Outsourcing to other countries
Posted By: medtran26 on 2008-06-01
In Reply to:
We are the only ones who can do something about this. I wanted to toss around some ideas.
A. We should research and get all the information we need, talk to lawyers and talk to anyone who can help us get started.
B. We should have a new association. American Medical Transcription Association – AMTA. That is just an idea.
C. Picket lines. OFFSHORE NO MORE!! Sorry, I borrowed the phrase from another poster. I hope you don't mind.
D. We should notify news papers, news stations, and talks shows that actually make a difference sometimes (Montel, Oprah……any other ideas for that?)
E. We should notify all clinics, hospitals, doctors, and any/every place in the United States and Canada that need transcription services.
F. We need to notify the general public…refer to D.
G. A specific board, group, or chat room dedicated only to OFFSHORE NO MORE should be created and moderated accordingly.
H. Union? What do we need to do to get this started?
I don't know where to start, but we, collectively, need to do something. I have been wondering we could possibly be (sp?) black balled if our identities are revealed? If so, it won't last forever. Maybe the beginning of all this needs to be the new association and that can be our steppingstone. We can make this better for our future and future MTs. The thing is that we need to do something. We can't just talk about it and complain against it and hope that someone else will do something for us or that someone else will take a stand. We have a voice if do this together. The ball just needs to start rolling….
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What about different countries
nm
You mean the countries of the "irrelevant" UN?
You mean "Old Europe"? You mean the country whose fine wine is poured down the gutters here? You mean that country whose democratically elected leader should be assassinated?
Pop Quiz: In what year did 14,000 French die in a heat wave?
Answer: 2003. Don't you remember all that news coverage we got here and how generous everybody was? Perhaps the freedom fries have affected your memory.
Selling the BOS to MTs in other countries?
Does the AAMT really sell the BOS to MTs in India and Pakistan? Can MTs there belong to the AAMT?
I see the difference, but in other countries...
they consider dogs and cats as food consumption. They were in other countries killing birds over the bird flu which were their pets and some were for food consumption, but they have to kill them all because it travels. They are totally different than we are here in the states when it comes to dogs and cats. I gave up Chinese food for that reason and stick to only Loo mein and hope that it's really a noodle. lol
We might as well face it, we are being taken over by other countries, thanks to our
government. You have got to read this article at
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080604/ap_on_re_us/domestic_workers_rights;_ylt=AuYJ4gKnmseAW_rqGopWh.FH2ocA
Domestic workers sue, lobby, organize for workplace rights -THESE ARE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS PEOPLE!
I just want to crawl in a hole and DIE! I am so worried for my children. Soon, the US of A will be owned, run and operated by other countries totally!
UNBELIEVABLE!
As one of the richest countries in the WORLD, it's not odd
that other countries think we can help ourselves. Makes absolute sense to me that no one is offering help.
Reports are going to third world countries, often with out SS#. nm
:+
unfortunately they send work to other countries
they offshore to other countries from the usa because what's important to most dictators, and again unfortunately, is the cheapest price they will get for transcription......now, I didn't say they would receive good quality MT work back - but they will only be paying 3, 4 or 5 cpl for that offshore work.....so they have chosen to COMPROMISE QUALITY!!!! Blechhhhhhhhhhhh!!!
USA has safeguards that 3rd World Countries DO NOT!
Like your MTSO or ISP company being subpoened to give up your name and address.
Like a city, county, state or federal Attorney General's office who will proceed to charge, prosecute and imprison you for divulging, or worse, blackmailing an institution, like a Pakistani transcriber did, in 2003.
At least we know the American Criminal Justice System can and will prosecute, but what can an American Institution or patient do about violation of privacy or blackmail in India or Pakistan?--VERY LITTLE.
Hey, bombing other countries defeated Hitler.
x
Background checks on MTs fro third world countries?? LoL. Are you serious? nm
:+
All other countries expect newcomers to learn
x
I wonder if CS is ALSO teaching Coding to India & other countries?
I know they teach MT to India and other countries, the latest one being Jamaica.
Yet they still take money from US students, even though they are training overseas to help them take more jobs away.
donations for the relief coming from 50+ countries, including
-- India is making a $5 million donation to the American Red Cross, Ambassador Ronen Sen said Saturday. In addition, Sen said India was willing to donate essential medicines to the relief effort, noting that India has the largest number of Food and Drug Administration-recognized pharmaceutical companies outside the United States.
You are worried about your home? Most of these records go to third world countries. I would rather
:{
Sadly, I agree that more and more jobs are going to go to 3rd world countries. However, that is not
:+
Ppl are so concerned about HIPAA. Most records, including SS#, go to 3rd world countries!
