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Very frustrated right now!! I have taken some tests - sm
Posted: Sep 03, 2012
for MT jobs that were ridiculous as in you basically need to be a doctor to pass, but I took a pretest just to take the coding course and it was ridiculous, as well. I sure felt like emailing them and saying nevermind, I would not consider taking a course that you have to be a doctor just to do coding!! Very frustrating!!!!
MT tests - Informant
[ In Reply To ..]It is what it is. If you needed to be a doctor to pass the tests, we'd all be doctors, not MTs or coders. You can e-mail them and tell them what you think, but I doubt they care. There are a lot of qualified people who can pass those tests and need the jobs. Maybe you need to look into training for a different occupation.
What coding course has a pretest? - Wondering
[ In Reply To ..]You don't need to be a doctor to do coding, but you DO need the knowledge base of a coder. It is not inconsiderable.
What coding pretest did you take? I did not think any schools had one. If they do, I wonder why they would expect you to know all that before learning?
Do you perhaps mean that you took the sample test for the CCS or CCS-P exam on the AHIMA website? Or a certification exam pretest from a review book?
The point behind those tests is to show you what you need to know to succeed in the course, do the work successfully, or pass the certification exam.
The sample tests for certification exams are right on target, but I do not know if a pretest for a course is reasonable unless I have seen it. If you will share which course and where this test is located, I will take it and let you know how realistic it is. That might help you put it into perspective.
Pretest - Informant
[ In Reply To ..]I'm not sure if this is what the OP is referring to, but there is an pretest at the Andrews School before they'll accept you into the program that tests English grammar and sentence structure and some basic medical vocabulary. I looked on their web site because I was curious after reading the post, but that was all I could find, unless it was an employment application; some hospital coding jobs require applicants to pretest.
The Andrews test is for their MT program - Not for coding
[ In Reply To ..]I wondered about that, but I don't think she could have been referring to that because it does not ask anything that could be construed to be something only doctors would know. As you said, it is just English grammar and sentence structure. And, it is clearly only for the MT program.
What I don't understand is why you would see a pretest for a course, or a certfication test, and not realize that there is no expectation that you should know that before you have studied coding. It is what you learn when you study coding.
Unless you are just looking for a job where you do not have to learn anything. If that is the case, coding is last thing you should choose.
It is Coding for American Healthcare Professionals - sm
[ In Reply To ..]or something like that:(
These people are straight - from
[ In Reply To ..]AHDI. Trying to cash in on where all the MTs are going to perhaps? They better get some coding education themselves before they try to teach coding. How can they answer questions? Watch out students. From their site: "With a strong belief that the coding profession is a viable career path for healthcare professionals." Really? All of their accomplishments were MT-related. Guess that boat is no longer sailing so it's time jump ship and try to follow all the MTs. I just hope all the MTs choose their teachers well and make sure they are being taught by people who know how to code and people with coding credentials.
Looks like that boat is no longer sailing - Landlubber
[ In Reply To ..]Looks like that boat is no longer sailing is right! TRS trained offshore MTs. Makes you wonder where they plan to get their "healthcare professional" students. The OP might have hit the nail on the head when she said it looked like you had to be a doctor to enroll--maybe a doctor from Mumbai. LOL!
In light of the upoming (January 2013) change to the CCS and CCS-P requirements, which will require completion of a coding program hat includes formal coursework in A&P, pathophysiology, and whatever else (see the exam guide for details), it is now very important for MTs to make sure the program they choose will qualify them to take the AHIMA exams. You do not want to take a stripped down course only to find that you are unemployable at the end due to credentialing problems.
There are now several factors at play in employability. One is that the CPC is excellent, but is not accepted by all employers, especially for inpatient coding. Although you can take that exam and get "apprentice" certification right away if you pass, you still need to acquire 2 years of experience in order to get the full credential. If you have trouble getting a job, you cannot get the experience. So, there you will be with marginal credentials and not in a really good position to get hired.
New coders who pass the CCS exam have an edge in that the credenial itself impresses employers and can put the applicant ahead of even experienced coders who do not have it. Now, though, you will need more formal education to qualify, or 2 years of experience. And you cannot get the experience if no one will hire you. If you get to that point and disover you must take college courses to make up the deficit, you are in trouble because it may take several semesters as there may be prerequisites and because those courses serve to weed out the huge pool of applcants for nursing and other allied health programs like HIM. They are therefore notoriously impersonal and almost perversely difficult--they are intended to flunk people out.
With ICD-10, there will be another problem. You simply need to know more anatomy and more pathophysiolgy than you do for ICD-9. In addition, moving into compliance and documentation improvement from straight coding requires a huge leap in knowledge. Coding students who skimp now will be uncomfortable on the job and may have trouble advancing. (Recognizing that you have a knowledge deficit and not knowing what to do about it is often what keeps coders in the same job forever.)
With all that affecting your marketability, it may be important to think carefully about the kind of course you want to take. I absolutely agree that you should pay close attention to the credentials of the instructors and to evidence that graduates are able to pass credentiialing exams, and to which ones.
Coding for Healthcare Professionals - anon
[ In Reply To ..]There is a pretest on this site.
http://codingforhcp.com/coding-program/ (Link is at the very bottom of the page)
The poster below is correct. It is Coding for Healthcare Professionals.
A note of caution, however. This is not an AHIMA or AAPC approved program.
You can search for AHIMA approved programs here: http://www.ahima.org/careers/college_search/search.aspx
You can search for AAPC online/classroom programs here: http://www.aapc.com/training/medical-coding-training.aspx
One of the persons offering the Coding for Healthcare Professionals course has only just recently completed a coding course and is not a certified coder and has never worked as a coder.
How one can take a course and then all the sudden be a expert in the subject matter enough to offer an online course is beyond my comprehension. You can look on the About Us page and find, "***first took a coding program beginning in 2011 with the thought that it was a viable career track for healthcare documentation specialists. Her strong belief in education led to creation of the Coding for Healthcare Professionals course in partnership with ***."
The cost is $1200 but that doesn't even include the books, which can be pricey.
Certainly, people can choose to take whatever coding course they want but I suggest to do so with a buyer-beware mentality.
