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Actually, with computers, it's a standard to only

Posted By: use one space at end of sentence. on 2008-02-17
In Reply to: spaces - Lee

Two spaces were used with typewriters to make a document easier to read, but computers have proportional fonts, so the extra spacing after punctuation is no longer necessary. One space has been rule in desktop publishing and it's actually easier to read, IMO, than 2 spaces. It's definitely hard to get used to at first, but it's actually easier once you do and saves keystrokes. Of course, if you've been using 2 and getting paid for the extra space, you'll lose out, but most places seem to prefer one space now. You can sometimes set grammar checks to watch for 2 spaces and alert you so you can change it to only 1. I know Word has that option and it does help when you are transitioning.


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Computers
Try calling the Corporate office for Foxboro and see what you get. I worked in New Jersey and the site closed and corporate there is where you have to call for things. Hope this helps.
Computers

What type of computers do most of you prefer to do transcription? Laptops or desktops? And if you do use laptops do any of you travel and take your work?


Some of us use our own computers, though.

TT computers
They will lease one for a pretty reasonable fee, $9.00 a pay period. Plus, they are go out of their way to help their MTs, speaking from personal experience.
I know just about enough about computers

to be dangerous.  Mostly when things go squirrely I just close down everything I can, reboot and cross my fingers.  Amazing how many problems are solved that way.  But I guess I should not even own the computer at all, by some people's reasoning.


I had a courier job once, briefly.  I used my personal car to deliver packages from point A to point B.  To me a car is a thing with four wheels on the ground and one in my hands.  I don't really know much about the internal combustion engine, don't really want to know much.  (I do know how to open the hood and stare at the engine - which is all most guys know too - then jiggle a wire or two, shake my head, close the hood and call AAA.)  I can do a jump start. I know what to do if it's flooded.  I know where the various fluids go.  End of my automotive expertise.


If I were really stranded somewhere, I might try the bent-hairpin trick, but there are people whose sole area of expertise is diagnosing and fixing cars!  Others whose duty is to haul you there.  There are people whose area of expertise is to fix computer problems.  If I think my efforts might mess things up worse, you bet I'm calling tech support!  Don't get between me and the phone.


Computers
Doubt they'll remove any software but they will quit paying for the antivirus so you won't be able to get the updates anymore once the switch to Triton has taken place.
That would be for standard
transcription, editing is less.
The standard used to be.. SM

10 lines for every minute, so if that still stands, then that would be correct


60 = 600.


WE CAN SET A NEW STANDARD!!!!!
All right, calling ALL MTs!!!!! It's time for a very, VERY important step in getting our industry back in line with the skill set it takes. From now on when looking for more work or a new job, JUST SAY NO! to low line rates. If we keep letting them jerk us around and try to pay 1990s wages, they'll keep doing it. There are enough of us here to start the ball rolling in the right direction, and if we don't, we might as well get a job at McDonalds!

It's time to set some standards that are realistic for what we bring to the table. If you have 5 to 10 years of experience, 7.5 to 8 cpl should be the rock bottom. At 10+ years 8.5 to 9 cpl should be the standard, etc. MTs UNITE!

NOW HEAR THIS, MTSOs...it's time to start bidding work higher because within the next year, you'll have MTs who will only laugh and ask, Are you SERIOUS!??? if you try to offer us the wages we were making 20 years ago. I mean come ON...no one in their right mind works for less money than when they started out way back when.

Fellow MTs, it's up to us to change the industry standards. If you aren't up to the task to be proactive, it's time to stop whining and take the beating. I don't think any of us professionals are willing to do that...at least I'm not!


300-400 lph standard?!
I am in the same boat you are, I can type standard at around 240-260 on a good day. I also do VR and can do up to 500-600 lph but VR you get paid much less.

All in all I like standard much better, it does hurt like *&%$ at the end of the day but time flies by for me and I have a chronic problem of boredom when I work VR and I keep checking the clock and my lines just waiting to be done.

I make the same whether I am doing VR or standard, trust me, I have checked, I just earn more with standard because I get in a zone and type like a madwoman and like I said, time goes by very fast which I like.


