Everyone has to take care of their family, but your last comment
Posted By: is what you probably need to (sm) on 2006-12-04
In Reply to: My main reasons for looking to enter any job are: - sm please..
focus on the most. You'll want to get absolutely everything you possibly can out of the college you attend. Take nothing for granted. Check out the reputation of the nursing college to make sure they have no complaints. When you get to your internship, ask your preceptors a lot of questions. NO question is dumb. That is was the preceptor is there for. To help you be the best RN that you can be. My husband is a preceptor and has worked with MANY, MANY, MANY new incoming RNs over the years. He hears all sorts of questions and he very patiently answers every one of them. If you have a good preceptor, that person will patiently walk you through the proper care of a patient, what to do when a patient crashes, universal precautions, hospital policy, charting, etc. Nursing is a very fulfilling career choice for the right person.
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Anybody care to comment on the following:
I work in a transcription office with 3 other MTs, plus myself and a clerk. One MT insists on having her radio playing out loud on her desk. She has her headset on and the radio is playing. She cannot obviously listen to it while simultaneously trying to transcribe accurately ..... agree? I feel it is inconsiderate of this MT to keep her radio on while others are trying to concentrate on their work. The boss higer up is a wimp and knows about it but has not done anything "yet". Suggestions please ..... 
family is family wheter 3 or 8 sm
i live in MA and $1200-$1400 a month is what good health insurance costs, ie $20-$40 copays. it was just passed into law that if you live in MA you have to have medical insurance so without being self-employed, you can go right to BCBS etc and get a plan directly from the major health insurace companies, but for a family plan and a decent income bracket, forget it. the prices are outragous. right now my husband pays $120 a week for family plan and this is after his employer pays 30% of the total cost. we have $20 copays, but we have a $2000 individual deductable per year with a $4000 family deductible cap. so when my daughther needed her tonsils out, $2000 and when my son broke his arm, $2000. someone on this board has to be able to tell you what they pay for insurance through their company as an employee. good luck.
Kinship care versus foster care/adoption
Having been placed in a position where I now have custody of my 3 YO granddaughter and going through the legal system, I sought an online network of relative caregivers for children. I would encourage you, especially since you are in Georgia, that if you take any children into foster care with the idea of adopting them, there is federal law that requires the state to take certain actions in a specific time frame. When a child is removed from it's bio parent(s), the state is required to investigate any possible relatives who can take the child before foster care is considered, but even before that, reunification with the parents is the priority. Once a child enters the system and is in the system for 15 out of any 22 months, the state is required to find permanent placement for the child.
The problem with this is that there are case workers who may favor a foster family and do not seek out relative care. I have a good friend in Georgia who had to fight all the way to the state level to get custody of her grandson after the child was placed from the hospital into a foster care home with the promise that the foster parents would be allowed to adopt. She has now adopted her grandson, but it was a long, hard battle to get the state to admit their own interests were placed above those of the child and/or family.
If you get a child placed through the state, please make certain there is not a relative who wants that child before you get your hopes up. The courts are now favoring return of children to relatives even after a child has spent years with a foster family who hoped to adopt them.
States get bonus federal funds by complying with the time lines and being able to close the case, so some states place children in foster care because it is easier than trying to locate relatives.
Didn't mean to go off on a tangent, but I can't imagine my sweet bella going to someone outside her family.
If it was a clinic, it might have been urgent care, but it was NOT acute care. sm
Acute care refers to work in an acute care setting, a hospital, doing at least History and Physicals, Discharge Summaries, Consultations, Surgery notes, Emergency Department notes, and much more, including GI procedures, Cardiology procedures, Neurological procedures, Pulmonary Function Studies. It goes on and on and it means and acute care hospital setting, not a clinic.