Coding for Healthcare Professionals - MJINATL
[ In Reply To ..]If you would read the entire website for Coding for Health Professionals, AND maybe talk with the individual(s) starting this program, you might realize that this is a type of course for individuals who have already been in the healthcare profession for a long time, i.e., nurses, MTs, etc. so it's a program to ENHANCE their already knowledgeable skills and transition into medical coding. You made reference to "beware this is not AHIMA or AAPC approved". Well, there are LOTS of schools out there that are not AHIMA or AAPC approved. Get the facts straight regarding what "approved" (from AHIMA) really means. That does not mean that the school is not qualified or a bad school. Regarding the pretest, it is a pretest to see if you know anything about coding. All these years as a MT, one should know more than just how to spell the words - one should know meaning, definition, etc. Plus with the pretest, you have two times to take the test. You have to have no regard, no care about your job as an MT to fail this test. Cost for me is excellent. Books are not "pricey" once you get the promo code they've offered at $35 for one book when originally it was $85?? Not pricey to me.
Umm I know who is starting it. I made no comment - sm
[ In Reply To ..]whatsoever. And I have been an MT for 20 years so there goes your sarcastic, rude comment about long-time HCP!! And if you had read the site, you would see it says $1200!!!!
Same person is offering courses through EHR Training Academy when same training is free through ONC - anon
[ In Reply To ..]The person offering the bridge program of MT to coding has also repackaged the freely available ONC Health IT Workforce Curriculum Components to MTs and charging a fee.
Components for a fee from EHR Training Academy: http://ehrtrainingacademy.com/hit-training-programs/
Components for free through ONC:
http://www.onc-ntdc.org/home
This behavior adds to my skepticism as to the true motive behind somebody who only recently finished a coding course and who is not certified but is now offering this bridging course for MTs to become a coder. I'll just come out and say it: I think it's being done as a money-making venture at the expense of unknowing MTs. I am just putting out here what I find through a little investigation.
Take for example the EHR Training Academy Components for the Implementation Manager as listed on the website:
Project Management
Fundamentals of Health Workflow Process Analysis and Redesign
Working in Teams
Quality Improvement (recommended but not required)
Planning, Management, and Leadership for Health IT
History of Health Information Technology in the US
The Culture of Health Care
I will provide you the exact component numbers through ONC where you can get a free account and access all the training and information for free.
Implementation Manager
ONC Component Number: 19
EHR Training Component Name: Introduction to Project Management
ONC Component Number: 10
EHR TrainingComponent Title: Fundamentals of Health Workflow Process Analysis &
ONC Component Number: 17
EHR TrainingComponent Name: Working in Teams
ONC Component Number: 12
EHR TrainingComponent Name: Quality Improvement
ONC Component Number: 18
EHR TrainingComponent Title: Planning, Management and Leadership for Health IT
ONC Component Number: 5
EHR TrainingComponent Title: History of Health Information Technology in the U.S.
ONC Component Number: 2
EHR TrainingComponent Title: The Culture of Healthcare
I have reviewed the ONC Creative Commons license here: http://www.onc-ntdc.org/node/777
I don't see any reference on the EHR Training Program website that gives any attribution or statement of having obtained a waiver in order to use the materials either as they stand or using them in an altered manner.
The same person is now selling a coding bridge program to MTs? This throws up red flags to me. People are free to disagree with me, but that is my perception. Everyone can take the information and form their own opinions good or bad. I will say it again, simply have a buyer-beware mentality when looking into any coding program. AHIMA and AAPC approved programs may be a better option.
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EHR Training - EHR Student
[ In Reply To ..]If you really knew much about this program, you would know that the license belongs inside a course, and it's there. Please really know what you're talking about before you criticize. I've seen the courses and it's all documented with the creative commons license.
Wow... - MTtoCoding
[ In Reply To ..]This one is just picky. Community colleges and other programs all across the country use those same materials. It's what ONC intended when they created the materials if you read the background on it. As the previous poster pointed out, generally licenses are done within the course where they are used. That's one of the challenges on this site, everyone wants to jump to conclusions and speak of what they really don't know.
Why not transparency? - anon
[ In Reply To ..]It should be transparent to a potential student outside of the course prior to enrollment, but it is not. I don't have access to the course so I don't have the information you say I should know or have. I can't, therefore, be informed of the information (licensing use) about the reuse of the ONC materials unless I were to shell out $2,595 for access to the Implementation Manager course to then have the "inside" information. It's rather ridiculous. I'll go get it for free on ONC and still be eligible for the HIT Pro exam. That makes far more economical sense.
Does the EHR Training Academy as an academic institution also provide free exam vouchers to students? I don't know. I don't see that it is mentioned on the website, but I may have missed it, and if I have, please let me know.
Who is really being protected here? I'm looking out for the unknowing MT. Again, I am simply saying there should be a "buyer-beware approach" on all of this.
Why pay for something that is readily available for free? That make no sense. Why would a prior AHDI President not want to promote free resources out there for MTs that could help them transition into other healthcare positions? I want all MTs to succeed in whatever path they choose as being the right path for them, but I don't want to see MTs taken advantage of while in a vulnerable state.
I question the motive of the course. What I see is the ONC materials being used for personal monetary gain coming from unknowing MTs. It is not apparent from the outside that these are ONC materials being revamped or reused. So, I put out there that the course materials are available for free through the ONC website and for that I get a backlash. That is a true WOW in all of this! Why wouldn't everybody be thrilled about free? It seems a far wiser choice to take free components through the ONC website than to line the pockets of anybody else.
For anybody interested, here is the link to the HIT Pro exam guide It's also free. :-)
HIT Pro Candidate Guide
http://pearsonvue.com/hitpro/hitpro_candidateguide.
EHR Training - MTtoCoding
[ In Reply To ..]I would imagine that, just like any other company who offers these courses, that makes no marketing sense.Do community colleges tell students they can get it for free? In addition, there are students who prefer to take courses with an instructor so they have feedback instead of doing self-study. I just don't see the point of being up in arms about this one. The site does say the programs and roles are from the Health Information Technology (HIT) Workforce Development Training Program. Honestly it seems if anyone happens to do something that might give them a bit of success, the folks on this site are so quick to criticize. In the end, do what makes sense for you. If a specific program doesn't make sense, don't do it. It's pretty simple and could easily be done without all o9f this character assassination.
This is appreciated! - Thank you
[ In Reply To ..]MTs have been on the wrong end of the shaft for a long time. I hope they break away clean and not stay associated with the likes that helped with the downfall. It's a free world, these people "creating" programs to make money are good at that. Good for them. They know how to market it. Bridge it, help transition to. I didn't need a bridge. I went straight to learning coding from MT. Why waste time? I would want to go the fasted route to learn it, get my credentials, and get into it.
Which prompted me to wonder where they got the coding from - Curious
[ In Reply To ..]It looks a lot like Andrews, if you strip off everything except the coding itself.
Any Andrews students see her on the boards?
