Lasted Advance MT article
Posted By: Boogie MT on 2008-08-08
In Reply to:
I was wondering if any of you have read the latest article in Advance about MTs? It's called The MT Critic. Color me stupid but I did not know MTs had to go to medical school to do their jobs? How many of you know the average size of the left atrium of the heart? How many of you would contradict the doctor's vital signs because the patient had a fractured ankle and you just knew that because of his pain, those vitals could not possibly be correct? It is no wonder we are not attracting qualified people to our profession. What are your thoughts?
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
Article in Advance
Did anyone read the article in Advance: Is Mandatory Credentialing Next?
The article says: "we have more and more companies paying premium for credentialed MTs." Is that true? The author is president-elect of AHDI. You all know what that is? Never heard of em. Or is it that new organization that used to be called something else, what was it... I think it had the words Medical Transcription in it. Maybe we should write a letter to tell about the reality of working out here.
Advance article
Thanks for sharing this article in Advance - don't get magazine anymore since I dropped my AHDI membership. Proud to be part of ATA - we MTs deserve an assocation that will advocate for us.
did anyone see the article in Advance magazine
about how wonderful it is to train Indians to do our job. OH YAAAYYY, LET'S HERE IT FOR SPHERIS AND HEALTHSCRIBE Let's give a big whoopie and cheer them on while they continue to post for transcriptionists on this board and yet outsource and TRAIN Indians to do our job. I guess I'm angry about the article on other levels, such as the fact that it seems that Advance magazine is constantly promoting offshore transcription. This is not the first time they have printed articles like this.
Our hospital used Spheris and Cbay and we spent hours up hours redoing the reports, yet these companies got paid in full. Where is the logic in that? Thank God, administration wised up and brought the work back in. Now we can go back to doing what we've always done ... OUR OWN TRANSCRIPTION ACCURATELY!
Great article about this in Advance (sm)
early this summer -- explained the 3-prong test (instead of the old 20+ questions).
If the service insists you use their software, if the service tells you when you can invoice them (instead of the 2 of you deciding together), if the service, not the client, decides turnaround time and quality, and if the service says you can't subcontract the work and insists on a noncompete clause, then you are an employee.
You can file a form with the IRS if you want your status clarified. Also contact Dept of Labor office in your state.
If you don't have an attorney and accountant on retainer, then you aren't professional enough to be an IC.
Also check the Nolo Press site as they have some excellent reference books regarding IC/employment issues.
Link to Advance IC v. employee article (sm)
which discusses the 3-fold test that the IRS is using instead of the former 20-factor list.
I know of very few MTSOs which really treat ICs like ICs.
My best friend successfully challenged the company she worked for -- she got unemployment and a nice tax credit; the company owner got hit with huge penalties.
Regarding the Advance article, here's how I would have handled the examples
I'm curious how other MTs would have handled them?
1. Hemoglobin 9, hematocrit 39. (I would have flagged this with a blank for the hemoglobin and sent to QA).
2. The nose and mouth were suctioned on the perineum (during a C-section dictation). (I would have changed "perineum" to "abdomen" and sent it on).
3. SKIN: Without lesions, rashes or scars (Patient has HIV and kaposi sacroma). (I'm not the doctor. I did not examine the patient. Therefore, I would have transcribed as dictated and sent it as usual).
4. Left atrium is normal, measuring 4.6 cm. (I don't get paid enough to second guess the doctor on whether the LA is "normal" or not. You get what you pay for.)
5. VITAL SIGNS: Heart rate 70, respirations 18, BP 120/70 (in an 18-year-old with a comminuted ankle fracture). (Again, the patient may have gotten pain medication by the time the doctor saw him, so perhaps he/she didn't have pain at the time of examination and so the vitals were normalized. I wasn't there, I don't know. Type verbatim and send it on!)
Nice While It Lasted
Well, I am new to MQ. With numbers like THAT, I guess I won't have a job unless I stop PROOFREADING my reports! I don't think I could get up to speed very quickly with macros, etc, since I am struggling to get in 6,000 per pay period, and did not even make THAT last pay period, only because there was no work on some days. I do have some phrases, etc., macroed, but with 97 doctors, I can see no way to get whole paragraphs or anything close to that in, at least not yet. I need more experience (time) to work up to 8,000 per pay period. I wonder if these requirements are going to be for new hires, or are they going to 'change' our contracts.
I wish. I have tried 4 babysitters this summer and each one lasted a DAY!
My kids are a little hyper LOL!!
