IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT PROTECTING PERSONAL DATA
Posted By: MTness on 2007-04-02
In Reply to: Petition to keep medical records from going overseas! - ConcernedMT
I want to share some information I am studying in one of my college classes right now, and that is the "European Union Data-Protection Directive." Here goes:
"The European Union (EU) has been a leader in addressing privacy concerns of its citizens. In 1998, the EU Data-Protection Directive was enacted to require organizations to protect personal data. The directive has wide-ranging consequences for government entities, Internet providers, healthcare providers, and employers. The directive goes so far as to forbid the transfer of personal data to countries outside the EU if data-privacy safeguards and guarantees do not exist. The directive is affecting multi-national firms in both business and employee matters. The EU has investigated and/or filed complaints against United Airlines, Microsoft, Ford, Marriott, and numerous other global firms for violating the provisions of the directive. As it affects employee data and records, the directive states the following:
.Personal data can be gathered only for identified reasons.
. Individuals must receive information about who receives and processes their data and why the data are being gathered.
.Persons have the right to access the data collected about them and to change, delete, or correct these details.
. Legal actions may be taken by individuals for misuse of their personal data."
Taken from "Human Resource Management," 11th edition, Robert L. Mathis/John H. Jackson, page 503.
Pay attention particularly to the 3rd point above, and the first paragraph about how the EU forbids the transfer of personal data (our professor confirmed this includes medical records) outside the EU IF there are no guarantees.
Europe does not as a rule, offshore financial data and medical record data.
My point is this, that if Europe upholds the dignity of its citizen's private information to the extent that it does, there is no reason why we Americans cannot be given the same right. I am not particularly opposed to offshoring, however, I am opposed to it in regards to sensitive private information in which we Americans should have a voice in, and a consent to.
Because the healthcare system is collapsing in this country with more and more Americans losing their healthcare, offshoring of anything possible in the medical field, is becoming so prevalent without consideration or regard for its implications. The medical industry is scrambling to stay afloat with the soaring cost of healthcare, and because the bottom line is the profit, CFO's will continue to squeeze every drop they can to uphold that profit. In this case, offshoring is directly tied to profits only. Right now is the time for every citizen to take the responsibility to voice their concern, to write public officials, politicians, and do everything possible to be heard in regards to the issue of offshoring our private information. The only reason it is occuring at such an alarming rate is because we are complacent. I know we are all busy, but we must take more responsibility and advocate in a professional, organized, and coherent fashion.
Even though I am sacrificing now (at age 57) to get a college degree and enter another field, I find a way to advocate for what I believe in. I will not be leaving the medical transcription field without continuing to advocate for my private medical records and financial information. It is no longer an interest to me to stay in medical transcription, but rather an interest to advocate for ethical concerns which includes medical transcription. Please, let's all make the sacrifice to keep writing our leaders opposing the offshoring of medical records.
Complete Discussion Below:  marks the location of current message within thread
The messages you are viewing
are archived/old.
To view latest messages and participate in discussions, select
the boards given in left menu
Other related messages found in our database
This is very personal information.
dd
The only certain way that your personal information
will fall into another's hand is to totally remove the hard drive and either replace it with a new one, or sell as is. Every old computer that I have discarded, I made sure to remove the hard-drive before putting it out to pasture.
Forgot one other important piece of information - sm
Tater's mother and grandmother both have a very long history of mental illness and the grandmother has been institutionalized several times. The mother has lied and continues to lie about fabricated life-threatening illnesses and other fantastic situations that no one person could EVER deal with in their lives.
Please! I do not give out personal information to strangers on the Internet!!
right? isn't there a board for personal medical information posts?
Offshore or onshore - personal information is at risk sm
when it is in private homes. The only way to avoid this is would be to not allow companies to import the SSN in their ADT feeds to companies that do outsource work. It doesn't matter whether it is a domestic MT, or offshore MT, or any other person with access to that information - AMERICANS are dishonest as all get out too. The only information we MTs need is Name, DOB, and MR#. The only people needing SSN info are the billing department to communicate with the insurance companies, no one else in the hospital should have access to it. It's a joke to think offshoring MT is what is causing the problem, it's human nature, people are greedy and want more - MTs for some reason seem to feel they need to blame offshore for this but it's really a copout and just another reason to place blame.
