MModal Guidelines order of importance - sm

With all this talk of people being audited more frequently, including myself.  I thought I'd try to help out a little.  MModal follows 4 documents when it comes to formatting, and they are really cracking down on it.  They have a certain order in which to follow, one trumping the other.  If you can't find what you are looking for in the first document, move on to the next one.  Here's the order:

1.  Client profile - this will list any exceptions to the rules. 
2.  DQS Standards and Guidelines - this is mostly how to handle DQS (Fluency) situations; however, there are some formatting/grammar rules in this as well (e.g. patient name rule).  Don't skip it when looking things up.
3.  Transcription Style Guide - this has most of the things that you will run into when editing and has a lot of rules that are different than the BOS2.
4.  BOS2 - only use this when the info is not found anywhere else.  I rarely use it anymore as most things are in the TSG.  

If you don't have any of the last 3 guides, you must ask your TSM or QTL for them, and I highly suggest skimming through them, noting anything that is different than what you usually do.  You can probably skip reading the BOS2 as it is extremely long and is becoming obsolete.

Also, I know everybody hates doing it, but read your feedback from the MMEs.  What they leave never counts against you in an audit.  If they don't cite the reasons for feedback, double check with the guides.  If they are incorrect and it's a serious error, let your QTL know as this MME is probably steering a lot of MTs on the wrong track because they are still sticking to old school rules.  If they are correct, suck it up, and take note of it.  We all make mistakes; that is how we learn.  If you feel an MME is rude, definitely let your QTL know.  I know some of you have said that the feedback is offending when its short and to the point, quoting straight from one of the guides or the CP.  Keep in mind, MMEs in my group have been told to be short and to the fact with their feedback and to never assume that the MT knows and had just slipped up.  Trying to sound nice in feedback to someone who is being told they are wrong almost always ends up to be offending; hence, the reason for being straight to the point.  There is no intention of being cold.  The role of an MME is to help others pass their audit, NOT belittle them.  If you suspect any MME doing so, report them immediately.  MMEs make mistakes and some are stuck in the old rules also.  They need to be given feedback by the MT to put them on the right track.  I'm an MME and I want all of the US team to pass our audits and try to be as helpful as I can.  Nitpicking is a waste of everyone's time and money, especially the MMEs, and I don't understand why some do it.

Finally, if you have any questions on an audit, definitely dispute it, especially if it doesn't jive with the guides or is a punctuation error.  Unless the punctuation error changes the meaning of a sentence, they should not be counted against you.  I've dispute an error once and I did get the point back, so it doesn't hurt to try if you think it will work.