Not on the boards, but on her blog - Phoenix
[ In Reply To ..]Here's a blog from the MTToolsonline site from July 28, 2012, that would answer your question:
http://mttoolsonline.com/2012/07/
"Yesterday I got a message in my email. It said simply 'Congratulations. You are now a graduate of the Andrews School.' Yes, that means my work on this coding program is done and complete, and I have officially graduated.�
Graduated coding July 2012 and offering a coding bridging MT to coding program within a month.
Wow. - Speechless
[ In Reply To ..]The only thing worse would be if she talked Linda into letting her take the course for free because she was blogging about it.
maybe - she took
[ In Reply To ..]the course so she could see how it worked, so she could start her own coding course. Now she is the competition.
nm - nm
[ In Reply To ..]nm
What does this mean? - Please interpret
[ In Reply To ..]"You have to have no regard, no care about your job as an MT to fail this test."
What on earth does that mean? I need an interpreter. I've worked with ESL speakers in MT for years and usually can understand fairly well, but this one doesn't make sense to me.
The pretest is not to see if you know about coding - sm
[ In Reply To ..]The pretest is not to see if you know about coding; it is to convince you that you do not need A&P, pathophysiology, pharmacology, med terms, and all the other stuff that MTs try to get out of when they take coding. It justifies the fact that they don't teach it.
That makes it sound like they are doing you a favor, saving you time and money -- which is exactly what attracted you. You think that because you know med terms you know it all, but the reality is that you have no idea how little you know. Or just how detailed the questions will be on the CCS exam.
That may turn out to be a moot point in your case because you won't be able to take the CCS or CCS-P exams anyway. Beginning in January of 2013, you will need to complete a course that includes those subjects, as well as reimbursement methodology, intermediate, and advanced ICD-9 and CPT coding, and that course does not cover all of that.
So you are going to save Big Bucks in the short term only to find that you are ineligible to sit for the exam. Your only option at that point will be to work until you have enough job experience to qualify that way.
That would be fine if they were teaching only outpatient coding, but that course seems to be focusing on inpatient coding. They are using only Faye Brown, an inpatient coding text. You will not only be ineligible for the CCS, but you will probably tank on the CPC. They probably have no idea of any requirements, since neither of them has a coding credential.
Coding for Healthcare Professionals - anon
[ In Reply To ..]In my post I did not write, "beware this is not AHIMA or AAPC approved." I wrote, "A note of caution, however. This is not an AHIMA or AAPC approved program."
It was simply that, a note of caution.
The "beware" word was at the end of my post where I stated, "Certainly, people can choose to take whatever coding course they want but I suggest to do so with a buyer-beware mentality."
If the Coding for Healthcare Professionals program is your choice, I am not here trying to criticize your decision to do so or anybody else who may decide that is the right program for them. I am simply giving a different perspective and different things to think about during the decision-making process.
I am an MT who completed a coding course several years ago and became certified as a CPC-A. I have a difficult time fully accepting that a person who has only recently completed a coding course and who has no coding certification would now be a subject matter expert to a level such that it qualifies them to provide education about coding, even if it is a bridging program (MT to coder). Coding just isn't that easy, whether you have been an MT or not.
Books used for certification testing have to be from the current year of the exam. Since we are in September, coding book publishers often discount the current year books because they are no good to anybody the following year and they want to get rid of their inventory. Books purchased in 2012 would not be used for 2013 certification exams. If a person starts a program near the end of 2012 and doesn't finish the program until 2013, then they will need to purchase another set of books in 2013 if they plan to take an exam. A person may potentially be better off waiting until the beginning of a year to start a coding program, finish the program within that year, and then sit for a certification exam within that same year. This eliminates the need to purchase two sets of books.
For anyone transitioning from MT to coding, I wish you all the very best.
Coding for HCP - MJINATL
[ In Reply To ..]I am so done with talking about Coding for HCP or anything else on this site. There's nothing but negativity and putting others down about what THEY may try to accomplish. I simply was giving information to those who want it, regarding the many options out there for MT's who want to transition to coding. Not one time did I down-grade any school's coding program (and there are a lot of schools out there) in ANY way. I will never do that. If I have nothing good or positive or helpful to say, I will NOT say it at all. End of discussion.
That doesn't make sense. This is a discussion forum - sm
[ In Reply To ..]It makes no sense to go off in a snit because not everyone agrees with your conclusions. This is a discussion forum where we can point out discrepancies and debate them.
You are not qualified to offer advice on options! - You are not even a coding student!
[ In Reply To ..]You are offering advice to people, but you haven't taken a coding course yourself! You aren't even a student!
Grandiose thinking?
Your advice on code books for exams is incorrect. - See message
[ In Reply To ..]Please see the exam requirements for a more accurate explanation of what books can be used on exams.
Both organizations need time to convert the exam. That varies, but you may be able to use a given year's books for 6 months of the next year.
You may be able to use the prior year's books for the entire year.
No one should make a school decision or set a starting date based on book dates. If you cannot use the books you have, you can just buy new books. This is less of an issue than it may seem because most coders buy their own books anyway. Every year.
This year, you do not need to update your ICD-9 book at all. I would not be surprised if both organizations allow it to be used instead of a 2013 and possibly a 2014.
Coding book requirements according to AHIMA and AAPC - anon
[ In Reply To ..]Certainly a student could use outdated books, but exams are based on what is in current code books. There is the risk of miscoding and therefore missing answers on a certification exam due to the use of wrong year books.
I was only trying to point this out since some students may not know, and the expense of purchasing another set of coding books might be an expense not previously anticipated.
I read the AHIMA and AAPC sites and did not see where it indicated prior year coding books could be used for the extended amounts of times mentioned. There are various areas to each site, so if you have a direct link that would be helpful for coding students to reference. I agree, why buy new books you may not need. I just didn't find that information, and that was not my experience when I took the AAPC CPC examination.
What I found was the following:
From the AHIMA website for the CCA exam they had a deadline of March 31, 2012, for using 2011 books.
http://www.ahima.org/certification/cca.aspx
"Effective March 31, 2012 the CCA exam will require 2012 version of the ICD-9 & CPT codebooks, please review the list of allowable codebooks if you have any questions. Candidates that do not present the correct versions of codebooks will forfeit their exam fees."
And from AAPC, http://www.aapc.com/certification/cpc.aspx
"Each code set is updated annually; it is essential that examinees use the current calendar year's coding manuals when taking the certification exam."
Coding Books - MTtoCoding
[ In Reply To ..]This year for the CCS, AHIMA didn't change their books until June. For any program, it's also challenging because while the coding books may be out now, the text books used in a program don't come out until January or later. I know when I did my program we used older coding books and even then the text books were the previous year or we hard to wait until after the first of the year to start that part of the course. At least using current books now, you can get your program started.