Proud to be an American home-based MT who is HONEST!
Starting personal attacks always expose the loser:.to your information,
because I find it faster my way, ONLINE.
You are using bookd, the old-fashioned way?
Expensive and much too slow.
I checked the yesterday'a and today's questions in the afternoon and found - as already said - only 1 somehow unjustifiable question.
To check 1 day would have been enough.
I research ONLINE
with fast and accurate results. The internet is literally swamped with resources and references and is the fastest way. You should try it.
Are you still looking into books? Way too slow.
So, do not blow this out of proportion.
If you have the urge to teach and to guide, open your own MT school and give your advice there.
Medical records are data driven. Numerals are data.
.
Protecting your employability and livelihood (SM)
As I have read here and elsewhere several interesting pieces regarding the value and employability of new versus experienced MTs, I've had time to do quite a bit of thinking and review. This has produced some uncomfortable but profound changes in my perspective on this topic and this industry. I wanted to share these thoughs with everyone, hopefully to support and influence as many as possible to take stock.
This topic has been disguised and hidden and mislabeled for a while as a variety of names -- setbacks, progress, trends, offshoring, labor costs, etc. All of these words are only descriptive of the true topic: Change.
Change is the one state of being that we can all count on. Evolution is part of who we are as people, as a nation, as workers and it applies in every role of life. Everything changes at some point. Without that constant change, there would not be renewal and freshness that is necessary to continue. Change brings usefulness.
It also is uncomfortable for most and can be quite painful for some. Sometimes it produces unwanted results. More often, because we want to resist change, it produces results that we tried to avoid. Change does, however, continue on - with or without us.
The key to surviving and evolving with change is a characteristic we all are capable of: Adaptability. Making ourselves adaptable is what will keep us included in change. Exclusion means an end. Unless you want to change direction completely or embark on completely different pathway, exclusion will be the death of whatever process you are referencing.
I have opportunity to be involved with many new MTs as well as those with quite a broad spectrum of experience and backgrounds and from different countries. These are the observations I have made:
New MTs and those in the economically challenged countries are eager to learn. They are open to learning and have new sources of energy. They are willing to work harder, with more effort.
New MTs usually do have specific training on the AAMT's Book of Style (2nd edition). While not every company or client employs the use of this reference, many do and these newer MTs have already been trained in its use.
New MTs usually have a little more specific factual information regarding terminology, disease processes, etc., that experienced MTs may have missed in their on-the-job training along the way.
New MTs are accustomed to feedback because they have been educated by receiving it - quite a bit of it, in fact. They are seeking that feedback and they know what to do with it. It keeps them keely aware of what they are doing.
Experienced MTs that have had broad exposure to many types of dictation, especially large acute care facilities and teaching hospitals, have an incredible knowledge bank to draw from. They usually possess a living understanding of operations and procedures, actually envisioning what is occuring during the dictation, and can apply that knowledge to assist them in ensuring the transcription record is accurate and complete.
Unfortunately, the more experienced MTs have usually not worked in an environment that provides a great deal of feedback, if any at all. For many, this scenario of no news is good news equates to their being correct in all they do. With the push for quality these days, once feedback is being received, it becomes personal and defies what they have been practicing all of their years. It can easily make the most experienced MT defiant and bitter. Being argumentative, however, keeps one thought in the mind of the employer: You are unwilling to be taught.
Many experienced MTs have no experience with the AAMT's Book of Style (2nd edition) reference or may have obtained their copy but have no formal training in using it. Owning that reference is not enough. You must be able to use it appropriately.
Experienced MTs often feel they have paid their dues in the past and that they should have first choice at accounts, schedules, etc. Employers and accounts need experience dispersed throughout all of the days/hours they are providing and needing coverage for.
What I see are needed to protect your employability and livelihood in this industry:
1. Make yourself adaptable. Make it known to your employer and those you apply to. An employer hires you to do the job they want, the way they or the account wants it done. Do not be afraid - your experience WILL come into play but you need to be able to adapt to their needs. Remember that you are working FOR them.
