Using correct spelling at work

[TroysMammy]

I'm not putting this in AIBU because being a GP Receptionist I don't want people thinking it's ok to put the boot in because of the job I do.

I've been a GP Receptionist for over 11 years, prior to that I was a Secretary within a Bank. My colleagues have been there approximately 19 years, 5 years and 18 months, all women in late 40's and 50's all having a work history in other organisations.

However it is really annoying me that they cannot spell frequently used words and don't seem to care. We use Ask My GP and if people don't have internet access they phone us and we type up the request for their records. Recently I have come across the following:- virgina, soar, white sells, goldstones and gaulstones, swoollen, patient is asking for advise, exema, wooping cough, tetnus and when we were booking travel vaccinations and typing in where patient is holidaying - Deli (Delhi) Tialand (Thailand).

I've typed up quite a lot of words we use on a regular basis for them, advised they can use google, even if they type it in incorrectly and there are medical books available and still they get it wrong.

Am I being really picky because if I saw incorrect spelling on my medical records I would think that the person who had typed them was unprofessional. I also think the same of Daily Mail journalists who can't spell either.

If you aren't their supervisor, I'd back off!

I agree about incorrect spelling, though at least unlike pre-internet records you can actually read them. Suggest mentioning it to the practice manager.

Yes, I wouldn't be impressed as a patient.

It's annoying and I agree with you but unless you are in charge of them, you can't really do anything about it.

Does the system have an inbuilt spellchecker? That would pick up a number of the above. A grammar checker would pick up more.
It could be dyslexia (my spelling is shocking), at which point I'd be telling you you could do all the typing if there was no spellchecker built in if you complained. Attitudes like yours are also the reason I refuse to write on whiteboards and flipcharts.

I work in a medical setting too and this regularly grates me. Misspelling common names and medical conditions we see and write about several times a day. There's posters about these conditions up all around them, we have paperwork from hospitals with it written in they read everyday - I just don't understand how they can still misspell it despite working in this field for 10 years plus!

Misspelling the patients details bugs me the most as it can really affect finding the relevant records and we end up with duplicate records on the computer system when they can't be found.

How on earth did they get a job working at a GP surgery if they clearly cannot spell? I presume a written test wasn't part of the selection process. Shocking.

As a patient, I would expect 100% of the words and terminology used in my medical record or any letters to be spelled correctly, and would be appalled, quite frankly, if they weren't.

This is incompetence on a mind-boggling (and potentially dangerous) scale, and the practice manager should be ashamed of themselves if they don't pull the staff member up on it every single time.

If you are too thick unable to learn how to spell, then you should not be typing up medical notes.

I really don't think 3 people are dyslexic. There is no Head Receptionist and the Practice Manager and GP's don't enforce it.

Considering they all have one I would think they would be able to spell vagina.

I think this is really bad. Asides from the unprofessionalism, making such extreme spelling errors on patient records could lead to medical mistakes being made or symptoms missed on reviewing. Imagine a locum trying to decipher them. Have you ever discussed this with the GPs or practice manager, OP?

I’m a nurse and I’m dyslexic so can’t spell either...does that mean I can’t do my job?...

Perhaps they have a learning difficulty in which case they won’t know the word is wrong until pointed out. I’d perhaps ask your manager to make sure people are taking extra care whilst writing in notes - ours are legal documents which can be used in court if required. However I have a professional code of conduct and a responsibility to make sure my records are legible and accurate. Clearly a receptionist doesn’t.
If it’s not W learning difficulty perhaps the colleague has not had the same education/opportunities - not everyone can spell but they are clearly good at other things.

I think your post says a lot about you, you are somehow superior because you can spell a few medical words and someone else can’t?...instead of moaning on here, be proactive & help out flag it up, be empathetic to people who perhaps haven’t realised they are spelling things incorrectly or have a difficulty.

I used to work in medical admin. I once saw a clinic letter typed by a colleague who'd written about a lady who'd been seen due to a problem with her 'anal finger' (it was meant to be anal sphincter 😂). The secretary had no idea that she'd got it wrong (she'd misheard it on the dictaphone). Consultant was furious!

I don't think it's quite the same though is it crappyfridays? Good spelling and grammar is usually an essential skill for a receptionist I'd have thought, whereas it isn't so much for a nurse as long as your notes are clear, accurate and legible.

I think you are absolutely right. I say that as someone for whom spelling doesn't have come naturally.

The point is all computers or whatever word processors they are typing up on , puts a red line under the words you get wrong, so I can't understand why they wouldnt then correct it.

I really don't think it matters as long as what they write is understandable. Remove the pole from your arse

(Yes I am tetchy about this because I have a dyslexic 18 year old - who is very bright and capable, but seemingly people would like to see her disbarred from many jobs)

No they do not have learning disabilities. They just don't seem to care to learn how to spell and apply frequently used words correctly.

Crappyfridays7 I do not think myself superior and I'm by no means perfect however I like to do my job well, to the best of my capabilities which does not impact on other people. Is it wrong to want to try to get things right at work?

I have tried, and failed to help them, I have flagged it up, I have explained that the information they type up is going on people's medical records and yes I have mentioned it to the Practice Manager who has reiterated it but nothing is enforced. If they do want to spell something they ask me first instead of looking it up and I'm happy to help. However I only work part time.

I guess it depends if they have time to proof read before submitting. I'm dyslexic, used to be a nurse, I can spell of I take the time to go back and proof read what I have written, but if I was on the phone and trying and having to submit at the same time then those are mistakes I am likely to make. Not because I can't spell them, but my brain spells things out one way and then I correct.

I would love to be able to spell and type and not having to reread everything to fix it.

@TroysMammy

I really don't think 3 people are dyslexic. There is no Head Receptionist and the Practice Manager and GP's don't enforce it.

I'd be very careful about correcting anyone's spelling when that's not part of your job. People using apostrophes when pluralising words bugs me but I've just trained myself to move on unless I'm asked to review their work.

now angsting about any errors in my own post, of course

As a patient I'd be annoyed about this and would complain to the Practice Manager.

It would annoy me too OP.

You might be able to spell but you can't use apostrophes correctly!

This is about spelling, you must have missed my previous thread about apostrophes.

@MumofSpud

You might be able to spell but you can't use apostrophes correctly!

What’s she done wrong with apostrophes?

Oh, username!

Spelling sometimes matters, sometimes not so much.
Medical records, it matters.