Is there an organization (informal, not like AAMT) for radiology MTs?

• Is there an organization (informal, not like AAMT) for radiology MTs? - Okie MT
  • Rad MTs - Linda

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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Now of course AAMT has been replaced by Association for Health Documentation and Integrity, which I think it is a poor choice for a name.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?

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. 

...that has prostituted themselves to the MTSOs, presiding over and encouraging the loss of jobs overseas using our dues to fund their trips and perks.

It's particularly ironic, in this setting, that the name of this pathetic organization mentions "document integrity", when their position regarding offshore transcription is the very antithesis of promoting integrity in American health documentation.

...and as for the Book of Style, words fail me.

sometimes at the federal level.  This mandatory credentialing is ludicrous and a scheme to make money, in my humble opinion.

I have to agree with the other poster, if not having CMT after my name after 25 years of experience prevents me from being employable, I have a very good lawyer who will take up my cause!!!

I used to type radiology in-house for patients in nursing homes.  After I typed the report, I would fax them to the nursing homes and they would put that report in the patient's chart.  Then I would send original report to doc to get signature.  After those are signed, they are mailed out to the nursing homes.  I am not really too sure why you are asking but hope this helps some.  The doc's never read my reports because they trusted me but I am sure they would want to before they put their signature on anything. 

I do full med rec, acute care.  never did radiology, too boring.  mostly the big 4, but cardiac caths, EKGs, EEGs, etc. etc.  by the way, Earth.

In a perfect world where the doc dictates clear, has no marbles in his mouth, doesn''t talk away from the mic, doesn't run the alternator while he's dictating  and has no hard accent, you could say that radiology is easy.  I've been doing radiology for 30 years-believe me, I've had all kinds of characters dictating and I know what I'm talking about.

Anyone out there who does radiology as an IC......can you give me an idea what you make and is it per page or report?  I just want anonymous answers....no names needed....but I'm just trying to get some idea of what's fair for a radiology Transcriptionist as an IC.  Thanks so much in advance.