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


Speech and editing errors - cj


Posted: Dec 19, 2010

working as a coder, I read all the reports.  It always amazes me what goes through.  today I coded an MRI that had the indication "Left upper Germany tingling!"  It should have been left upper extremity.  This is the stuff that doesn't get caught when editing, and it goes into the patient chart.  Once some doc, who didn't bother to look at it, signs it, it can't be changed easliy.  In fact, it is a major issue to try to change something once the physician has signed it, and since they E sign, they often just go in and do them  all at once without looking.  they depend on the MTs to do it right.  This one doesn't really have a "serious" implication, but others can and do.  I beg all speech editors, please read with a VERY critical eye.  This one made me laugh out loud, but that isn't always the case.  At the other end of this is a vulnerable patient who has no control over what is put in that record and generally doesn't even know. 

They're just getting what they pay for - sad but true

[ In Reply To ..]
I agree with you about the serious implications when these errors end up going through and become a part of the patient's medical record.

But the real problem lies with the MTSOs who are paying their MTs slave wages of 3 or 4 cents per line to correct the VR drafts. Thankfully, I am not editing VR anymore and am back to just straight transcription now. But back when I was editing VR, I almost ended up going broke and losing my house and car.

So problem number 1 is that you have MTs who need to go fast-fast-fast as they can on VR editing in order to make enough money to pay bills and put food on the table. Mistakes will slip through because of this. And the MTs can't afford to slow down.

Problem number 2 is that many (not all, but many) of the most highly skilled, experienced and knowledgeable MTs won't work for these low, barely minimum wage jobs. So, these MTSOs don't end up getting very many of the really good MTs who know their stuff.

MT is a very highly skilled profession and requires a LOT of knowledge in order to do it correctly. But these MTSOs are trying to dumb it down, into being really nothing but a minimum wage earning editor job.

I just had a report the other day where the doctor dictated an above-knee amputation in the HPI, but then later in the diagnosis ended up dictating a below-knee amputation.

I also had a consult report this week where the doctor had dictated the patient had an allergy to Levaquin. But then in his recommendations sections, he said to start the patient on Levaquin.

These two examples were from my straight transcribing, but if VR had done that report, that's exactly what the VR engine would have put and I wonder if the minimum wage MT editor would have caught it and red-flagged the report?

Boy, do you hit the nail on the head - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
Editing VR takes EXPERIENCE, and we should be paid way more. So many times I have come across drugs or other terms that would sound perfectly "legit" to a newbie, but they are wrong, wrong, wrong! Get what you pay for is right.

VR editors should be making far more money, - and theyre in a good position to demand it.

[ In Reply To ..]
Just this past year, lots of the nationals seem to be relying on VR more heavily than ever. That being the case, as well as the fact that few if any of our little friends in India have the skill to edit (after all, they, too, need to be edited before their work passes for intelligible), I think VR editors were never in a better position to start making pay and benefits demands than they are right now.

Such bull. The real problem lies in MTs not - facing up to the truth and reality. (sm)

[ In Reply To ..]
Like it or not, whether it changes or not, the pay is what it is. If it doesn't suit you, move on.

There is NO EXCUSE for doing a poor job. None.

So, if the pay doesn't work for you and you feel so entitled to ONLY do a DECENT and RIGHT job when you are paid what YOU think you should be, please do patients, clients and all the rest of the world a favor and LEAVE THIS PROFESSION.

A total lack of personal integrity and principles are the problem and refusal to take repsonsibility for their own situation.

Many experienced long-time MTs are leaving the profession - sad but true

[ In Reply To ..]
You are absolutely correct. There is no excuse for doing a poor job.

And THAT is exactly why I stopped doing the VR editing and went back to straight transcription. For me to do a decent job with the VR drafts, I could only speed up the voice files so much, but my paychecks were dismal and I was slowly but surely going broke and I came dangerously close to losing the roof over my head.

I am lucky in that I have a company that has not jumped on the VR circus bandwagon. So, with the straight transcription, at least for the time being, I am being paid a decent wage for my knowledge and expertise.

Many of the longer time MTs have already left this profession (or are currently working on it by going back to school, etc). I have not left the profession yet BUT I am also currently being paid a decent wage for my skills. When and if the day comes that I cannot find a company that will offer me a salary that is commensurate with my skills and knowledge level, then that will be the day that I too will also leave the MT profession.

Fact of the matter is that MTs are highly skilled and must have a vast degree of knowledge in order to prevent these types of errors from going into a patient's permanent medical record. I would think that the MTSOs would realize this and pay a decent wage, regardless of whether it is for VR editing or straight transcription. But sadly, the MTSOs appear to be attempting to dumb this profession down into a minimum wage clerk/data entry type of position.