AAPC Codebooks for AHIMA CCA test??? - Diana M.
[ In Reply To ..]I am currently a member of AAPC; however I have also joined AHIMA. I have a 2013 ICD-9 Codebook by AAPC..can I use this book to sit for my certification for the AHIMA CCA exam? I've seen the AHIMA list of approved books and my AAPC book is not listed. Additionally, I understand that I can use a 2012 ICD-9 book. My test is 3/2/2013. My 2012 ICD-9 book is by Carol Buck..can I use this book? This book is not listed in the approved books list on AHIMA. Please help--I need to know. THANKING YOU IN ADVANCE!!
Coding for Healthcare Professionals - anon
[ In Reply To ..]It sounds like an excellent idea to help those who already have considerable knowledge advance in the field. However, I am currently enrolled in Andrews and even if I had the choice to make again, I would still enroll in Andrews even though I have 30 years of MT experience, and have taken college level A and P.
The reason is that there are many gray areas in coding and much to learn, and how does someone who has not actually DONE coding, but just taken the course, plan on addressing these areas and properly educating others?
I still think it is an excellent idea and I wish them all the best, but I would like to see some experienced coders involved before I personally would go there. Just my opinion!
What bothers me is the offshore connections - Concerned
[ In Reply To ..]We certainly don't need more of that.
Are they going to do that again? Has anyone asked them? - sm
[ In Reply To ..]I wouldn't like that one bit. I didn't like it taking MT overseas and certainly will be unhappy if they do the same thing with coding. Someone needs to ask them what their plans are with this course. If they are taking it overseas to compete with us, we need to know.
Just read the website. "International firm" and "Caribbean" - Says it all
[ In Reply To ..]Under About Us, the points they are proud of includes one working for an international firm right now and the other having operated three different training programs in the Caribbean.
I like to buy American.
Very sad that they - are
[ In Reply To ..]Going full throttle towards greed and turning their back on America. It makes me so sad.
Can you really say... - CodingMT
[ In Reply To ..]..that if you were offered a position training MTs in another country with all of your travel expenses paid and a good salary to boot that you would turn it down based on principle? I think a lot of assumptions are being made. That particular educator has made it very clear on her site that she worked for an American company that is still today a large employer of MTs. I really doubt her turning down a good paying and fun opportunity would have stopped the MTSO from off-shoring. I understand being commited to keeping work here but I can take an honest enough look and tell you if I had a great job offer that sent me to train MTs overseas I would snap that offer up without a second thought. I was never an MT for the fun of it! I was an MT to make money and I'd imagine a position like that would pay pretty well.
Now ask yourselves too how many of you judging her for working overseas are working at the level of trainers or educators for large MTSOs? Maybe we really don't have the right to judge her professional success?
I understand questioning the lack of coding experience and I think it would be great if the ladies developing the course would address that because it does seem to be a big concern among potential student; however, the criticism about the work in the carribean is just a low blow.
My thoughts - sm
[ In Reply To ..]Whether it would affect offshoring in the long run or not, yes, I think there is an ethical issue involved there. That is what kept me from accepting jobs in India, the Philippines, and Barbados when they were offered.
Ethics involve drawing a line in the sand somewhere. Some people draw the line closer and some farther. Some people's lines bend depending on the whether the end benefits them or not.
Do you always stop at stop signs, even if there are no other cars and no one is watching?
How about letting a drug, equipment, or software rep pay for your lunch? Your organization prohibits that because it is a conflict of interest. Your lunch cost less than $15, and you had a good time. Everybody does it and nobody will know. Besides, YOU know you won't let that influence your decisions, so how is it going to change the course of history?
YES!!! I CAN SAY THAT. I was offered a huge salary to go to India to teach MT - Turned it down based on Principle
[ In Reply To ..]I sure can say that. I was offered an enormous amount of money to go to India and teach MT. I strongly believed that it was unethical to take American jobs away from us. Not only that, when we eliminate American jobs, that means we aren't able to help others, because we have no jobs here and can't even help ourselves It is unethical and I turned it down. That's a choice each one of us has to make if we are given that opportunity. Was I tempted? Not even in the slightest bit. I didn't consider it for a moment, because it's just wrong. Why would I hurt my fellow MTs by teaching others do transcribe AMERICAN dictation at half or less the rate we are able to charge? Nobody with ethics and values would consider doing such a thing.
The old AAMT officers (some) took advantages of their positions as officers - sm
[ In Reply To ..]I remember when several of the old AAMT officers took advantage of their positions as officers to make money. They were willing to hurt us as members by working against us.
Those same officers are responsible for losing many members and for losing the respect of most of us, whether we stayed or not. I've been in many a conversation with other members and ex-members when we talked about how disgusted we were with the Barbados episode and others. If you can't trust the officers who head the organization you belong to, you lose trust in the organization itself, and that has happened. Can it be fixed? Not if the same people hold positions of authority. That would be more than most of us could stomach. What they did was wrong.
Even if they apologized and promised not to do it again - Trust
[ In Reply To ..]The trust is gone. Even if they decided to apologize and promise never to stab us in the back again, they aren't trustworthy. If someone offered them big money, those dollar signs seem to speak louder to them than ethics.
Someone suggested earlier that we all would sell each other out for money. That is just not true. Some would. We know that. We've watched it happen. We don't have to let it happen again.
Seriously? - MTtoCoding
[ In Reply To ..]Seriously?! Are we back to blaming an organization for an individual's choice? That story just never gets old I guess. No matter that anyone who volunteers for an organization is just that, a volunteer, which means that organization has no right to tell someone where to work. And if you're not a member of the organization, then it really shouldn't matter to you anyway.
That said, AAMT/AHDI really doesn't have that control or power over volunteers. Guess everyone just has to have a scapegoat somehow.
You misunderstood me. It's specific people, not the orgaization that I don't - Trust
[ In Reply To ..]I'm smart enough to know that the whole organization has all kinds of people. Some of them are trustworthy and some will sell you out for a nickel. I'm a member of AHDI. I'm very careful who in the organization is responsible for anything before I sign on for it. If it's someone who has not been honest in past dealings, I won't deal with them again. If it's someone I respect, I will. The whole organization is not at fault, just a very few people who have made the wrong decisions and apparently are very proud of themselves for it.
