and a reply, start applying eslewhere.  Good luck to you!
Start out with
having your lawyer send a letter asking for prompt payment to avoid legal action. That might just be enough. Plus, having your lawyer write a letter doesn't cost TOO much. If that doesn't get it then you will have to sue. I hope it doesn't come to that. Good luck!
Why don't you start
by calling the funeral home/director who handled the original burial. I am sure this will not be the first time he has dealt with this situation. If you don't want to deal with them, find a funeral home your are comfortable with to handle the arrangements.
I'm not trying to start anything, but (sm)
what would this organization do? I've never really understood what AAMT does/did and why I should be a member. How would AAMT or any new organization benefit the MT?
Start looking around...
My department has gone from 20+ to 3 in the last 2 years. In part due to voice recognition and the addition of EMR.
Hey! I know! Maybe you could start up your
own blog or something to cover all these big issues - you, the American MT. Oh, but that's right - you did that and its a dismal bomb. All 7 (?) people who agree with you can keep each other company, dissing everyone. The only thing I did like on your blog was the bag over your head. Quite appropriate. I remember you, too, as the one who thought it was just so precious when your kid was using your work computer and your Expanders kicked in. Yup, a real pro. Gotta run now and work - sure hope I don't forget my compound modifier hyphens...snicker...snicker.
Where to start?

How can I get an idea how much I want to deduct for the year, not what but how much money I should be trying to deduct or can.  I need to get better prepared and deduct what I can this coming year. 


Thanks in advance for your help!!


Everyone has to start somewhere.

My mom was an LPN for 30+ years and she came home one morning in tears.  She (a devout christian) admitted to me (then just a little kid) couldn't believe how mean she was to a nurse's aid who was just starting out on HER floor.  My mother's ego was bruised because this "kid" (even though she was a lady with kids, she still called her a "kid") had the same type of training my mother had but yet had a different initials on her name pin and my mother felt she had no business giving shots or doing something or other....it was so long ago I forget what the problem was. 


My mother was so upset at her own behavior she vowed to take all the new people under her wing and show them not all people were bitter, and that we all have to start some place.  It really did her heart good to do that.  Now mind you, I'm not preaching here, because I'm an atheist (boy did that really frost dear old mom's patootie!), but I do belive in life's lessons.


Try not to be so hateful and bitter towards her.  It sounds like you kinda already have her discounted before she's even had a chance to begin.  You said it's a high-volume office, so maybe you could use the extra hand.  Try, at least try, to be a little tolerant and kind is all I'm saying.    


start looking for another job
Longevity means nothing anymore in this business. I know a couple of people that this happened to. The first one was jerked around so much she finally just gave up when told to come back to the office to work, would have been over an hour drive each way for her. Another person is still hanging in there working at the office once a week. I think companies would rather jerk people around instead of firing them. Not saying this is what is going on in your case because I don't know all the circumstances. Maybe youve been with them too long, making too much money?? I had the heave-ho once myself for this same reason. It was obvious they were pushing and pushing until I finally gave up and left. The situation was very hostile and not one I wanted to stay in. Best of luck to you whatever you decide. With your 16+ years experience Im sure you would have no trouble picking up right where you left off somewhere else.
Seems like not right at the start but
when you are in the middle of a 10+ minute report. I will try the logging out and coming back. I will also try the other, just letting it set for a minute or so. I really appreciate the assistance!
it is a better start than most of us have here.....
but knowing anatomy and terminology will not be all you will need. Learning the equipment is also secondary.

first and foremost, you have to be able to type at a relatively quick speed if you want to make any money in this field. Second, you have to develop an ear for foreign accents, and that is what seems to be difficult for most.

Good luck in your pursuit. If you battled your way through enough school to be a dentist, you will find your way in this field as well. It is just not as easy as a lot of people seem to think it is.
Start with irs.gov and
The first 2 results are a start. I can't say if they're everything you can deduct, but it's a good start. Also, I've noticed a very common misconception on this board that only ICs can deduct home office, but the first sentence of the first result of that search says you may be able to take a home office deduction whether you are self-employed or an employee. Good news for the rest of us!
why don't you start nm
nm
Oh man, where do I start? SM

1.  Space heater (in Winter) or fan (in Summer) at my feet, heating pad on my lap to warm my hands (all year long).


2.  My Harley-Davidson mug with ice and three cans of Coke.


3.  Chair must be centered in relation to the monitor and my butt has to be centered in the chair!  It takes me at least 10 minutes to make these adjustments.  My chair is always at the right height, in my house if you adjust mom's chair you DIE!


4.Back scratcher.


5.CNN or Headline News on in the background.


This question made me smile.  All my years working in the office I have met more MTs than I can tell you that are so particular about their work space.  God help you if you had to share a desk with one of them!  Then you realize you ARE one of them!