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Book of Style nonsense? - GAfruitcake

Posted: Jun 21, 2012

I have been working in transcription for 31 years. What is the deal with all this Book of Style nonsence? Doctors don't care if a comma is in the right place or not, or if a drug is capitalized or now. They just want the correct measurements, dosages, symptoms, body part, etc. typed in the correct document on the correct patient. You ask a doctor what the Book of Style is and they would probably just give you a dumb look. Who is making money off of this? It's just the craziest thing I have ever heard of.

Who is making money from the BOS? - Pineapple

[ In Reply To ..]
Why, the AHDI, of course. Like everything else, it is all about the dough! $$$$$$

Doctors may not care, - Dickens

[ In Reply To ..]
But if you ever have to work for a big transcription company, they may care, and your bonuses will depend on how many times you get marked down for things like commas, capitalization, etc. I'm not saying you have to use the BOS to know those things, but if you don't know them, it is a useful tool.

useful tool?? - anon

[ In Reply To ..]
I really wonder how useful it is when they change things on a yearly basis, like how numbers are transcribed, where the commas are supposed to be placed, whether things should be abbreviated or written out, only so that one has to purchase the dang book every single year to keep up with these "changes" and has to spend between $80 and $100 to get it. They change these things purposely just so you have to buy the darned book. It is not worth a hill of beans or the paper it is written on, because many of these things are client specifications anyway, and quite subjective, at that. So in my eyes, it is only "useful" to the people who are publishing it, and that is all. JMO

BOS - Dickens

[ In Reply To ..]
I honestly have no idea how many times it's been released--mine is only a 3rd edition and doesn't seem to be very old at all. Do they release it on a yearly basis?

BOS - Dickens

[ In Reply To ..]
It looks to me like they've only ever released 3 versions, from what I can tell in the front of the book. Mine was released in 2008, before that 2005, and before that 2000.

Just my opinion - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
Although not much (if anything) can be said in defense of AHDI in its current state, I believe that the BOS has served a very fine purpose over the years. The value BOS is not, IMO, so much about placement of commas as it is about standardization of medical documentation. When I first became an MT (a loooong time ago), it was possible to see an obstetrical report describing a patient as "G-four, para III." Yeah, we all know what that means, but I think it's nice to have guidelines. I don't think it's burdensome to adhere to a style that's universally (?) accepted and recognized.

You're right that most doctors don't care and probably don't notice the difference. Still, a medical record is a legal document, and its transcription should be as precise as possible. In this regard, the BOS puts us "on the same page." It was the only worthwhile product of AAMT, IMO... and one edition was quite enough, thank you -- we don't need an upgraded version every 2 years.

Who cares about proper English grammar, proper punctuation, standardization... (; - SH

[ In Reply To ..]
...I do, for one. (;

The doctor may not care. Heck, the doctor may not care if you misspell "nonsense." (; But this is going into the patient's permanent medical record and *I* care.

"Still, a medical record is a legal document, and its transcription should be as precise as possible."

Hear, hear!

The Book of Style could definitely be cheaper. Right now I'm seeing the 3rd edition on Amazon.com for $67.09 new and from $46.46 used. But as far as changing things on a "yearly basis" and having to purchase the dang book "every single year..." not sure what you are talking about.

1st edition January 1995

2nd edition July 2002

3rd edition June 2008

bos - oldone

[ In Reply To ..]
I don't like BOS 3 any better than most people. I really liked BOS 2; however, I have been an MT for 39 years and I care if the patient's medical record is accurate. It IS a legal document. It IS someone's "story" of their health. Doctor's may seem like they don't care but if that record is ever called into account in a court of law, WE BETTER CARE.

BOS yearly BS? - Runamok

[ In Reply To ..]
I think the constant/yearly refining is a bit much and the high price of it is crazy! I mean, seriously?! The doctors and hospitals I have worked for want you to use it but then turn around and have their own rules so it essentially gets thrown out the window. I have found proper grammar, spelling and using their (hospital and/or doctor) guidelines has gotten me the best feedback and happy customers. It seems everyone wants something different and I don't know if I have had a job that was done totally based on BOS. Mine is about 3 years old and they are just too expensive, repetitive from prior ones and essentially don't offer anything beneficial. Just my opinion, of course. : )

The BOS is just a money waster. Everything you know - regarding - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
punctuation and grammar you learned in junior high and high school. THAT is the standard for writing, not the BOS. I would never ever use it - NEVER. I will not allow the BOS or any other "book" try to tell me where a comma, dash, semicolon or any other punctuation goes. It's b.s. Stedman's has all of the correct way to format dosages, numerical values, etc.

Maybe that is why the new point-and-click - systems are doing so

[ In Reply To ..]
well in clinics. Why pay a transcriptionist who doesn't care if puncuation or if medications are typed correctly when you can have a computer than can do the same thing for you.

I work in a clinic at the front desk and also do MT at home, and I can tell you the doctor I work for very much cares. We have a point-and-click system, and I have been reprimanded for typing "followup" instead of "follow-up" because in his words "it's just correct grammar." He didn't want that to show up on his report. Just because they don't call in to the MTSO every time you misplace a comma doesn't mean that they don't cringe when they proof the report.

It's nice to know - that some docs care

[ In Reply To ..]
Yes, it's gratifying to know that some docs consider proper grammar and punctuation a reflection on themselves.

I used to work for a surgeon. When he fell behind in signing off reports, the MR Department would "black list" him and send all his charts up to his office on a gurney. Each place his signature was required was marked with a paperclip. He never looked at the transcribed report...he just signed on the blank line.

BOS versus MT - Runamok

[ In Reply To ..]
I don't think you can base using correct grammar and spelling of medications, etc. by perusing the BOS. That's a good MT with experience, knowledge, education and care of what she/he puts into their work. Just my opinion.

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