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It wasn't a high schooler that motivated HIPAA's invention

Posted By: It was the disclosure of HIV on 2006-05-24
In Reply to: It is not a breech of privacy to send unencrpyted email... - Old MT

of a well-known, well liked and now deceased tennis player at the beginning of the acknowledgement of the disease and cost the career of that man.

Makes me wonder what other misinformation you distribute.


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Homeschooling High Schooler
I, too, am thinking about homeschooling my 9th grader.  He goes to a school that is akin to a public zoo.  The boy who sits next to him in Algebra is very proud of the fact that he has amassed a record-breaking 275 referrals already this school year.  As you can imagine, my son is failing this and all of his other classes as the teachers do absolutely nothing to discipline the disruptive students.  My son has struggled with ADHD all of his school career and this is a horrible situation for him.  He is begging me to homeschool him and I am tempted, but do you who have homeschooled a high schooler think it is a good idea?  I have investigated private schools (none affordable in my area) and also after school tutoring but that was not successful.  I am at a loss as to how to help my son, but don't want to "lose him."  My oldest son dropped out of high school in the 10th grade because he was so disillusioned. 
Well I wasn't referring to HIPAA. Do you think
x
Here's a question for your friend about this invention....sm
Would these be sorta like q-tips with glue on them?  If so then how does a user keep the glue from getting glue on everything else while laying them down or throwing them away?   You can have her e-mail me if you'd like with the explanation.  Thanks!
Yes, it's microwave popcorn - best invention since the wheel! - nm

My middle schooler is being taught the changes in typing class.
nm
okay now i'm motivated but

The most I can get is about 1700 lines and thats on a very rare occasion, without some sort of hand, arm, wrist, finger pain making me stop.  And if for some reason I do not have pain, I get distracted (my own darn fault), but I find it hard to stay focused for a consecutive two day stretch, ill have one good day, then throw it all away the next day.  As far as the pain, if youre only  getting the numbness, and with the lines youre typing, maybe i'm sitting wrong or using the wrong keyboard.


Need to get motivated
Ok, here's my situation.  I've been working as an MT from home for 10 years.  I have loved it for the most but it does have its negatives.  I'm sure you know what I'm talking about.  I have decided to apply for an MT position with a hospital and I would still be able to work at home.  They require 60 minutes of dictation to be transcribed each day.  At first I thought - no problem - but now that I've thought about it I am getting kinda worried.  I have lots of experience as an MT but I'm getting cold feet now!  Can I do this? What if I can't (how embarrassing!)  I'm starting to realize that I would really have to buckle down and stay incredibly focused!  In other words, I'd have to get rid of all my bad habits like surfing the web, stopping to do a load of laundry, etc.  I do not normally do 60 minutes a day.  So can an old, somewhat unfocused MT learn to become focused and extremely productive again?  That's the question.  I am not a lazy person but I do know that over the years I have become a bit slack in my work habits.  Now that I have this chance to work at a great place making good money, I want to shape up my act and go for it - but part of me wants to just stay status quo.  Maybe I am lazy!  Grrr.... Not sure how to pick myself up and self myself to an employer and get seriously motivated but I know there is a part of me that says - go for it!  Any suggestions?  Any comments? I guess I'm looking for some support here and a dose of confidence too!  Thanks.
How do you stay motivated?

 


I have been transcribing for years - feeling burned out - can't concentrate and keep on typing enough to make much money.  Does anyone have any tricks for staying motivated??


Yes, it is hard to get motivated that way.
I've had my own clients and worked for MTSO like the one you're describing and had similar problems with both. Gave up my own clients because I was tired of the hassle, then ended up with an MTSO that started great but always had some excuse why pay wasn't on time, and never their fault. I found another MTSO to work for, only I made sure this one had direct deposit. Now check is there every time, on time, and they use a platform so no "lost" files because you can track everything. I wanted you to say there are better MTSOs and MT situations out there in case you decide not to go with the new job, but I have to say, the new career path sounds like a great opportunity. I hope it works out well for you! I've often thought it'd be nice to find a legit FT at-home job NOT in MT so let us know how it goes.
Motivated Production
When I first started working by the line, as I got closer to where I wanted to quit for the day, I would tell myself "I can do 5 more reports." Don't think about the lines, only the reports, let the dictation flow through your mind. You can use this technique per time period (every 2 hours, 4 hours, whatever works for you). If you can't face the prospect of 5 reports, make it 3. Once you have been doing this for a few days you WILL see a big increase. Those reports are the BONUS you are giving yourself. Don't think about who is paying you at this point, think about what you are paying yourself. I know you can do it. You can e-mail me if you want some encouragement, I have been at this full time since 1976.
You must be self-motivated to be a good MT anyway. If you couldn't SM
do well with the self-study program, you probably wouldn't be a very productive MT. I think this is the first bad word I've ever heard about these companies. I'd hire a graduate in a heartbeat because I would know they were competent or they wouldn't have graduated.
No. MTs who are not motivated end up talking and we did all the work
dd
Seems to help me... Keeps me motivated, energy up... et cetera. NM
:)
So what do you do to keep motivated to type during the work day? Sometimes I find it so hard to...

stay focused.  When you're working at home it is soooo easy to turn on the TV, take frequent breaks to answer the phone, talk to hubbie, play with the kids, take a hot bath, play solitaire on the PC, surf the net, post on a message board, etc.


