AAMT (informal poll)
Posted By: equineluvr on 2008-10-12
In Reply to:
Of course, any poll conducted here would be unscientific, but still I would like to find out if others hold the same opinion.
Twenty-some-odd years ago, when I first got into medical transcription, there seemed to be a lot of energy in the air and the scuttlebutt was that AAMT was going to help us get unionized. This would not only increase our pay but help us gain some respect/credibility (as several clinical professions were already unionized) and afford us some job security. A few years later I became a member of AAMT and eventually earned my certification.
As an AAMT member, reading the journal and eventually the website, I *NEVER* had the impression that they were true advocates for us MTs. What I DID get a sense of was their pandering to the big companies. And I always thought that the dues were very high for most working MTs. Nevertheless, I enjoyed reading the journal with its interesting industry-related articles, quizzes, and ads.
Now of course AAMT has been replaced by Association for Health Documentation and Integrity, which I think it is a poor choice for a name. For one thing, it's entirely too long. Secondly, "American" has been completely removed from the title (reflecting its globalist philosophy, which as an American really pisses me off!).
Of course, the whisperings about unionizing NEVER came to fruition. And our wages have not only not risen commensurate with inflation but have been STAGNANT, with many of us working at the same rate we made years ago.
Recently I learned that it was AHDI who came up with the "industry-wide standard recommendation" that MTs only be paid for the black characters sans spaces, which results in ~30% decrease in our pay. Many hospitals have implemented this pay structure -- certainly several hospitals here have.
Finally -- and this is the last thing stuck in my craw -- if AAMT had DONE THEIR JOB way back when and launched a nationwide campaign to educate PATIENTS on the importance of obtaining copies of their medical records and checking them for accuracy, it would have benefitted us greatly. Patients would start complaining to their hospitals and doctors' offices about errors in reports, and that would have put the emphasis back on QUALITY. That would have prevented what we are seeing today with crap transcriptions coming back from India by those who don't even understand English.
So, here are the informal and unscientific poll questions:
Do you think AAMT/AHDI did their best as advocates for us and our profession, yes or no? If you answered no, why not? What do you think they should they have done differently or better?
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Is there an organization (informal, not like AAMT) for radiology MTs?
Just wondering....I think it would be nice to be able to communicate with other rad MTs.
In an informal way, yes. SM
Because we all change jobs a lot, we all run into what seems like the same people wherever we go. For the most part, people come and go unnoticed, BUT if you have a blowout with a supe/manager, that's a different ballgame altogether.
There is no official list of people not to hire, but the names of some who are difficult to work with are known by the recruiters and hiring management.
I agree - comma if it's informal nd first name is used
and colon if they use the last name. (Dear Dr. Martin: or Dear John,). That's what I've always been told.
Oh, someone benefits from AAMT - AAMT DOES!
x
POLL
Ok, we know what we are unhappy about in this business. LET'S TAKE A POLL. In 4 lines or less, what would be your ideal Transcriptionist job? No flames please. Just list the important factors that would make you want to go to bat for a company. Include pay plan also. Thanks. 
re:poll
Consistent, steady amount of work on the same one or two accounts, you know, the ones you know so well you can do them in your sleep?
Pay that makes you feel like getting up and hitting the keys each day.
For at home MT's, at least some feedback from office ie: what's going on, who's new/old etc, instead of calling in, asking for someone only to find out they jumped ship....ooops, I've run over my line allotment
Poll
1. To be treated with RESPECT and shown appreciation.
2. To work 1 account with less than 500 ESL doctors in order to have some consistency and become familiar with your doctors and then maybe be able to achieve your line count.
3. To be paid for your actual lines typed and not what they think you should be paid for.
4. To be informed of what is going on in the company by your supervisor or other higher up and not have to come to this board for information.
POLL
Curious as to what many of my fellow old-timers in this field may be telling the newbies and/or wannabies coming into this profession. Personally, I'm getting out. Too much disrespect and flat out ingratitude by the doctors and allied health care professionals alike. I worked so hard to get where I'm at, and have precious little to show for it.
