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

Something that I have been wondering about - especially with the implementation of VR - ancient and tired MT

Posted: Jul 19, 2013

Something that I have been wondering about and thinking about others in this profession. I was born wtih cerebral palsy. While I am able to walk, although with a prounced limp, this conditiion affects the whole side of my body. I have always been able to "type," however, with the implementation of VR, and companies such as Nuance, MModal and other companies wanting MTs to keep their hands on the keyboard and not use the mouse as much as possible, I am really running into "problems" because of my spasticity, and not being able to perform "keystrokes" with my hands they way that they would like us to do -- I know it sounds goofy, but when you have to use a keyboard combination, I have a hard time because I don't have the control on my right side like I do on my left.

I was previously employed as a secretary many years ago (before I started working from hom), and during my face-to-face interview, my handicap/disability was visible enough that I was asked/told to fill out papers for the EEOC, because I was considered "disabled." Even with straight typing, I'm lucky if I can do 60 wpm, but it's more because I really have to concentrate -- a "timed typing test, looking at copy, FORGET it.

Anyway, got off track here, but the main purpose of this vent is the fact that there are many MT companies that hire with "employee status," however, there is nothing for a potential employee to make a comment regarding a physical handicap. I was terminated from Nuance because of the fact that I could not edit at 225-250 lph and my several phone calls to varuious "higher ups" there fell on deaf ears.

I guess what I am trying to say is that with a "standard/outside world job" application, there is a box that is to be checked for that, along with race, etc. I am really wondering if these MTSOs who hire with "employee status are possibly in violation of EEOC laws with regard to accommodating those individuals who may NOT be able to meet "their editing/transcription" minimum requirements.

handicap-type situation? - jac

[ In Reply To ..]
I am very sorry about your physical situation. I met an MT with this problem in 2000 at a training program for Healthscribe; she was very nice and her name was June. It certainly sounds like Nuance did a very bad thing by not listening to you. Shame on them. And they have taken over several businesses where I have worked, which is sad because now they are bigger and job opportunities are more limited. IDEA: Years ago, I found the right side of my body was strained more from the shoulder and back area because of the speed required for my inhouse hospital regular transcribing job (level 3 with incentive), writing my job log, and punching buttons for the dictation unit when it was a separate box. So, I put the mouse on the left side and trained myself to use it left-handed. It becomes quite easy and now I can't use the mouse with the other hand. I also tend to use the mouse for voice recognition and only use a few keystrokes, just enough for their monitoring system to show it. They cannot force you to use them all and I think it stinks that they monitor everything we do--we are not machines and if it comes to that, I will them. If we wired them up for looking out the window, walking down the hallway, sitting in their chair daydreaming, and all that, they would be very upset and put a stop to it. I will be thinking about you and hope this note makes you feel better and maybe the mouse idea might help. Sometimes I feel ancient and tired, but don't tell anybody. Best wishes to you!

Ignore the keyboard and use the mouse - if that is what works for you

[ In Reply To ..]
I know that's not really the point of your post, but it's sort of what stuck out at me.

I hate all of those "use the keyboard, blah, blah, blah" comments. I'm faster with the mouse, thankyouverymuch. I work in Escription. They have a combination that is alt+K that you have to hit constantly to keep the cursor moving along with the voice indicator. If I don't have to make any changes on that line, I just follow along and then move my cursor down with the arrow to the next line. Saves me several keyboard strokes right there.

Ignore the idiots in charge who in some cases have never actually done this kind of work. If using the keyboard makes you faster, great. If you're in that 10% that is still faster with the mouse, then by all means, use the mouse and forget what they tell you. If that is what keeps your production up, then that's what you do.

::stepping down off of my soap box now::

use the keyboard versus the mouse - jac

[ In Reply To ..]
I agree completely, although I did mention using the mouse less because one job actually monitored it heavily and said you "must" do it, but I just used what I wanted...or not...as you said. Yahoo!

Reply 4U - just me2

[ In Reply To ..]
http://www.eeoc.gov/facts/fs-ada.html

Yes, ADA of 1990 covers employers with 15 or more employees. The above link is very informative. Use the ADA law if you have to. It is in place for workers such as yourself, workers who choose to work and be productive members of society in spite of a disability, instead of relying on disability payments, which they are also usually entitled to.

You chose the path of productivity and self reliance, and the honor goes to you for choosing that path. Don't be intimidated into giving up your self sufficiency. Use the law if necessary. Clearly some reasonable accommodations have to be made by employers of 15 or more employees for those with a disability wishing to be productive.

Many people with a disability such as yours give up and rely on federal and state help. You did not. Never forget that, hold your head high, and know that it is people such as yourself that are the true backbone of society.

