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Everyone wants acute care experience, but... - llr

Posted: Jul 28, 2012

...nobody is willing to hire you so you can GET that experience!!!

So, short of lying on your resume, how exactly does one go about this?? And what is so special about AC experience anyways???

It is special because . . . - anon

[ In Reply To ..]
it is hospital work and runs the gamut of specialities and work types and lots of ESL.

I don't know if I would "lie" about it on a resume because odds are if you haven't done it before you will struggle with it.

Still frustrated because (sm) - llr

[ In Reply To ..]
I've done pretty much every specialty out there in clinic work, even with ESL dictators, and I pick up on things very quickly. The company I work for now actually hired me for 1 particular specialty that I had never typed before but the guy said he'd take a chance since I had 10 years experience. I hit the ground running and haven't had a single problem with it.

I understand it's a different type of work, but it's really annoying that companies dismiss you out of hand because you don't have that one particular thing.

I tested for someone a couple weeks ago. I did great on the test. They emailed and said they were calling with an offer. They called, asked me what my acute care experience was. I told them I didn't have any. "Oh, but you took the acute care test. Well, we can't hire you without that experience. Sorry." WTH?? That's just BS, sorry.

Well . . . - anon

[ In Reply To ..]
what they really want are the "big 4" with discharge summary, consults, H&P and op notes.

I know when I did clinic work, I did those work types. So it wouldn't be lying to say you had "acute care" if you have done those.

If they weren't specifically asking where you got acute care, but only that you have done those 4 work types, then it isn't lying.

Acute care - On site MT

[ In Reply To ..]
Even if you've worked in a clinic setting and done the basic 4, it is generally not the same as true acute care experience. Quite a few of the MTSO accounts are teaching hospitals and trauma centers, many with very heavy ESL dictation. I've worked in hospitals and clinics and there is a difference in the complexity of the work. I've been away from the hospital setting for quite a few years, and while I could do the work, it would take me a while to get up to speed, you basically get everything thrown your way in acute care.

Trust me, you don't want it anyway - Fedup

[ In Reply To ..]
The more you know in transcription, the more difficult the work and the less productivity you will see.

Stick with the clinic work - most ESLs work in hospitals because they work for less, and specialists worth their salt generally have their own practice so they can earn more.

Even if you work for less per line on clinic work at the end of the day you will see more earnings from productivity.

I've decided today that I don't much care where I work but after 22 years I'm doing something different and I frankly don't care if it's working sweeping parking lots - they get no more of my expertise for $3.50 an hour because 25% of my job is done for free - and doctors want to dilly dally around just breathing in my ear, or talk on the telephone to their wives during transcription, speak jibberish you cannot understand, or have giggling nurses laughing and screaming in the background so loud you cannot hear the dictator. I'm over it.

My experience with acute care was awful. - mthead

[ In Reply To ..]
I would never repeat it. Even if the docs in the ER weren't ESL, they were PAs or residents and spoke a mile a minute, I guess out of necessity. Oddly, when the hospital I subcontract work from went to VR, the ER notes were the first to go, I think. They picked the hardest thing to transcribe to go to VR.

That's funny, I prefer acute care - anon

[ In Reply To ..]
but then again, I like a challenge.

Clinic work is just too boring, same old, same old day in and day out.

I do agree though, you can make MUCH more money doing clinic notes for that very reason.

You're right - I do find the clinic work boring. - mthead

[ In Reply To ..]
I used to hop around between all different kinds of specialties, and that kept my mind working. Now I only have a handful of different, relatively easy clinics, thanks to VR, and the only real challenge I have is figuring out the ESL speakers and a few residents. I think acute care is exciting and interesting, but I just can't stand the mealy-mouthed interns and PAs trying to break speed records :-)

Thank you everyone for your replies :) - llr

[ In Reply To ..]
I really do appreciate it.

I love doing clinic notes. It's just frustrating because to even attempt to get into a company that has benefits or try to get an in-house job, you have to have that experience and there's just NO WAY to get it without having it. Stupid catch-22.

Anyways. Thank you all again :)

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