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labs, platelet count, pls s/m - 15-Year MT with question, yo!

Posted: Sep 29, 2011

I just got a note from QA for a hospital I transcribe for (didn't even know we had QA!) that I have been transcribing platelets incorrectly.

D: Hemoglobin 14, hematocrit 39, platelet count 200, WBC 2000,... etc.,

T: Hemoglobin 14, hematocrit 39, platelet count 200, WBC 2000,

Corrected: T: Hemoglobin 14, hematocrit 39, platelet count 200,000, WBC 2000...

I've been transcribing this way for 15 years, will do whatever the account wants but I've looked at sample after sample from all of my clients over the years and it was always as I transcribed above. Any comments? Anybody with a reference as to which way is correct?

Platelets - Cathy

[ In Reply To ..]
I was taught to always transcribe platelets however they are dictated (not to add thousands if not dictated that way). There are times that patients do only have 200 platelets versus 200,000 platelets, and we don't really have any way to know which one it is other than viewing the actual lab work (which I, at least, do not have access to). I will try to find a reference to support this.

Thanks Cathy for your feedback! that was how I was taught as well... - 15-yr

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

I think if the patient only had 200 platelets they might be dead - I add the zeros

[ In Reply To ..]
I've not been doing MT for 15 years, but I've always been taught to add the zeros. I had one account recently that specifically said to not add the zeros, but all my other accounts do.

I do oncology and hematology work on a regular basis and I've always been told to add the zeros.

Platelets - anon

[ In Reply To ..]
I also do Hem/Onc. My company says do not add the zeros if not dictated. I guess it's a matter of client/company preference.

Same here - MT

[ In Reply To ..]
I've also been doing Hem/Onc (for about 15 years). For two different companies, and for both it's transcribed as the doctor dictates.

I was told to also add "three 0's" if not dictated... - Hayseed

[ In Reply To ..]
I can't put my hands on my worn out BOS2 right now, but I thought they had an example of doing it that way too. Either way, I'd just do whatever my employer told me to do, because I'm a good little peon like that.

This link also has "normal lab values" and lists platelets as 140,000 - 450,000 if that matters at all.
:)

Here's dat link, yo:
http://www.mtworld.com/tools_resources/lab_values.html

Thanks everyone! I've found equal number of references for both. Appreciate all feedback! - 15-yr always learning nm

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

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