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

"Teaching" practitioners to dictate. - goatgal

Posted: Nov 28, 2010

I strongly think that there should be a branch of the AMA that "polices" a doctor's/PA/FNP, etc. dictation. I think that that should be REQUIRED to take a yearly refresher course on dictation. I've just done 3 reports where the doctor was talking so fast that the vital signs all had to be left blank. That is absolutely ridiculous. There is no excuse for it. If these people are smart enough to practice medicine, they should be responsible enough to dictate decently. Does anyone know of such a company? I might just start one. Grrr.

If they were made to listen to themselves - orthogirl

[ In Reply To ..]
they might actually realize how they sound and slow down. The doc I type talks so fast that if I did not have the EMR with the whole patient record in it, there would be a lot of blanks, especially vitals. Luckily I have the past medical history form which is scanned in the EMR and has the vitals listed at the top. Sometimes that is only the way I can tell the BP, pulse and respiration, as he runs the numbers together so fast you do not know what he is saying.

Necessary evil - 3rd shift

[ In Reply To ..]
You would be surprised how these doctors clean up their act when it is VR and they have to check their own work. I have said it before and I will say it again doing dictation for some doctors is just a necessary evil!!!

They can be more dangerous to patient care than any MT - BackwoodsMT

[ In Reply To ..]
I had a doctor dictate yesterday that the patient's weight was 500 milligrams. I swear I believe he realized it because he slowed up a bit, but then he just kept going!!!!

These people really endanger patient care with mistakes like this, but we are dinged for the smallest things, even hyphenated words. Why can't someone hold them to the same high standards that the MTs are accountable for. If I had typed that on the report, I could just hear him now, "What a stupid transcriptionist," while he can not even completely say a word much less complete a sentence.

One company where I worked had HIPAA personnel in place to guarantee that our hospital transcription was done just so, as well as the dictation being done in compliance. I wish there was such an agency where MTs could anonymously report someone like that, and they had the power to actually listen to the dictation and require improvement. Okay, back to the real world........

The blanks probably clue them in on the differential on these, - Try walking that mile--Pragmatist

[ In Reply To ..]
and--very much to the point--those blanks are in THEIR reports for them to see and fill in or not as they choose.

OP, these are very highly skilled people (even the bad ones) who as a matter of course take and attend a number of expensive professional development courses/seminars each year, as well as constantly educate themselves by reading reports from others in their field. Many of them are also very, very busy. Many work long hours, at facility and at home. Many have very irregular schedules.

The idea that they should take refreshers on dictating slower specifically to make easier work for us clerical workers, whose jobs exist solely to assist THEM, is...just very silly. I suspect it's not even crossed the minds of many that they should be coming up with an excuse for their many faceless assistants.

Now, applying meaningful sanctions to those who fail to dictate important information into a patient record--that I can go along with. That type of sloppiness IS inexcusable.

That was 1 of the things I liked when I worked - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
in a hospital. We actually knew the doctors and other dictators, would actually call them and ask about the blanks or ask them when they came in the office. I hate not having the face-to-face contact with the doctors. They would come in and talk to us. I worked 2nd shift and even had some that would come in late and dictate "live" just to watch us transcribe.

I just hope the careless dictators don't have a poor... - ndmt

[ In Reply To ..]
outcome with one of their patients and need to rely on those reports to substantiate their decisions. I am pretty sure that if they don't take the time to dictate properly they don't review their reports to fill in the blanks. I know its their choice and its their report, but I am sure it would be more than difficult to recall from memory the details on any given patient.

I agree a refresher course in dictation habits might not work, but I do think it is part of the clerical staff's job to let the physician know if their dictations are not translating into a meaningful report. The whole point of transcription is to create a record of the patient's care to document what went on for the benefit of the physicians. It is their CYA.

Not a "mere clerical worker" - goatgal

[ In Reply To ..]
I don't consider myself a mere clerical worker. I worked hard to get where I am and not just anyone who answers a phone can do my job. It's bad enought when physicians have a "holier than thou" attitude and when the rest of us cater to it, it just gets worse. They need to learn to dictate clearly or don't do it at all. What good does it do to spew out a bunch of noise if nobody understands it? Everyone tiptoes around the doctors not wanting to offend the high and mighty! My job is NOT soley to assit them. My job is to create a legal record of a patient's healthcare. I cannot do that if I cannot understand what the doctor is saying. Bottom line is if the doctor can't take the time to tell me, I can't do it. That isn't too much to ask of a highly intelligent person.

