Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Thanks to the Independent Urologist

Thanks to IU for a post that triggered my memory. Awhile back I was looking to add someone to my staff and put the usual word out. I was contacted by an acquaintance that told me she forwarded my website and email to a friend of a friend...etc. Anyway what follows is THE ACTUAL letter (email) I received from this applicant. I saved it to read on those days when I need a good head shaking moment. I will delete or alter any identifying information but I will not alter any of her actual letter--for your benefit, I will highlight most of the errors: Hi *&^%, Thanks for getting in touch with me, it makes me that much more excited to get started. Im taking the home schooling medical transcription course threw education direct online. From wat i understand i will get a certificate to be able to start working, then after i work for 2-3 years i can take the AAMT licenced test to become a licenced MT? Well i guess my biggest fear is that i have already put so much work and money into the course and i have been looking for compnays to work threw that allows you to work from home, but i cant find any. Most of them require expierience as a transcriptionist in an office/hospital setting. I am in my last anatomy class then ill take transcription 101 and be done with the schooling. I know this field requires lots and lots of hard work and long hours but i enjoy working hard. Its almost a sence of acomplishment. I live in *&^%$#. I just got married july 4th and my husband is in *&^%$#. They are roomates, so thats how me and *&^%started taking. I lived in orlando and just moved here in august. I do like )(*&^ though. I do however have some expierience with medical records. When i was 14 i volenteered at the hospital in the heart center .. filing and pulling records and also making new records. My parents work in the *&^%$ field for hte goverment and i always volenttered at there work doing the same thing with medical records. I want to start as soon as possible though. I feel that the only way im gonna learn is by doing it hands on and threw repitition. I do want to work from home though but i dont mind working for someone or a company. I would work fulltime though but i cant say that ill be perfect at it at first but i know ill improve with expierience. I think that after i have learned enough to start on my own several years down the road i might venture out and try to be self contracted or even start having people work for me, such as yourself. But in time, of course. My daughet is very well behavied for two.. As long as u give her something to do (color, puzzles, books, toys, ect) she will be quite for hours, so i dont have it to bad with her. plus im living with my husbands parents and they help alot. another question i have... once im getting started ill have to purchase a head set, foot pedal, software, where is a good place to get this stuff? my phone number is %^&*()& for my cell and the house phone number is )(*&^%$ is the house number witch has long distance but i dont want to run my parents in law's phone bill up. thank you so much for getting in touch with me and giving me advice, i really apricate everything you can do. Yes folks..the above young lady wanted me to think about hiring her. I fretted for quite some time about what to tell her and decided that I would not blow smoke up her butt--I would tell her the truth. I told her she first needed to take a course at her local vocational school in grammar including the basics as she may have missed a few things while she was in school. She also needs to learn to use her computer to her advantage utilizing her spelling and grammar checker. The other thing I made clear was that she probably should think about a different line of work/education. I was kind but very firm. This poor girl has already been taken to the cleaners paying for the classes she already took...and I would say they were a waste of time, wouldn't you?? I cannot imagine ANY physician hiring this girl or any transcription company for that matter. It drives me crazy when I see these ads that tell people they can make $50,000 per year after they complete a 6 month course..Folks..IT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN! The girls I hire ALL have years of medical experience behind them...it is essential! I even have nurses working for me. These are legal documents and mistakes and errors just cannot happen. All of my physicians know that when they are distracted and state (for example) a med that doesn't go with any of the patients diagnoses, an inconsistent diagnosis from earlier, RT vs LT, etc I will contact them and verify. I have always been praised and thanked for catching an error and helping them maintain accurate records. We are responsible for a multitude of letters that end up in the hands of attorneys and eventually entered into court records..mistakes can make a huge difference in the outcome of the cases and most importantly can impact a physicians practice not to mention their lives. I love what I do, and that is a good thing since I spend a good part of my life doing it. So---Thanks IU for bringing this particular letter back to my memory and giving me the idea for the longest damn post I have ever written.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

I can't believe that someone actually applied for a job with this. Good grief.

M said...

Oh Wow - what was she thinking?? I'm so glad you were honest with her, hopefully you've saved her fromgoing down what would be a very hard road...

DD said...

That is just awful. Thank god she doesn't blog (but I bet she's got a my space page).

Mary Ellen and Steve said...

Oh my goodness! At least you were honest with her. Wow...

Nickie said...

O...M...G...I don't no if I shuld laff or cry.

I meen, wow! Reely? She took a class for that? And pade money??? That sad.

Brandy said...

Wow. I have absolutely NO idea what in the world to say about that poor girl's letter. I think you most definitely did the right thing in being honest with her. In the past I have made my living doing medical transcription and I can't begin to imagine her ever having a future in that field. It truly boggles my mind that people have obviously taken her money with no consideration for the fact that unless she changes significantly she most certainly has no future doing transcription.

Now I have to admit something - I actually caught at least one spelling error you didn't include. Not that I’m trying to point anything out, I just have a real eye for detail. That being said, I currently do medical billing for a pain management office but would very much like to get back into transcription. I used to work at home doing transcription but the office I am employed by decided to outsource the Transcription Department to India. I was lucky that they kept me on in the Medical Billing Department but I enjoyed transcription so much more. I have approximately 4 years of experience in medical transcription and 1 year experience in research transcription. Anyway, (and this is going to sound extremely unprofessional but I will say it in this context) I am SO not good at making contacts in the transcription field and would love to know if you’re looking for anyone at this time. You are welcome to contact me through my blog, which should have my email address, or by replying to this comment.

I do feel weird posting this on your blog, I can guarantee you I have never done this before. I hope I haven’t offended by posting this comment, as I do very much enjoy reading your blog and will definitely continue to do so. I also hope you have a great day and that your car isn’t too bad after the tree branch incident (to reference your most recent post).

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