:+
Dogs are a huge carrier of rabies in developing countries.
x
I will never work for another company that supports offshoring to overseas countries
As posted above, I have worked for a foreign company. The company had some US MTs working for them and IMO, they were using us to cover up. I think we should personally stick together and stop the nonsense of our US reports going overseas. I do have one question for those who support the Indian companies and any company that offshore overseas...where is your medical information going? Have you thought for one minute that maybe your own SSN and address, etc, might be going overseas?
Maybe nationalist. Everyone else is listing countries of origin. White english speakers at the wor
They like to show off, play with the language. At least the ESLs learn to say it, and always say it the same way, every time. The Caucasian English-speakers are the worst, arrogant, effusive with the language.
HIPAA is a joke, The majority of reports go to 3rd world countries, for pete's sake. nm
:+
OUTSOURCING....
http://msn.com.com/2100-9589_22-5757832.html?part=msn&subj=ns_5757832&tag=tg_itdc
outsourcing
In this day and age, especially with globalization, any one of us can be replaced quite easily..not just in the MT field, in all fields. When I heard they are outsourcing radiology work to India and hospitals are letting some radiologists go, I almost choked! The other day when I called the local court house to postpone my jury duty service, I talked with a lady who had a thick Indian accent. I was tempted to ask, are you in India.
outsourcing ad
about 20 or so posts down, subject "censorship" ... two advertisements at top of page, one soliciting transcription to be sent to india for great savings, etc. outrageous.
Outsourcing
Great article-- but do you think the CEOs care? They are too busy with their big 6-7 figure salaries and bonuses to worry about us. All they care about is the bottom line-- how to save an extra nickel so they can line their pockets and buy that new yacht every year. 
Outsourcing
I think it will get to the point where everybody will outsource at least some of the work. With all these companies begging for employees it doesn't seem like there's enough of us. The employer I just left was a private owned company and one of the biggest accounts decided to outsource. Don't know who they chose to do this for them, they didn't say, but my income was cut from 4500. a month to 1300. a month. Right now just desperate for a good job.
outsourcing
No way. It's here to stay. There just aren'the enough transcriptionists out there to do all the work and turn it around as quickly as it is expected these days. I would not worry. There is enough work for everyone.
Outsourcing
...I hear you. The more we rely on technology, the greater the risk, and the more our private information goes bye-bye to India, Timbuktu, or where ever, the greater the risk we are putting ourselves. Interesting to find out China, the sleeping giant, has thrown out all things MICROSOFT in the country. See, there're thinking ahead, years down the road. They use only Linux, won't chance anything to a world wide shut down someday by terrorists or otherwise. THAT, I find interesting. I also wonder if our powerful men in politics, especially our President and his administration have arranged to keep their private healthcare records state side ... hmmmmm...
outsourcing
I agree with the posters. Check your medical reports, some of them contain serious errors, I was misdiagnosed in an op report as having a serious condition I was determined "not" to have.
I also was treated like a common criminal by a foreign country because I bought a laptop from someone who lost their job in 9/11. I paid a little more than I should have because I felt sorry for him and unless I pretended to be "him" they would not help me. I finally after two months got the right part from an American company and my laptop worked just fine after two shipments of the wrong part and a whole lot of aggravation and misinformation.
They are a third world country and we will take their place soon if we don't watch out. They'll be taking over more than our jobs. It's very dangerous. It is life-threatening as far as information goes. Some will be saving money but losing lives.
outsourcing
What worries me is it's bad enough when they mess with our finances because they don't understand how things work in our country. But now with transcription being outsourced, they are literally messing with our lives! A transcription mistake of left versus right, Klonopin versus Clonidine, 0.5 mg versus 50 mg, could mean disfigurement or death if not caught in time by an overworked nurse or doctor.
Outsourcing...
In response to: People say outsourcing will happen.....It is happening!! There are a few National companies (which will go unnamed, but you know who they are) who have contracts with facilities who know the work is being outsourced and they want it because it cut their line rates significantly. This is our biggest competition right now. Overseas, the piddly line rates of 6 cents/line is a lot of money to those people. They are getting better and better at it (the offshore countries), and in time, they will be so good that there will be little editing needed. It is just like newbies here in the US, it just takes time for them to improve and learn...and before you know it, we'll wake up one day and poof...very little if any work in US, all overseas! It is a global economy and what we think is peanuts, they think is a fortune! I am currently retraining in another profession (nutrition) because I have been watching this evolution for the past 7-10 years. I managed a company back in 1997 that first sent transcription overseas and I had to proof and edit that crap! I think in 9 years, they are probably getting better at it and with time, they will improve even more. Don't be so sure that outsourcing will not continue to be a current event! IMHO.