This is where I think there could be a "big stink" so to speak - OP

[ In Reply To ..]
This is where I feel in my opinion, MModal and Nuance and a few other companies could be in "deep poop." These companies are REQUIRING MTs to do "x number of lines per hour," while editing. When I hired on with Nuance (about 3 years ago), I told them then of my disability and it fell on deaf ears. They got mad because I was using the mouse. They insisted that I use the keyboard, but when you have to use a combination (maybe 2-3 keys at a time), I just don't have that capability. I was subsequently terminated because I could not meet their "LPH requirement." Even with typing, when I took classes in high school, I "devised my own system." Drove me nuts having to type from copy and that is one reason that I got into MT, because at that time, listeing to tapes, and I didn't have to look at handwritten garbage :)

I recently flew from Florida back to IL. I am no longer capable of "dashing through airports." I requested a wheelchair and I was glad that I had one, because I couldn't have done it otherwise.

Another weird thing, is the fact that 6 years ago, I had an eye exam and the eye doctor (at Walmart yet), asked me if I had ever had a stroke. (At that time, I was in my early 50s. I thought it was an odd question, and told him no, not to my knowledge, but that I had been born with CP). Well, suffice to say that with the wonderful wages they pay us, I finally went in for another eye exam (six years later, with wearing bifocals etc,) and this time, apparently, I am losing the peripheral vision in my right eye -- again, the right side of my body. With age, I am having a harder time with exercise and heat stress etc. I was diagnolsed wtih hypercholesterolemia back in January. I am finding that I can no longer do things that I did 6 years ago. It's not that I don't want to -- I can't. I have a hard time with heat and humidity, foot drop/drag etc.

I started the "disability process," by contacting several attornies. The "general response" was, "If you can sit in a chair for 10 hours, then you are not qualified as being disabled." Hello? How many of us sit for 10 hours straight in a chair? I finally contacted an attorney last year, who sent me to see a neurologist and the man was in my opinion, a "quack." He was writing everything by hand, I am telling him that this is the result of an injury from birth (1955, and parents didn't sue docs back then like they do now). I explained to him about VR and how companies wanted you to use arrow keys and the right side of the keyboard, explaining that I couldn't. He could not comprehend that, stating that "his gals didn't have to do that." He had me walk in the exam room (small standard room, and not seeing me walk in a hallway, etc).

I apologize for this being long, but I am really sick and tired of these companies (including non-MT) treating us like "chattel." Heck, we can be terminated because the boss dosen't happen to like the color of our hair right now.

Something that I came across MANY years ago, when I lived in Las Vegas is that one of the major grocery chains actually delivered groceries to your doorstep. You went on the website, and actually "virtually walked the aisles and ordered groceries. You could mark "no substitutions" for example, and if something was substitued, then they would give you the credit for it. You placed your order and told them what time you would be available to have the groceries delivered and at that time, (about 10 yeras ago), they charged a delivery fee of $10. The time, money and convenience would be wonderful. Not everyone drives or is capable of driving. Those that have to rely on public transportation, have to limit what they buy, and I am not talking "major city, but mainstream USA." For example, about 3 miles to store, driving time, then in said store, up and down aisles, dealing with screamng children, etc, depending on when you go, coming home and lugging said groceries into home -- if you have steps even harder. Lets say for $20 (delivery fee and tip), those groceries are delivered and to the point where they are in your kitchen.

Again, rambling, veting and possilbly dreaming. The people that deliver do make a good hourly wage and they are not huge semis -- they also went through background checks before being hired (I have seen a bit of "paranoia" on this board -- you may have people doing your lawn, doing roofing, repairs etc -- how closely do you check them?)

Anyway, just an idea that I have and with people getting older and being handy, it may work.

Off the box for now and again, sorry this was so long :(

This could well be an ADA issue - Nick

[ In Reply To ..]
I think it would be well worth it to speak with a lawyer who specializes in the Americans with Disabilities Act. What you need is likely covered under a "reasonable accommodation" that the ADA sets out. Many cities have pro bono lawyers through the Bar Association. I live in a large city and every Tuesday night people can come and sign up and spend 30 minutes with a lawyer for free. Or there may be some disability rights organizations in your area. I think that any employer who does not accommodate someone in your situation could well find themselves in federal court on an ADA violation charge. I have worked on a few ADA cases (for the disabled, not for the defense of employers who caused the problem). I really encourage you to speak to someone about this. You do not have to take this kind of treatment. Good luck to you!

Same problems for different reasons - Post chemotherapy

[ In Reply To ..]
I would contact an attorney, you should be protected by the Americans with Disability Act. It is the responsibility of your employer to provide you with the work tools ,etc., to enable you to work productively, and they should not be allowed to fire you without having done their best first to accommodate your special needs It is interesting that I too find ASR much more difficult to do than straight typing, with the pain, numbness, and clumsiness of my hands secondary to the side effects of Taxol.

All of you need - to seek legal counsel

[ In Reply To ..]
I find most of these examples of disability discrimination abhorrent! please seek legal counsel and do not be afraid to stand up for your rights! If you are able to work, by whatever means suits your needs, not the employers, you should be more than allowed to and accommodated! My prayers are with all of you!

I did seek legal counsel so I kept my job - Post chemotherapy

[ In Reply To ..]
I found I was covered by both FMLA and ADA.

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