2. Create a teachable spirit within yourself. Be open to feedback and ask for it. Perhaps you did transcribe it this way for 25 years...if this employer or account wants it differently, then they just do. If you've never used specific references and your employer/account wants you to, dive in and learn to use those references! Let your employer (and those you apply to) know you are teachable. Keep the argument out of the scenario.
3. Learn to use the resources you have available. You do NOT have to be a supporter of the available professional organizations to take advantage of some of their pros. If it is important to you or your employer, think about certification or registration. If it is not for you, don't worry about it but do not mark yourself by detracting from those who do value this. Many facilities do want the use of the AAMT's Book of Style (2nd edition) so obtain a copy and learn to use it. Courses are often offered to help you understand trends in the industry or how to improve your skills, go into business for yourself, etc. Take advantage of those offers. You do not have to be a member of most organizations to do so.
4. Be responsible for your own skill set and improve on it each year. Purchase self-educational materials and work to improve your own knowledge bank. This is an investment in your ability to earn your living!
5. Dedicate yourself to becoming an expert in the trends that are changing the MT industry right now: Speech recognition and ESLs/foreign dictators. I realize those are 2 hot topics but they are not going away! Learn to make speech recognition your friend - learn to be the best at it! Make employers WANT you because you excel with it and want to! It does take dedicated commitment and patience to learn ESLs but the more you do, the better you can become. You will never be 100% successful with ESLs but you will become comfortable and be able to increase your ability to understand them. It will never detract from your skill set to make friends with the ESL scenario!
I hope these summations can provide some insight and support for you. Having been in this business for many, many years and participated in the changes that have occured and continue on, I know if you employ these suggestions, you will be proactively preserving your career and income!
Please do feel free to e-mail if I can assist anyone with these suggestions.
Why are we protecting OSI's reputation from truth admin?
x
data entry
Has anyone done Data Entry jobs from home? Thanks
I use Northstar Data .... I think they are
at www.MTFTP.com
I started using them in April, and their website and FTP are really easy to use. My doctors were new to digital, as was I, and we picked it up quickly.
hth!
We are more than data entry BUT...
Yes, they will still need us to copyedit and clean up the voice recognition and offshore "crude" product, but from what I've read on these boards, there's not going to be much money in this for MTs.
I too am thinking of leaving MT for another field. This summer my 15-year-old son got his first summer job as basically an unskilled laborer at minimum wage, and he was making quite a bit more per hour as I ended up getting, turning an Indy 500 ESL's mishmash into a perfect operative report. The day I learned that, I decided to start rethinking my career choices.
By the way, I'm one more experienced MT who finds it mind-boggling that people are still out there debating the merits of the various MT schools out there. Wake up and smell the coffee, people!
Backup data?
I'm glad this subject came up as we do some traveling and I was just thinking about this as well. How is the best way to back up the data? Just use a CD or someone mentioned a flash drive external hard drive? Don't know much about this new fangled technology, so am finding this very interesting and helpful. Thanks for the info.
data entry
I agree. But don't you know, there's always someone lurking in front of their keybord waiting to belittle someone else's from-the-heart question??
That study used very old data.
EHR has come a long way since 2004.
SAVING MY DATA
I have an external hard drive and want to save my data from my old computer to my new computer. How exactly do i do that.
Copying data
Can anybody say how to copy a large amount of data to a DVD without having to copy one page at a time. It's a training program that I'm not going to be able to finish before the time runs out. Since I paid for it, I want to be able to have it available to study on my own. Thanks.
Here's some interesting AAMT data...
According to the October 2005 JAMT financial reportings:
Revenues from membership in 2003: $1,053,516.
Revenues from membership in 2004: $ 920,681.
You'd think they'd get the idea with so many people not renewing memberships due to their stance on overseas work - especially since it's hitting them hard in the wallet!
Data Entry Jobs
Does anyone know where I can find information about legitamit companies that hire for data entry work at home. Looking for my daughter, who wants to stay home with her small child. Thanks!
Is it transcribing or data entry?
/
Data Hand keyboard
I just received my new Data Hand keyboard and am starting to use it. I would be interested in hearing from anyone who has used one of these. Thanks.