Outsourcing
I originally posted this on the "Company Board," but one kind soul there suggested I repost it on the Main Board, so here it goes:
I'll tell you my personal take on this. I'm a very small MTSO and am fighting like heck to keep my jobs in the good old USA - hiring only Americans, etc.
We face stiff competition from companies who offshore, use EMR, etc. I charge my clients what the market will bear. I've already had to lower my rates to 2 of my largest clients because even at the lower cpl rates I was charging them at the time, they were ready to walk to India, and in fact were testing out some Indian MT companies - this after I had, in fact, already lost 2 other doctors' offices to offshore Indian companies. I feel I am fair and pay my IC transcriptionists 2/3 of whatever I make from my clients. But whenever I advertise for experienced transcription help, I am pretty much told to go jump in the lake with the rates that I'm able to afford to pay, even though it's good, steady work. So the bottom line is that I really find it difficult to get any competent help from American MTs. Not that there aren't many around, just that I and many like me can't afford them. Not blaming the MTs (American OR Indian) for wanting to make a living either, I'm just saying this to demonstrate the dilemma I find myself in. I suspect it's the same for other small MTSOs. Can't really raise my rates, because from prior experience, many doctors offices have no scruples about sending work offshore. I've never resorted to offshoring anything, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't tempted.
Not singing the blues, just telling the facts. Personally, I'd rather be selling hotdogs on the beach.
outsourcing
I am the only Transcriptionist in a doctor's office. We started sending some work to a transcription company in November and later found out they were outsourcing to India. I thought my doctors would be upset, but guess what??? NO!!! It has been the biggest "mess" for me to correct. It has been far more trouble for me than if I just typed everything. I started leaving all the blanks, etc. and let the doctors start dealing with this and as of 6/15/07 we are no longer using that transcription company. We found someone locally (IC) who is typing our work for the same amount per line. YEAH!!!!!
ASR/VR/Outsourcing
Right. Hopefully the other companies do not do the same as Medquist. One company can ruin it for everybody.
The truth of the matter is if you can get the same item at a different store for half the price, you are going to go to that store to get it (which in turn would cause the other stores to have to lower their price).
I am just putting a warning out there for people to know that this is out there. Medquist will tell you that you will be able to produce more work and will lower your cpl to 5 cents/line; however, as you said, the quality VR puts out is horrible and it takes just as long to edit the VR work as it would to type it. They (Medquist) are also outsourcing work to the Phillipines. Our pay is lowered as the cost of living goes up.
maybe it goes along with outsourcing.
If you can outsource paperwork, why not babies? The article says all nationalities are involved. It does make one wonder.
Outsourcing sm
Our jobs are going overseas and I had an idea! Lets outsource the US Government to India.
I'd bet it would cost a lot less. When candidates are running for office, they can use those Indian phone banks to explain their platforms. The accents are thick, but what does it matter? Politicians are not outstanding speakers and when it comes to listening to the people their skills are nil. Employ an Indian to run your rhetoric...raise funds...and sit in a caucus.
Let Indians do the accounting for the feds. I am willing to bet that for 3 cents a line a "highly educated" Indian could find all the wastage of $100 hammers and $1000 toilet seats. Let them type up bills to be put before congress, they type cheap and we all know that. I can't speak for the accuracy, but it is CHEAP.
Better yet, buy American! Shun the goods from China, India, and all those third world countries. Keep it at home.
And um, Mr. President? Exporting democracy doesn't mean you export American jobs...
Outsourcing
Can anyone enlighten me just how an individual such as myself could check to see if a company that adverises on MT Job Boards has any affiliations with India or outsourcing? Thanks for your help.
Not outsourcing
All our hospitals/facilities Outsource - to us.- so unless we all want to loose our jobs, we need to be careful what we complain about. It's Offshoring that we're protesting.
outsourcing
I recently lost my job due to outsourcing and it is killing me emotionally. I loved the company had been with them for a year and it was okay, could have been better but I felt good about the work, company etc. Monday, got the call and just been ship wrecked every since. I expected more out of them...nothing like we will find you another account, it was just we are going to be sending it to India due to the cost. I am still hurting from it....not really financially, but mentally.
Outsourcing
Our manager has fought off that demon more than once. She is very supportive of in-house transcription. It's great to have someone finally stand up for us!!!
Outsourcing
I just have to vent my frustration! I had an appointment with my orthopedic doctor this morning and we started on the subject of transcription. When I asked if he had inhouse or a service he told me they send all their work to India. They have several physicians and PACs which dictate and they were spending over $100,000 a year for transcription. Their service was charging them .12 a line. They pay .06 a line in India. Obviously the service could not compete. :( I should have asked him about quality and TAT!