Thanks - MTtoCoding
[ In Reply To ..]Thanks for the clarification. It's an issue we will have to disagree about. I don't fault anyone for having an opportunity to better themselves professionally, no matter what their role. If one really wanted to take a stand on offshore transcription, then nobody would work for 99% of the medical transcription services out there. Yet we se4em to turn our heads the other way if it's our employer because that's our check.
An MT has no power over what their employer's decisions, but they sure do about their own - Trust/Making My Own Decisions
[ In Reply To ..]I might not have a choice about what my employer does. I sure can decide for myself when I'm doing making my own decisions though. I will consider past behavior of anyone I do business with. I'll also get away from the employer who outsources overseas just as fast as I can get another job. In fact, I've never worked for an MTSO who outsourced overseas.
Yep you're right - MTtoCoding
[ In Reply To ..]I agree with you. It's about opportunity and yet there is a need to criticize anyone who does well in this industry. I frankly believe this is part of what's wrong with the industry--people would rather spend their time tearing down others than figuring out how to work together to move forward. As long as that's the case, things will continue to be what they are.
Can I really say that I have ethics and high standards? - Yes
[ In Reply To ..]If you're asking if I can really say that I have ethics and high standards that would keep me from hurting others for my own benefit, the answer is yes.
As you can see, there are people who know the difference between right and wrong and others who don't. I can have pity and compassion for the ones who don't know better, but I sure won't ever put myself in a position where they can hurt me. That would be just dumb.
Ethics and Standards - MTtoCoding
[ In Reply To ..]An interesting way to put things. I always find it amazing that those who shout loud about ethics and standards are sometimes also the ones on these boards who are "trashing" others without having all of the information or without being willing to ask questions. The reality is each person has to decide these things for themselves. Doesn't make you right and someone else wrong, it just is.
After asking questions, gathering information, and evaluating - sm
[ In Reply To ..]I've been watching the AAMT officers/offshore sellout for years. I've asked plenty of questions. I've gathered information. It's a question of wanting to deal with people who have poor values or not. You get to decide for yourself. I get to decide for myself. That's the way it works.
If they think it is - Such a viable
[ In Reply To ..]career for healthcare professionals, why don't they go out and get an education in it, then get some experience, then start a school? Or at least find some qualified instructors. No thank you.
You don't have to do that if your plan is to take it overseas. - Just sayin
[ In Reply To ..]None of that matters if you just plan on taking it overseas.
They are just trying to cash in on MTs looking for a - Cheaper, faster option
[ In Reply To ..]They are just trying to cash in on the MTs who are being displaced and who want a cheaper, faster option. I am sure they believe that coding is a no-brainer. They would not know otherwise since they are, technically, still not coders. They cannot understand the job requirements because they have not had the pleasure of coding even an uncomplicated inpatient stay, much less one that was next to impossible, while auditors and CMS hung over them. Or even an outpatient surgery or a simple office E&M.
They think they are doing everyone a big favor. The basic sciences and reimbursement methods are the courses MTs rail against because they see them as obstacles. They fear them more than anything else in a coding program. That is why the AAPC type courses are so popular; they let you be a coder without having to face all that.
Unfortunately, unless you want to be stuck in a very limited job, you need to know that material. And few MTs will know it. It is NOT med terms.
A course like that would be fine for a physician or BSN, but not an MT. Recommending skipping all of that would be a disservice. Saying that a course teaches inpatient coding without offering the required coursework for the CCS, or even the CCS-P, is a little more than just a disservice, if you ask me.
Good points... - True
[ In Reply To ..]You have made some good points but I think they apply to a lot of coding programs. MTs tend to be horrified of saying that horrible word "college" or suggesting you take a real anatomy course for *gasp* college credit. Not all of us, of course, but many. I remember when an AHDI president-elect mentioned MTs getting more education by going to college and that poor woman was crucified for it. Of course this particular course isn't the only one going this route and many many of them are doing this. When it comes time for ICD-10 the coder without a really good foundation in anatomy is in serious trouble. I did extremely well in ICD-10 education. I've also had 2 solid semester of anatomy with a human dissection lab. I'm not picking on this particular program but I do think all of the online programs tend to really gloss over some of these subjects. I cannot even call what I got in MT school, at a really good MT school mind you, "anatomy." Even at Andrews it was a joke. I did not learn anatomy at MT school nor did I learn pharmacology beyond mindlessly memorizing names of drugs. You cannot really learn anatomy looking at a picture in a book. Yay you can label the eyeball! Mama must be proud. Again though I don't think this particular program is failing students in that regard any more than the other online programs.
You really make a good point that coding at the level of a CCS is so much more than med terms. The college programs make us take prereq courses for a reason. Being able to verify what the doctor said is a real word just does not cut it, at least when it comes to ICD-10 PCS coding. ICD-10 CM isn't so bad but ICD-10 PCS will have you in the fetal position sucking your thumb.
Courses - MTtoCoding
[ In Reply To ..]I can't imagine why anyone would think that price is a bad one. If you search the programs out there, many of them are closer to $2,000, ranging up to Andrews' price, which is $3800. The only other thing I have to add is that while I, too, believe credentials are important, they don't make someone an educator. I took my program at a reputable school, with an instructor who was a CCS, and can't say I really learned a thing from the instructor. There was no ability to truly explain things in a way that made sense. That said, I'd rather have a true educator than simply someone who teaches because they have a credential if I were choosing again.
Credentials and successful work experience are must-haves for a teacher - My Requirement
[ In Reply To ..]I think the credentials and successful coding work experience should be non-negotiable. How can you teach what you don't know?
I don't want someone who can only talk about what somebody told them it was like to be a coder. I want someone who knows from personal experience what it's like to take that CPC test and that CCS exam and go out there as a professional coder. How can they teach me what they've been unable to achieve themselves. That just doesn't make sense.
Credentials aren't all there is - MTtoCoding
[ In Reply To ..]As with the example I gave, not every credentialed coder, MT, or anyone else for the matter, is a good educator. That's a skill not everyone has. I've seen really qualified new grads come from both kind of programs. All I said is for me personally if I were forced to choose, I want someone who knows how to teach or I don't learn anything from it. If the "teacher" can't teach, then I might as well be studying on my own and not paying anyone a big fee for a program.
I partly agree with you with one big exception - I want more for my money
[ In Reply To ..]I definitely want someone who can teach, but if they are not capable of becoming credentialed coders, they don't have much to teach me. I've sat through many a boring class with an instructor who was at the same level as the students. I want more for my money. I not only want someone who can teach. I want someone who has knowledge to teach, credentials to demonstrate that they know what they claim to know, and successful on-the-job experience so that they are tried and true.