Seems to be about right. Mine all lasted a few years, too. nm
s
Batteries lasted me only about 2 weeks. Not worth it to me. nm
Great while it lasted and I was home with my kids...but
now I'm back in school too. Going for a professional degree. I own a service, so a little bit different for me because I got to have the fun of building up a business, marketing, etc. Don't think I would have been happy with just the MT work and for sure, not with the money. But my daughter never had to go to daycare and I was home when my son came home from school. That's valuable! But the end is in sight...so I will be going to school while my business can still pay me a salary.
I tried it on my toe nails. It was easy to use and lasted over a week.
x
My first lappie was a Compaq and lasted 5 years....sm
and didn't have a problem with it until it died. I traveled all over the US with it and also had it fall several times. I've been on my 2nd Compaq now for almost 2 years. That's all I'll buy!
Have used stickers, lasted awhile but not that long.
I have a Microsoft ergonomical keyboard (curved) that I have been using about three years now, and the letters are still good. However, you might want to try one of those pens that can be used to write on CDs and other metallic materials. Cheaper than buying another keyboard. As stated, the stickers worked but not for very long as I remember.
I only lasted an hour at the mall today before getting so annoyed I had to leave.
All the teeny boppers are slowly cruising around with their friends but not buying anything. People are shoving and cutting in line. I just like to get in, get my stuff, and get out.
Friends tried hypnosis for smoking. It lasted for about 2 weeks then wore off. nm
m
Advance
I too saw it and was as angry as you are! I'm canceling my subscription, how 'bout you?
Thank you in advance it should be !! nm
TYIF -- something like Thank goodness it's Friday, but not that either. OOOPS !
thanks in advance..................nm
x
Advance is another one.
x
Since ADVANCE is free, there would
be little immediate impact if we cancel our subscriptions. Contact the advertisers and express your displeasure. They're the ones who provide the income stream for ADVANCE. They need to know that the people they're trying to reach are displeased and that their companies are associated with an extremely unpopular position.
how to advance in the MT field ...
I am wondering what it takes to advance to another position in the MT field. I've been an MT for about 13 years, acute care for 12 of those years. I'm tired of typing and have done QA as well, but the pay is horrible. What does it take to move up the ladder to another position, such as MT supervisor or account manager? I'm just curious. I know there are probably many more qualified people than I out there for any such position, but curiosity has got me as to the general qualifications and average salaries of each. Anyone know? Thanks....
how is Advance irrelevant?
nm
I sent Advance magazine an email
I think if enough people did, then maybe they will stop glamourizing the overseas work. This is the third article in a year's time that they have done. A few months back Advance actually interviewed an Indian owner, picture and all, about his company!!!
If we cancel our subscriptions, Advance won't be able to
sell as much advertising. THAT is where they make their money, not by promoting offshoring. If they can't distribute XX numbers of copies per month, the advertisers will go elsewhere. Boycott ADVANCE and spread the word. Shut the traitors down.
lol=laughing out loud, tia= thanks in advance
b
Current ADVANCE issue is MT pay
Cover story: Are MTs Paid Fairly. This story needs rebuttals. (I don't know if I spelled that right -- too mad to look it up.) There is another article about MTing as well as some good letters to the editor. No, I didn't write them. Not promoting self.
Look, this magazine wants feedback. Controversy creates publicity which creates readership. Please think about sending your own letters to the editor. Write what you write here. Let more people involved in our field know your thoughts whether they be MTs or not.
No, I don't work for ADVANCE. I'm just an MT just like most of you. I just want our voices to be heard by more people who call the shots that affect us. This is one venue. Even if you don't like the publication, fight back and make your voices heard!!! What a lot of you write here would be fantastic letters to the Editor which would reach a wider spectrum of our associates than this forum for MTs. We've got to keep the topic of the MT situation HOT in the media. You can submit articles to them as well. Get busy, PLEASE!!
Advance is irrelevant. Who cares what they say?
x
Letter to Editor-Advance
I will write a letter...
Advance to the 21st Century and get a new job
I couldn't believe it either. Advance has gone the way of offshore, just like AAMT
I sent a comment to Advance and heard back from them
supposedly, they are going to put my letter in the next edition in Letter to the Editor .... we'll see. But I did not cancel my subscription.
You mean that MSN link to Melbourne IT? (it comes up each time). Thanks in advance. nm
nm
Try off of the Advance Magazine web site, pasted inside. nm
http://health-information.advanceweb.com/main.aspx
Mayo Clinic in AZ has an ad for in-house MT in Advance Mag, $19/hr base pay. sm
Plus shift diff and bonus, plus $1000 sign-on bonus, and relocation $. What a great offer if it's true.
Anyone read Letter to Editor in ADVANCE see message
February 26, 2007 issue? Two letters regarding MT and AAMT.
Advance magazine? Anyone notice the letter to the editor?