Ours is "diagnostic data" and includes it all.NM
s
Data entry position
My post did show so I will ask again...does anyone know where I can find a listing of jobs for data entry positions?
certainly not data entry or typing,
my reward, aside from pay, is satisfaction that i am doing a very specialized job in an excellent manner. after 34 years, it seems more tedious and difficult, but i enjoy the work.
data processing...medical charges
okay, so I've been doing medical data processing for a clinic for the past four months and the office lifestyle is NOT for me. Does anyone have information on work at home medical billing? I sure would like a nudge in the right direction. Thanks!
How can I record patient data as fast as possible
Radiology patients, so reports are short most often. We have to log two several digit numbers, the types of exams (chest/abdomen) dates. We have sheets to do this on but am thinking I should keep Wordpad open and type in there.
Any ideas on how I can do this and not lose momentum or time? I do about 100 exams a day.
Thanks!
Of course, it is only as good as the people entering the data...
Also, when computers make mistakes, or are hit with malicious worms or viruses, etc., it could be devastating, could it not?
Also, more and more lately we are noticing actually a lot more mistakes with things that are automated, and once there is an error, it has been extremely difficult to get it corrected. Such as - errors at the DMV (?), errors in our car computer (? - again, it is always a mystery when trying to get things fixed), lets see, then there is the mixup with our phone number that belongs to about three other people (still not fixed because we are told it is all done on computer (?)...
Also, who takes responsiblity when there is an error, because with everything automated, there seems to be little or no accountability - you can hardly get through to real people in a lot of businesses today.
The idea of technology is awesome; however human error will always have an affect...
my humble opinion and just an observation. most information still has to be entered by humans. perhaps we will be obsolete.
It's putting criminal data into the computer and
no ESLs to listen to!
Medical transcription isn't data entry, but you can
check with Career Builder and Monster and see what they have, you can Google for it and see if there is a board like this for data entry.
I'd like to see hard data before buying into that belief
I will blast a poorly performing QA'er all day long. Someone with something of substance to offer in critiquing my work is someone I communicate with and have nothing but respect and praise to give. I won't get into a snit about the use of too many or too few commas, but a QA'er who fills in a blank I sent in for a second ear and fills it with something incorrect IS someone who holds no respect in my eyes. That is the person I'll blast all day.
Darn. I was not quiet. Wonder what this will do to my image on the board?
You purchase the plans which allow so much data to be transferred.
I paid for the $59.99 monthly package, which is a lot of data usuage and have used programs such as Dictaphone ExText and Escription on the road. It seems like someone told me you'd have to pretty much be on it nonstop to use up all the data allowance but you can check it out here..http://b2b.vzw.com/broadband/bbapccard.html
Scribes Data Canada Independent Contractors out there???
I have been working at home as an independent contractor for Scribes Data out of Ontario, Canada for the past three years and have loved working for them. I have worked my way to the top of the pay scale and am currently earning between $38-$40/hour. Recently I have been contacted twice by management asking me to consider becoming a full-time employee with benefits rather than an independent contractor. This would mean a dramatic decrease in pay... a $17,000/year base salary plus 60-70 cents/minute of dictation. For the last year I had been paid $1.60/minute of dictation, but just this past month they decreased that to $1.50/minute, stating that was more in line with their pay structure and that I would only be earing $1.60/minute on the radiology dictation I typed. And then a couple of weeks later they contacted me again statingn that I was no longer going to type any radiology dictation unless I was needed and then I would still only be paid the $1.50/minute.
This decrease in pay of 10 cents/minute does not really concern me, it just means I may have to work a littel longer than my normal 5 1/2 hours per day and I do not have a problem with that. My concern is that they are really going to push me to become an employee and just keep taking accounts away from me until I do just that.
Just wondering if there is anybody else out there who may be worried about the same thing.
Here's their revenue for the past three years and other financial data.
MQ's debts are not high either.
http://news.biohealthmatics.com/PressReleases/2005/08/19/000000002719.aspx
Pentium is good for games/ Celron for data. NM
z
EMR = 'point and click' method can only insert data in a
preprepared template.
Doctors will not insert whole sentences, what is called 'free type', they do not have time for this.
I guess she would have to start at the data entry site since this place is about MT.
nm
Wireless USB data cards routers, and multiple computers
Hi,
I have dial up and am looking into getting a USB wireless card to do my MT work with. My question is.....do you know if you can use a USB wireless card and have more than one computer online at the same time...like with a router or something? If so, what models and how do you hook it all up.