Outsourcing
It is rightly mentioned by “none” that “this is not the only industry that outsources”. One just has to look around our house or a store nearby to find that there are lots of electronic goods, clothes etc. which are not made in the United States. These have been true since decades.
Frankly speaking it was the western world and US which wanted these economies to open up so that American products could be sold there. Now these countries have a Nike, Pepsi, Ford, Whirlpool etc. but they are now producing it too and at a cheaper rate. The job losses through manufacturing have been huge but this sector innovated. My take is that MT industry also has to innovate because technology has made outsourcing inevitable.
And those of you who say that we should not visit a doctor who sends work overseas, my question is are you using only American made products? If you are then you can say that otherwise please don’t say things which you don’t follow yourself. Maybe lot of American jobs would be created if all the things we use in our daily life were made in US and not in China or India.
Outsourcing
This just recently happened at the company I work for (not just psych but psych was included), they went with another service to do their work (we were just doing overflow) and part of the deal was they had to take all the inhouse transcriptionists...well from what I hear they are making it real difficult for the transcriptions, I think so they'll quit and they can bring newer people in at a lower rate. Just my opinion.
About outsourcing...
It's not just us - but darnit, I'm still mad!!!
http://www.comcast.net/data/fan/html/popup.html?v=928157451&pl=newestFinance.xml&config=&launchpoint=Link&cid=fanlink&attr=featured_sidebar&tab=featured&attr=finance_sidebar
outsourcing
A lot of them do. Usually they start outsourcing discharge summaries. No matter where you work, inhouse or at home for a national, it can be sheer drudgery at times and the holidays are usually the worst of it.
Changing careers can be a good idea and a welcome change but with the uncertain times we live in who knows???? It's hard to make decisions when everything seems to be in the throes of bankruptcy, bailout and the old rules seem to be gone forever.
Things will get better in time. I hope.
outsourcing
Girl (or guy), I feel your pain! Unfortunately, it's not just transcription. I had heard that radiology reports were read by off-site radiologists now (in India, or wherever), and we experienced it firsthand a couple of months ago when my husband went to the ER and had several tests done. What took the longest time for us to get out of there was having to wait for the radiology report to be faxed back to the hospital. Sure, I guess they still have to have someone on site to take the pics, but I guess those are lower level, tech jobs. Crazy.
outsourcing
Hi
I too am concerned about losing my job. I've already lost one good job due to outsourcing, a gastroenterology office. My main job now is putting in system where info will be put in computer at time of patient visit thus, not needing transcription. Yes, I am very concerned about it.
outsourcing
Bless your heart... I just don't know if us transcriptionists can turn this around:( I called the Obama campaign line & reported what is happening to him & I also left a post on change.org about it. I just don't know if transcription is going to continue to spiral downhill or what, but I am so worried:( I am seriously thinking about going to college to do x-ray tech just so I can be multifunctional for the hospital if I get the shaft with transcription.
Outsourcing...
In my experience, the doctors who are either on staff and/or have admitting privileges to a particular hospital are basically at the mercy of the hospital board and administrators, as the revenues generated by the physicians to the hospital are filtered through all the departments, so that each gets their share of those revenues, with the hospital gain outweighing the physicians. So, although doctors may not necessarily like it if dept A is outsourced, they're still weighing that loss against depts B, C, D, etc. Does that make sense? Perhaps if they keep barking loudly enough as more and more departments are eventually outsourced, the powers that be will finally take notice and listen! Unfortunately, by the time that happens, those suits will all be standing around wondering what happened to THEIR jobs!
outsourcing
Working such rigid hours is a very common Eastern Asia thing. I know it is a stereotype but that is how one family can run a 24-hour store, because they are very strict with their hours. While IC used to be you work when you want as long as you get the minimum amount of work in each day that you said you would it is becoming more like just a glorified telecommute position. You still have to be online and ready to work certain hours and if you aren't you are disciplined like with any job. I see this a lot with jobs that are overseas companies and even American based companies are adopting the program. It prevents problems like were listed in another post - everyone taking the same days off and no work getting done.
Your best bet is to make sure the contract does not say you have to work certain hours, just submit so many lines a day AS WORK IS AVAILABLE...I've seen people get in trouble for not submitting lines but there wasn't work enough to get those lines.
We aren't given the freedom we used to, but there are still jobs out there if you dig far enough! Good Luck!!
We have been supporting other countries for years and years now.
What is the big deal. Look at your clothes, cars, items in your house. You will see mostly China, India, Indonesia, Pakistan etc., etc. We have not supported our own people like we should have for years now!!!!
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