I always figure if they don't care about their dictation, they probably don't care about their
nm
Dont care how many languages you took. Care
x
QA comment
I just wanted to say a few things from the world of QA. There are some MTs who get dictators the likes of which I just cannot even describe as far as ESLs. Oh my. My heart just bleeds for you all - I mean it. I don't know how you do it, the dictators are that awful. But most of you MTs who get these language-murdering dictators struggle and persevere thru usually endless reports. It IS noticed, though you might think its not. Not that peon QA people can do anything for you, but I do notice and applaud you. And I DO mention names of these MTs to account managers on a regular basis, praising their effort on these impossible dictations. Don't know if it helps, but I like to believe it does! On the flip side, there are other MTs who are just a disgrace to our profession - they're not learning or new (we can tell). They are simply lazy and sloppy, making the most horrendous careless STUPID mistakes one can even imagine. Sometimes my mouth just hits my desk in horror. And I just shake my head and wade in and fix the entire report myself - that's what I'm there for, right? And for those who take offense that some mistakes are stupid - well, there are some that are stupid! No questions are stupid, but mistakes sure can be! I wish all of you could see firsthand what is out there as far as the quality of MTs. I know you would be amazed at the disparity between MTs. And we ALL makes mistakes, yes, but its how you handle them that counts. I try to be so kind and respectful to all with my corrections, even the lazy sloppy ones. So many MTs are so sweet and write back and thank me for the help, which is totally not expected, while the lazy ones write back screaming at the injustices of their errors! Or they call the president of the company screaming in indignation! Its a shame - I could give dozens of examples of absolutely incredible lazy not-thinking mistakes, but I would never want to embarass someone who I probably QA'd and who might read my post. I never want to hurt a soul, but really wish some MTs would just think while they were transcribing. Some MTs do try so hard - and with all the odds stacked against them by the dictators from outer space! Just my rambling thoughts at the start of a long night shift in QA-land!
Comment
Please also check borderline personality disorder on the internet. True bipolar has fairly long periods of either mania or depression and cycles. Bipolar is more ongoing pervasive personality of poor coping skills and conflicted interpersonal interactions.
My advice is to realize there is probably nothing you can do to help them or change them other than altering the way YOU deal with THEM for the good of your own mental health!
Comment
Not sure why you needed the computer as I am assuming you already had a computer and the equipment? Most computers with fairly new Windows system would work okay. I personally feel the rental fee is kind of a bad idea in the long run at $48.00 a month. Sounds like you may need a phone line again unless you can get wireless. You'll have to talk to tech, I guess.
As far as learning and training, are you on DQS?
comment
With any job anymore be it MT or something such as an engineer, there is no such thing anymore as job security. I myself am 27 having 7 years experience as an MT. I actually got started in MT after my first year of college as I wanted something part-time . . so much for that:) Do I moan and groan sometimes about work, sure, we all do either if you are an MT or not, but at this point in my career I am confident that if I do not feel that I am getting enough work to provide myself with a wonderful life and not just getting along that I can submit my resume with confidence that I will find something to suit my needs.
can you say what the comment was?
I think it was the comment
that you type fast that got everyone's goat. Being an MT is just not that simple and hardly something to just learn on the sly for some "extra money." By the way, most of us at-home MTs actually started out in the workforce and got enough experience to BE ABLE to work from home, not the other way around.
Thanks for the comment but this is...
exactly what I mean. It is like there are those in this field that think just because you can pick on an error "clarity" vs "clearity" it makes you better then the next. I will admit I am not the best speller or and expert in grammer but I am not DUMB and no one should be made to fell that way. Especially if I am looking to the QA for guidance.
COMMENT
Hayseed, Aren't you the gal who did 1700 lines in 6 hours or something like that? In that case, it's likely you wouldn't have any problem making their quota. But, how about that hourly rate? Will they be saving money by putting you on hourly, will you be making more money than when you were doing MT work? Ask for all the details in writing, would be my advice. Ask them to also state, in writing, if you can return to MT if you don't like QA. Congratulations and good luck!!
Comment
This is a good solution; it puts it in their face, so to speak. I've heard that people have to hear or see something an average of 3 times before it sinks in. If they receive no feedback, they think everything is okay or totally horrible, depending on their own point of view (this is for all people in all aspects of life; I suspect that doctors will just assume that everything is okay). If they receive negative feedback with a smile, they tend to believe that improvement is optional. A more dramatic, serious approach is necessary.
Comment
My situation may be a little bit different from yours, but you are not alone, and ER reports seems to be the main star.
I don't have any answers, but I'm kind of in the same boat with you. I have been working on an account that has all worktypes. I begin working very early in the morning, when I might be the only one working on this account. The ER reports supposedly have top priority, right after the stat reports. My problem is that lately I've noticed that once I complete all stat reports and am getting to the good stuff--the ER reports, whoever is managing the queue changes the priority of the more difficult OP reports and consultations, so that they float to the top of the queue, above the ER reports. This maneuver would sometimes make sense, but the account specs are such that the ER reports have top priority.