Thanks so much for any info you give me.
Does anyone have good text expanders for vital signs data?
Do you any of you use text Expanders for the numerical portion of vital signs for example, 130/80 ? I have lots of expanders but none for the actual numerical data. It really slows me down either having to look at my number row or switch to the keypad. I do have some, but nothing consistent. Anything ideas would be great, thanks!!
Phone Tools is a Bvrp software program that allows you to not only fax and receive data/documents v
your pc (including coversheet and confirmation of date/time received), but can also act as an answering machine. It's a very good product. The receipient/s just need to make sure that their fax machine is turned on and has a paper supply loaded (thereby saving you the expense of purchasing reams for this purpose). If you expect to receive faxes, you also need to be sure that the program is running and set the control to fax modem, rather than answering machine.
Polls posted by Trolls, data dragnet used 4 later provocation,don't answer,stick w/MT-related stu
nm
oh, sorry, yes that is important sm
the pay is average for a national. I make $900/week. I think that's pretty darn good! 
How important is it to you ...
How important is it to you that your US medical records are KEPT in the USA?
Does it matter to you? Why or why not?
It's VERY important to me. I don't want anyone in the US much less
outside of the US knowing my business, financial, medical, or otherwise. If I can't sue someone who has used my information for their personal gain then that is a problem for me. It would cost me a fortune to sue someone overseas who say sold my information or threatened to put it on the Internet.
How important is it
Very important. I am HIV and do not want that information going anywhere.
but TAT is what is important and OP...sm
stated that they were having a TAT problem prior - so? TAT is promised, not met, and so the OP didn't meet her/his end of the bargain. I promise 24-48 hour TAT and that's what they have been getting from me for nearly 10 years.
A deal is a deal is a deal - whether on paper or not on paper - verbal contracts are also recognized - just ask Judge Judy *lol*
To the OP - I hope things go better for you truly - but remember this: A promise made is a debt unpaid....that also is in regards to TAT. Best of luck - things will turn around for you, I am hopeful. 
And this is important. sm
It varies state to state, I am sure. You need to get the house out of your mother's name. Where I live, the house has to come out of their name 2 YEARS before they can get in a decent nursing home. There are a not of variables and when you are running to doctors, doing shopping for 2 people, cleaning, plus working full-time which no one realizes if you are an MT because you are "at home"; you really don't have time to keep all the plates spinning by yourself, with no help, and this issue about my mother's home should have been addressed a long, long time ago.
It's important to ask
questions of a potential employer but sounds like she overdid it.
Have to admit though she certainly doesn't lack confidence!
It is amazing to me how self-important US MTs are ...
You want to point your finger toward offshoring companies using HIPAA as your miserable crutch; however, when it comes to ensuring the legitimacy of who YOU are to handle this sensitive, private, protected information -- well just forget it.
After all, I mean, YOU work at home. And you are a citizen of the US. And no US citizen EVER scammed the public, EVER stole identities, EVER did anything wrong. Talk about self-righteous and self-important. Hahaha
What's wrong? What are you afraid of? Someone might really find out about your lack of control over your own life?
No one has ANY idea what YOU are doing with this information either and if your attitudes and behavior on here were shown to physicians and your own employers (and probably your family and friends), many of you would be out - out of a job, out of respect, out of friends and maybe family, out of most of everything and everyone who has no idea what you are like when you feel your anonymous status is hidden.
I'm entitled to how I feel the same as you are. You might want to get prepared though -- time and the conditions in this world are rooting for my opinion.
With the increasing security risks, insurance costs, etc., in this world -- you might want to get busy cleaning up whatever it is you're hiding because the likelihood of you submitting yourselves to any/all of these things for a job is going up and fast.
Hahaha
If bathing is so important to him
then he could wear some swim trunks in the tub with her. I stated that in my last post also. He would still have the bonding time with her but would be covered so she wouldn't be exposed to that. That was also an idea that was posted by another poster that her brother does I think.
One important point: SM
Spheris insurance is PPO, meaning the insurance is not expensive, however, it does not cover the cost of everything or most things, as does HMO insurance. This is a very important fact. Otherwise, agree with above.
|
