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

What constitutes a critical error in your book? - GoBears

Posted: Dec 04, 2009

Besides medication errors, can you give me some examples of what other errors could affect patient care?

...several things...sm - MttM

[ In Reply To ..]
Critical errors where I work are not only things that affect "patient care" but also things that affect the legal aspects and our ability to back things up in court. We see a lot of work comp and disability patients and errors in our documents can make or break a lawsuit or delay a patient's disability claim, substantiate referrals, "pre-existing" denials, time off, etc.

critical errors - MT

[ In Reply To ..]
I would say entering the wrong patient name when it is spelled or account # is given correctly is a critical error.

"no" - sandra

[ In Reply To ..]
Leaving out the word 'no' is a critical error to me. For example, in dictating a report the doc says "no tumor remains" but you transcribe "tumor remains."

In that instance, missing a simple 2 letter word can set off a whole set of circumstances - blood work, more tests, chemotherapy, etc...

have to agree with "no" - me

[ In Reply To ..]
I had some surgery done a few years back. Got a call from FP telling me I had to have an EKG done before hand. This was just a short stay procedure. Here under ROS - I had a history of heart disease instead of "no" history of heart disease. So asked the surgeon about it. Tsk, Tsk, I said. Better keep those transcriptionists on their toes!!!

Critical errors - gourdpainter

[ In Reply To ..]
Any error could or should be considered critical outside demographics unless the wrong patient name is used through carelessness. This should not happen. Potential lawsuit cases are reviewed and re-reviewed by doctors, hospital staff and their lawyers well before it gets to court. So it isn't like the transcription department record is just sent to court as is. I would think that the dictated medical record is just a summary and the PROFESSIONAL medical staff is, or should be, responsible for reviewing the summary of documents and comparing with ORIGINAL lab reports, x-ray reports, medication dosages, etc. I personally think that much ado about nothing exists for placing so much responsibility on the backs of transcriptionists. We are not directly involved in patient care and any doctor or nurse that relies solely on the dictated medical record without questioning accuracy of things in the summary without comparing to orders and the original lab/x-ray reports is one of two things in my opinion: 1) Incompetent or 2) A fool.

I think that MTs are not taken to court for their...sm - am I right?

[ In Reply To ..]
'critical' errors. The company or client are ultimately responsible for the final document.
The utmost penalty that can be extended to an MT is getting fired.

I believe you are correct - gourdpainter

[ In Reply To ..]
I think sometimes MTs overrate their importance. I doubt that an MT would ever be sued or even considered in a malpractice suit.

Thank you, GP, this makes sense.....nm - am I right?

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

I completely agree with you, but if that is the case..... - Happy MT Robin

[ In Reply To ..]
then why do you suppose MTSOs are now apparently asking for MTs to have E&O insurance? It's been mentioned several times on this board.

I've always wondered about that.

MTSOs have to include the E&O insurance in the contract..nm - e&o

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

Possibly, but goes back to the point of the MT/MTSO not being resonsible for final document - Happy MT Robin

[ In Reply To ..]
I say not being responsible in that we don't need to make every effort to create a document that is as accurate as possible with the information given to us, but not responsible in the framework of the doctor has to sign his medical reports and thus is certifying that the information contained within is correct.

This takes me back to my original question based on GP's comment - why would MTs have to have E&O insurance?

It's a conundrum, for sure.

MTSO or client are responsible for final document, not the MT...nm - final

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

See my earlier post for my thoughts. n/m - gourdpainter

[ In Reply To ..]
x

My best guess - gourdpainter

[ In Reply To ..]
Would be that that is one more expense they plan to foster off on the MTs. They are already furnishing work space, office furniture and in many cases computers and other equipment. I never cease to be amazed lately. The "paid internship" seems to me is going a long way toward having MTs paying them for the privilege of working. Good golly Ms. Molly, what's next?

status for ICs is changing - is what's next! - mtmaven

[ In Reply To ..]
With ARRA and HITECH coming into full force in February much is changing for ICs. Companies are educating to get E&O and since we will now be "business associates" it changes your status and there is much more responsibility and accountability. Google it and read about it. It is not pretty for those who toil as an IC and I am going to incorporate rather than loose my rear end.

No loose rear ends! - ...

