A.S. in Medical Record Technology
Posted By: mtathome on 2006-03-24
In Reply to: Just wondering... - memt
This included a course in Medical Transcription. Went to work in a physician's office. My job title was medical records, but the main component of the job was transcription. This led to later full-time transcription job.
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B. S. in Medical Technology
I worked in a hospital laboratory for 33 years and retired in 2001. I found out about a year later that my husband was losing his medical insurance after he retired on disability and so I had to go back to work. I had dabbled with transcription in the pathology department and so I decided to make it my second career and I just love it. I get to work from home and don't have to deal with the office politics and all the bureaucratic red tape that comes with working at a hospital.
Color me happy!!!! 
Ellen S.
BS in Medical Technology
I worked as a medical technologist (lab tech) in a hospital laboratory for 30+ years before retiring in 2001. I was interested in transcription as a second career so I volunteered to cover the pathology secretary's days off just for the experience.......and here I am and love it. The pay is only half what I made in the lab but there is much less stress and I love working at home. Obviously, my many years in the medical field helped tremendously with terminology but there was still a tremendous amount to learn; it's a continuous learning process. 
50, A.S. in Medical Records Technology.
Of course now that course would be called HIM. Transcription was included. My first job was in a physician's office and consisted of mostly transcription. High school courses were heavy in typing. I do not know that I could contribute to a rebuttle. The company that I just left had mostly older employees. This company just closed. Now I am an IC with about the same pay. I do not believe that there are as many young people entering the profession. Part of that is because it is hard work, and no longer pays well in proportion to other jobs they can train for. Also, who wants to spend money and time training for a job that may be outsourced at any time? The only young people I know going into this profession are doing it because they want to work at home. This once was a good profession to enter, but now things really seem to be going sour.
We have evolve with the technology. MT will simply become ME (medical editors).
What doctor's don't know is that speech recognition still requires A LOT of editing from a Transcriptionist in order for their report to be chart-ready. If we let reports go as they are straight out of the SR software... it just isn't going to happen.
I do strictly SR editing and there is a ton of editing that has to be done to each and every report. There will still be plenty of work, it just depends on how adaptable we can become. Of course, we will have to fight for a decent wage because the natural instinct of management is to want to pay us less, because in their minds we aren't working as hard if we don't have to type every single character in a report. Nevermind the knowledge base we have... but that's a discussion for the future.
if it was in my medical record?
It would depend upon whether or not it could have a negative impact upon my medical care. If the doctor dictated something like, "The patient has diabetes" (when I don't), yeah, I would ask them to correct the record. But for something like what was stated originally ... heck no. Let it stay.
But that's me ... I don't have OCD and I'm not anal retentive about this business like others. Never have been and never will be.
I still think you need to lighten up. There's a lot more to worry about in life than something like that.
It is about CLARITY in the medical record.
It makes the medical record easier to read, which means more accurate patient care
electronic medical record nm
/
Let me tell you about falsifying a medical record
I know first hand it has been done and it was done about me. I had plastic surgery (3 part type) with face lift, tummy tuck and lipo in 2002. The doctor "forgot" to do the face lift. Had paid up front and I asked for the portion of the face lift only returned. He gave me an IOU on his office station but then later would not pay me and get this --- 8 months after the surgery he dictated my report, put in the face lift like he had done it along with the other. Now most people would say well, maybe he got you and someone else confused. Not so- this same physician who was head over the plastic at the hospital called me personally at my home, not through his office, but him personally twice in a threatening like voice when I tried to take thru mediation. I worked inhouse at the time and rather than risk my job, I left it up to Karma. This actually happened to me. I went to the lady over medical records, I worked in the same department, and told her exactly what had happened and she said I could write a note to put in the front of the chart disputing it had been done. Unbelievable, huh?
Protective of the US medical record???
She employed offshore MTs...how protective could she have been? Are you kidding me?
The actual medical record contains
those things you mention. The dictated report sometimes does, not that is not often. Some facilities, however, do have the physician dictate everything imaginable and even if it is 1 out of every 10, that is still too much info to let out.
I think that is very unprofessional for a medical record. nm
x
EMR (electronic medical record) and voice
Yes, they are pushing to make medical records electronic, instead of a paper chart. That doesn't affect MTs. We still transcribe reports and instead of the reports being printed and filed in a paper chart, they are part of the electronic record and can be accessed at any computer in the hospital , for instance. The doctor can sit at the nursing station and pull up all the dictated reports, the lab, radiology reports, etc.
Voice recognition, of course, is something different. There is no one saying that VR has to be used by 2012. That's simply an alternate way of getting the dictation onto the EMR.
Big deal is legal, medical record which should be the
truth, not a made up report. Medical records are supposed to stand in court just as a sworn statement, that is all. I like the truth and that is the way I try to live my life, not a bunch of falsehoods. I guess others can live on lies if they want.
The electronic medical record has replaced MTs at my job..it's all over!
My job has been scanning all the medical records over to electronic medium and the doctors are now taking laptops in the exam room with them and typing in all the info, so basically, my job will be obselete once this transition is over. 
