Archive for May 2010
Over time technology has change along with the Allied Health profession of Medical Transcriptionist. Soon, Medical transcriptionist didn’t have to writ notes by hand any longer. Once tape systems and other recording devices were invented with a microphone, Physicians began to dictate into a tape following or even during their procedures. Medical transcriptionists were no longer required to be in the operating room because they could just listen to the doctor’s tape and transcribe it from there. Next came the invention of the computer. The word processing computer changed the field of transcription because they no longer had to use a typewriter. Presently, today, physicians talk into a digital electronic device or phone and the file is sent directly to the medical transcriptionist to record. Then transcriptionists upload the documents into medical software so the hospital or doctors office receives the transcription back quickly. In this day and age, most medical facilities are moving toward paperless records where everything is kept in the computer.
One more profession that is still valid in the allied health field that would be similar to medical billing and coding and nursing informatics, is a medical transcriptionist. With so many wonderful advances in technology, there has been question about whether or not medical transcriptionists are on their way to becoming extinct or evolving into one of the before mentioned fields. However, as time has passed, the allied health field has found that the field of medical transcription is far from obsolete. Not only does the field of medical transcriptionists still seem to be thriving, but this field is expected to show continual growth. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “a significant increase in demand for skilled transcriptionists is projected between now and 2016″. With advanced voice recognition software available, and computers becoming more and more important in doctor’s offices and hospitals, the manual documentation of records seems like it would be decreasing. Why are medical transcriptionists still needed and in fact growing increasingly necessary? We will answer this question and more this week. First lets examine a very brief history of medical transcription. Medical transcription has been around as long as doctors, and this field has definitely evolved along with our healthcare system. Since there have been medical scribes for almost as long as their have been physicians, the medical transcriptionist’s job would be to sit in the corner of the operating room during procedures with a notepad taking short hand. This was before there were actual recording devices. The physician dictated to the medical transcriptionist and he/she would write down all the notes. Following the surgery, the medical scribe would then type it all out on a typewriter from their shorthand notes. Tomorrow we will learn more about how this profession has evolved, and where it is at now.
Medical Billing and Coding, along with nursing informatics, is an excellent way to work in the Allied Health industry without having to work directly with the patient. Medical billing and coding is often in an office of a doctor, or a hospital, and the most direct patient contact is over the phone working as a liasion between insurance companies and patients. Medical billing and coding deals with keeping patient records up to date as well. They enter doctors, nurses, and any other professional’s notes that they may have taken while working with their provider. There is a special language that medical billing and coding specialists use to avoid confusion and misinterpretation. Being a medical billing and coding specialist does offer the ability to some, to work from their own home office. The internet has given many medical billing and coding specialists the opportunity to work from home and work for several different employers by contract.
Nursing informatics is similar to medical billing and coding in that nursing informatics specialists work less often with patients and more often as a liasion. Nursing informatics is a technical job that requires professionals that will pay close attention to detail. This, however, is where the similarities end. Nursing informatics is a specialized allied health field that evolved from the need to have a more connected understanding between the nursing teams and the IT teams which build the software for Nurses, LPN’s and LVN’s. Tomorrows blog we can look more in depth about the exciting field of nursing informatics.
Medical billing and coding is not the highest paying allied health profession, but it does have other benefits and flexibility that serves as a perk for anyone who is interested in working in the health field from the privacy of their own home.
If you are in charge of the unit, you are responsible for all patients and the staff under you providing their care. In this situation, you really need to know your own capabilities as well as those of your staff. You will need to implement a plan and allow yourself time to supervise all staff. In the event that you find yourselves short-staffed, you will need to call upon all your leadership abilities to ensure that everyone is working together and knows their responsibilities. Each person needs to understand his own scope of practice and when to ask for help. It is vital to the well being of all involved that no one oversteps his bounds, which seems to happen most often when staff members are also allied health schools students that are working in the field to gain knowledge. Work together and listen to co-workers on your team. Remember the safety and well being of the patient is foremost. The goal is to provide quality patient care. As an example, your best medical billing assistant is in her last year of the program. You are short staffed and an MD wants you to update some records now. The aide has entered many files into the computer under the supervision of the instructor and feels confident. She volunteers to help. Don’t do it. Explain to the doctor that you have been delayed and the record will get done as soon as possible. Delegate responsibility that assists you to do your duties quicker, but don’t exceed anyone’s scope of practice. On the other hand, if you are being asked to do something outside of the medical billing and coding scope, suggest a way to help, but don’t take on responsibilities for something you are not trained to do.
The technique of visualization uses thoughts and imagination to bring about major life changes. It’s simple. Picture in your mind the object of your desire (whether its a situation, an event, or an image of yourself) as vividly as possible. Perhaps you would like to start your own medical billing and coding company in the future. Perhaps you are interested in earning a degree at an allied health school.…. Spend time concentrating on the image of wish fulfillment, truly believing in it as if it were already real. Be detailed and comprehensive, and be sure to include your emotional well-being (as good of course) in this vision as well. The reason visualization works is that your brain can’t tell the difference between a real event and an imagined one; so by using your imagination, you can create positive experiences that improve your self-image and your skills, help you release worry, realize your goals, and so on…..the possibilities are endless if you let you let down your bondaries. You can now create an image of your body that fits your genetic type and potential if that is what you wish for. You can now create the career you have been wanting. You can live in the city or the environment that you were hoping for secretly. Imagine anything and everything that you want. A word of caution: It must be a vision you can believe, not one that is unattainable. Your imagination can be a source of fear. Fear is an instinct that is genetically geared to protect you. Your imaginination should be used as a source of creation in this case. By harnessing the power of your imagination, and practicing visualization, you can work with your mind to create the life that you want.
