VBC (visible black character) method of measuring productivity. SM

I just read an article about this in the Advance mag I get biweekly.  It seems the MTIA, AHIMA, and the AAMT are endorsing the VBC method of measuring productivity for transcription.  Basically, that means they don't want to pay for spaces.  So they are finding another way of screwing with our money. 

I know there are several services out there that don't pay for spaces now and quite frankly I won't work for a company that doesn't pay for spaces.  I'm a firm believer that transcriptionists should get paid for every single keystroke, but that rarely if ever happens.  Now with those three major industry organizations endorsing not counting spaces, it may be the case that all services will adopt the VBC method and we are all going to lose.

Oh, the AAMT says that the VBC method will create a "level playing field throughout the industry" and allow for a "great opportunity for the industry to engage in a real discussion about the inherent value of transcribing and how pricing under the new defintion should reflect that value."  The AAMT also states that MTSOs should consider an MT's "critical thinking skills and interpretive judgment" when discussing compensation.

Yeah right.  Like MTSOs have been considering anything more than the bottom line and pumping up there pocketbooks.  To them we are machines.  I'm tellin' ya medical transcription is circling the drain. 

• VBC (visible black character) method of measuring productivity. SM - Tinks
  • Sowestopgivingthemspaces. - Me
    • Ilikethewayyouthink! nm - Typingperson
      • completelyagree//yougetwhatyoupayfor - anon
  • Sounds like "FUZZY MATH" to me! ;D (nm) - Typingperson
  • I saw that article too - Janine
    • I agree. - Home MT
    • good post... - Edrr
    • If AAMT has anything to do with it, it cannot be good for MTs - nm
      • Especially since AAMT - OTHMT
  • Circling the drain . . . - Too funny

The messages you are viewing are archived/old.
To view latest messages and participate in discussions, select the boards given in left menu

As of the recent AHDI/AAMT annual meeting, it appears that the method of line-counting known as VBC (visible black characters) is becoming a trend.

All MTs should read the following report from Perspectives in HIM, February 14, 2007.

Yes, yes, the measuring spoons with the slidey things are great!  You'll have a blast!

It's free!

http://www.visiblebody.com/

potential clients use.  If you solicit someone that still uses tapes you need to be sure you have the equipment for that, etc.    I don't know if maybe someone has a sample of a solicitation letter to give you an idea of what to send out to potential clients. 

After a 27.5-minute ESL dictation that took me an hour to type and netted me $12, I'm going to embrace the new visible black character counting method by redefining  "verbatim."  Here's a transcript the way it will look in the future ....

"... I mean, no go back, delete that, okay and the admitting diagnosis was uh ... sepsis, number 2,  ... no, number 1,  no that is number 2 ... change in mental status.  (flip pages flip pages flip pages ... put phone down) Number 4 ... diabetes.  Long pause (... the nurses are talking about a baby shower).  Go back up to the labs and insert a chest x-ray with left lower lobe infiltrate ... no, it's normal.  Now, go back down ..."

Can't wait for that next check! 

Hi all...I currently have a couple accounts of my own but I'm looking for maybe two or three more.  I'm wondering what the best method is to go about finding them.

In the past I have tried just driving around to different clinics and walking in to talk with the staff, but the person at the front always seemed annoyed and not very receptive.  I've also tried calling clinics out of the phone book, but they never want to put you on to the office manager and they usually just say they don't need any transcription.  Once I also tried doing a mailing and I sent out about 100 letters with business cards to offices around town.  I only got one reply back and that account didn't work out for me.  I'm wondering if the office managers even GET the letters or if they just throw them in the trash without reading them thinking it's junk mail.

So...for you all with your own accounts....how do you go about getting them?  What have you found is the best approach?  Thanks in advance

Hello everyone

I currently have one of my own accounts with 2 physicians. They use digital hand-held recorders and we email files back and forth, encrypted of course. Anyway, is there an easier way for their office staff? Something where the doctor could talk right into the computer and it would be sent to me without using the office staff?  I am trying to take some of the burden off of them.

Thanks.
Lynn

Can anyone refresh my memory on  how to search by DOB in  Meditech.  Preferably in RAD module, but I know it can be done in PCI.  For instance, you search by Unit # (i.e. U00012345), account  # (i.e. A00012456) and DOB is something like D/ or D mmddyy or mmddyyyy or mm/dd/yy.

I need to know what goes in the front "D" and the mmddyy layout.  I don't have access to PCI on this account so I can't go in and check.  TIA

Encrypted email for delivery of completed documents works, but voice files may be too large for that method. A secure FTP site, either your own or through a commerical provider such as mydoconline.com or ftptogo.com, would work for both documents and voice files. You may need an FTP program, but there are lots of free ones out there, like filezilla.com, which is what I use.

Voice files are now transferred from clinic I work for via email (unencrypted) and are then sent back via Winzip and email. 

We need new method to be compliant, as well as to eliminate "many missing" files it seems when sending through email. Clinic now uses Olympus equipment and does not want to use email any longer.  Checked into secure FTP site and will not work well with the Olympus system they have.  Any suggestions on what to do here????

You are right, the normal function is when you highlight your text and then higt ctrl+y and a little window pops up asking for a description and an abbreviation.  For the description, I always start with my initials and a dash and then the actual description.  That way all my normals are grouped together in the list and I don't have to sort through everybody elses to get to mine.

How in the world do you accomplish so many lines.

I am genuinely interested in any advice you might have. I struggle to meet minimums when work is available.

Thanks!

I don't see a board for increasing productivity.  I usually just post questions on the main board but think I will get more information if I post questions on the board specifically for productivity.

TIA

I didn't know if that board is frequented a lot, but posted a couple questions there.

Thanks so much for your time.

Chickadee