That's just me though. If you just want someone who knows how to teach and that's all you want, find someone who can teach. I'm being facetious. Nobody wants that. I'm sure you don't either. We want the best education we can get. The ability to teach is one part of it, but it isn't enough by itself.
Cost reflects content - sm
[ In Reply To ..]If you have not looked closely at a lot of courses to compare curriculums, you may think that all coding courses teach the same thing. After all, they are teaching "coding," right? How could you not teach all of it?
You are comparing the courses based on price. That would be reasonable only if the course content was the same. In this case, the content is very different.
You also need to compare the true costs of programs. Andrews includes everything, but others might not include books, extensions, extra fees, etc. Their cost comes closer to Andrews when you adjust for that. Some exceed it.
Cost and Content - MTtoCoding
[ In Reply To ..]That's partially true. However, Andrews does offer an MT to coding program now for those who want to do it that way. All that group basically takes is the coding portion of the program because of their MT background. I know some who have done that. However, there's no difference in the price for them except for around $200 in books.
I really don't think you can judge a program without seeing the total program and what's actually inside of it. I have always asked for a copy of the syllabus, text book list, etc.
Coding programs are just like MT programs--lots of variation and lots of difference in the price. I saw someone say here that the CS coding program seemed to be stepping up. Why is that? Because they have AHIMA approval? And yet, they aren't accredited so how did that one work? Even if it is "good," it's still almost half of Andrews, so you really can't tell much on price. It's just not the best way to judge a program. Look at what's offered. In addition, those programs, both MT and coding, that make good use of technology can have lower costs and hopefully they are passing that along to the students.
Agree with you on choosing content over cost - SM
[ In Reply To ..]Content is more important than cost. I think you misunderstood me to say to choose the highest price because it would contain more.
I actually do check the content, the books, the instructional method, and all costs. If possible I use the placement rate, too. This has been a hobby since MT schools were popping up all over. What I was saying was that when the "advertised price" of a course is adjusted for content, books, type of instruction, etc., and particularly when the time to completion is assessed and extensions and retakes are added on, most programs start looking similar.
You may think you get a bargain with School X, but in the long run you may end up paying far more for it. If not now, then when you cannot get a job or pass a certification exam.
Schools really do not pass on cost savings from better use of technology. They start using it, but maintain the same rates or even charge extra for it. Technology has just enabled anybody to put canned modules created by book publishers on the web, call it a course, and charge unsuspecting people to take it.
I would never recommend going with the highest priced school. Those are just the many career and technical colleges, and the for-profit diploma mills, some of which run to the tens of thousands according to their actual disclosed costs.
It will be worse with ICD-10, too. - Especially for inpatient coders
[ In Reply To ..]Not much comfort, I know, but there it is.
Coding is a great field if you like never-ending learning, but stupendously miserable if you don't. Not even the good pay would make up for that.
Other jobs in health information require less medical knowledge. You might consider release of information and file room. Those do not necessarily require credentials or a degree. You can use your MT background to get into a job.
Just Passed it.... - TheFinePrint
[ In Reply To ..]If you are talking about the coding pre-test on Coding for HealthCare Professionals developed by a well-known author and a former AHDI president, the test should not be challenging for an experienced MT. I am not a doctor or a nurse and just passed that test with 94% while at work with a lot of distractions. They did not develop the course for students with no healthcare documentation experience. If you read the information about the course it is a bridge from MT to coding. If you found the test extremely challenging you would want to enroll in a program that offers very beginner level courses first. I found the test to be on par with the knowledge base of a transcriptionist that has worked in acute care. Honestly, I thought it was on par with a student who knows how to use google but I have the research skills of an MT.
Coding and medical transcription both require education and that education has to be from a source that is actually educating (as opposed to aiming to just make money). There are a lot of scams out there and there are a lot of people that will encourage you to go with self-study. If you haven't been to school or you went to a school that didn't provide you with education, you won't be able to pass the pre-test or an MT job test. It is just the fact of the matter.
I understand you (the OP) are frustrated but that frustration may be coming from having taken a test you were not prepared for.
For the other comments, if the intent of the course were to scam students and to just make money then you have to ask yourselves why create a test that will require education or experience? Why not let everyone in? I could not have passed the test prior to being an MT. I can understand some of the concerns but I do not believe the intent is to scam. If they are trying to cash in on MTs looking to better themselves, couldn't that be said for every coding program out there that markets to MTs? Med-Line is doing it and so are other schools. The choice in who to market to do not mean the product is poor. Are they qualified to teach coding? I don't know the answer to that but I really do believe they are attempting to offer a good program and some of these attacks on them are really unfounded and based on assumptions.
To FinePrint - MJINATL
[ In Reply To ..]Thank you so much! This was my whole point in mentioning this program on here above comment), to try and get MTs to see that this is a bridge-type program. Why would a woman has such longevity in the transcription/healthcare world and who actually wrote the surgical book, has RHIA coding credentials be out here trying to scam? I promise you, I will be coding by next year and I'll be back on here to MTStars and see the same ones complaining, criticizing.
Bridge-type program - are you signing up?
[ In Reply To ..]I don't think it is a scam, but I want certified coders to be involved. RHIA is not coding, it is a lot of things with some coding, but it is not a certified coding specialist. I want to get it right from scratch and learn right from the beginning how to code. I hope others coders comment on the need for a bridge program. It was just irksome to see AHDI connections. We know how they helped MT. Now they want to help MT more.
I also sent you an email - MJINATL
[ In Reply To ..]I also sent you an email in response to your comments above :)
No, now they want to help coders like they 'helped' MTs - Also Irked
[ In Reply To ..]I don't agree with the the word 'scam', but the track record of 'helping' MTs was questionable at the least, and now they want to help us again, this time to be coders. Remember that old saying, "Fool me once, shame on you, but fool me twice, shame on me!" I don't trust them. Scam, no, but in our best interests? It wasn't in the past and probably won't be this time either.
Interested to know what credentials you plan to get - Curious
[ In Reply To ..]In light of the new requirements for the CCS and CCS-P, just wondering how you plan to qualify for them with a so-called "bridge" program.
credentials - MJINATL
[ In Reply To ..]In 2010, I already took and passed the med term course and A&P course through AHIMA. A lot of tragedy hit me that year such that it caused me to not complete the coding course through AHIMA, but now I'm back and ready to get going with the coding.
The question was which credentials, not which course - NM
[ In Reply To ..]nm
and the answer is CCS - MJINATL
[ In Reply To ..]CCS and later if I want, CPC.
AFTER you get them you will be qualified to advise - Not until then
[ In Reply To ..]You aren't even a coding student! What on earth makes you think you are qualified to offer advice to prospectve students? You know no more than they do!