Don't worry - mymt

[ In Reply To ..]
They *WILL* learn to dictate coherently. Afterall, structured data is going to require them to do so. This is truly a be careful what you wish for moment, kiddos, because our deciphering the words is what keeps us a step above machines. But docs will be weaned on using technology and they WILL slow down for technology. I've already seen it in the works.

I have to totally disagree about making the job easier for - clerical workers.

[ In Reply To ..]
As an MT who has worked in coding and billing before, it isn't just the MT that suffers. When a dictator is sloppy, it slows down the payment process. With multiple blanks, the report has to go back to the dictator, which means the billing and payment process has already had a setback. Oftentimes, the correction request will sit with them until they get to it.

From experience, I've also seen that if an M.D. is sloppy at dictating, they're also sloppy about filling in those blanks. Many won't take the time to go back into the charts, they'll just guess at what the blanks were and then it gets sent on to the coders who have to decipher what he really meant.

If he's wrong, it gets billed incorrectly and eventually returned unpaid by the insurance companies.

I have long said that these dictators really need to learn and PRACTICE correct dictation methods, not because it is making some "clerical worker's" job easier, but because it is affecting the whole payment chain.

My job is not an assistant to a medical practitioner. - wannie

[ In Reply To ..]
If it were, I can assure you I would make a lot more money than I make trying to decipher the "junk" they throw out and expect it to magically turn into a comprehnsive, cohesive, legally binding medical record. Yes, they are highly skilled. Yes, they do have to continously educate themselves. Guess what, so do we. We are constantly learning every single day (at least I am). I am not just a "clerical worker." I have to research, continuously educate myself, am very, very busy, work long hours and deal with medical practitioners who don't have a good command of the English language nor the common courtesy to speak where they can be understood. My job is not to "clean up" their mess. My job is to transcribe a decent medical record which, by the way, I can't do if I can't understand what is being said because of somebody's unwilligness to speak coherently.

Just clerical it is, sorry. We have a long learning curve - Pragmatist

[ In Reply To ..]
as we learn a greatly expanded vocabulary. That's it. The beginning and end of what separates us from plain old typists. We do not exercise any significant judgement, have no authority, make no decisions. We do not write our own reports. We don't sign anything. We add no information to reports. Although some come to know a good deal about medicine, one can work for decades at this without ever knowing more than the most basic definitions for only most of the words. And MANY do just that.

That's the simple truth, and people who choose this work shouldn't mind it because the benefit, the tradeoff IS having no real responsibility, flexible and finite hours, no working through nights and weekends to beat deadlines, no feeling sick over possible consequences of serious mistakes, no having to work while ill because we're indispensable, and no lying awake at night worrying about how to handle tomorrow's problem(s), keep a client, save a life, etc.

I've been there, which is a good part of why I chose this low-level but good-pay home-based work.

You may be just clerical. I'm not. - wannie

[ In Reply To ..]
I have to know whether or not the dictator is dictating correct medications and dosages and have the good sense to flag something that's not right. That requires more than just an expanded vocabulary. Heavens no, I'm not on the same level with a physician, but I still have to know my stuff. So, anyway, if you want to consider yourself just clerical, go for it.

Much clerical work requires college degrees, years of - College, extensive continuing

[ In Reply To ..]
experience, ongoing professional education year after year, attendance at professional seminars, meetings with executives, professional licensing required by LAW rather than a marketing gimmick, signing one's own papers, meeting with clients, having assistants to help with important work, who themselves have assistants who do the typing.

Any of this apply to MTs? No. The reason I mention this at all is because of the profound lack of respect many display for people whose time and work product are so much more valuable than ours. And the profound lack of understanding of our purpose, which leads to inappropriate and unnecessary outrage.

We assist them, not vice versa. If their work disappears, the part of THEIR WORK they delegate to us to assist them with does not exist. That's the way it is and the way it is supposed to be.

Whatever you say. nm - wannie

[ In Reply To ..]
x

None of this.... - denni

[ In Reply To ..]
None of your ranting negates the fact that if the oh-so-important physician (that you so glorify) needs documentation that will stand up in court and probably, on some level (no matter how trivial YOU may consider it), impact his patients' care, then he needs to make himself intelligible and dictate in a responsible manner. Go minimize the importance of your OWN job (which probably IS clerical) because you obviously are not an experienced MT.

If the narrative record is done away with, you won't have - to worry about any of this. (sm)

[ In Reply To ..]
The EMR advancement is now trying to completely do away with the narrative or descriptive record. It would be replaced with preformatted records, point-n-click for dictators, etc.