So I stand on what I said before...They are simply getting what they pay for. They are getting MTs who have to go through the VR drafts too fast, just to ensure that they will be able to put food on the table this week...or they are getting MTs who simply do not have the knowledge base in order to even know whether they are doing a good job or not.
Paying people less & expecting them to make up - the difference in speed is the problem.
[ In Reply To ..]
Try looking at the problem from the MT's perspective, not the MTSO's, for a change.

hitting the nail on the head - cj

[ In Reply To ..]
Now THAT is really hitting the nail on the head. If you can't do the job right, you shouldn't be doing it at all. What if you or someone you love were the patient whose records were incorrect - would you excuse that because some MT "wasn't paid enough" to do it right? What if the nurse forgot to administer the antibiotic or pain med because they really weren't paid enough to have to keep track of all of that? Think of all the people you depend on to do a job right and see if you would excuse them. Next time you get your bank statement and it shows you have $1000 less in your checkbook than you think you have, you going to excuse the bank for that error because some data entry person missed a decimel point? Especially when you racked up a couple hundred bucks in overdraft fees - that they will not reverse? And in the meantime, you have no money in your checkbook to pay your bills while you fight them to try to get it corrected? Do you want the brakes (or any other part) on your car to fail because someone didn't feel he/she was paid enough? Do you want a wall in your home to collapse because someone involved in the construction took a pay cut? Do you want your food to be unsafe because someone cut corners in processing in order to make more money for themself while putting your health and safety at risk? You owe the patient a correct report. The fact that you dislike the behavior of the MTSO does not excuse your own bad behavior. It is called personal responsibility, as in it is YOUR responsibility to do YOUR job right no matter what anyone else does. For crying out loud, we teach our children to take responsibility for their own actions but as adults we don't think we have to???
VR editing pays less - sad but true
[ In Reply To ..]
The fact is that MTs are being paid substantially less for doing VR editing, and most of the time this results in a decrease in their yearly salary. The MTSOs have drastically cut the MT's wages for doing VR editing, and this means that many times the MT is no longer able to make a living wage when they switch over to VR editing. This is why so many of the experienced MTs are leaving the MT field.

It's not that we won't accept the new technology and the changes that the new technology brings. It's because we are getting our pay cut down to the point where we are just barely making minimum wage.

Let me ask you a question and be please sure to think about this before you answer: When a surgeon begins to use new technology and do robotic surgeries, does that surgeon cut down on the fees that he/she charges? When MRI was new, did the radiologists cut down on their fees when they began reading MRI scans? No, to the contrary, either they charged the same or perhaps even more due to the fact that they needed a whole new skill set in order to utilize the new technology.

VR is also a new technology. So why is the MT getting paid so much less when doing VR editing? In doing VR, the MT is trading the skill of typing speed over for the skill of editing speed. BUT the MT still needs to have the same vast base of medical knowledge (body systems, medications and dosages, indications, instruments, etc), along with grammar, punctuation and proper English and medical language usage.

So WHY is the MT making LESS money for utilizing the new technology?

Personally, when I did VR editing, I really liked it. I just couldn't make a living wage doing it. The increase in my production (lines per hour) doing VR editing was NOT commensurate with the decrease in pay that I received for doing it.

And THAT is why I went back to straight transcription. And unless the MTSOs increase their VR editors' pay in order to bring it more in line with the skills and knowledge that I have, and in order to make a decent salary, my next step will be to join all of those other MTs who are leaving the profession.

No, there is NO EXCUSE for doing a poor job, regardless of what you are or are not getting paid. And that is why so many experienced MTs are leaving the field...because they DO HAVE integrity and refuse to do a poor job just to put food on the table.
A surgeon is in business himself. Be an IC - charge what you will. - Still no excuse for a poor job.
[ In Reply To ..]
nm
Not all surgeons are in business for themselves - sad but true
[ In Reply To ..]
This is a very weak argument.

There are many physicians out there who are part of a managed healthcare group (Kaiser being a good example) and they are not in business for themselves; they work for (i.e., are employees of) the healthcare group. And I will guarantee you that Kaiser's rates have gone up and not down.

But at any rate, I'm done with this conversation. You evidently have some kind of a vested interest in convincing experienced MTs to work for minimum wage.

