Veterinary MTs?!

Is anyone out there a veterinary MT? I just read an interesting article about veterinary medical transcription. How fun would that be for us that are animal lovers? I did not know such a job existed.

Here is the article:

http://health-information.advanceweb.com/editorial/content/editorial.aspx?cc=98501&zz=0#AnchorPostComment

• Veterinary MTs?! - Donna
  • Vet. Ophthalmology - David
    • Thank you - Ozarkmtmama

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I have a very old blind and deaf black lab who lays on the floor next to my computer.  She's a love but she has horrific gas constantly.  Does anyone know of something to help this old girl out.  She eats IAMs kibble-style food twice a day and does not eat table scraps.  She gets zero exercise these days. 

Does anyone transcribe for a vet?  How did you get in to this area of transcription?  It sounds like it would be interesting.  Maybe they just have their secretaries transcribe.  Thoughts on this.

Thanks!

I was talking to one of the veterinarians I take my oldest dog to.  It's a small specialty clinic, and we've been going there for almost 2 years now, not long after they first opened up. 

They are all very caring, highly professional people there.  They value quality over quantity, and they really go above and beyond in their care and in spending time with each patient and owner.  (I've actually joked that if I need surgery, I want to go there.  LOL)  Because of that, they don't see a large number of patients and plan to keep it that way, but their business is definitely thriving. 

There are 2 full-time vets there, and 1 who is part-time.  Their problem is that they are drowning in paperwork.  They're all very meticulous and detail oriented, so they don't just scribble something down on a chart or dash off a letter or home care instructions and call it good.  They like to document everything thoroughly, but it's becoming very time consuming for them. 

They tried a speech recognition program, but it was terrible.  They know I do MT, so we started talking.  They're interested in whether I might want to do their reports and letters, *if* they were to start dictating this stuff (we were just talking, nothing has been decided). 

The thing is, I've spent the last 10 years working for a national (the infamous, pay-cutting "Q" as a matter of fact), so I'm not at all set up to just jump right in.  I have no idea what I would charge, whether I would work there or at home, what the work volume would be, what software I would use, whether I'd be an employee or IC, etc.  And, of course, there are some differences between human vs. veterinary medicine. 

I don't know.  My head is kind of spinning right now.  I think it would be such interesting work that I would love.  It could be such a great opportunity, but I feel a little overwhelmed at the thought of all of it.  Any thoughts, advice, recommendations...? 

I sent an e-mail regarding this post asking if it were legit as it seems to be posted quite frequently and the general feeling on this board is that this company 'tests' with current work needing typed.  See company board under original response for her post.

She responded by sayng  "My ad is very detailed because I am particular about whom I hire, as anyone who works for me carries my company name and work ethics.  If you feel there are too many requirements and that the pay is "ridiculously low," then why would you want the job?  I have worked in this business now since 1989, and I can assure you that the pay is more than reasonable."

Is it only me or has veterinary medicine changed quite a bit over the years to resemble care of humans?  I have cats and absolutely love them but I'm becoming torn between necessary care, preventive care, and just down-right UN-necessary care.  I remember back when animals went to the vet for shots and only when they got sick.  If they were sick, diagnosis and prognosis dictated the next level of care.  And in most cases back then there were no options other than to let nature take its course if something serious/chronic was found. 

I'm now noticing that every time I take one of the cats to the vet's, the doc wants to do "baseline" blood work at least once a year and now wants to see my ten-year-old cat on a twice-yearly basis.  My kitty is healthy as a horse and has had no health problems for ten years.  Why all of a sudden does he need expensive BASELINE lab work and xrays as well as needing to be seen twice a year and have his teeth cleaned twice a year (not cheap)?  It sounds like I'm complaining about the money end versus taking care of my kitty, and I suppose in a sense I am, because this adds up to a whole lot over the course of time.  The doc mentioned the reasons for the lab work (diabetes, thyroid problems, anemia, cancer, etc.)  I'm torn between having the work done and what I would do if anything chronic showed up on the tests.  I love my kitty but don't know if spending lots of money on chronic meds/therapy would be an option when I would have to weigh other expenses against them.