The narrative is what we transcribe/edit as MTs.

If the narrative record disappears, then there won't be any transcription or ASR work either one.

Mind you, it will take a few years for all facilities come into 100% compliance with the EMR requirements (yes, Congress if working to make legal issue of it), but it could happen and quite easily.

Like the AHDI or not, they are fighting with lawmakers to keep a narrative record in place in the EMR.

Not gonna happen - mymt

[ In Reply To ..]
Payors and organizations like JACHO will prohibit that from totally happening 100%.

If they're sloppy in dictating, they'll be sloppy in pointing and clicking. - nm

[ In Reply To ..]
XX

Similar Messages:

Jul 08, 2011

I have a questions for the MTs who are currently working on teaching hospitals. How do you like them and what do you feel the pros and cons are with them? ...

Jul 27, 2013

MTEC stopped teaching medical transcription, and I think that was very honest of them. No need to keep teaching people how to do a job that's almost obsolete. Do you think it's wrong for schools to keep teaching MT? ...

May 19, 2014

Since it has been delayed. Start all over teaching ICD9? What a mess! Can anyone tell me how their coding program is handling this? ...

Feb 03, 2010

I see a lot of MTs returning to school and often in the medical profession. Since the industry seems hell-bent on having all the transcription done in India, will that influence how you nurses and psychologist dictate when it is your turn to dictate, or will you be so relieved to be through with this tragedy that you won't even think about it? Just wondering. ...

Nov 04, 2010

Just tried calling DICTATE (1-800-342-8283) to report outage and got message that the number has been changed, or no longer working... Used it yesterday, but who knows any more.... Anyone have another number for DICTATE? At least with these posts they can't tell me that i am the only one... Getting so tired of hearing that. ...

Jan 20, 2011

I was always told to change it to mL. ????? ...

Nov 17, 2014

Has anyone worked with or know anything about IDictate? Possibly losing current position so I am looking for something just in case. ...

Mar 27, 2010

...in the middle of an airport runway. At least it sounds like that. It's especially so lovely with ASR, picking up as it does every random conversation in the area. ...

Oct 13, 2011

Ok, I'm curious, but can doctos do their dictations anywhere? A lot of times, I hear a bunch of doctors in like some sort of dictation room. You can hear other doctors doing dications. I just picture a bunch of people in white coats sitting at a desk talking into a phone. lol. Other times it sounds like they're in an emergency room while an emergency is going on. People are asking for things, things are clanging around. Sometimes it sounds like they're in their own home. Had an ...

May 16, 2013

More and more frequently, I am getting dictators who say, "the patient underwent the procedure IN 04/11/12" or "the patient underwent the procedure ON April 2012." It's just a little thing that's kind of annoying because you have to change the IN to ON and vice versa, but it's happening so often, I'm wondering if that's now an acceptable way to say it and I'm just not in the know. Anyone else get this? ...

Jun 04, 2013

I am an experienced nurse practitioner with seven years of experience. Now that I am working in an acute care environment, I am required to dictact all of my consultations. I have a template from which I am dictating. But from the results of my transcriptions, I could use some help from medical transcriptionists on how to dictate the RIGHT WAY. Of course, I was never taught how to dictate. I was taught how to use the telephone to dictate, but I was never taught the right way to dictate clearly ...

Dec 15, 2013

than some of these idiots who you have to muddle through on day after day after day ad nauseum? I am transcribing this dictator tonight who has had one patient with "infantigo" and on her "review of symptoms" she dictates "Eyes" as a subheading by itself then does HEENT later on in the review. I would be so organized if I were doing this, I would have a standard sheet for every patient with ROS and PE, then just fill in the blanks and note any abnormalties. It would be so easy for us ...

Apr 10, 2014

greatest job of them all - You can be an MT here for a whopping........WAIT FOR IT........0.05 CPL!!!!!!! Plus you can pay your own taxes and never get a paid vacation!!! Just when you think you've seen it all. Let's not all trample each other lining up to apply. Please - can we all realize we're better than this and deserve better than this and not apply to these places that low ball us like this?!!??! I think these companies will keep just seeing ho ...

Apr 15, 2014

then it is insane to expect to transcribe 99.7%. That's all. ...

Apr 26, 2014

Has anyone been hired by or worked for Dictate Express in Solana Beach, California? I checked with BBB and they have no record of them. Got email I was hired. I have been scammed once this month and do not need another. Please help???? Signed numbtypist ...

