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off shoring tests for health care professionals

Posted By: now this is scary on 2007-02-26
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Below is an ad I found were they are offshoring the devlopement of questions now this is scary Title: Healthcare Exam Question Writing

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The client is based in the United States that is providing training and education to health care professionals.
The client is looking to outsource the process to outsource agents who can write exam questions from the source material (source material can come from journal articles, books, etc.)
1. The client will provide the source material either by email or by providing the web address.
2. The outsource agent will write multiple choice questions from the source material provided. Each question will only have 4 possible answers, with only one answer being correct.
3. The client will designate the number of questions required per course.
4. The outsource agent will format the questions in a format that will be provided.
5. The outsource agent will email the questions to the client for review and editing.
6. The client will email the edited questions back to the outsource agent.
7. The outsource agent will upload the edited questions to the client website.

The client will pay one dollar US ($1) for each question written.

We believe that for a typical set of question will require 15 questions and will most likely take about 3 hours to complete. This equals about $5 US per hour. We anticipate rejecting some of the questions that are developed, though the client will consider paying for the development. The client will work with the selected agents in the future to assist with question development.

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off shoring tests for health care professionals - now this is scary
- I am pretty sure I know where the ad came from - mg

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Advance for Health Information Professionals. Mostly geared toward coders now. nm
s

MT in addition to other health care job?

I know that there are MTs out there that are MTs along with another HC job, but have never heard anything specific.

I am about to start MT school but in about 2-3 years the opportunity for me to go to school to become an RRT will present itself (it might not again for another 5 yrs past that point). It (being an RRT) is something I have wanted to do for a while, but only as PRN or part time work because of the shifts, the ages of my kids and my dh's work schedule (out of town a lot and weird hours). Because of that, I figure I could work as an IC (obviously 20hrs/wk or less) during RRT school and nights and weekends when I am not at my RRT job. We move every couple of years and IC work (for a national at home) could also serve as a steady income source while I find another RRT position (which could conceivably take a while considering my limitations regarding work hours outside my home).

Since I obviously do neither job right now, I don't know how realistic my expectations of this are. Does anyone juggle these two jobs? I know its most likely nurses that do this, but I welcome anyone's comments.

I definitely plan on going to MT school, because its available now, the work will be there, and being an MT is an excellent fit for me. Just trying to plan ahead - I know dh will want to know if I am giving up plans to go to RRT school because of this.

Thanks.

Socialized health care
http://www.liberty-page.com/issues/healthcare/socialized.html#britain

Here are some stats you might find interesting

Canadian Health Care
A 6-8 week wait time to see a gynecologist? Is that good or bad for the US. I personally have been waiting to see an endocrinologist for 1 year, 3 months...still nothing. Seriously. The wait time for any type of procedure of specialty is actually quite scary. Sometimes it feels as though we are in Russia, we just happen to pay more taxes. We "pay" for our health care with 13% tax on absolutely everything you buy. That is supposedly for health care, but it really doesn't seem to help. I personally believe the problem is in the fact there are not enough doctors. When you compare how many doctors there are in each specialty to the amount of patients that require them, that is where the wait time comes into play. Ironically, Canada is starting to implement "pay as you go" clinics for procedures because the wait time is so ridiculous. It seems that Canada is adopting the US's health system and the US is looking to adopt Canada's system. That reminds me of something...the grass is always greener on the other side (nope, same grass, different place). Take care all.

Whether you like it or not, your private health care is distributed to others
Everytime you are diagnosed, have a test, go to the doctor, everytime you are billed, your information goes into a data base that all health care providers (insurance companies) have access to. I don't get the big deal over this all of a sudden. So someone in India finds out you are treated for a wart or depression. So what? What difference does it make as far as privacy goes if India MT knows this or Kansas MT knows this?

I will take canada's health care in a nanosecond
Well, I gotta tell ya, I would love to have Canada's health care, as I dont have health care..You see, if you are an SE, MQ does not offer health care. So, universal health care through the govt, IMHO, is better than paying out of my pocket.

Anyone have info on K Force Health care? nm
nm

This is an example of our mangled health care system.
So my husband smacks his elbow on something at work at the end of the day and as he is driving home notices his elbow is swelling up huge. He goes to the doctor and they say they can't do anything without his employer's consent to workers' comp and send him home without even an ice pack. The next day he goes to work and his boss gives him $100 to say it was done at home and to go get it fixed. I have taken a picture of his elbow and sent him to the doctor. He had already told them it was done at work when he went in yesterday anyway, so he is going to tell his boss that and give the $100 back. Amazing.

Aurora Health Care wiscionsin also.
xx

There needs to be a way to provide universal health care BUT sm
I don't believe that a national system is the right answer. If you look to Hawaii which has a law for universal coverage, it works pretty well.

