I began today's journey with a home cooked meal prepared by Karen Fox, CMT, FAAMT, in the California desert and ended the day with a home cooked meal prepared by Tina Whitecotton, RMT, FAAMT in the Arizona desert. The meals were a pleasant surprise, but so were the lessons learned during the conversations over these meals. The biggest surprise of all was that I ate elk for the very first time and it was surprisingly tasty (it didn't taste like chicken, but more like beef). Driving through the California and Arizona desert to get to my next destination, I was surprised to see how green the desert actually was, the number of cactus present, and the lack of tumbleweeds - all told, however, a beautiful part of America.
Now to the meal conversations. Karen invited Teri Costa, CMT, RHIT, Health Information Manager from the Betty Ford Center to the breakfast. It's probably no surprise that the subject of health information privacy and security became a topic of conversation - especially considering the patient population at the Betty Ford Center. The non-MTs in the group were asking what binds an MT to keep patient information confidentiality. Karen talked about the Code of Conduct and credentialing but qualified her response with it being a voluntary process and that only a small fraction of transcriptionists are actually credentialed, therefore questioning how familiar most transcriptionists are with the Code of Conduct.
Licensure and credentialing soon became the topic and I learned some interesting things about other fields. First, in California a hairdresser must be licensed before they cut your hair, but a permanent make-up artist does not have to be licensed. An individual performing an invasive procedure (putting permanent color on your lips and eyes like a tattoo) not required to be licensed makes little sense to me. Come to find out my one host, Kevin, just completed beauty school and he is taking his state board test on Wednesday to become a beautician. He must pass the test by demonstrating the ability to make a pin curl and finger wave. Do women - or men - walk around with pin curls and finger waves anymore (except maybe Christina Aguilera)? So much for the beautician license. Kevin was previously in the flooring industry with Linda and the issue of licensure for floor installers was discussed. Linda mentioned that the floor installers don't want licensure because many installers are in the U.S. illegally and would get deported. So much for opposing licensure for that reason.
The conversation was rekindled with my hosts tonight in Tuscon, Arizona. I was commenting that if you're going to license a profession, make sure the license is relevant. We got to talking about ranch hands and cowboys and how changed their jobs have become over the years. Ken Whitecotton, who I thought was a cowboy but was also a retired policeman, talked about the difference in the skills/expectations 0f police today versus when he was a policeman. "Basically, you got your gun, your handcuffs, and keys and then you became a police officer." MaryBeth Moran, CMT, mentioned a similar situation in the medical transcription profession. "It was pretty much you learned on the job, but you had the benefit of being mentored from more seasoned transcriptionists because you were working side by side in the hospital so if you didn't understand a word you had resources immediately available to assist you." Home based transcription has somewhat changed that opportunity. It really got me to thinking whether or not our educational systems, credentialing programs, and on-the-job training and staff development offerings still remain relevant for medical transcriptionists who are challenged today with more complex clinical documentation.
416 miles driven today
845 total miles driven
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2 comments:
I must confess… when Karen initially invited me for what I thought was a business meeting on a Sunday morning, I was a little stressed. I remember thinking, “Are you kidding me??? I closed my transcription service in an effort to reclaim quiet Sunday mornings with my husband!” So I invited my husband to come along, and he loved it as well. Good friends and good breakfast … what’s not to love? Thankfully, it was a non-power-suit event that probably would have lasted all day, but for the need to shuffle Peter out the door to continue on his journey. It is pretty hard to avoid getting caught-up in the dedication, energy, and enthusiasm that Peter and Karen bring to the world of MT. I encourage everyone who has an opportunity to visit with Peter on his jaunt across America or with Karen on her upcoming jaunt across California to make some time in your busy schedule. We all have something to share and something to learn. Most importantly, you can never have enough friends.
Dear Peter:
Just a couple notes from thet ol’ weathered cowboy ya’ met along yer western ride.
I must say, when I heard you and Mary Beth were gatherin’ at my homestead fer an overnight visit an’ meetin’, I was somewhat dismayed. Now, I really appreciate the work that my wife does in the MT field, but my thoughts (echoing Terri’s above) were of power-suit meetings takin’ up an evenin’ of mine, and that was not a high priority for me.
However, I guess an ol’ ‘poke can be taught a new trick or two, because it would tax my feeble memory to recall an evenin’ round the ol’ campfire I enjoyed as much as your visit. You truly are someone I’d ride ‘cross the river with. The energy, excitement, and downright honest dealings with the problems along with the crystal-ball look at what the future holds, was enlightening and entertaining. An’ I know it all came from inside a soul that cares, and not only wants, but believes in a better way, and greater times down the trail. Pard, ya’ ride with my blessing.
In regards to a couple of the missions you champion, I would like to add my ol’ country-schooled kid’s words.
I want ya’ ta know I sit tall in my saddle as I ride around this great Western USA to trumpet my support for your Military Spouse Initiative. The program, “Medical Transcription, A Profession that moves with you” is jist plain smart and amazing. I love it, and support you in this program 100%.
I want to reiterate my discussion regarding when I first became a cop, no training (or on-the-job), and police protection that was sorely lacking in abilities to solve crimes to the extent that the trained, educated, dedicated and certified professionals of today’s law enforcement team do. I particularly want to make note of the fact that the $300 per month that I made back then has given way to what is now $40,000 per year for these trained and certified recruits. It is my fervent belief that a mandatory certification/licensure program will lead to the increase in respect and salary that hard working, credentialed MTs deserve.
So, I close with these words: Pard, yer fer sure a top hand ridin’ fer a brand anyone could be proud of. I wish you, an’ every member today, and in the future (which is yers ta shape) the very best.
God Bless You
Kowboy Ken
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