It's on page 5 entitled Does Walmart or Home Depot pay better?......Gee, I wonder what company this person is talking about? Okay, which one of you sent this in? hahaha!
Well, while everything the writer of this letter says is true about the company, I think we all know most of us make a bit more than 8 to 10 bux an hour. For myself, it's about twice that. If I really were only making that for what I'm doing, I WOULD head over the the Walmart or Target. I would NOT do this for 10 bux an hour NO WAY in HE double toothpicks!
Idea in letter to Editor in Advance magazine (sm)
Just last night I read a letter in the Advance for Health Information Professionals from a former MR who is now a cancer registrar and loves it. I had looked into that myself a few years ago, although I chose to stay with MT. At the time there were on-line courses through community colleges.
What about coding? I have a friend who works now for a local hospital at home doing ambulatory coding.
Just some thoughts.
BTW, the letter to Advance can probably be found on-line at advanceweb.com/him. It's the Nov 5 issue.
don't cancel ADVANCE subscriptions - just send an email or letter
detailing how disgusted you are with the fact that they are promoting offshore training and offshoring transcription. This is the third article on this sort of topic that the magazine has done in a year.
I find this particularly offensive because so many hospitals/medical record departments get the magazine and if they see this, then companies like Spheris, CBay, Healthscribe, and others will be getting called to come do their transcription!
So please, don't cancel your subscription, just voice your opinion and comments. Thank you.
MODERATOR - I am apologizing in advance for my nasty remark to a poster, but I had to get it out of
x
DocQscribe and Dragon Naturally Speaking.. Can they work together? Thanks in advance.
nm
There was an excellent letter to the editor in Advance Magazine last month sm
that spelled how why, but here are some of my reasons:
1. In all their years in existence, the AAMT has yet to make life easier for the AMERICAN MT. In fact, the state of MT in this country is worse than I have seen it in a very long time.
2. The AAMT chose to align themselves with MTIA whose board of directors is largely composed of Indians. They also support offshoring and have adopted the motto "work smarter" which to them means pay hundreds of dollars for a CMT that most companies will not even acknowledge and then hundreds more dollars to join AAMT yearly to get their crappy publications.
3. They are now certifying offshore MTs. Yes, nothing like opening the cover of the AMERICAN Association for Medical Transcription and seeing the names of the Indians who have received their CMT.
4. I get less pay than I did 20 years ago and offshoring is the main reason. So pardon me if I am a little testy that I just paid so much money to an organization who stabbed me in the back.
5. I certainly think they SHOULD change their name to something else. How about the I SOLD THE AMERICAN MT DOWN THE RIVER ASSOCIATION FOR MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTION. Bitter? You bet. Gosh, they made so many promises and all they did was take our money for a piece of paper rarely recognized by anyone at the same time extending a hand to the reason I am making less money than I did 20 years ago!
6. It's a bloated association full of lots of people who "do things." Everything except stick up for the American MT.
7. Oh yes, and the BOS is ridiculous.
Advance for Health Information Professionals. Mostly geared toward coders now. nm
s
You mean they work OUR holidays. They just had a big one that lasted 5 days and WE had work for a w
You think Indians don't get sick? They have to be constantly sick in that disgusting place.
Auto Text entries on word. Is there a way to copy these or print these? Thanks in advance. NM
nm
Emdat platform?? Good, bad or ugly? Any info is appreciated. Thanks in advance. NM
/
In the back of Advance Magazine you see all the coding jobs. Can access it online, too.
s
Sombeody actually wrote a really good letter to Advance a few issues back. sm
It was in the Jan. 12, 2009, issue, letter to the Editor titled, "What Good is Change for MTs?" by Wendy Keller. She does attack AHDI in a very intelligently written letter.
article
51, trained on the job 26 years ago,
article...
I'm 57, learned on the job 28 years ago. I can out transcribe people half my age. I have no arthritis, no carpal tunnel syndrome, no fibromyalgia and only occasionally get a crick in my neck from my job. My QA score is 100%, has been for years, and I type 90 wpm, transcribe 200 lph at least and that's on an account that is almost all ESL. I could do this job another 20 or 30 years if I wanted to (barring sickness or accident that could happen at any age).
As far as the AAMT rep saying younger people are not lining up for this job - have they done anything to market MT to younger people? I'm sure a lot of high school kids or even community college people would be interested in this work if they were educated about it.
One last thought - the people they are offshoring this work to in India, Pakistan, Trinidad, the Philippines, are not spring chickens!!!
I for one am sick of AAMT trying to justify their greediness by blaming their victims, the US MTs.
article
There was an article in the news online that said it has spread to 3 more countries through ducks and geese and that it's only a matter of time before someone carries it here.
|
