Pay with DICT8 extra

[Gally123]

Hello Ladies - hopefully a new thread for you... @Carosel2 @Whitestar55 @Chrissols @danblack87 @flutterby18 @wfh21 @workingfromhomenow @cherryblossom114 @Lovemydaxie @homeworkmum and anyone else I have forgotten.

@Gally123 - quite possibly but I have queried direct with the one who cannot be named on one client and it was said they would have a quiet word. I listed 4 tasks which echoed, sounded gurgling and slurred......they still come on the same.

I actually worked for a consultant who was really quiet on dictation for 6 years, I used to ask regularly can you speak up as Im struggling to hear with all the background noise of an office. He wouldnt. When a secretary got snowed under others were drafted in to help clear back dated tapes and mine was always left as others used to say sorry but I just cant hear him. They was eventually picked up as they got shared out in the end bit I used to say, you wonder why your letters arent ready for the next clinic to look back on well its because of this. Thats why I think some of these docs are too pompous to be advised. He had a good memory but the poor reg who picked up one of the patients had no chance, he was a scribbler too so they couldnt even work off his hand writing (that was in the day they made hand written notes for files). I was glad of his retirement as I got a young newly qualified consultant who was a dream!

@Gally123 you are correct in thinking the consultants never see the comments, this is the case in the trust I work for in any case, it is just us secretaries that see them. I have to say though, there is one transcriber who will insist on changing the medication the consultant has dictated to what the transcriber says is the correct name! I sent this to the consultant once and he was furious, hence I now change it back to what he has dictated, right or wrong. I guess that’s the reason Dict8 tell us only to transcribe only what is said, which I know we all do on here by past comments.

We once typed every letter from a poor dictator exactly as it was dictated and gave them to the Consultant (they used to insist on signing the Registrar letters). To begin with the Consultant could not believe what had been dictated we previously tidied them up so much. It resulted in an improvement for a few weeks, I eventually left to move elsewhere and then.... I found this same doctor on Dict8, he had a very distinct name, he had hardly improved at all and his tasks would sit there for hours. Hopeless.

I'm sure we once had instructions from DICT8 asking us to change old drug names to new i.e. frusemide to furosemide and to flag it up. I also remember some general correspondence advising us to look up drug dosages on the BNF site if the dictated dose was unclear - which I totally disagree with because the letter may not be read and signed by the clinician and this is dangerous practice if you ask me - flag it up in the notes box if it's unclear ok, but I'm definitely not guessing dosages via unclear dictation through Google and the BNF, it's not the responsibility of a remote poorly paid transcriber to do that, it's the medical professional's responsibility. I actually used to be on the clinical side, with a qualification, and I'm pretty appalled at the drop in standards in medical record keeping compared to those years ago.

@Whitestar55 - yes we have been told to change certain medications, I have the crib sheet from when I first started with reference made to exactly that where we have been advised to change certain drug names. i.e thyroxine change to levothyroxine, I have been picked up on this many times in the past, I did query I found cheeky doing it and was told to put 'dictated thyroxine (I have changed to levothyroxine, hope this is okay)' so the doctor who was furious needs to realise it is Dict8's policy and part of our duty to do so otherwise we are chastised for it by the proofreaders. It is still practice as I have done it recently and been pulled up for it

@Chrissols - perhaps its my work you are getting!

.... which again goes against their instructions at typing exactly what you hear! I just wish they would make their mind up, perhaps @Chrissols you should send a message to DICT8 about that doctor's comments

This is on my help for transcribers!

New drug names
“If a former name for a drug is dictated, the correct spelling should be typed. If the person dictating spells out the drug using the former name, i.e. one that is no longer used, that should be flagged up using the Alt+n feature, and correct the drug name in the transcript to the new spelling.
Examples of messages concerning medications:
‘Note to doctor: I changed thyroxine (dictated) to the correct spelling of levothyroxine
‘Note to doctor: I changed frusemide (dictated) to the correct spelling of furosemide”

and there were a few more on the list. So this is proof we have been told to change the names

I too remember the thyroxine to levothyroxine. I get this come up a lot and change it with a note but it does got against the type what you hear rule. Also, I had a word recently which I typed as it was clearly dictated. It was an odd way if saying something but who am I to argue, it sort of could make sense. I got pulled up on it to not type something if it doesn't make sense and to flag it up. We get so much dictated that doesn't make sense and then told to type what you hear and not to put it in good English. Can't win.

How are we supposed to know which drugs now have new names/spellings, even when the clinician doesn't? Plus once again, I don't think it should be the responsibility of a remote transcriber/typist to be querying things like this, we are not classed as medically qualified, nor are we paid for our time in doing this and all dictators should checked their letters/annotations once typed and returned. If we can't understand the dictated name of the drug, yes query it in the notes box, but I don't see why we have to start trawling through the BNF to check things, as that is what the clinician should be doing in the first place if they're unsure. We are not personal secretaries DICT8, we are remote transcribers.