We have had CHiPS which is the child health plan. I know something about that and had it for my own grown kids when it very first started. You get that if you don't qualify for Medicaid, and if your employer doesn't provide or if the premium of what is provided through employment is more than a given percentage of income.

This issue is one that I feel is best handled by the states, not by the feds. All you have to do is look at the No Child Left Behind to see how well that kind of thing works. States know what their demographics look like. They know what sector of the population is without health insurance and they know what funds they provide to various indigent programs to provide for the poor. It is the lower middle class woman and the lower middle class child who is most likely to be uninsured because they make too much for Medicaid and too little for any type of private insurance and most employers in this bracket can't/won't offer anything.

If you look at Medicare, which is a mess actually, and CHiPS which functions better, they are about the same idea for two different sectors of the population. There are HMOs and plans that one chooses. They are all a bit different, but you all know how this works. The companies who insure people through these plans keep costs and premiums down in order to participate.

I am in favor of the federal government figuring out a capitation rate along the lines of Medicare or Medicaid and paying this to the states, but more broadly to cover more people. Then, the states can figure out what they can contribute. If they eliminate funding for indigent services to cover these people under a statewide plan, that can go into the kitty. Every person in every state WITHOUT employer provided insurance, will be required to contribute to the state plan in some way, based on income. Employees with company provided insurance can opt to participate in the state program. The idea is to recoup the money wasted on county, city and state indigent programs and put it to the greater good. With having not to cover unpaid medical bills because there aren't any, anymore, it should help to raise the amount that states and other agencies have to pay into the system. Insurance companies will have to bid lower to participate in this, because I think it is best that they are the ones who administrate, private sector always does better...

well now I am boring you, but I see what I mean! LOL

A husband to take care of the bills and the health
nm

Soon it will be the government, Universal Health Care, nm
xxx

United Health Care medical insurance

Well, I am about to use my vision coverage insurance for United Health Care. Eye Exam 2000 said they only covered 15-20% of the exam, 20% of cost of lens/glasses. I have never heard of such a low amount covered. I guess I have the wrong plan. Anyone else disappointed with United Health Care benefits besides me? I work for a large national.

Thanks. I guess I am hoping someone will tell me I am wrong and that 80% of the bill is covered. That this is all a mistake.

Signed,

Squinting

you can't insure your body, just paying for health care for it.
x

IL Health Care Worker Background Check Act

Type "225 ILCS 46/" in your search engine. It should give you the Health Care Worker Background Check Act for Illinois. There are several proposed amendments regarding non-fingerprint-based ID before the legislature for the 2007-2008 session. I hope this is what you seek.

OOps meant best health care in the world
x

If you think that's bad, just wait 'til we get "free" health care. NM
xxx

My take on a big part of the high cost of health care and why we are

Do y'all know how much nurses get paid? My sister is a nurse and gets around $40 an hour, where she works no weekends, no evenings, occasional call for which they get paid very well, OT if they happen to have to go in on the weekend, DOUBLE PAY if they work on their birthday, etc., etc. And then there's the pension, and the great insurance and on and on. Sometimes all they have to do is make phone calls to make their dough, and I am not talking OR nurse. And then we get thrown to the dogs. And no, I am not going to go into nursing because I am too old. I am just disgusted.

Good for you. You're a wise woman. Take care of your health first. nm
x

51yo female, divorced, 20yo son, 35 yrs in health care

Excuse me, but who was the health care worker who then disclosed the HIV status?
Ashe's HIV status and career decline. had nothing to do with a healthcare worker disclosing it.

Govt is promoting EMR to reduce health care costs.
Major cuts taking place in Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement. See Bush's Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, billions of dollars being cut. Word is that private insurance will follow suit, with higher deductibles among other things. You can thank the

I think it's important to note why health care costs are so high, first of all, SM
one big problem is govt involvement, just like with college, the more the govt is involved, the more the cost goes up. Secondly, laywers run up the cost by frivolous lawsuits and docs have to pay higher premiums for their malpractice insurance. Third, we are paying for illegals, people using emergency rooms for care and not paying, the list goes on and on. Hospitals charge people with insurance more to make up for some of this, because they know the insurance will pay for it, so people who do pay cash really end up paying inflated prices too.

It's complicated, but that is the root problem.

Here's another reason why health care is so high people can't afford it and ...SM

A while back I had to go to the ER for a particularly bad Meniere's episode. I asked for an itemized bill, and you know what they charged me for 4 mg of ondansetron?

$544.