Therefore, I discourage new people from entering this profession. STRONGLY! What do you say on the matter? Answer: (Your letter is enough on the reply.)
A. I strongly discourage newbies entering the field.
B. I somewhat discourage newbies entering the field.
C. I have no opinion. Too tired.
D. I say go for it, but feel sorry them.
E. I highly encourage them. Things will be well for them, and different but good.
Opinions, anyone?
That has nothing to do with the poll.
It wasn't meant to be democrat against republican or liberal against conservative. It was only a question to see what people would rather see their tax dollars spent on. Both parties pay taxes. I'm just curious as to what means more to people....taking care of those in poverty whether by their own choice or not OR taking care of those who are already wealthy and paying for things that we could not afford to have for ourselves like million-dollar pensions.
POLL - sm
Can anyone else not type well if their nails are long? I have to keep mine trimmed short....anyone else type better like this or does it not matter how long they are? Just curious if it's just me.
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What would you go into if you left the MT field with this being your only skill, in your late to early 40s, and having a high school diploma?
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I really would like to know. I dont want to do this anymore.
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Poll
I went to court reporting school many years ago. My husband (at that time) paid for it. He also put me through flight school. Like I said, I do VR editing for half. I have no money. Just to be able to pay for coding school (I intend to go to Andrews), will be a struggle. No fun, but this is my reality. What to do? Suck it up and move on! 
let's take a poll
I am ticked about something that I probably should just forget about and count my blessings. I work at home usually until about 5 or 5:30 pm. My husband comes home from work at 4 pm. He does not even say hello or give me a peck on the cheek let alone a hello smack on the lips. He thinks I should get up out of my chair and quick working for a little bit if I want attention. Anyone else in this same boat?
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Why not compromise? He speaks when he comes in. You stop for 2 (TWO) minutes to respond and then get back to work. Both happy!
Poll - Ever since I saw that - sm
commercial where the woman was cleaning her kitchen with chicken leg, I have switched to using a dishcloth instead of a sponge. That was the most disgusting commercial .... Anyway, what to you all use? Cloth or sponge, or other? Just curious, as it takes time to get use to using something other than a sponge.
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Psychiatry is easy - ophthalmology, denistry and vet - hardest.
poll
Easiest: ER and psychiatry.
Hardest: Cardiology and anything by a mumbler or an individual with a REALLY HEAVY accent.
Poll:
It's whatever you make of it. I've known women who thought it was slavery, and ones who thought it was the pinnacle of their job life. It is what you make of it. Intensely personal experience. I've found that people who are true word geeks feel fulfilled by the learning experience. People who do it cuz they HAVE to, generally will hate it no matter what, because then it IS the equivalent of slavery.
POLL: What is your cat/dog's name?
I have 2 dogs, Bandy and Molly, and a cat, Katielynn.
POLL
All the posts about proofing as you go versus proofing when you finish got me to thinking. One poster mentioned something about having the TV on while working. I'm guilty of that myself sometimes. I don't usually keep the TV on my entire shift but I like to have it on part of the time. Usually toward the end of my shift I'll turn the TV to make it seem a little less lonely. I work second shift and everyone has gone to bed before I finish work. Sometimes I just like a little background noise. Unfortunately, sometimes something interesting will come on and I stop to turn around and watch.....sometimes too long. That usually only happens when something VERY IMPORTANT is one like American Idol. Eating is another habit I do too often while working. Or throwing in a load of laundry in the washer/dryer. Oh, and cooking. What else do you do while working? I know my wheels are always spinning about what else I need to be doing.....what to have for dinner.....what needs to be done before I go to bed.....what I need to do tomorrow..... Or cooking and talking on the phone, helping with homework, etc., etc. Let's not forget being on MTStars while working. LOL. These days it is hard to do just one thing at at time, isn't it????
ANOTHER POLL
 What are your favorite TV shows? Do you have favorites that you will never miss? There are regulars that I tape daily/weekly (unless it is a rerun):
- Young and the Restless
- Bold and the Beautiful
- Grey's Anatomy
- Desperate Housewives
- New Adventures of Old Christine
- American Idol
- ER
- Scrubs
I also have other favorites, but I don't go to the trouble of taping them. Only so many hours in a week! Some of my other favs are the dating shows, Oprah, Tonight Show, Paula Deen, and those entertainments shows like Extra, etc.