Our boss has been doing a comparison of the clinics who now have the electronic medical record--those docs went from dictating thousands of lines in a weekly period to less than 50!!! Of course this is a tremendous difference and it's "lights out" for us MTs. We've got about a good year before it's all done.
Have any of you been affected by this new technology?
P.S. I didn't care so much anyhow...I hate this industry and this job, so I've been looking for other employment anyhow.
i personally would not want my boss typing my medical record either
nm
ALL of the clinics I work on use SS #s as medical record numbers, and many of them cc to the
patient at their home address, which is conveniently typed at the bottom of the report. Seems pretty straight-forward to us, then why can't the govt figure this out and put a stop to it?
Approve what? The information used is already part of the medical record and, therefore,...sm
has already been approved or authenticated or whatever one wants to call it.
again, making medical record digital does not affect us.
nm
Have MTSO's or IC's all become electronic medical record suppliers as well as transcription pr
I've been an IC for over thirty years and the medical offices are now asking me if they can search for old records? What, they don't keep their own records anymore? Do all MT companies now offer searchable databases on their company servers for the physician's staff or do they install databases on the physician's computers for this sort of thing? I've been asked to provide this and I'm thinking "wow, can't the office staff open word and find the appropriate folder and file?" Is this now a standard item offered by MTSO's? What happened to medical office management software? Are transcription companies now becoming electronic medical records suppliers? If so, please let me know.....If so I've become a dinosaur!
Yep, it is new technology. Anywhere you can
get cell phone signal, you can get service. I am sure it will get better.
What a world to live in these days. I didnt want to spend the whole summer indoors, so I got it.
It is just combersome (however you spell that word) to lug around foot pedal, headphones, etc. lol
Not to mention the books if you need one, but it gets me out for a couple of hours a day with the kids.
ASP technology
i would recommend looking into an ASP if you are not great with computers. They make things pretty easy and do all the "tech" work for you. We use Medikin, I would say check it out ... and GOOD LUCK! :)
Technology
I used to fear for our profession...rumors of voice recognition technology, then decided to embrace it, not fight it. Times will always change. I jumped on the bandwagon, and am speaking reports, not typing them, and am up to almost 500 lines/hour. We can either spend all our time worrying, or we can use our God-given intelligence to make changes work for us.
No it isn't the same. Technology
seems to have stolen some of the personal touches.
I am not laughing at the technology.
At this point, at least to my understanding, the health insurance industry and Joint Commission require detailed documentation,especially the insurance companies who love to quibble on what they'll pay. When the detailed documentation is no longer being required and standard text and check off systems are used, the docs have no way to cover their butts. Let a few of them be sued for malpractice because they have no detailed proof of exact treatment, and we'll see just how wonderful this mobile system works. The insurance companies will be in an uproar over the judgements they are paying out.
Right-it has nothing to do with keeping up with technology... sm
if it means compatibility with a company platform.
technology smarter than you think
An advert for *TAKE THIS MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTION COURSE AND START A NEW CAREER!* was sifted into my junk email box.
could mass producers be using technology? (sm)
A friend once told me (a man, of course - haha) I should be using VR personally, for my own work at a national company. I considered it, but did not have the time (or money) to invest; however, I have noticed a couple of posts on here regarding such. Something about the dragon- dragone, not sure what it is called, but I do think there are individuals using the technology, as employees. I mean, why not really...
If MTs are using it personally, if it were to catch on, couldn't that cut out the work force significantly? What if companies supplied us with it, wow, we would just be editing all day long, how hard could that be? Lines would be gobbled up.
Not that I am accusing this person of doing that, but if she is, it would definitely explain how there are people making huge bucks in the MT world.
Perhaps that is what it will come down to...weeding out about 1/2 of us ??
It's called technology and progress.
Things change. It's been happening since the beginning of time.
Does anyone suppose that with all the advances in technology that
there might be some more companies willing to take those MT's who only have satellite in the future? There are so few now. Really limits a person's options. Wadyathink? MTSO's - any response??
If you doubt progressive technology, remember
We've gone from typing in WP51 from cassette tapes, looking up words in a library of books rather than on Google, printing our own work and delivering it by courier to transcribing dictation directly into EMRs via internet-based software that was recorded on palm pilots. The extent of technology that we've seen in such a short time to me is amazing and scary at the same time. I also would like to think that there will be a long-term demand for editors (I am one), but common sense tells me to start thinking about a different avenue.
Anyone have exp with Vscript platform by MT Medcore Technology?
I just left EMDAT Inscribe and don't want a repeat of a horrible platform. Thanks for ANY information!
Technology has made it so much easier for dishonest people to
take advantage of others. On the internet you can be Miss America, you can be a millionaire, you can be a movie star, you can be anything you want to tell people you are and these services are a breeding ground for people like this.
No thanks.
I'll size people up in person, at face value like anyone should who has nothing to hide.
Normal people don't have to resort to hiding themselves behind a monitor.
It's better sound for one thing. C-phones are just old dinosaur technology.
x
I remember doing secretarial work on those old typewriters. I can't imagine MT w/o technology.