Could your hubs become a patient of a home health care agency and then you could work for them
s

Study found that electronic health records did not boost patient care. sm

Link to article on yahoo news stating that electronic health records fail to improve care, study says.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/records_dc;_ylt=AsT2t1nasUEaoOxgIsyoMUOs0NUE

I dont care if you stay home because ofyour kids, a health issue - sm
or because you just like to work in tne nude. The fact of the matter is, settling for a lower rate jsut for the convenience of working from home is BS. I've been doing this for 25 years and have been home since 1996 and while I know I am not making the same money I did in the haydays, I sure as he11 will not work for less. Many of these companies are bluffing if they tell you they have to lower your rate. In fact, if you hold your ground and have a decent reputation, you can even make more.

It's too bad that so many people don't believe in their abilities and worth to hold out. You should never base your decision on fear. Use logic and common sense.

off-shoring
My mom's cardiologist told me their group of doctors off-shore to India because it is so cheap do to so... they pay them 3 cents a line. I talked to him about the quality of the reports and he said they don't care about the quality, it's all about saving money

That's about the same state of MT, without the off-shoring.
xx

In-shoring jobs for MTs.

http://health-information.advanceweb.com:80/Editorial/Content/Editorial.aspx?CC=200503

Off-topic story about off-shoring

Recently, my father cancelled his JCPenney credit card b/c he was furious that they had outsourced their customer service dept to India. Long story short, he cancelled his credit card & wrote them a letter complaining about the language barrier and told them that if they want to accept American dollars, they should hire American workers.

A few days ago, he received an incorrect billing statement from him. He called the customer service dept and quickly realized he was speaking to an American. The woman on the phone told him that JCP had received so many complaints, that they are closing their India office and bringing the jobs back to America. She said it was b/c of the lay-offs in India is how she got her job.

I think you are missing one of the worst points of off shoring. sm
All of these people working off shore are not paying income tax, social security tax, medicare tax, or state tax. The government is losing a small fortune on these salaries, and as the price of their programs go up, so will our taxes. Someone has to pay for it. The people making minimum wage will not be hit hardest, it will be the middle class, those of us doing this profession, teachers, accountants, etc. Maybe when your tax hits 50%, you will begin to see the light.

The point was the reason for outsourcing, not off-shoring. sm
Every facility that pays a vendor to do its transcription - including US vendors - is outsourcing and yes, the main reason is a shortage of qualified MTs so that many facilities, especially those in less populated areas, cannot hire enough qualified local MTs.

This is a different argument from the reason for off-shoring the work, which undoubtedly is the cost differential.

I will only agree with outsourcing and off-shoring when Americans have carte

are going to. Like, the companies that enjoy the protection and luxuries of operating out of the United States -- when those companies work deals with the COUNTRIES they are allowed to send our jobs to SO THAT WE CAN VISIT, MOVE TO, EXPLORE, SHOP IN........when we can go to those very same countries without question, passport, or visa, then I will say I will not fight off-shoring and outsourcing.

But the way it is now......basically we are being held PRISONERS IN OUR OWN COUNTRY while our JOBS ARE GOING OUT THE DOOR.

We are professionals. You type it and keep your
NM

How can we ever be viewed as professionals if we ourselves
nm

And some of you wonder why we are not considere professionals...
nm

If we were treated like professionals, we might be
Management IS the devil. By the way, what's it like up there in mananagement, with your 6-figure income, your executive healthcare, and salary-not-hourly status? Especially when you sit in your office all day surfing Amazon & eBay? Must be nice, Beelzebub. But I'll never sell my soul for it.

At-Home Professionals
I thought the training there was excellent. At the time, I was very frustrated with all the ESL docs they had, but now i'm glad they did that because while other MTs are shying away from ESLs, I'm getting that work and getting paid a premium for it. It took me a little while to find a job, but I've been working now for over seven years and I never regretted taking those courses. Your best bet would be to start with local doctors and get some experience first. Good luck to you!

Call in the professionals unless you think it will dry really fast.
dd

school professionals are not always "perfect"

In my own experience, my daughter was upset all the time, crying, acting out, etc. I was receiving phone calls quite often, but I knew my daughter. She was in th 4th grade already. I met with teacher it was only about 2 months into the school year. It was actually the teacher my daughter had, who was new to the area and the district and seem very timid. I changed her to a teacher who I knew from before with her brothers and was outgoing, gave lots of praise to all the children and really interested in the kids. My daughter was back to herself..

I have also had problems with the principals, and one was a psychologist. They will try to "bully" you, so you have to stand up for your children. I even had them take off a suspension on her record because it was unfair, as I had many times spoke with the principal about some girls teasing my daughter and hitting her many times and my daughter never did anything and finally was tired of it and hit back and she was suspended. All the other times the other girls never were suspended but they were just talk to. The principal never took the time to speak to the kids before this happened. She just thought my child had issues, but in the end I showed her that my child did not have issues.