So, then, it takes several more hours to get to the ER reports, at which time there are so many workers on board that I end up getting 1 or 2 ER reports. I've lately gone from making over $22/hour to a mere $7/hr. I feel like I've been messed with, simply because I really got used to the account the way it used to be and now someone has come along and purposely made it more difficult for me. I have the option of signing off, changing my hours, or going elsewhere. I do have another interview pending after successfully completing the testing at another company. I know that the grass is not always greener, but there is a limit to what type of treatment that I will tolerate.
Comment
I agree with you.
This situation seems to be the end result of long years of MTs trying to do their best, while plugging along and accepting the treatment of the facilities, that filtered down to them through the MTSOs, who may or may not be addressing the issues of bad dictators with the facilities, for fear of losing the contracts. I believe, it is the job of those who have direct contact with the doctors (i.e., those at the facility in the HIM dept). According to what I have observed, they are not doing this job, and are either clueless, don't care, or enjoy this special power of oppressing the workforce from afar. It also seems that they are not required to properly train their dictating clinicians. Some of them are very active, however, in checking reports for proper comma use and such details, and do not hesitate to contact the MTSO to complain when the MT left out a comma, or failed to select the proper date of service on the header, failed to read the doc's mind and did not realize that when he/she coughed in a certain way, it was a clue that he/she wanted a copy sent to Dr. Joe Doe, etc. Of course, they actually do not pay for headers and footers and they do not provide the MT with enough information to fill in all the details on the header and footer.
I have an egg timer. I spend exactly 3 minutes trying to figure out a blank or the correct name for a doctor that requires a courtesy copy, etc. If I cannot accomplish this in 3 minutes, given the lists that I have been provided or internet resources, the report gets a blank and it is sent to the QA department to figure it out. Each report gets a grand total of 5 minutes for multiple look ups of blanks that are the fault of the dictator or due to me not having enough information to fill in headers, footers, consulting doctors, etc. If it is my fault because I do not know the terminology, and the word was dictated clearly, I will take more time researching. If the MTSO wants to address the issues of poor quality dictators/dictations with the facility, that is their choice.
If I were to have my own accounts, I would hope to have a deep pool to draw from so that I could include sanctions for such difficulties in my contract with the option of discontinuing service to those who proved to be so difficult. However, I do not wish to be a dreamer, and don't think such deep pools exist, at least not in my part of the country, so I haven't even tried this option of having my own accounts.
Comment
I"m not sure I understand your comment, and I am not here to debate, but the account that I work on has plenty of difficult dictators, as well as plenty of easier dictators, comparatively. My point was that you cannot depend on what type of report you will get at any given moment; there is no picking and choosing and the next in line might just change due to major shuffling. It is not predictable by worktype either. Whether there is plenty of work depends on how many MTs are working at the time, whatever jobs have been added to the pool, etc. There is often no work during third shift.
Comment
Don't let the naive and trusting cause you frustration. It will be their loss in the end. Per the well-known phrase--The only way for evil to prevail is when people do nothing or continue to choose to remain blind and trust and support those who have proven themselves to not be worthy of trust.
Comment
Unfortunately, the "come around" part does not happen automatically; action is required in order to stimulate a reaction. I admit to being part of the movement to treat doctors as regular human beings and requiring them to respect us as human beings, as well.
If you don't want to comment so be it...sm
You don't know me, I don't know you. I didn't see the harm.
wry comment
Maybe TravelinMT was just "wryly" commenting. How did I know she had been out of work? If so, why wasn't she commiserating with me, instead? Why did she even bother to read the post or comment at all? I was simply asking for advice, not trying to step on anyone's toes. I am in no way feeling sorry for myself. I am actually working, but will probably be out of a job in several months, so am searching now. I was simply asking about the possibilities of finding work.
I appreciate all the helpful posts, though.
I basically wanted to find out if anyone thought I could still find a job, period. And, if after a month, I should be feeling worried? It is amazing to me how many companies do not respond to resumes sent, so is hard to know where a person stands.