[ In Reply To ..]
:>

Wise move - gourdpainter

[ In Reply To ..]
But company ICs are treated already like employees. The only avenue I can see for self-protection is to incorporate and that alone costs a bucket full of money to be done properly. Of course it is possible to fill out the paper work yourself but I would personally advise having an attorney draw up the papers. Seems like it is almost getting cost prohibitive to make a living. I have googled the ARRA and HITECH and you are correct, it isn't a pretty picture.
Business associates my behind, I would more likely call it screwees.

Similar Messages:

Jan 04, 2010

The dictator said "... will get cardiac enzymes and will get a carotid Doppler in the morning...", or something similar, I have deleted the report. I left out the second will. This is not a verbatim account. Critical error for omitted dictation pertains to lab results, normal values, etc. I didn't think the word will meets that criteria. I also had Tylenol No. 3 changed to Tylenol #3. The drug lists still show it as No. 3. ...

Apr 19, 2014

I'm supposed to provide feedback. Okay, fine, here it is: It was a typo. I sure learned a lot from your snarky auto message. Why do you have to keep making people feel bad for making a freaking typing error? Whoever is running the show at Nuance really needs to seek help. All you (they) can do is cut our wages and find fault with our work? It must be stupendously reassuring to be you and be so perfect. ...

May 07, 2015

Just had my first critical error ever! I'm so upset. BP number. I know I lose major points but am I in any sort of trouble, reprimand or anything like that? I know this job isn't the greatest but I so need it! Very worried. ...

Nov 13, 2013

I received a notice of critical error that was in red and would not allow me to read the other feedback reports where I left blanks. Since we have been warned so much about critical errors and how much weight they have, I was afraid to open this report. The critical error was : Alert an oriented (but what I should have typed was "alert and oriented." I forgot the "d" on "and." I can think of so many other things that would have been a crtical error, like leaving out a di ...

Mar 18, 2014

So...I was just dinged for a critical error. Supposedly, I typed an incorrect medication. I specifically remembered this dictation and remembered the medication I typed, which was NOT the medication marked in the critical error. SO - I went into my statistics for the day, pulled up the detail for that particular job and there it was....the CORRECT medication. Somehow, the correct medication was taken out and the incorrect one was put back in. You better be ...

Mar 31, 2014

...

Aug 13, 2014

to mail some overdue bills and pulled out in front of a cop on the way home. I'm almost afraid to breathe the rest of the day. Is this supposed to be Friday, the 13th? ...

Dec 10, 2014

Pardon my ignorance, but if you get a critical error on a QC review (meaning NOT a post-audit), that does not count against you? ...

Jan 24, 2010

I've got this terror of critical errors. I shudder every time I check my feedback, if I've left a marker (sometimes I've noticed they'll check the entire report, not just the marker. Guess it depends on the MME). What happens if you get a critical error? Are you back on QA for awhile? Do you get nasty e-mails? Do you get canned? 40 lashes? ...

May 14, 2012

x ...

Feb 14, 2013

This is a new one to me and laughable honestly. I thought we were to spell phoenetically a doctor's name in the text if we cannot find it or verify it. So this is what I did as usual and got a MAJOR CRITICAL ERROR for putting the wrong doc name??? WTH. Seems like they are grasping at straws now. What's the deal? We are to be mind readers now and get these names exact every time even when they don't spell, we can't find, etc. etc. Nuance just makes itself look ridiculous ...

Mar 04, 2015

So 3 points off...short report....and, course failed, 88%......I'm doomed for the next 2 weeks. Probably now way to get up over 99% at this point. Anyway, so I went back to check on it (I usually don't bother), I was going to try to relisten (still can't for whatever reason)...but what I DID see was that the report was sent to the client with the apparently incorrect value of 0.5 still on the report. So they find the error but don't correct it? ...

Mar 11, 2015

for something that I specifically remember changing to the correct lab value. ...

Sep 11, 2011

barely scraping by and passing according to MQ? I just received an audit that had a score of 99.3%. I'm told I passed the audit but got a critical error (left out a word) so she will need to do another audit next week. Fine. But how can I get a critical error (in their eyes anyway) and still "pass" the audit? More importantly, does anyone know if my pay is going to be docked because of this critical error, or do you just have to get 99% period. TIA ...

