A community of 30,000 US Transcriptionist serving Medical Transcription Industry

Drug and Alcohol test for at home MT? - Lee

Posted: Apr 09, 2010

I cannot believe IC and at-home MTs are being asked to take drug/alcohol tests. Not that I include either in my lifestyle, but really consider this invasive, especially for the slave wages being offered in the industry today.

If I were an MTSO, I would do that. - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
I wouldn't have anyone handling medical records without such testing, inhouse or outsourced.

Just because you work at home does not excuse your liability - it increases it, really!

I don't have a problem with it. Many employers require - SM

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testing to be hired. Why should MTs be any different, at home or on site??

By law can't do that to ICs, so if an MTSO is, I would - report it... nm

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nm

Why? - CB

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I am curious why you think that an MTSO cannot legally drug test? I worked for years as an IC for a government contractor and we were subject to random drug tests because the contract called for that.

Govt jobs completely different....... - sm

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As an IC for ANY government job, yes, you are required to undergo security/background check, etc. Otherwise, an MTSO that does not have govt contracts in place has no business asking an IC to do those things.

Do you ask your plumber or electrician to undergo a background check as an IC?

You can just that most people don't do such. - nm

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nm

Free will - ChronicPainMT

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If it's part of the contract, then you would have to agree with the term and sign it for it to be enforced. You have free will to sign or not sign the contract and fulfill the requirements as you see fit. You either choose to do it or choose not to do it. I don't see why it has earth-shattering consequences one way or the other. It would just be a stipulation in the contract that the IC would either accept or decline. *shrug*

I had to take one for Diskriter. - ncmt

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I thought it was hilarious. Like I'm sitting here drunk all day typing. Woohoo!!!!

Drug and alcohol employment testing - Ex-MT

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Big deal . . . I don't know what the problem would be. I've been drug tested since the late 1980s, when it started, for companies other than MT or healthcare. Actually, for the past over 20 years I've been drug and alcohol tested for any job, which was never a problem since that isn't a problem anyway. I think that healthcare and obviously the MT industry has been way behind in this. I hadn't been laid off for about 15 years until 2005 and then from 2006 to 2009 I was drug and alcohol tested three times for three different jobs, twice for the same company because initially I worked for a temp agency, was laid off from the temp agency because the job ended with the plan to rehire at the hospital a month later, which included a drug and alcohol test again. Probably since early 2006, actually, I've been tested probably more than that because when I signed up for insurance part of that testing was for substance abuse and well as other values. And . . . just a few months ago I enrolled in my college alumni organization's life insurance program and was tested again for chemical abuse. Don't worry about it; just do it--testing has been going on long before now, like I said more than 20 years ago. Actually, the people in question who should be tested are the ICs, freelancers, and independents because they are the ones would are not routinely tested for jobs at companies, etc.., although to get insurance I guess they were tested. Really, anyone with substance abuse issues wouldn't pass any of these tests to get jobs or insurance anyway.

I'd be happy to. - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
Just as soon as the MTSO takes polygraph tests for paying in a timely manner, honesty, good relations, et al.....oh, and the MTSO should also take the drug/alcohol test, too. Yep, then I'd be happy to do so. :)

I can see the drug testing but not the alcohol. - toejam

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Illegal drugs is one thing but I don't think it's fair to test for alcohol. How would they know if the MT drank during work or had a glass or wine in the evening? It's very invasive to test for what someone does when they're NOT working~!

LOL, spoken like a true drinker! - obscure559@gmail.com

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Like any other "drug" (yes, your "drink" is a drug, my friend, like it or not), it comes down to concentration. They can tell by the time of the test and the subsequent read at about what time you had to be imbibing.

I'd want to know if my being-paid-to-work-at-home MT were sipping red wine as much as I'd want to know if he/she was burning a joint. I make no differentiation between the two. Unless of course the MT is ill and has a card to LEGALLY toke when necessary. In such a case, I'd assume the one testing positive for THC would have the legal advantage over the one drinking.

And, no I neither drink nor smoke weed. I just think it's funny how some people are so mortified at the thought of working stoned yet I've worked with people who think nothing of downing half a bottle of wine while working and fail to think there's anything wrong with it.