Thanks to all of you who gave me actual advice and encouragement. It is much appreciated.
Wry Comment
Geeze, you have two choices in this life, you can cry in your own misery or you can choose to make it better. I choose to fight, no one owes me a thing in this life. I have a son with a chronic disease and cancer, I am a single parent, I have often worked 3 and 4 jobs at one time. That is how I fight, I do what I need to do to make life the best it can be. AND WHO ARE YOU to decide or question whether or not I should read or answer a post? (The last time I looked this was a open forum on the internet.) That question goes both ways, Why did you post such a stupid question? You asked a question, I gave you an honest answer, Look in India because that is where the majority of our good jobs have gone. I have worked at more than one facility as a consultant knowing/seeing the writing on the wall as their on-site transcription gets out-sourced with promises to the employees that they will be working at home and the next thing they know the hospital says sorry, you have just been laid off. Life is tough for everyone. Suck it up and get over it. If you don't fight to make your life the best that it can be, no one will do it for you. Be grateful you are still working and have time to look, so if it takes you a while at least you still have a paycheck coming in.
Has any one else been mad from a QA comment?
I am just irate. The first e-mail I opened today was from QA telling me "don't guess". Boy that sent me through the roof  . I don't guess at anything, and it really bothers me that someone would accuse me of doing so. Has anyone else ever had that happen to them? How did you handle it? I want to call the person and scream at them, but know I can't do that. I just find it extremely insulting to be accused of guessing on a report, that is like the worst possible insult for an MT. 
as a spin-off on your comment
i just found out that Joran had a black eye from that night, supposedly from a fight with some guys. My theory is that he tried to force himself on Natalie, she fought, ended up dead and dear daddy the wanna-be judge helped dispose of her via his connections; i don't believe we'll ever find the body. Hope i'm wrong. I don't buy the just-a-kid idea. If it was an accident, he's had the opportunity to say so, make it right and deal with it. but no, him and dad are obviously in-the-know but not saying.
as far as the prejudice -- i think we all have it in some form to some degree or another, be it for color, obese folks, hill-folk, uneducated, religious, etc etc. Hopefully we will eventually all grow past it and see another soul, as God does.
Yes, media seems to have bias, but it is a reflection of the real world bias too. We've come a long way maybe, but it changes person by person, and it doesn't happen quickly.
Why the name calling? You are sad. The comment sm
was made because he was for spheris and the outsouring they do, and yes they don't advertise jobs here because they outsoure. You are the one that needs to do some soul seardhing and grow up.
Yeah, I have a comment
It's called work baby. Every company has this. Every job you have to do something you don't like. My job, not at MQ, I have to take junk, work on other accounts, type bad doctors. That's what you have to do in this line of work. It's everywhere not just MQ. At least you have work. There are some MTs that havent had work for a long time and have no money coming in. Have a good attitude and so what if you have to work a little longer to make a little more $. You have to do that sometimes, it's life.
now what good do you think that comment did. really.
Now THAT comment would have offended me!
nm
I don't understand your comment
Most parents do the best they can, but no one deserves what happened to those parents. How sad for the 2 little ones and how sad for the boy's parents too. I can only imagine their grief.
We all would like to feel safe in the way we bring up our kids and no doubt we all do the right thing, so nothing could ever happen to us, right?
What an absurd comment.
b
I know - my comment was deleted
.....I guess if you own the board you can delete anything you don't like being said about yourself. So much for freedom of speech.
I had to reply to your comment about
the alcohol. I totally don't get it either. My daughters (the other is 20) are not allowed to drink in our house at all. I have lectured them over and over again that the friends that they have that let their parents let thekids drink are asking for trouble and if I find out they give you alcohol I will have them arrested. My 17 does not drink. I am sure the 20 year old might at college. I told her I have no control over that but it will not happen in our house. The way some parents get away with allowing their kids to drink is going a way for a few hours and if something happens they are not responsible because they were not home. I read an article that some parents have drinking after prom parties because they think the kids are safe in someones home. My state just passed a law that if any adult is caught giving minors a drink they will be arrested.
Nasty QA comment?