I just wondered if anyone had any miracle cure for the wandering mind?


I'm having a hart time lately staying motivated and getting a good count,
x
We met in high school. My high school sweetheart
introduced us in a discussion over Ford versus Chevy versus Dodge. I used to race my Dodge Coronet with oldstyle 318 V-8 engine against the guys on the back roads and old highways. High school boyfriend had a Chevy truck. DH had a Ford Fairlane and later an AMC Javelin that just made me swoon. We didn't actually start dating until three years later, and my old high school boyfriend was a bit surprised at that since he introduced us.
That is against HIPAA
x
What about HIPAA?
   Our hospital is adamant about no accounts going offshore.  Not only because of quality, but also privacy, lawsuits, etc.  ESPECIALLY after what happened a couple years ago between UCSF Hospital and sub-sub-contractor in India.  (MT there who got gypped in pay held accounts for "ransom".)
HIPAA

Some in the office I work in said there are HIPAA rules that apply to transcription, such as font size, etc.  Does anyone know about this and where I can get more information.


Thanks


HIPAA and cc - what to do? sm
If doctor wants carbon copy sent, I'm told it's a violation of HIPAA rules. Please tell me where I can find this on the Internet. Thanks.
Why would that be against HIPAA?
I have to save my files at least through the invoice period anyway.  Why would it be against HIPAA to run them through IT? 
I'm not the OP, but yes, there is a HIPAA (sm)
violation if you keep copies of patient reports on your hard disks in a form where the patient is identifiable.

What I do to make my normals and IT glossaries is cut/paste a copy of the body of each report, with no info to identify the patient, into wordpad and save under the dictator's name (such as jones hysterectomy, smith HP, etc).
HIPAA
There is nothing in HIPAA that says this information cannot be in the record. What it says is that IF you need to de-identify the information for any reason, all of those things must be removed. Probably not the best policy to have but not a HIPAA violation.
HIPAA
I was recently hired as an employee at a doctors office and we have been discussing taking my MT work home. It is all on hard copy except for occasional e-mails I need to send to the office to download. What do I need to be doing to comply with HIPAA?
HIPAA req.
I use encrypted e-mail through CryptoHeaven, cryptoheaven.com.  They have a bunch of different packages and well priced.  All work must be kept confidential and protected as much as possible (lock box for saved work on CDs).  I keep all patient lists only to type and then they are shredded.  Make sure if you are faxing pt lists back and forth, you are using a front fax cover sheet with a statement on it regarding confidentiality, etc. (your doctor's office probably uses this when sending stuff from their office).  I also have the ability to lock my office when there are parties, etc. at the house just to be on the safe side. 
It's HIPAA............nm
nm
I don't know about HIPAA.... sm

But I wonder why they were asking you all those questions? The only thing I remember when enrolling my son was making sure his shots were up to date. Of course, we are talking a long time ago!


I don't understand why a kindergarten would need such a thorough medical history on their students. HIPAA or not, it sounds like invasion of privacy to me.


It's HIPAA
It's HIPAA, not HIPPA, and the provisions are only enforceable within the US.

There are free HIPAA courses online; you don't have to become certified, just become familiar with it so your work area, computer, etc. are compliant. Should be mandatory learning for all MTs.
it's HIPAA, not HIPPA. nm
x
HIPAA Compliance ?
Does anyone have any knowledge about a US MT typing from home and any HIPAA compliance violations if this MT also types from a 2nd residence in a different state for part of the year?
HIPAA response
HIPAA has more to do with the confidentiality of a patient's information. It has nothing to do with what residence you transcribe from, as long as you maintain the confidentiality of the patient's information. The company you work for may have some sort of requirement that you notify them if you'll be working from a location other than the location that they have on record for you.
Is it HIPAA compliant?
That certainly does sound like a great solution! You are right, I would probably want them to zip their files anyway since I have only dial-up available to me at home and would need it at a CG if I ever get to that point in my life.

Thank you for your feedback. It is sincerely appreciated.
HIPAA rules
A lot of the national transcription services have many accounts where the hospitals/docs still want the name of the patient in the body of the report and do not want "the patient" in the body of the report. So the facilities still respect what the doctors want.
It's HIPAA and you pronounce it hip-uh.
l
By the waq, it should be brEAch of HIPAA. nm
nm
HIPAA at the Hosptial

Was at the hospital yesterday for some radiology testing. To summon me from the waiting area (full of other patients), the person who does the registrations used my first and LAST NAME! Bleah!