MTSOs have been cutting the MT wages down so low that they are simply getting exactly what they are paying for...the MTs with no (or not enough) experience, or the MTs who just don't care. Many of the MTs who DO care and who DO have the skills and expertise are beginning to leave the MT field altogether.
She's probably worried HER job will go to India next. - (One reason Im not bothering to learn coding)
[ In Reply To ..]
Even the worst surgeons still make six figures. - *
[ In Reply To ..]
Um, EXCUSE me, but do we tell you how to code? - What is up with THAT?
[ In Reply To ..]
Darn right. The only reason I do editing right now - s/m
[ In Reply To ..]
is that's pretty much all that's left anymore where I work, and I still haven't found another job yet. In the meantime, I still have to be able to pay my bills and maintain my health insurance.
You get what you pay for - LK
[ In Reply To ..]
This is true in any job field. The less you pay, the less chance you will have to attract quality applicants. The MTs who work for peanuts doing VR are either new, desperate, or just really bad MTs that can't make it anywhere else. Not to say that there aren't good MTs doing VR right now, but the good ones who can't make a decent wage will move on. Inexperienced, poor MT's = substandard work. It's really that simple. The MTSOs (and ultimately the doctors) will get what they are paying for. If you will pardon my language, it amounts to crap for crap.
Editing - none
[ In Reply To ..]
I would really check if your radiology is even being edited!!!! I have seen some awful reports but they are not being edited they are going straight from doctors mouth to patient record!!!!
We most certainly COULD do the job right, if we - could afford to slow down enough to do so.
[ In Reply To ..]
And what is a coding-person doing telling us how to do our jobs?

You totally do NOT get it. Pay IS the problem. - Low pay = rushing thru work, poor quality.

[ In Reply To ..]
For exactly WHAT reason would an MT being paid 3-4 cpl for editing, and trying to earn a living on it, slow down and triple check every report? Especially when most places have ridiculously high minimum line counts? For the personal glory of believing she is the Best MT/Editor In The World? All that would get her is deeper in debt, and likely let go for not being fast enough.

Uh, huh. You're right, but MT's are left go all the time - Backwards Typist

[ In Reply To ..]
because they are not getting their lines due to VR problems in the speech engine.

Speed reading is not a requirement to becoming an MT. Knowledge of anatomy, medications, correct English is and a good MT will make sure everything is correct; but the only way to do a good job with VR is to listen to a report done in VR more than once to make sure all errors are caught. Who has time to do that?

MTs are pushed to be faster and faster or suffer the consequences of losing their home, car, not being able to pay bills or buy the necessary essentials, yet when the MTSOs see the MTs are producing above and beyond the set quota, they up the required lines and the MTs who want to keep their benefits and job must produce even more lines; and therefore, reports suffer.

Enter the NJA world, too. MTs don't seem to have any set schedule anymore because of VR. They must flex all the time just to get the required lines and hours.

MTSOs don't realize how much this is hurting their company by doing this until they start losing accounts. Who do they blame? The MT, of course. It's never a company's fault.


Lastly, all MTs want to do quality work. After all, it's their initials on those reports. There is no lack of personal integrity and refusal to take responsibility for their situation. The MTSOs put them in this position because of VR. When an MT's wages drop from $60K to $24K a year because of VR, who benefits? Certainly not the MT.

I think you should change your attitude and place the blame where it belongs. How about putting yourself in the MT's position and see how you like it.

I wasin that position... - cj
[ In Reply To ..]
Your statement - "I think you should change your attitude and place the blame where it belongs. How about putting yourself in the MT's position and see how you like it." Well, I was in the MT's position. I spent 25 years in MT before I became a coder. The blame belongs with the person who does the work, no one else. I didn't like what was happening so I chose to make a change, not to stay and do a lousy job. To me, the person who doesn't do their best shows a huge lack of personal integrity and a refusal to take responsibility for their own situation. If you don't like what the MTSOs do to you, get out. You have that right, but if you stay, then do your job right.
Oh, I'm out because of VR mistakes and screw ups. - Backwards Typist
[ In Reply To ..]
It was a "can't win" situation. I always prided myself on quality, not quantity, and I did a good job. I followed the account specifications. To correct a VR mistake, then have QA mark me off because I changed a word or followed the account specifications is not an ideal situation.

When the company who 'invented' VR tells you to ignore this and that and you know it's not correct, who's the boss here?

If the hospital wants the headings on a separate line, but VR does not do that, yet the VR company says to leave it be so VR learns, what do you do? Leave it be and you're marked off - change it to follow the account specifications and you're marked off, too, depending on which QA grabs your reports.

I cannot justify a reason for staying as long as the rules are different for VR versus straight.

I'm sorry...I'm rambling, but I stand by my first post and I'm furious that the MTSO's are letting VR get away with sloppy reports, and MTs don't have much of a choice if they want to keep a job.

bull - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
I do agree with you to a point. I believe you should do the best job you can even at the pay scale. The problem with ASR is that sometimes you see what you hear, even when doing it as careful as you can. I always take my time on ASR and still miss a few things. Like I said, I agree with you that you should not take the "you get what you pay for" attitude, but it is very easy to miss things while editing doctor reports because they are talking and you are reading and sometimes you just see what they say, so to speak. In an editing job where you are just reading a report and looking for errors without sound, it is much easier. Just my opinion.
So true! - MTKnitter
[ In Reply To ..]
I just started on VR and I thought I was going crazy. I would listen to the report twice, think I had all the errors, and then they would send me back a corrected report with a couple of things I missed and I would think, I swear that is right!