Every year technology makes my job easier. Google, internet dictation, spell checks, expanders. I can't remember the last time I opened a reference book. Direct deposit. Banking on line. I can't remember the last time I was actually inside a bank. Love the technology for MTs and payment process.
I do remember standing in line to get check cashed on Friday at lunch when I was a secretary in medical office. Ughh. I do remember having to get all dressed up to sit in an office w/o windows, too hot in the winter and too cold in the summer, to type and file. Ughhh. I remember lines of traffic going into town to get to work and then trying to find a place to park close to the building. Ughh.
Lovin the new things/gadgets to make my life easier and don't look back with any regrets for the "good old days"
Just one thing though. I wish we were paid according to 2005 cost of living standards. What's up with that?
Babies looking for attention.They have the technology of the Woodroow Wilson administration.
They'll get some kind of concession and go back and try to think of another way to get money out of us. Happens all the time.
I would buy new a Dorland's Medical Dictionary, Stedmans Medical and Surgical Equipment...SM
and Tessier's The Surgical Word Book, 3rd edition. Books you could buy used I would say would be Stedman's Pathology and Lab Medicine and Cardiology/Pulmonary word book. These are all the books I use the most during my day. You could buy other speciality word books as you need them and could probably go used with those.
I wouldn't bother with buying a drug book, new editions come out every year and I just stick to the FDA website and RXList as my drug references.
Also FYI, not a book, but I use my Stedman's Electronic Medical Dictationary a lot. It's easier to open the program than it is to pick up a huge 30-pound dictionary.
common sense dictates you read the writing on the wall. technology has made you obsolete.
and the government has seen to it that american workers are no longer necessary and allows business to outsource many middle income jobs.
Medical Transcription In The Era Of Electronic Medical Records
EMR has revolutionized the healthcare industry in recent times. Many experts felt that EMR & Voice Recognition would totally replace Medical Transcription - however; the industry soon realized that transcription has certain advantages over point & click charting and many physicians preferred to dictate notes rather than document the data at the point of care themselves.
For the record,
the solo-practices and smaller offices are outsourcing to the hospitals...
can anyone set the record for
My record is around 45. Right now i'm on a report that is up to about 23. Talk about toxic!
re-record
If re-recording to digital, pretty easy. Play either in handheld or transcriber, and use either computer or digital handheld to capture. Just need the connecting cord between two units - can get at Radio Shack.
expunging record
Just a thought -- a friend had a felony from years ago expunged from her record -- but background checks from then on noted the expungement on her record -- which raised red flags in itself.
another broken record...
me too. It absolutely befuddles me that anyone would be trying to get INTO this field, especially with all the ominous signs that are right out there for anyone to see. I think new moms with babes are just blinded by the idea of "working at home" and can't see the competition they are facing. Me, I am in nursing school... not an easy job by any means...but I'll be good at it and will find my niche quickly and will always have a job! My biggest account is making noise about getting a VR system. If I wasn't in nursing school, I would be having a panic attack instead!
How did he get his record cleared?
You mentioned that he has a "clean record." I still have this thing on from 11 years ago. Did he have to do something in particular to clean his record or did it just drop off?
We all make dumb mistakes at some time in our lives, eh? LOL
Med Record Retention
That's a very broad question. It's my understanding that the answer depends on the State and the age of the patient at the time of service. Liability required juvenile records be kept forever since it used to be a base could be brought when the injury was first noticed, and that could be well into the adult years.
You have to record to the computer
Get a program like GoldWave (I think goldwave.com). You can buy a plug that goes one end in the transcriber and the other in the computer. One end goes in the transcriber earpiece plug and the other goes in the computer microphone plug.
Then play the transcriber while using Goldwave (or whatever) to record from the microphone input. It creates a WAV file or whatever you specify.
LOL. Did you tell your doctor so he could record it? - NM
NM
That particular patient's record
is still confidential information, thus protected. Who knows, there may be contributing factors about that other patient and that is why the name was mentioned. Either way, if it was dictated to be transcribed and fits with the account specs, it is to be transcribed. I've worked for companies that did and did not allow patient and other names in their records, sometimes it just depends on what the client wants.
Public record
http://www.fbodaily.com/archive/2009/05-May/30-May-2009/FBO-01829906.htm
http://www.fbodaily.com/archive/2009/05-May/30-May-2009/FBO-01829905.htm
These 2 companies were just awarded all of VISN 7. Not sure exactly where the split is. Look on VA website for hospitals make up VISN 7.
Why don't you set the record straight Ms. AAMT?
Why are you sooooooo defensive?
Setting the record straight
You purchased an IN-155 foot pedal for compatiblility with DVI VoiceWav. (We have sold nearly 1,000 of these with zero returns.)
When you called our toll free 800 number for support we told you that the problem was not the pedal and was either the software you were using or your computer. Reluctantly, we agreed to do an exchange for you. (FYI, when your first pedal came back to us it worked absolutely perfectly and still does. In fact it is plugged into the same computer I am typing on at this moment. It has been tested daily since it came back with no problems).
Now, you voice incorrect information on MTStars. Your problem is in your computer.
Please feel free to call us yet again if this is not clear to you.
Tom Wilkes
President
Executive Communication Systems
(800) 644-9525, ext. 101
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