POLL
I would have to say this week on this board the word "troll". Seeing that word so many times a day is getting on my nerves more than the posts the "trolls" post. At least what the "troll" is posting is something different to read. Of course, then there are a few other overused words/phrases:
- like
- you know what I'm saying?
- IMO
- cool
- actually
- basically
- brangelina
- jen and ben
- awesome
- most curse words
- to be honest......
- git-er-done (hate that one)
- how's that working for you?
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Dog-Rojam 14-year-old black lab retired guide dog--named after his sponsor's grandchildren--Rose and James. Dog-Daisy--golden. Cat-Charlie. Cat-Skoshi-Japanese for "little"
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x
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My cat is Dorothy.
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Same here. I was comfortable working for a smaller company until they lost the account I was working on. I was there for 2 years and happy for the most part. Since then it has been down hill. I have held a part-time job for the last 6 months and have tried others only to quit after a week or in one case a day. I have been taking a lot of temp jobs. I would love to find one full-time great job again.
Concerning the poll
This may an odd question but who do you work for? The last time I did QA I was paid $15/hr. Took a few years off and now doing MT/Editing work. I need to find a QA job again. Any suggestions?
MT Poll...
How many years have you been an MT, and what's your longest run at the same company....
I've been an MT for 11 years....the past 8 with the same company.
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In view of the increased cost of gasoline, housing, medical care, now heating and electric, when it comes to the tax dollars coming from YOUR income, would you prefer it go to:
A.) Those on welfare due to bad choices, those on welfare because they refuse to work, those on welfare due to unwed pregnancy, or those receiving governmental aid due to just being elderly and unable to work, or due to catastrophic illnesses or events such as Katrina.
or
B.) Those elected officials to use for their wives' tummy tucks, their children's daycare, their expensively catered business meetings with other elected officials (including water at $500 a case), their tax-funded trips with their families as "staff", and their million-dollar tax-funded pensions.
Time to take a poll
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KWIK POLL
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MT POLL Question
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POLL: Any SE had IRS problems?
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Okay, here's a poll. see inside.
Who has the best pipes, Barbra or Celine? Personally, neither is my cup of tea, but I listen to the radio at work a lot and I have to admit, Celine just knocks Barbra out of the water as far as power and range and just about every other way. Let the voting begin! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!
Work poll
 How's the work flow today. Back to normal from the holiday or same old same shortage?
Poll: MT Job Satisfaction
Here is another poll. I would like to hear from anybody with MT experience, but I am especially interested to hear from MTs with 10+ years experience.
If you had to do it over again, would you still have gotten into the field of MT?
Poll: Where you work
Do you work for:
--a national
--smaller MTSO
--hospital/clinic
--self-employed
Poll: Age/Sex of current MTs
My theory is that the majority of MTs working today are in their 40s or 50s and are female.
Am I correct? We shall see....
RE: Poll: Age/Sex of current MTs
Divorced, age 52, male, long-time Transcriptionist (>15 years)
Poll: What is the best vactation you have ever been on? Where and
nm
this poll could never be "accurate"
there are too many variables. There are people who type fast and people who type slow. There are newbies and there are MT's who know more than some residents. There is clinic work and there is acute care. If you ask the 8 cpl MT's about those factors as well you might be able to find out whatever it is you are looking for.
FUN POLL: How many of you have a drink
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FUN POLL: How many of you have a drink
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Drinking Poll
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Poll: If you could only pick one.....
If you could only pick one each of a medical book and an online reference, which would you choose? Mine would be Stedman's Medical Dictionary for the book and onelook.com for my online reference.
POLL: How many MTs have quit a
company after working for them only a couple of days?
I would like to take a quick poll...
Just for the sake of making myself feel better. Have any of you switched jobs frequently in the last 5 years while trying to find a nice "fit." I would like to look for a new job but just hate how it would look in my resume. I have had 3 jobs in 2 years and just can't seem to fine my niche. Anyone else move around like that trying to find a home?
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