Dear OldQA:
I am one of the recently laid off Heartland employees. I went to this message board for some job hunting and support in light of this situation, and I was completely baffled by some of the things I read. Here are 2 of many comments from your not-so-nasty colleagues as an example of what I‘m talking about:
(Posted by MsAnonnie Mouse)
First of all, I would like to say that I sympathsize wtih those that were laid off at Heartland, however, I believe that that there were probably indications that this was going to happen, I for one, remember seeing a LOT of job ads for Heartland and they suddenly stopped on the 2 major transcription job boards. For me, that was an indication that something was going down the tube.
I also do not agree wtih offshoring, but when I read the posts on this board, I see one theme over and over; that being laziness in general. I see posts where people gripe and complain about having to work weekends or nights or whatever and wanting to get paid decent money, but they want to only be able to work 8-5 Monday through Friday. I have been in this field for over 20 years and I believe that I have always pulled my fair share. I have seen it in the company that I work for now, and the work load goes up dramatically on the weekends, because NOBODY wants to work and as we all know, medical transcription, for the most part, is a profession that is 24/7.
Sadly to say, our society has become one, where we expect to have something for nothing. Meaning that we want the nice thinngs, but we don't have to break our necks for it. I hear of friends who are giving their kids brand-new to almost brand-new cars in high school. Heck, when I was growing up, if I wanted contacts, or a car, or clothes, I had to detassel corn or work in a fast food place to get the money to be able to have those things. I don't see that happening now, and in essence, that is why so many of our jobs have been offshored. Its not only a cheaper labor cost, but most of these people in general have a better work ethic.
My company takes pride in the fact that it doesn't offshore and it will be a cold day in a very warm place before they do.
My only advice to those that were laid off is to hang in there, send out the resumes and hopefully, you will be able to find a new company that will treat you like an employee and not a number.
Posted By: OP on 2006-05-10
In Reply to: Heartland Layoffs - MsAnonnie Mouse
Some people seem to be missing the point here -- I also do QA as well as medical transcription and I generally am working MANY hours a day and usually 6-7 days a week, because I know budget-wise what it takes for me to surviive.
As a QA person, I see a quality of work that is totally unacceptable and it is from American medical transcriptionists. I read about people saying they can do X number of lines in an hour, or that they type X number of words a minute and as a QA person, that is usually the persons report that has 10 or more blanks in it, because UNFORTUNATELY they are more concerned about production than they are quality.
I sometimes wonder how many medical transcriptionists go back and re-listen to a report they have typed and then are able to figure out what the doctors are saying?
I have worked both inhouse and from home and I really have to agree that if someone TRULY wants to get started in this field, then they should work onsite first to truly get a grasp at what medical transcription entails.
There ARE people who are medcal transcriptionists who DO work long and hard hours and ARE getting shafted by the companies they work for, but quite frankly, I am tired of the ones who have toddlers and small children at home and whine about how they can do this work and take care of their kids too -- just because you work at home, dosen't mean that your children can be underfoot all the time and it is also learning about priorities as well. If you were working on the outside, you would NOT be allowed to take a huge amount of time off for kid activities or family activities, so the MTSOs do have legitimate gripes when it comes to employees not working when they say they will or keeping to a schedule, and this is where I am coming full circle when I talk about a work ethiic -- it has slowly and steadily been disappearing over the years.
Real nice show of support huh? There is nothing more disgusting than using the subject of layoffs, or offshoring for that matter, as a platform to complain about your own problems and dissatisfaction with your job. Shame on them!
Dear Scribevibe: With that being said, you WILL come across nasty, condescending comments such as these (on this message board as well as when you're working). I have been doing this for years, and I still come across them, and they are OBNOXIOUS! You need to let their comments roll off your back or they'll drive you nuts. There are QAs out there who are helpful and even sometimes encouraging, but be prepared for ones who are not and IGNORE THEM (and their nitpicking). Don't let them "snark" you :)
I can't even offer a comment to you.
.
confused by your comment
I work for only one company as an IC.
Testing comment
I have taken a test with a company (not mentioning the name) they told me I missed 5 questions on the circle this item. Now I just have to say that I have gone over the test twice with a dictionary and besides things like shoddy or shotty (I picked shotty) I am right on all but 2. Now what do you do when you have done your research and you know your right. Needless to say that maybe this is a company you just do not want to work for.
