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.

@RosesAndHellebores

Merely stating facts *@TroysMammy*. I don't think that equates to putting the boot in.

I wonder how many doctors' receptionists have first degrees from Russell Group Universities, let alone post grad or professional qualifications.

since when do you need postgrad education to spell correctly?

Sounds as though the practice are expecting receptionists to do a job more suited to a medical secretary.

They should probably have a typing test as part of the recruitment process and the test should include correctly spelling common medical terms.

It sounds like a combination of over reliance on spell check (which often doesn't recognise medical terms and will correct to words it knows) and poor typing. Swoolen is very much the sort of error made by someone trying to type faster than they are able, for example I can spell Regards but frequently mistype it as Regrads.

The practice manager should be dealing with this though, medical records are important documents and errors can have significant consequences. I read medical records frequently at work and they are used as evidence in court cases.

The practice manager should be dealing with this though, medical records are important documents and errors can have significant consequences. I read medical records frequently at work and they are used as evidence in court cases.

Definitely this ^^. This could reflect badly on the practice.