I don't know how the pay on the VR will work out for me, but I'm not a single parent and even if I don't make as much per hour on this job, I am still going to make more than when I had hardly any work to do on straight transcription.

Agree! If you take the job, you take on the duty to do it right. - To the patients and to yourself.

[ In Reply To ..]
As said: There is NO EXCUSE for doing a poor job. None.
Ummm..my pay was cut AFTER I accepted the job - after the fact
[ In Reply To ..]
I accepted a position that was for straight transcription. Then, I had my pay cut in half when the company switched me over to VR.

I never asked for VR, I never asked to change over to VR, but was TOLD that they were switching me and that I would now be making 50% less per line. If I had been told about this before I hired on, I would have NEVER accepted the position. Bait and switch.
No excuse for for doing a poor job, though. - Get a different job.
[ In Reply To ..]
nm
Thanks, I already did get a new job - nm
[ In Reply To ..]
nm
LOL, good suggestion! Get a job that pays more than MT now--like Wal-Mart! nm - Simv Statin
[ In Reply To ..]
nm
Me too .... after a decade with the same company - MTbell
[ In Reply To ..]
I was told my account was gone - going to another company and VR. Now I had the choice of cutting my pay in half and accepting new VR accounts, or I could look for another job.

As I am the breadwinner in my family and could not afford to be without groceries, I accepted the crappy offer after a decade of loyal service, no raise in 6 years, and no benefits. My own fault, I know, but I never thought VR would be a career killer. It definitely is.

I was very excited to see an ad in our local paper for an in-house transcriptionist for a large medical practice at $15 an hour PLUS full benefits (insurance, 401K, bonuses). I applied and am praying I get a shot at an interview.

Funny, I remember feeling this way when I started as an MT and wanting to work at home!
Good Luck. Hope you get that job. (nm) - Backwards Typist
[ In Reply To ..]
.

VR - molliemuffin

[ In Reply To ..]
You must be an MTSO owner or manager. I have moved on. There is no way I would work for what they want to pay us. It takes just as long to proof a VR report as it does to actually transcribe it.
Molliemuffin, I'm tired of all the - anon.
[ In Reply To ..]
badmouthing of MT/MEs who say they're doing well, so I'll keep this Christmas/New Year present short:

You are headed for a terminal crash on this course. Your choices are learn to edit, "move on" for real right out of the field while you can under your own terms, or prepare to be moved on because you no longer have requisite skills.

Editing - none

[ In Reply To ..]
I know of many hospitals where radiology reports are not even getting edited by transcriptionists. It goes straight from the doctor̢۪s tongue, signed and to the patient chart with no editing!!!! Are you sure there is editing for radiology at your hospital???

good example of why they shouldn't be using - voice-rec in the first place.

[ In Reply To ..]

The perennially delusional viewpoint. It's NOT going away. - Strongly recommend getting over it. SM

[ In Reply To ..]
How about replacing resentment and determined dissatisfaction with acceptance as a New Year's resolution to make this next one much happier?

I use it. I'm fast at it. I get paid peanuts for it. - I know its not going away. But still - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
what it produces is cr@p. And that's with the GOOD dictators. Now that my co. is putting the bad dictators on VR, what's coming back for us to edit is sometimes not even editable. I don't even try - I just erase the whole page, and type it all from scratch.

VR is a big expensive joke on those companies that were scammed into buying it.

Is it going away? No. (Boys like their toys, you know.) But will I ever believe that it's any good. NO.
What in all your experience leads you to think VR - has not improved and will not continue to?
[ In Reply To ..]
Recommend disengaging spleen, engaging brain, and starting the search for a much better paying job. They are out there, and if you're fast, your editing earnings should be equal to or more than those MTing.

Happier? Happy and homeless maybe - ame

[ In Reply To ..]
My pay is cut in half, I didn't sign up to be an editor I was told I was going to learn ASR and eventually 100% of the work would be ASR, its already about 90%. I am an MT not an editor, speed reader, proofreader, so just sit on our hands and try and make next year happier, yeah right, only when I can find a job that does straight transcription or get my CCS/CCP which I am working towards after 28 years experience as an MT. Its a bunch of BS MQ treats us like CRAP

ASR - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
I just F11 all ASR anymore. I hate the stuff and you can miss too much stuff while editing. There is no use for speech recognition in the medical field. Just my opinion.