Anyway, my older son has ADHD, so it took a teacher who was patient, caring, and who expand the mind of the children not just classify the children with learning disabilities as "worthless" and put them aside.

I have walked into class without notice to see what is going on; I have stayed to help out for awhile.

If you do not get anywhere with the school officials, speak with the superintendent; go up the ladder, make waves. Make sure to document everything, person you spoke to, time, date, etc. Believe me this will help enormously.

We have to be there for our children. We also need to remember they are imperfect, they will also make mistakes and they do need to take the consequences of their actions.

Happy Administrative Professionals Day to All!
Even if the company you work for does not remember this special day, let's just appreciate each other and all that we do for our companies. Have a wonderful, special day, everyone!

off shoring means the company actually moves there. - of course I mean outsourcing to foreign lands.
they may up their ante but they will always undercut us in price, because they can. No Work Comp, no EOE, no OSHA, no health insurance. If they charged the same as us, what would be the point?

If the trained professionals at the school can't handle him,
why do you think you'll be able to work and homeschool him at the same time? I'm not slamming you, but I don't think working and trying to educate your child at the same time is the solution. Maybe try switching teachers or switching schools. Have you had him evaluated by his pediatrician or obtained a referral to someone else? What kind of phone calls are they? Is he acting up? Have you asked him WHY he's doing these things? Kids need to be socialized. They need to learn how to cope with other people. They also need to learn that being part of a society means that you're not always the center of attention. My SIL is going through this with her kid. He's being an absolute beast because he doesn't like the teacher and she has 19 other kids she needs to pay attention to. He wants attention, any attention, so he's acting out. I don't know if your situation is similar to this one or not. I'm just saying that sometimes sticking it out and finding the root of the problem is better than trying to have your attention focused in two different but important places.

Do you think nurses and front office professionals look sloppy?
I don't like to go around looking "sloppy all day" either, but is it really practical to work comfortably in nylons and suit jackets when I am sitting and typing all day? No thanks -- I can't work well that way!

I refuse to wear sweats or jammies because I want my work to reflect my professionalism and I think the way I feel about myself reflects that -- hence, scrubs, which medical professionals wear. I am a medical professional and I don't think there is anything sloppy about wearing tasteful, professional, and comfortable scrubs.

Do you think that front office people, nurses, and doctors look "sloppy all day" by wearing scrubs?

Since you have recently become an advocate for these "well-educated" professionals....
please justify the 20 minutes I had to sit and listen through all because the doc left his hand held recorder on. I actually had to sit there and listen to him urinate AND defecate! Immediately after hearing the toilet flush, I could hear the door open and then several footsteps that led him to meet, greet, and converse some more. I was more appalled at the fact that such a "well-educated" medical professional didn't care enough to wash his germ infested hands after his restroom break. Unbelievable.

Kinship care versus foster care/adoption
Having been placed in a position where I now have custody of my 3 YO granddaughter and going through the legal system, I sought an online network of relative caregivers for children. I would encourage you, especially since you are in Georgia, that if you take any children into foster care with the idea of adopting them, there is federal law that requires the state to take certain actions in a specific time frame. When a child is removed from it's bio parent(s), the state is required to investigate any possible relatives who can take the child before foster care is considered, but even before that, reunification with the parents is the priority. Once a child enters the system and is in the system for 15 out of any 22 months, the state is required to find permanent placement for the child.

The problem with this is that there are case workers who may favor a foster family and do not seek out relative care. I have a good friend in Georgia who had to fight all the way to the state level to get custody of her grandson after the child was placed from the hospital into a foster care home with the promise that the foster parents would be allowed to adopt. She has now adopted her grandson, but it was a long, hard battle to get the state to admit their own interests were placed above those of the child and/or family.

If you get a child placed through the state, please make certain there is not a relative who wants that child before you get your hopes up. The courts are now favoring return of children to relatives even after a child has spent years with a foster family who hoped to adopt them.

States get bonus federal funds by complying with the time lines and being able to close the case, so some states place children in foster care because it is easier than trying to locate relatives.

Didn't mean to go off on a tangent, but I can't imagine my sweet bella going to someone outside her family.

I can't believe how bad some of the tests are!
Some test where you put commas (for which there are few real-world rules) and other BOS nonsense. Some count off if you didn't transcribe the patient's name and other private information (that you'll send to them via e-mail). Few actually test the skills required to be successful at real-world MT. Many tests only answer one question: "Have you memorized all the personal preferences found in the BOS or not?"

tests are different
I've taken them that take as little as half an hour to as much as 4 hours. I think they are a good idea.

Please no more tests - sm
Any company that doesn't test? There has to be a better way than wasting all this time.

Tests
Just have the employee perform the expected tasks. If the person cannot do so...then good-bye... It's very simple....