I said it below, I'll say it again. Be judicial and do NOT take anything about which you cannot cover thine butt with a VALID PRESCRIPTION MADE OUT TO YOU. They honestly don't care what you're taking if you're functional. They just don't want some whacked out stoner/burner/tweaker/drunk doing their work.

testing - Ex-MT

[ In Reply To ..]
That's true. I have a drink socially and once in a blue moon and so I am not an alcoholic. I wonder how they test for that? I am sure it can be done. Is there a alcohol blood level besides the obvious that a lab can determine -- does anyone know? I know that people who never have a drink even socially assume that people who have a drink once in a blue moon or a glass of wine with dinner or in the evening have some kind of problem. Actually, I read somewhere that drinking one glass of red wine a day is good for you -- if red wine doesn't trigger migraines for you! :-)

Oh, you are fine... - ChronicPainMT

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They can tell, just as with any other drug, how long ago you drank. It's how they determine a posthumous DUI. They can tell by the reading and the breakdown how long before the test you had the drink. If you had a glass of wine or two with dinner the night before the test, IF it even reads, they would know by the concentration, or lack thereof, that you weren't sitting there sucking back a Jack and coke while you were working. I believe I get a bit defensive in this area because, while I need smoke weed nor really drink except a very rare glass of good red wine with dinner, I do know MTs who think nothing of polishing off a bottle of wine or two during their shift and, because alcohol is "legal," honestly see no problem with their behavior. I know I certainly don't want an MT who's drinking her dinner while working transcribing/editing MY report and I do find it wryly humorous that those MTs think it's perfectly acceptable.

My bottom line moral compass is...Hey, if it was okay to drink and transcribe, Mike's Hard Lemonade would be at every water/beverage station in every hospital. It's just as illegal/immoral to drink on the job as any other kind of illicit chemical. If it's NOT okay to do in-house, it's pretty much a given it's NOT okay to do in the privacy of your own home while working.

I'm just amazed at times about the number of MTs who think it's okay to drink at home while working because alcohol is "legal." Like I said, having known a few of them (one who would pass out mid shift and forget about the jobs assigned to her shift) until she came to the next morning. True story...the hospital finally cut her loose because her drinking was frequently killing out TAT and throwing the entire MT department into chaos.

Sorry for typos...Trying to give myself a manicure AND post - I fail at multitasking, lol!

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Obviously I meant that I NEVER smoke weed nor drink on the job. No judgment about those who toke or drink, just not my vice of choice, lol!

Now I'll let my nails dry before posting again so no one thinks I'm the one kicking back jack and coke whilst working, lol! (Even though I'm on my own time right now and not working at all).

But you, nah, that wine with dinner 12 hours before a test? You'd do fine on drug tox test.

Drinking and working MTs - Ex-MT

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THAT INFORMATION IS SOOO ENLIGHTENING! I do not work as an MT anymore; however, I did work remotely for about 2-1/2 years only because the organization required it. I found it really amazing that it was automatically assumed and what seemed to be an office consensus that I was "drinking on the job" or I guess "smoking weed" or whatever. I don't "smoke weed" or do any drugs and as a matter of fact, I am not even on any prescription drugs! :-) LOL I don't drink except maybe once in a blue moon. That just amazed me and I couldn't believe it, BUT . . . after being involved in this business a while, I couldn't believe how some of the MTs were working or whatever from what I thought was "normal," maybe they were loaded! LOL :-) When that was happening to me, I was like no . . . . I am NOT drinking on the job nor am I on or "doing" drugs, your equipment and network is just a piece of sh_t and doesn't work! LOL :-)

Anyway, that is really great info. I had NO idea that grown women (or men) would even consider doing that especially on the job. BUT . . . over the years, I must say that I was somewhat amazed at all the MTs that I met who were on prescription drugs -- it was weird because I never encountered that before working in other industries.

I have no problem with alcohol testing if...(sm) - Toejam

[ In Reply To ..]
they can tell what time of the day. I agree it's not moral to drink while transcribing, and I don't, but I do have a glass of wine or whatever sometimes in the late evening when not working.

Chill...If you have valid RXs, NOTHING will be held against you - ChronicPainMT

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It doesn't matter if you test "dirty" on opiates or benzos as long as you have a VALID PRESCRIPTION FOR THE DRUG. Never, EVER lost a job for testing positive on those because I've been on the drugs for 15 years and have current (valid) prescriptions for them. Now, if you're smoking and gonna be dirty for THC or something else, that's a whole different ballgame. Also, don't even THINK about taking an Ambien or something from a friend if you're nervous, because if it reads dirty and you PERSONALLY have no prescription for it, you're out of the running.

If you've got prescriptions for whatever medication you might be concerned about, you're wasting your time worrying. They honestly don't care what drugs you're on...as long as they are LEGALLY OBTAINED AND YOURS.

No kidding? - vikefantam

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No kidding? Wouldn't but me. You'd find my benzos and I take my Vyvanse occasionally but both have a valid script from my doc. Wow. I just adore my new company.

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