But WHY is that your opinion? Because it doesn't suit - you? Silly stuff. See post above. NM

[ In Reply To ..]
x

Why exactly do you think it's so wonderful? - Smoke & Mirrors

[ In Reply To ..]
?

Silly Stuff - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
Because it is my opinion. ASR is very dangerous in the medical field whether you or the companies who force us to use it believe so or not. In my company errors have gotten bad because of the ASR. The companies are trying to convince people that errors will be less with it but they are getting worse. Yes, much of it is the MTs hurrying through because of the pay loss but much of it is you just plain miss stuff because you are hearing a doctor talk while you are reading and tend to see what you hear. If you are editing just plain text, you catch many more errors. I really believe ASR will go away whether many people believe so or not. When enough patient's lives become in danger due to it, they will get rid of it. Yes, that is my opinion.

But why does it seem the MT is the only one who has to - act like they care?

[ In Reply To ..]
The MTSOs with their policies and pay scales, the vendors of SR technology, senior management, none of them have to take a hit in pay for the sake of patient care. Why only the MT? If patient care is the real concern then it should be reflected throughout the health care industry and throughout a transcription organization.

I work hard at getting it right, but after a few really ridiculous VR reports that I have to practically retype for much less pay, I am exhausted and discouraged and probably make more mistakes.

So true. Pick the one paid the least and hit them the hardest. - nm

[ In Reply To ..]
x

True! The more they want me to care, then the more - money I need to receive for doing so. nm

[ In Reply To ..]
.

The MTs don't. That's the problem! The errors are - by the MTs.

[ In Reply To ..]
This thread is about the errors MTs are making. It isn't about whether or not compensation is appropriate for editing.

MTs have a responsibility to do an accurate appropriate job. Pay is a separate issue. If you making a decision to do a good job is based on how much you are paid, then you need to get a different job, period.

If you are in the job, do the right thing: DO YOUR ABSOLUTE BEST.

If the pay isn't what you want or need, then do the right thing: GET ANOTHER JOB OR CAREER.

Stop destroying patient records and endangering patient care and causing a degradation of the reputation of this career by DOING A BAD JOB in protest of pay you disagree with.

Methinks you take your job too seriously. What's - the point? Your employer doesnt!

[ In Reply To ..]

,,,and you do the best job and get dinged because - Backwards Typist

[ In Reply To ..]
you change it and you get dinged if you DON'T change it. Like I said before, it's a no-win situation.

Most MTs WANT to do their best. VR companies, hospitals and MTSOs don't seem to care just as long as the work is done within TAT.

Who loses? The MTs.The push along with NJA because MTSOs over hire and short TAT combined with the cut in pay makes it impossible for the MT to make a decent living unless they rush through the reports when they do have work.

This profession has gone downhill on a banana peel within the past year or so and it's ridiculous to think it's going to get any better unless the MTSOs start caring about patient care instead of profits.

What happens when everybody does leave? If MTs are forced out... - ndmt

[ In Reply To ..]
for making mistakes in an environment where they are told they need to produce twice as much work - then what?

Then it's time to do something else, and I mean that kindly - Not being sarcastic

[ In Reply To ..]
When a career stops working for you, it's time to find something that does. While you are in it though, common decency requires that you do the job to the best of your ability. It may be that this is just not going to work for you and there is something else that will make you happy to got to work every day. Okay, maybe not deliriously happy, because work is work. We would all rather be doing something else.

"Common decency"... That's a term you don't hear in the same sentence with &quo - Simv Statin

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

coders vs. MTs - anonMT

[ In Reply To ..]
I'm absolutely positive "cj" would be on this board or another board complaining if her quota just doubled while at the same time her pay was cut in half.

Until dictators are held responsible for their lazy, half-assed, sloppy dictations, the clients and MTSOs get what they pay for with regard to ASR. I will not use my skill, education, and experience, while receiving nearly half the pay, to train software that's whole purpose is to eliminate the MT/ME. And I'm not talking about going from the $60,000 to $40,000. I'm talking about going from $36,000 to $20,000.

Coders complain that they can't read the doc's handwriting and/or reports aren't available due to whatever, so now docs have to put that info directly into the computer or they have the nurse rewrite it, and transcription TATs have been reduced. What if because of this, your pay was reduced by nearly half while your quota doubled and you were expected to produce the same quality and accuracy? Of course, if everything went as intended, you could produce more with no problem, but docs aren't entering the info correctly and the MTs are rebelling because ASR is horrible medical transcription technology that's taking our work and pay, so you, the coder, actually have to do more work verifying what's in the chart so the visit is coded correctly and Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance companies don't audit and withhold payments, all while having to maintain that doubled quota at nearly half the pay? Hmm? How would you feel?