@Chrissols - just out of interest im intrigued, your note .... "I have to say though, there is one transcriber who will insist on changing the medication the consultant has dictated to what the transcriber says is the correct name! I sent this to the consultant once and he was furious". ..................................
How do you know its a particular transcriber, does the task come in with details of one in particular as you would think many would be typing that speciality. Are we named or just an ID number only, so you know it is the same person. Just curious thats all

@carosel2 I am sure you will agree, we all have our own ways of typing and when one in particular is out of the norm and the comments pretty much the same every time (and worded the same), I cannot imagine two would be identical. I am not getting into a debate over this, it was purely a comment that seems to have caused a stir.

@Chrissols...awww its certainly not been intended to be a debate and I apologise if it has come across that way and im certainly not getting at you 😊 but you commented on something and I answered for "Us guys" the transcribers defence as it is what we have been told to do. I was merely getting at the doctor as we all do sometimes on this forum, not you at all.😊 Dont be put off by commenting it was a real insight to know you get the letters back some of us type. Do you have to listen to all the tasks when they come in? Because if you do then why do we have proofreaders as you probably do the better job in the end. Please don't think it was intended at you. There has been too much nastiness on this forum lately. Its a discussion. I know you havent been well and I certainly dont want you feeling uncomfortable hun but honestly its not intended at you at all!! Take care 🌻💐

@carosel2no problem, I just hate confrontation. Yes, we do have to check them as they come back, which for me personally I find quite good as it highlights we can all make small errors, we are all human at the end of the day, and not one of us is perfect.

@carosel2 @Chrissols I think carosel2 was just wondering if and how we are identified on the DICT8 system to the secs and docs at the other end, is it by an ID number or something, or are we completely anonymous to the receiver ????

@Chrissols - sorry if it came across confrontational, I certainly don't like that either. I personally think youve added some rare valuable insight to how our tasks are received. Again I apologise. @Whitestar55 - yes thats all I was trying to do and get at the doctor of course! 😁.

Thyroxine is Levothyroxine. Meati pertains to one ear meatae pertains to 2 ears, - had an argument with our Medical Dr Mr M Urdang about that one. I was told to type 'meati and I refused - one ear = meati. wo ears = meatae.!!!

@carosel2 - I do not think we are anonymous to the receiving hospital (we are not for Tpro, they have access to our names and can send us messages directly on our letters, usually to add in bits); for DICT8 I do not know if name or number but however it is done DICT8 can distinguish us, remembering when I was emailed over changing a word that the doctor took issue with. Funnily enough, after I explained to DICT8 that I have changed the word due to my training and that the word used would not have been acceptable I did type a letter dictated by that doctor who used the more acceptable word I had typed that she had complained about!

@Gally123 Thanks for that information, I did wonder. It's interesting to know that Tpro allows direct communication between dictators and transcribers, whereas DICT8 tend to keep us in the dark and silence us for some reason.

@Gally123 - yes I do remember that. The proofreaders need to know their own rules properly before coming back and critising. I say this too as recently I asked a question to dict8 info about how to number something. I got the same 1 to 9 numbers etc and word after. I used Google too before and Google stated because it was classed as unit it still has to be abnumber even though 1 to 9. (im forever getting confused on this!🤪) I emailed back saying theyve told me wrong as it was classed as a unit and I actually found it in their help eventually! But thought it would be quicker getting an answer direct. I got an email back saying so why contact us in the first place! In future use your help sheet!!😂 I would have gone on and said but you gave wrong advice you should know this but whats the point. Yes Tpro do know who we are dont they as Ive often gone in to previous letters to copy and paste lists and it clearly states my name at the top as the transcriber though I have never received an email direct yet.

@Whitestar55 - other than the doctor who asked me who he saw in clinic as I mentioned in a previous post, all the direct communication with Tpro has been from people wanting to amend their letters, there have been no complaints etc

I always remember to change thyroxine to levothyroxine - mainly because I take it - but not sure about any of the other new spellings we’re meant to change. The old monthly newsletter we used to get was quite useful for letting us know any changes (but it always made me smile that there were usually mistakes in the spelling or grammar).
It would be nice to think that the secretaries pass on our comments to the dictators, which might help to make everyone’s job easier if it resulted in clearer dictation.

I wonder why the doctors are not using the right drug names ? surely that's part of their job to keep updated with changes, and implement them. We should be typing verbatim so we are not blamed for any drug/clinical mistakes.

@wfh21 - I totally agree! It is their job to keep up with changes that are made not ours as the trascriber, we certainly shouldn't be asked to do it.