Then, after I was registered and back in the waiting area, another patient entered, sat beside me, and said "So, you're here for the same thing I am--I heard you mention it when you were being registered. I was in the next cubicle."


Shortly after this a different hospital employee summoned another patient from the waiting area using first AND LAST NAME! EEEK!


What on Earth ever happened to the HIPAA regulations? HIPAA applies to the hospital setting, right?


Any suggestions?


HIPAA is a joke
as long as these private records continue to travel overseas beyond the reach of the long arm of U.S. courts and law enforcement.
It's not a HIPAA violation for sure. Can you
have the account use digital recorders that are uploaded to your FTP site? Bypass the TASP entirely. Or if you are the only transcriptionist, you can use Bytescribe's E-shuttle. Check it out at bytescribe.com
Ack, misspelled HIPAA!
I really do know how to spell HIPAA correctly, except when I'm being an airhead, sheesh!
HIPAA and Outsourcing

How can outsourcing to an offshore company, where a patient's sensitive personal and medical information is concerned, be HIPAA complient?  Shouldn't we as patients have the right to know if our medical info and personal data are being sent via the Internet to a foreign country?  Shouldn't we as patients be asked to sign a release/agreement to such a practice, notifiying us of this?  I have never asked my doctor/hospital if they outsourced to offshore companies...but I will now.  Wonder if I'll get a truthful answer. 


According to HIPAA, SS# are not to be on reports.
p
SSN is not a HIPAA issue here
HIPAA, health information, SSN is not health information, no way relates. SSN would be a schools way to verify date of birth and U.S. citizenship.
The joys of HIPAA
Or you could just activate a password-protected screen saver on the machine any time you needed to take a BR break and there was anyone with a 5-county radius of wherever your machine was.  Even the hospitals do that.  I have to laugh at HIPAA sometimes.  They're so worried someone might find out someone else has hemorrhoids, when most of the violations actually prosecuted that I've seen have involved hospital employees who had a legitimate right to see the patient demographics but used their position to perpetrate identity theft.  Hey, if somebody is dying of cancer, they might be dead before anyone notices the unauthorized spending spree.
HIPAA is a joke
Sorry, but I edit reports for a large department in a major medical center that are all transcribed, you guessed it, overseas. Names, medical record numbers, Social Security numbers, etc., etc., are ALL included. Nobody truly follows HIPAA where I work. I even had to bring a shredder in from home to shred patient info sheets sent to me from the doctors' offices. Not only that, but patient letters WITH identifying information are e-mailed back and forth all the time without encryption. Until HIPAA is actually enforced by anybody, I'm afraid nothing will ever change.
HIPAA compliance
I am thinking about trying to get my own accounts and am trying to plan for all types of scenarios.  For various reasons, I am not able to pick up and drop off tapes.  Obviously, digital would be the best way to go.  However, if a doctor absolutely wanted to use tapes, would it be a HIPAA violation to ship the tapes certified (requiring signature) via USPS or UPS?  What about the completed reports?  I had two physicians in the past who refused to go digital and I ended up having to stop working for them because it was becoming increasingly difficult to pick up and drop off tapes.  What are your thoughts?  TIA.
A DB does not violate HIPAA

Contrary to what you may have heard, the HIPAA regulations of 2003 address the medical transcription field only in passing. There is no extended discussion of the transcription field. On reading the entire thing, the (few) mentions of medical transcription appear almost as after-thoughts.


What those regulations state concerning medical transcription is that the Transcriptionist (or the MTSO) must take reasonable care (their terminology) in safeguarding the confidentiality of the records.


This has been interpreted by the leaders in the medical transcription field to mean:


1) The MT's computer is safeguarded so that unauthorized persons don't have access to her files.
2) Any electronic communication of those records is done in a secure fashion.


Now, I am fully aware that some MTSOs do not allow the completed report to remain on the MTs computer. That is their right. But to hear them state that such is a requirement of HIPAA is wrong. It is not. It is a requirement of THEIR implementation of HIPAA, not a requirement of HIPAA.


For an MT to have a database of the patients she transcribes is completely within HIPAA. However, she must ensure that others do not have access to her computer / files. That is HIPAA.


Merrry Christmas,


Vann Joe


Why surprised? Have said all along HIPAA is a
x
Violating HIPAA?

You're not serious are you?  There is no HIPAA violation at the eye doctor.  When you go to the eye doctor everyone knows you have bad eyes.  Do you wear glasses?  Are you hiding the fact that you can't see?  Please!  It isn't like sitting in a doctors office when no one knows what is wrong with you.  You're a joke!  Get a life!  You're the reason everything costs so darn much.  The rest of us have to pay the docs insurance because of morons like you.  I cannot even believe you would post such nonsense.


Everything you wanted to know about HIPAA
See link below, & especially important are the "HIPAA Regulations & Standards" links.

Happy reading.
This is HIPAA compliant? nm
nm
opps sorry, HIPAA
Sorry