MTs were first, but coders are next.

ummmmn. - cj

[ In Reply To ..]
I just want to say you don't know the first thing about what i would be saying or doing. perhaps you didn't read the post about my 25 years of MT experience and the fact that I got out because I didn't like what was happening? i didn't sit and complain about itand I sure as heck didn't think it was okay to sacrifice the quality of work that I produced; I made a change. I will do it again if I have to. You don't know what my current quota is or what I get paid. You have no idea what my employer expects or how they behave. And if I don't like what happens in coding, I will leave that field, too, rather than do a poor job of it. It is that simple.

nope, didn't read about your "25 years of MT exp" - anonMT

[ In Reply To ..]
While I might not know what your current quota is or what you get paid--neither of which I presumed to know--I do know how coders think and behave. I hear the complaining and the moaning and groaning about "no dictation," "can't read doc's handwriting," "nurses didn't input info correctly," blah blah blah. We all get it; you're job is tough. What YOU apparently don't get is that you're on a VR/Speech MT board complaining about MTs not doing their jobs. I simply offered you a scenario comparable to what we, MTs, are going through right now.

I have to say, given the angry, frustrated tone of your post, I must've hit a nerve.
pointless - cj
[ In Reply To ..]
As I said in my previous post, I did MT for 25+ years. I got out because I didn't like what was happening in the field and I would not stay and sacrifice the quality of work that I put my initials on so after struggling through for a while I finally realized this wasn't working for me and I reluctantly made a change and went to coding. I loved MT, by the way, and would do it now if I could survive the pay! If similar changes occur in coding, I will get out of coding, too, and make another change. So I do know what MTs are going through. I went through it myself. I know how it feels. And I do have some concerns about the future of coding as we now know it. I know I may have to prepare to make another change in the future, and I will do it rather than sacrificing the quality of my work. What angers and frustrates me is people who want to be considered skilled professionals but don't want to commit to doing the job right and then justify their actions by blaming the MTSOs rather than taking responsibility for and pride integrity in their own work. Yes, the MTSOs put MTs in a really bad situation, and unfortunately that's not likely to change, but the MTs are the ones keeping themselves there. You do have choices. No one can force you to stay and suffer except you. If you don't like what is happening to you, make a plan, take some action and make a change. If you CHOOSE to stay in MT, then resign yourself to the realities of the job as it is now. You owe it to the patient to do the best job of which you are capable.
Actually, I agree... somewhat. - anonMT
[ In Reply To ..]
You're comment about MTs being more responsible is a good one. The MT market has been flooded with wannabes and those who just don't care about the quality of their reports. These MTs think as long as words are hitting the page, that's good enough. Well, it isn't.

We MTs are blaming the MTSOs because they're no longer paying us for the research required to correctly interpret the ramblings of the dictator. Yes, memory is imperative in MT, but if we're forced to jump from region to region just to keep working, and never get the same dictator twice, memory isn't enough.

You say you have 25 years of MT experience. Then, you should understand where we're coming from. A true MT should comprehend what she's/he's transcribing, and not just slapping some words on a page. The problem is, MTSOs aren't paying us to do this anymore. They're paying us to just slap some words on a page, and then you come on this board calling us irresponsible. The MTSOs will get what they pay for.

In summary, when coding is changed to the same situation as MT, I guess you'll be back on this board saying how irresponsible coders are when they miss charges or input incorrect codes, and that they should take more responsibility for their work, even though they're being paid half for double the work. And if you get some negative feedback from that, you'll just say, "find another job."

Speech/editing - Anonymous

[ In Reply To ..]
If that report was done on a front-end ASR system, the provider is responsible for their own editing, theoretically the MT is not needed. There are others responsible for the accuracy of that patient record, and it starts with the physician. As a former MT turned coder, you ought to know about sloppy dictation. Why not blame the physician for not enunciating correctly? And now it's the MTs fault because you have to take more care when you read the patient record to code? Give me a break!


Similar Messages:


CJ, Regarding The Speech And Editing Errors...
Dec 29, 2010

Maybe what you are seeing is already the result of many people like yourself who have already left the field for the same reason you did.  When you get the responsible, diligent workers leaving because the pay has been cut so drastically they can't afford to work anymore, the field becomes saturated with new or substandard workers.  If you're already seeing these errors a lot, imagine how much more there will be when more MTs leave.  Who will be left to do the editing th ...


Speech Editing.
Oct 15, 2009

My quality has gone down since the clinic that I work at started this.   We use Dictaphone Extext.  Anyway, I must be going too fast or something because I seem to miss things.  Has anyone else had this problem?  I have started reading over my reports myself now before sending them through and I asked my supe if they have improved.  She said yes, but I still am making mistakes and she will send me my reports back shortly.  The only thing else I know t ...