Dec 21, 2012

I noticed I had some "critical error" emails, but when I go into fiesa, they are not showing. Why wouldn't they be? I don't know why they make this process so confusing, or maybe its just me. ...

Jan 19, 2011

Thanks all for your thoughts on the "salary/wage expectations" thread below. I am still hoping to see more opinions on the subject, but there were some references to production and even "high producers," hence my query concerning what you all think constitues a "high producer" versus average. I am inclined to consider 200 lines per hour as a good producer but not high. What are your thoughts - understanding, of course, that all accounts differ in difficulty. However, wean ...

Jul 31, 2013

Is every error, both real or fabricated, a major error now? Are there no levels of error any longer? Seems that EVERYTHING under the sun that can be made up is a major freakin' error. I would swear that I did not even make any of these and that these are fabricated. WTH? ...

Jan 29, 2010

Isn't it "strange" how it goes from NJA to "critical backlog" in nothing flat? SA5 here... Must be the weekend. Here's a laugh for you though: ASR report (of course) - social history: "he lives with his wife who is alive"... Good thing huh! LOL! ...

Mar 31, 2010

I have very rarely ever gotten critical feedback and today I have gotten like 7-8 reports returned to me. I find it so hard to believe that I am all of a sudden I am getting all this critical feedback. :( ...

Jun 15, 2010

Has anyone at the Q been getting hit by "critical errors" on crazy stuff that has never been an issue BEFORE? All of the sudden, after no feedback for about a month, no audits, nada, zilch, I got my audit and was given critical feedback for not capitilizing a department! (recovery room, radiology suite, cardiac cath lab...) AND, in a verbatim report, with a client profile that says specifically, DO NOT ADD A HEADING IF ONE IS NOT DICTATED, for NOT adding a heading! This makes me nuts ...

Jun 24, 2011

GD SOB! Have been passing all the audits with flying colors (99% or better), even the audit earlier this week. but then I got an email today of a report with critical errors. Real bad doctor who mumbles and changes his mind in midsentence but doesn't say 'scratch that' or 'correction' or anything like that. sheesh. so do they automatically put you on disciplinary action or cut your pay for one bad report? or do i hope that on my next ...

Jan 28, 2010

We have been getting notes saying we have "critical backlog", when we usually get NJA. I'm wondering if we can start sending notes saying "critical pay check deficiency" when we get NJA. Since we are kept informed, maybe we should keep them informed also. ...

May 26, 2010

on a single report, would give me, to the right, a score of 96%??????????? The mistake? C-difficile instead of C. difficile. Mind you, they're all over the place auditing only the most awful reports i'm doing.. ...

Sep 26, 2010

So I check MQ Central as usual before starting my shift this morning. Found 4 messages stating critical backlog with weekend incentive. I sign on. No jobs. I'm tier 3. Never saw NO JOBS first thing on my regular Sunday shifts. WHAT THE ____? I read on to get a slap on the wrist from my RTL. Why didn't I send a report to QA that had multiple blanks. I tried to be objective, but it was for the usual reasons I send multiple-blank repor ...

Oct 26, 2010

Don't know what's going on, but I have had an abundance of my primary yesterday and today. Usually only very few reports and then being jumped around to different accounts during the day, with frequent periods of NJA. Now all the sudden we get an E-mail because we have a "critical backlog." Is India on strike or something? Actually, my account supposedly has a clause in that says they will not allow work to go to India. I don't get it. I'm ...

Mar 11, 2015

of Danger, Will Robinson!! Danger!! ...

Sep 06, 2011

Are there any other Tier III critical care MT/editors getting only clinic notes? ...

May 13, 2015

Very strange not to have at least one a.m. backlog report. Something going on. I don't care. I hope I get fired. I don't care if the whole company closes and re-opens in India. Just tired of being taken advantage of. ...

Aug 11, 2013

I got a rather lengthy dictation by the most horrifying ESL physician who happened to be dictating next to the emergency room radio for traumas or something similar (bad dictator + lots of radio noise + already noisy emergency room). I was so flustered and frustrated by the time I finally managed to finish editing it that I could've cried. I spent an enormous amount of time in the report, and yet I was still not careful enough not to make 2 very stupid mistakes. Yes, they ...

May 30, 2015

and I might consider caring. As the poster below indicated, cut my pay by 3 cpl and I'm outta here. ...