I just had to comment on the tapes...sm
I've been MTing for 10+ years and just in the last 1-2 years the tapes the docs have used are coming off the spool at the end of the tape. My doc got so mad and asked me to fix if I could. I would take these things apart and Scotch tape the tape back onto the spool. I have fixed about 10 of these now. Some were Maxell and some Sony I think. I wonder if any of you have had this happen. That's all. Just thought I'd share.
Question about your comment..
I'm sorry if this is a dumb question. What do you mean by Google is a good resource if it's used properly? Can you explain how you use it properly? Thanks.
Question/comment
With the Tracfone, are you required to purchase a minimum of minutes? I have the Virgin Mobile phone and it's really great. The only thing I don't like is that I am required to purchase a minimum of $21 of minutes every 90 days. I don't use it much, but it's good to have with me in case of an emergency and I love the fact that it comes with voicemail. I can retrieve my voicemail messages using my landline phone at no charge.
Please explain your comment. Yes, I was
I have the choice of what hours I work, but this company has different ideas. Should I confront them about this?
I can work extra hours but I must still be available for my regular shift.
Like tonight, I have a meeting and so I will work 3 hours this morning to ensure that I cover a full 8 hours for the day. I think that is only fair, but I have to let them know when I am going to be gone, for how long, and when I will make the time up.
The physician put his comment in
quotes and it should have been transcribed. I would get more offended about incorrect dosing of meds you hear in reports if I had the option to pick my battles, but the fact is, you are a Transcriptionist who is being paid to transcribe what the physician says. You really have to leave your personal stuff out of it. And, if you are the patient, and you are crass enough to be so rude and foul then you deserve to see it in black and white.
Hopefully your comment was sarcasm...
I think enough have died for U.S. lies...
I want to clarify my former comment..
Because maybe editing what a MT corrected in the draft document takes a QA less time than it takes the MT.
And medical transcriptions are not at all about 'fast typing'. The pre-requisite to enter into an MT schooling program is a typing speed of 45 wpm. After receiving our diploma we should all of a sudden be able to type 15 pages per hour and listening and correcting the physician's dictations at the same time? How come?
Comment re Levophed
From a blog by a critical care nurse:
"Levophed is so powerful that it is almost always the last-ditch drug to maintain blood pressure -- especially in sepsis -- hence its nickname, 'Leave-em-dead'.
Your comment, and I quote: (sm)
"I wouldn't count on it!!!". You don't know jack sheit.
I live in a huge metropolis with many many large university-based teaching hospitals where MTs are in greet need, and since I've been there over 20+, I'm top dog. So don't be questioning me, or discounting what I am saying. I think you wish you were in my position. Just another case of jealousy rearing its ugly head. If you live in the boondocks and make crap money, then move to a large city where you call roll in the dough working this profession.
Comment and another question
It's not that my keyboard moves around. I have it sitting on a towel (to keep it from sliding), but it is on a tray below the desk. I move the tray in and out, plus move the keyboard myself. Not sure what my deal is but sounds like others are a bit like this too.
My question is to those who have the keyboard that is on 2 sections so you can position it in different ways. Do you have a hard time keeping those in the place you want them? Maybe the towel would be enough for those too. :)
I beg to differ with your comment
When I worked in house MANY years ago, doc dictated in the "allergies" section that the patient was allergies to pencillin -- I then got to the "medication" section and lo and behold the patient was on GUESS what? PENICILLIN -- I went upstairs, pulled her chart looked through it and sure enough, the patient WAS allergic to penicillin -- I pointed out to the charge nurse who IMMEDIATELY called the doc and doc later came down and thanked me for saving the patient's life -- so yes, in a SMALL way we DO count!!!!
I have posted my comment.
For whatever it might be worth. Thanks for telling the story, Kathie, even if it was only half-told. It's a start, anyway.
I also left a comment...sm
and it felt good. In fact, I plan to work on a letter to send to my newspaper's online discussion/opinion page. BTW, good job  to those of you who left comments.
Just a comment about an article
in our local newspaper. All the hospitals in the county are going to EMR (electronic medical record) by 2011. They are putting all records on computer and state the hardest, most time consuming is the history and physical to put on EMR. I guess this means the end of MT around here! A friend of mine works for one of the hospitals as an MT and she has been abstracting instead of MTing to help put the most important facts on the EMR. Time to think about another career.
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