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Dear doctor (sarcasm) - need to vent

Posted: Apr 09, 2011

Thank you for dictating your three H&Ps starting at 1 a.m. on patients who were admitted yesterday and the day before (so therefore are already out of compliance on). I appreciate the yawns and am really grateful that you apologized for coughing in my ears. Would really have preferred that you take a nap first, then I might actually be able to understand you wouldn't have to leave so many blanks since you aren't that good as a dictator in the first place. Maybe next time. Sincerely, your underpaid, annoyed and cranky MT

Dr. Sarcasm - Cindy

[ In Reply To ..]
I do editing and there is one dictator who is 10 times worse than all the others. He too dictates during the middle of the night and snorts, burps, etc. When I see his name on my queue, my heart sinks. I am very luck to have many samples and I work very hard to transform his report into a masterpiece. I must admit I have felt unkindly towards him on a personal level, feeling that his lack of consideration for the MT/editor he has never meant was purposeful. Recently, I was editing a report from the same doc. The patient was refusing a surgical procedure that he needed to save his life. By comparison, this dictation was very clear and I could hear the compassion in the doc's voice. I still don't like editing his reports, but I no longer take it personally. I began to regard this dictator as a human being--a very nice human being, a human being I would like to be my doctor.

I do think doctors used to dictate better when the MTs worked in the hospitals. When they knew you could track them down easily in the doctor's lounge (that was right next to medical records), they would behave themselves. Also, as I recall, doctors used to not be burdened by so much paperwork, so they weren't up at all hours doing it. I think I heard somewhere that docs spend over 3 hours a day just doing documentation. No wonder they mumble sometimes.

I know it doesn't do any good to talk about the good ol' days, but I do remember having access to every dictator and 100% of the time I made a request for them to slow down or to explain what they were saying, they did gladly. I think the lack of communication between MTs and dictators is unfortunate. Coders need only shoot a physician an e-mail to clarify a diagnosis. MTs no longer have that luxury.

I hear ya. - CrankyOldBroadOnTheBeach

[ In Reply To ..]
We have a doctor on our account who is a challenge at the best of times... but he dictates a lot late at night, it's quite obvious he's dictating in his sleep, he's practically incoherent, and has been known to dictate a medication list or a physical examination 2 or 3 times (and they contradict each other).

On a team phone call, one of my co-workers declared, "If he's going to dictate in his sleep, then I reserve the right to transcribe him in my sleep."

And I've always said, if they don't seem to mind their reports coming back looking like Swiss cheese, so be it!

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