May 14, 2014

dictating a lengthy report and mentioned a dozen different doctors, do not say at the end, please cc all above because I will NOT do this. I will not take another half hour to read your report and cc all noted physicians. You get paid the big bucks. Use your time, not mine that is paid by pennies!!!! ...

Oct 14, 2014

#1 I would be able to understand you. And BTW, chewing like a cow is not attractive at all. And #2, you wouldn't choke on your food. And since you did choke through a word or 2, it would be nice if you re-dictated that because I have no idea what cough, cough, cough is supposed to be. I HATE this dictator, why does the company not tell her how to talk, I'm done complaining since it gets me nowhere.. ...

Feb 01, 2015

So tired of going in an out of the ADT screen, choosing just patient because they don't dictate a day until part way through the dictation, or the referring physician. I honestly think, if someone told them it would make our lives easier they would comply..And I know this is dreaming, but dictate the CCs at the beginning of the report so it is easier to find the names and spell them correctly when you dictate them throughout the report. And by all means at the end don't say please cc ...

Apr 19, 2015

I can't understand a couple of words and every time I let off the foot pedal and replay, I hear "Cracklin Rosie, get on board." "Cracklin Rosie, get on board." "Cracklin Rosie, get on board." Arrrrgggghhhh ...

Apr 22, 2015

does anyone know a way to edit/transcribe on a treadmill? I can hear her footfalls and the sound her tennis shoes make on the belt. Would be a great way to get my walking time in and not be so sedentary (especially with doing OT). Not good at the keyboard commands to work audio so would need my footpedal. ...

May 15, 2015

Don't. Go home and hand write it. Quit wasting my time and my life. ...

Mar 15, 2010

Since we have a (lengthy) Do Not Use list, I think the doctors should be versed in proper dictating form with a Do Not Dictate list to include "next", "next number", "new line", "skip line", "and", and "uh, uh, uh" and all those other little irritating words that ASR loves! Charge them 3 cents MORE per line of dictation if they can't maintain 98% with no blanks sent back to them!!!!!!!! ...

May 11, 2010

I just had an idiot dictating with what sounded like his whole family in the background, foreground, everyground. Two young girls talking and giggling and then saying goodbye to each other. Daughter talking to mother. Some kind of beeping noise like a piece of heavy equipment backing up....beep, beep, beep, beep. Dictator just yapping away. How inconsiderate!!!! Okay, I'm done. ...

Jun 01, 2010

There are 3 different very loud noises going off in the background and it has given me an instant migraine! ding-ding-ding-ding-ding duuuuuhhh duuh... duuuuuuhhh duuh... bong.... bong.... bong.... What is wrong with people? How can this doctor sit there himself without screaming? This is seriously how people can just flip right off the deep end. ...

Oct 10, 2010

Just need a breather. Or IV tranquilizers. In the middle of a 25-minute dictation by a sleepy, yawning, slurring, ESL - we're not talking an endoscopy or hernia repair, it's a brain surgery, and I'll be darned if I can understand a word. More blanks than anything else. I would love him to just hear himself when he's awake. Just listen to himself and ask himself how anyone could possibly understand a word. I only hope he wasn't as ...

Oct 18, 2010

Okay, it is nice to have jobs again; but never in my primary. Or this one is actually a hospital that has been added. What do we do when we get a report that every three words it sounds as though the ESL doc is taking his finger off the record button or something and you get "the patient (hiccup hiccup) comes in (hiccup hiccup hiccup) blah blah blah indecipherable.... ? And yet we are to send anything now with over 3 blanks to QA? I have done this job fo ...

Jan 04, 2011

IC status so I can work more, NOT limit myself as to how much I work. ...

Jun 09, 2011

I am actually in the middle of a report right now for the most horrible ESL doctor ever. Besides the fact that her accent is so ridiculously thick, she speaks so softly that it is impossible to figure out what she is saying. Even though she is straight typing, I still can't make money on it because I keep rewinding to try to figure out what she is saying. What's funny is she is doing a medical consult for a psych patient. Like these patients dont' have enou ...

May 16, 2012

She actually said, " PRN constipation" instead of "PRN for constipation!" It bugs me so much when these people don't really know what they are really saying. It's really nice to come across someone who has actually learned the correct meanings of the abbreviations they use! Just sayin' ...

Aug 09, 2012

Is there a way to have a doctor dictate and upload into an ftp without any other company involved like My Docs Online, etc???? Is it HIPPA compatible? Cathy CTPW ...