People here are not being negative when they disagree with you. They are offering informed advice and being realistic. They are trying to help you and others with a difficult process.
"Later if you want" the CPC? What a pouty little tone that has! That alone says that you have no idea what you are saying or how to get there.
The reality is that you need to aim for that CPC FIRST because you are unlikely to pass the CCS with the course you plan to take, or with any of the ones you have been promoting here.
I have both of those credentials and a job, so I am sure about that.
whatever - MJINATL
[ In Reply To ..]Get over yourself, please. I was NOT advising anyone, just sharing options of what is out there. Listen at yourself: First you claim no one on here is being negative. Then in the next breath, you say things like "pouty little tone", you are 'unlikely to pass', blah, blah. WHAT DO YOU CALL THAT, Missy???? Anyway, you guys are sooooo incredibly negative. I have much better things to do than continue fueling a fire that will never go out.
Wow. Just wow. sm - Seriously?
[ In Reply To ..]I'm just going to jump in here as a reader and say that, although I'm confused by who exactly is who, I went to the coding site first mentioned. I'm not an MT, but what I see is someone who wrote a nice little book on terminology words and someone who is an MT - who has passed no certification tests, has no degree in science, and has no experience coding. Apparently one of them took a course and now they want to start a school? Did I miss anything? As a student, there is no way I would ever sign up for that. Sorry. I'd be better off doing this myself through AHIMA or Careerstep. I'm happy with my choice to go to Andrews to learn inpatient coding. I plan to continue my schooling beyond that, but I won't be attending any more webinars at MTTools in the future. I really do not appreciate what they are attempting to do. It seems very underhanded to me and I don't even know what AHDI history most of you are making reference to. I'm honestly pretty disgusted and I will not be supportive of this organization in the future. I hope they fail miserably at what appears to be an attempt to "shortcut" some people into coding who really shouldn't be there. Those poor students. As someone who has actually had doctors and staff in her face (which does happen with coding and you had better darn well know what you are doing, how to defend it, and know how to fix or explain what is going on- using their language- or they will nail your hide to the wall). Bad coding can bring an entire hospital system down. I'm just shaking my head today.
Yeah, wow. You made a good choice, by the way. - Andrews Grad
[ In Reply To ..]Shaking my head here, too. You made a good choice. Nothing beats certified, experienced instructors. With Andrews, you know that the instructors keep current because they actually work in challenging hospital jobs. None of that "if you can't do it, teach it" nonsense. They know what you need to do to pass those exams because they did it themselves.
You are right about doctors and staff getting in your face, too. I can deal with them because I am confident that I know what I am doing.
Bad coding can bring a hospital to its knees, but they'll fire the coder long before that happens. It really is an occupation where you have to be competent. I cannot imagine taking shortcuts on a coding education.
Apparently, the one does plan - to get
[ In Reply To ..]credentials. Now that AHIMA has changed it to require A&P and Pathophysiology, maybe it will take longer, or maybe they have those under their belt. Hard to tell.
Yep and one has taught coding before.... - MTtoCoding
[ In Reply To ..]Maybe you missed that part. One has a Master's in education and has taught coding in the past. I don't see this as being folks with no experience. I do see two educators who have experience in that even if they don't have the credential. At least they're up front about it.
As for CS, gosh they don't even have instructors per se. Interesting how anyone would think that's a good choice.
agree with MTtocoding - MJINATL
[ In Reply To ..]CS NOR AHIMA coding basics program have instructors. Took a couple of courses through AHIMA and NOT instructor based.
But the AHIMA materials are backed by certified - coding professionals, at least.
[ In Reply To ..]At any rate, neither of them are certified in coding and neither have work experience.
I don't remember seeing that in her bio. Maybe she forgot it. I have to wonder when, too.
MJINATL, the courses you took were med terms and A&P, not coding. They do not require instructor intervention the way coding does. You will see why after you take ICD or CPT coding and cannot sort out the material on your own.
I remember people taking the AHIMA course and complaining - MT and Coder
[ In Reply To ..]I remember hearing 2 or 3 people who took the AHIMA coding course and at least 2 of them dropped because they couldn't get answers to their coding questions. The other one wasn't able to pass the CCA exam, much less the CCS.
They have instructors, but it was like pulling teeth to get one to respond to a question. I think there was a discussion on here about that at one point.
We're talking about coding experience - Big Difference
[ In Reply To ..]Experience in what? We're talking about actual coding experience, learning from someone who has done it well enough to make a living at it.
Apparently anyone can teach coding, as we just learned - sm
[ In Reply To ..]The fact that someone has taught coding means nothing without having coding credentials and some successful experience coding. I can see teaching terminology out of a book if you've never used it on a job, but to do that with coding is scary. Too much is at stake.
Because they're "up front about" not being qualified to teach makes it okay? - That makes no sense whatsoever
[ In Reply To ..]So what you're saying is, it's true they aren't qualified to teach, but they are up front about it, so they should get credit for that. Something is seriously wrong with your logic.
Not what I said - MTtoCoding
[ In Reply To ..]No I didn't say they weren't qualified, just that they were up front about not having credenitials.
Excuse me, but you just said the same thing a different way - It gets worse and worse
[ In Reply To ..]I think we have our answer.
This is so typical of this site - MTtoCoding
[ In Reply To ..]It's never really about discussion and dialogue here, just nastiness. I left some time ago because the MT boards were so nasty; good to see the coding boards aren't much different. Don't put words in my mouth. What I said stands--there is nothing claiming they have a credential. IF a credential is how you say someone is qualified to educate, then that fits for you. As I've said here before, I had coding education from what many of9 you have claimed on here is THE school to go to; my teacher couldn't explain squat in a way that made sense. Oh but wait, she did have a credential. I was fortunate to know other coders and teachers who really got me through things, but it sure wasn't from the instructor I had. Having that credential doesn't make you a teacher, it's an entirely different skill set.
Sorry that you had poor coding training but that doesn't make you an expert on what you are say - Credentialed
[ In Reply To ..]You had a poor experience in the college you attended. You've said that before. You've turned that into something it isn't. Your credentialed coders and your coding program at that highly respected college, WGU I think, turned out to be worthless in your opinion. So since your experience was bad, you now say that credentialed coders are bad. You continue to come to bad conclusions, but you don't seem to learn from them.
It's possible that it wasn't your instructor's fault - sm
[ In Reply To ..]I don't know the college or university you mentioned going to, but I'm guessing it had more to do with your attitude than the ability of the credentialed instructor. I noticed that you haven't taken responsibility for yourself. It's all the instructor's fault. It's all the college's fault. Really!