Does AssistMed Do Speech Editing? Nm
Jun 07, 2010

nm ...


Speech Recognition Editing Course
Aug 01, 2010

I graduated in May from the MT program at a local two-year college and, naturally, it's nearly impossible to find a medical transcription job as a newbie. Since speech recognition seems to be the future, I was wondering if taking a speech recognition editing course would be a good investment of my time and money. AHDI, I know, is offering a speech recognition editing course. I've done a lot of copy editing in my previous clerical jobs. I've always been good at copy edit ...


Tricks To Faster Speech Recognition Editing?
Aug 14, 2011

I have been straight transcribing for many moons. Then got into doing QA and a lot of the reports I get are straight editing of speech recognition rather than doing QA. My production stinks when I do straight editing and have no idea how those of you that edit speech recognition all day make a living. Kudos to YOU! I am one of the probably few QA who really appreciates you MT's who make our jobs easier and do AMAZING jobs transcribing what I can't even QA. Thank you for your hard work ...


Keystrokes: Is It More Straight Transcribing Or More Speech Editing?
Jun 15, 2012

thanks! ...


1 Point Errors, Critical Errors.
Dec 08, 2012

I get dinged for leaving out words like the, and others.  I am now understanding that this is not the correct policy, that others are not getting critical error, major error, off one point for this.  So, am I being singled out? Because I thought this was the norm.  I'd like to know so that while I am hanging on every word and will continue to do so, I thought I was not the only one with this...thanks in advance for the update.  ...


Had QA Correct Me On Speech Therapy To Speech Therapy
Jun 03, 2013

The phrase is She will be evaluated by PT, OT and speech therapy, corrected to She will be evaluated by PT, OT and Speech Therapy.  I thought it was only capitalized in when followed by a proper name like Montana Central Hospital Speech Therapy.    Thanks.  ...


QA Errors
Oct 30, 2014

What do I do if QA marks me for a major error but I think they made a mistake? The really wierd part is that the feedback page says it was NOT modified. Seems so strange to me that QA wouldn't modify a report with a major error.  ...


Can I Have Some Opinions Please, Re Errors,
Dec 08, 2009

Does anyone here believe that sending a copy to the wrong doctor is a critical error?  I am beginning to feel picked on.  ...


CRITICAL ERRORS
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 ...


SYNTAX ERRORS:
Aug 15, 2010

If we get a "syntax error" message on a post we have just made, how do we get back in to correct the error without losing the entire post?  Every so often I forget, and put an apostrophe in the subject line, and end up losing the entire post.  I've tried the "back" button, "Alt-Z" (undo), etc., but it's all gone once that syntax message appears. ...


Documentation Errors
Sep 15, 2010

I work in a surgery center/clinic in medical transcription. I have never worked in the medical field before, so I'm not sure what is acceptable. We get massive amounts of documentation errors from the nurses in the surgery center and in the clinic. Is this usually acceptable?! Is it normal for a transcriptionist to be required to scan over the chart and correct all of their errors or should this be the responsibility of the nursing staff? It's DRIVING me up a wall! I'd say 75 ...


What Is Your Job Like When You Get Overflow? What About Errors?
Mar 08, 2011

I am a relatively new MT with a pretty good track record at my current job. I have been working there for about 6 months. Well, we just got a new acct, and my company was understaffed. I have been working myself to death. I should be able to do more, but I am a new MT, and I do not type very fast (about 55-60 wpm, slower when I am tired). They have a certain amt of mins of dication you are supposed to complete each day, and they have been giving me more than that. I have been completing what I c ...


Errors Used As Amunition
Nov 03, 2011

I hate when the supervisors hold on to errors you have made not showing them until YOU have done something that upsets them.  tired of it. ...


Common Errors
Apr 12, 2012

PLEASE NO NEGATIVE FEEDBACK!  This is truly meant to be helpful, not snotty, threatening, or negative so I expect the same in return. Military time:  Lately I have seen a lot of reports where people are inserting colons in military time.  Colons are NOT used for military time unless the hour, minute, AND seconds are given.  If the CP states that time is transcribed "3:00 a.m." this is for "regular" time and not military time. Spacing:  TWO spaces after periods that end ...


Medical Errors With EMR
Sep 23, 2012

Has anyone heard of complaints with erroneous information in medical records due to EMR or point and click? My mother recently had to get medical clearance for joint surgery. Her physician went to some form of EMR. They questioned why she was taking a narcotic cough suppressant and insulin listed under her medications in the computer. She was shocked and stated she had never taken those meds. Another family member, who does not drink, got a copy of his most recent physical required yearly f ...