My guess is . . . - sm
[ In Reply To ..]That this going round and round is what caused problems with that instructor she dislikes so much. It's not so much the instructor as the student arguing around and around the issue, constantly changing her stance to be oppositional. It's unintentional, I think, but you can see it is there.
I'm concerned about the disdain for credentials from her posts - What is that all about?
[ In Reply To ..]Why does she show such disdain and lack of respect for coding credentials? They are the backbone of the coding industry. That may explain some of her problems not being able to get a coding job. Learn to respect coders who work for a living but have also 'paid their dues' to achieve those coding credentials. Why would anyone treat their credentialed instructors with such scorn and ridicule? Those instructors have worked hard to get those credentials. Most likely they've got lots of real coding experience behind them. I would be ashamed to trash them the way she has done. Why would you be so angry at your instructors who are trying to teach you?
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VERY FRUSTRATED NEWBIE
Feb 17, 2011
I am new to this industry and have been looking for a job since October 2010. I am very frustrated because I have filled out over 20 applications and taken over 15 tests. I pass each and everyone with flying colors, but yet they have turned me down for having NO experience. I do not understand that if I am passing their tests and they are so "impressed" with me (as they state when they give me my results), then why are they turning me down? I may not have the experience, ...
Tired And Frustrated
Jan 20, 2012
I am working on a H&P, specifically the history of present illness and am just stumped on this sentence... Bowel urinary contains 10 (sl- nights n e) (sl- teading or tidding) tendencies, exercise (sl- toilets) unlimited. Does any of this make sense? Or can you make sense out of it? Would be greatly appreciated! ...
Frustrated ED Transcriptionist
Jan 21, 2012
Frustrated that even though I have stressed my proficiency in ED work, I am still forced to do other work types first, while yet others are getting ED work types in their "pools"... I would think you would want someone who types fast in a certain area be allowed to crank that work out first and then when it runs out, let the other work types they are not so good at roll into their pool.... Frustrated ...
Frustrated Newbie!
Mar 09, 2012
Hi, I graduated from a local community college with Medical Transcription back in May, last year. Since then it has been simply aggravating finding a job, I wish I had chosen a school on line instead. So far, I've come up with nothing, job wise, and I'm thinking I made the wrong decision about getting into this career. Everywhere I look, they are asking for two years of experience at least, to start out with, or they won't even give me a chance. It's extremely frust ...
Frustrated - Getting OOW When Jobs Are Available - Sm
Jun 14, 2012
I keep getting an OOW message on my account and when I look at NetScript, there are at least 10 jobs that are available to edit/transcribe and not checked out yet and every time I check, there are more available. They are dictators I get all the time so I am not sure why I am getting OOW. I emailed supervisor, but she doesn't start for another 2 hours. I can't flex again because I have appointments to go to and my kids to take care of during my "off" time, and I don&# ...
Frustrated With This Field
Mar 25, 2013
After reading everyone's posts about how these companies are always running out of work, but always hiring, it's very discouraging to even apply for a position. I'm currently PRN with a clinic that is suppose to be going EMR sometime this year and I've been out of work for the last 5 days. No work = No pay!!! I got on here to see what everyone was saying about some of the companies out there I could apply with for part-time work and it's just so discour ...
Very Frustrated!! I Have Been Trying To Apply
Jun 23, 2013
to apply for a position, but the online application keeps telling me to give distinct answers, which I did and it then tells me to correct the errors, which there were none. Can someone help me past this? ...
I'm Frustrated, 9/10 Reports So Far Have Been
Mar 12, 2014
foreigners with horrible accents, hard to understand, multiple blanks. I can't make money this way. I've noticed it gets worse and worse as time goes by. I know, I know, there are the US docs who talk fast and sloppy, but seriously between VR, unintelligible sentences, and low pay I'm ready to quit. Thanks for listening. ...
So Frustrated....why Can't I Get Webclock
Nov 16, 2014
to work from either my favorites bar OR saved on the desktop? I am so tired of having to type the website directly. I CAN save it to the desktop, but when I click on it, it just gives me a message that says "timeout condition detected" and will not go to Webclock. ??? Anyone else have this problem? ...
Lab Tests
Jul 19, 2010
I will be rechecking his intact PTH, s/l calsphos, s/l mag and renal function. I am guessing it is calcium phosphate and magnesium. Am I wrong? ...
Tests
Sep 17, 2010
The patient has no sleep apnea. Normal sleep study. MRI was negative. Rest of pituitary looked fine including a course stem test. Need help with above term...thanks ...
Req For Tests ????
Mar 26, 2015
"he ordered her some outpatient labs test. She lost the req for this and never went back to him." Req ???? spelling? thanks in advance ...
Increasingly Frustrated With SoftScript!
Nov 28, 2009
I usually do not complain on this board, but I have seriously had enough. I usually tried to stay positive about SoftScript, but no longer! There are only 3 days left in this payperiod and I have done only just over 1000 lines. "No Work Available" seems to be the pattern lately. Plus, I have emailed management several times asking to get a secondary account and have not even gotten a reply email to say we are working on it or even "no", NOTHING!!! I used to have a s ...
Frustrated With The BOS 3rd Edition Being Web-based!
Dec 30, 2009
The pdf electronic version of BOS-2 was so handy and easy to use. Wonder what made them decide to do away with that & make it to where you have to open a browser, find the link, sign in, find the BOS page, etc., for the 3rd edition. It's so much more time-consuming, not to mention the search feature doesn't work nearly as well as the BOS-2 pdf version. For the first time ever, I can't wait for the 4th edition because surely nobody likes this & they will g ...
Frustrated With Schedule...Chill Or Say Something?
Dec 20, 2010
I took this job in the begining of the year the first transcriptionist on a new account and when hired they told me that a benefit of being the first hired on the account was that I was able to have first pick of schedule. I chose Sunday night through Thursday night 3rd shift and worked that up until 4 months ago when my team lead e-mailed me and told me that weekends were the busiest time and that they got no weekend benefit from me working my current schedule so gave me the choice to wor ...
ExpressScribe Pro Expired? So Frustrated......
Jul 11, 2012
I was in the middle of working on a file on ExpressScribe Pro and a box popped up saying that it had expired and that I would have to purchase it. It had said at the top that it was licensed and my name. I was having issues with playing the files and they sent me an update link to fix it. Now a month later it tells me that my program has expired and that I have to purchase it. I am so frustrated right now and NCH will not answer my questions anymore or respond in any way ...