Transcription Errors
Mar 01, 2013

I have been working for Nuance since November. Not my choice, BTW. Does anyone look at their FIESA alerts when they are sent to your email? I am wondering how much experience some of those people have. I have seen errors that they say I did that, after my 31 years of experience doing transcription, I know I did not or would never do. I had one yesterday that said the error was "will follow with you". The correction they put was "will follow with you". Now correct me if I am wrong, but I think th ...


QA And QC Making Up Errors
Mar 23, 2013

I have been working for Nuance for 5-1/2 years now.  I, of course, consider myself a very conscientious and diligent MLS.  Lately, I have noticed "mistakes" that I really DO NOT BELIEVE I made.  Here is an example "800 calorie ADA diet".  Supposedly I did not blank out the 800.  I believe I would have, as 800 calorie diet would have set up an alarm in my head, for sure.  I want to know if others are having the same problem.  Also there is a spot where supposedl ...


Major Errors?
May 28, 2013

Does anyone else run into this? I get all these major error reports from Fiesa, all of a sudden, one after another, with errors that I know, after 15 years of doing this job, I would not have made. I know with certainty that these errors would not escape me.  Anyone else get this kind of BS? ...


Now Emails Regarding Errors
Jul 05, 2013

For the past few days, I've been getting system generated emails with my errors. Anyone else?? So just want to leave... I may end up doing so by end of day. ...


Anybody Else Getting A Lot Of Major Errors QC1 Lately?
Oct 06, 2013

I know these don't count towards bonuses etc but it still unnerves me to open my email nearly every day and seeing these stupid alerts with my percentage in the tank.  Some of them I take full credit for others I dispute but it still shakes me up so therefore some of the mistakes I make is just because I am nervous about literally everything I type.  ...


Bogus Errors?
May 05, 2014

Has anybody ever had the experience on the EditScript or other platforms with Nuance where you got feedback from Fiesa saying you made errors you didn't make-text either inserted or left out?  I have been charged with CPSE and major errors with random words stuck in places where I know I would've seen and corrected it but when they check the draft it's showing that I missed it.  Maybe I'm going crazy but some of those errors I'm almost positive I didn't ma ...


Taking Pay Off For Errors.
Mar 02, 2015

..so is taking pay off for errors the norm or just the screwy company I work for.  :P ...


ASR Errors/TOO NUMEROUS TO COUNT
Jul 01, 2010

Has anyone else noticed the numerous errors on ASR??  Words left out, he/she incorrect, the strangest of phrases being picked up by the computer that are not even dictated and the phrases picked up do not even come close to what is really being said.  It just seems to me as this ASR is getting worse by the day.  You would think after spending all the money on the purchase or Spheris, that some amount of money would be spent in cleaning up ASR.  The CCM/and the Q worry about c ...


ASR Chronic Errors List
Sep 09, 2010

Here are some of my observances of chronic ASR errors, though sometimes it gets it right.  Most are not a biggie, but one could get marked down on an audit. 1.  BiPaP.  Should be BiPAP.  2.  Levothyroxine.  ASR capitalizes the "L" for some reason.  This med is a generic for the brand Levothyroid.  Should be levothyroxine. 3.  FIO2.  Should be FiO2. 4.  Hospice.  In the English dictionary, this is simply hospice. If a specific organi ...


Transcend - Terminations For Errors?
Aug 22, 2011

Got a job back from the customer this week and a note from QA about an error that didn't go to customer.  But... 2 in one week. I am so embarrassed and more than a little concerned.  I think I am trying too hard to build up line count and being sloppy.  (No excuses for that, bad...me)  Not that I am making a fortune on this job, but I do not want to be terminated for quality issues.  My morale is bad enough right now without that.  Never worked so hard to make ...


Discount For Errors In Report ?
Sep 22, 2011

I have a client that I made some minor errors in 3 reports. It rarely happens, my fault as I was rushing to get it done. Should I give a discount for the reports to the client as a courtesy? ...


Errors In My Medical Report
Mar 29, 2012

I wanted some opinions, please - what would you do if you viewed one of your medical reports on line and discovered it was full of errors?  I fell at work several months ago and needed surgery on my ankle.  As it was work related, I was requested to have a closing exam by an "independent" provider chosen by my employer's industrial insurance.  The final report was available for me to review through their website and I did so today.  It is full of mistakes, ranging from a ...


Does M*Modal Subtract From Pay For Errors?
Aug 10, 2012

Hi - Does M*Modal actually reduce the pay per line if accuracy is not met?  I saw it somewhere but cannot now find the information.  Also, would you please tell me what their pay per line is?  Thanks so much. ...