VBC Standard
Katherine, I am just passing on information in case there are those MTs that have not heard of VBC. You are not expected to do anything. This was merely an informational memo. NO PAY CUT NO ADDITIONAL ACCOUNT, Just trying to do a good thing by giving info where none might not be available. Thanks Linda
No, it is not standard. Those are
the crappy companies with horrible pay. 2-3 cpl is most definitely NOT the standard. Geez people.
Get a KVM switch and you can tie your computers together with (sm)

one keyboard, one monitor and one mouse.  Try Circuit City they have them.  Good luck.


Yes they do lease computers
nm
spheris computers
When I worked for them the computer crashed enough on its own...it didn't need any help.  The screen would go blue and it would say something like beginning dump of physical memory.   I was told it wasn't a problem until it did it several times per shift..then they would replace it.
Spheris computers
I have had several lemons too. It is not the computers that are lemons, it is the management and the company who are lemons.
those new spheris computers
Has anyone noticed how they log on to your computer and rearrange your desktop if they don't like how it looks?  Or how they block you from using normal, everyday websites on the brand new computers? LOL  We are trusted with private medical information but the company has nothing better to do than to spy on everyone and make them feel belittled.  I don't think that is very good for morale.
OSi used to supply computers - not sure if they still do
N/M
3 computers 1 connection
Does anybody work on 3 computers at the same time with only 1 DSL connection? Could you tell me how to do it so each is secure from the other and compliant? Thanks in advance for any information.
They do provide computers, but there is a
charge per pay period, I think about $9 or so. You cannot use the new Window Vista. Everything else they will download if you use your own computer. I took a pay cut to go there but am very happy, and they do have bonus incentives. The accounts are pretty decent. Staff is extremely friendly and cooperative.
I also know a QA with 3 computers for 3 companies
Also on salary not paid by the line.
Focus Computers
I believe that you have to own your own computer.  I work as an IC so I do use my own equipment and write it off at the end of the year for tax purposes.  They supply the software that you need to complete the dictations (EditScript).
do they supply computers?
nm
I was offered what seems to be the standard.
Considering it will be an OP account, I figure I can make good use of normals, etc. and make some good money. 
Your standard response ... sm
I've seen the same reply for years. Yet the chaos continues.
I think the industry standard is using
independent contractors and you get neither vacation or sick pay. 
Why would they? The standard is by the line.
x
I think this is probably the industry standard
.
I think this is pretty standard, unfortunately. sm
When I worked in-house we the option of A) Work an 8-hour shift with only one 30-minute break or B) Work an 8-1/2-hour shift with a 1-hour break (or two 15-minute and one 30-minute). I think, however, most places require you to work 8-1/2 if you are going to take a 30 minute break...seems like that is against the law, but I don't know. I thought you were entitled to two 15-minute breaks for an 8-hour shift.


standard keyboard
welcome aboard
standard lines
Okay - I have posted about this before when we first found out our company PM was going to start paying 2 cpl for ALL standard lines including headings!!  A couple of days ago this really started and I am really iritated!  Is this a common practice now for MT companies?  Yes the headings may come up in the software automatically, but we are also having to spend lots of time changing the templates to the correct ones, changing info that is entered wrong like dates of service etc. and also Emdat is sooo slow half the time between notes!!  So, I was under the assumption that even though you have headings and they, for the most part, are standard lines, that it kind of helps cover the time it takes us to fix the templates and stuff like that!!  Am I way out in left field here?  What do you all think?  Im not going to be able to work for a company that does this, it will really cut our pay quite a bit!!  Not too mention a letter was sent out to all explaining that they could lose the accounts because of off shore lower prices, whatever if they did not change to this.....but in the same email they slipped up and said that they have always given the doctors the 2cpl rate on standard headings and had not passed it on to us until now....well then they just screwed up because if that be the case they were not in danger of losing the accounts when they were already giving them the discount, they just wanted more money in their pockets and taking it away from the MT in this economy, seems pretty crappy to me!  It seems like do more and we will pay you less, definitely time to find a new job!!
standard lines
They are paying the regular 8 cpl for what you straight type, but headings, templates, macros etc. are considered standard lines and are paid at 2cpl.  So you still lose money because all of your Chief complaint, HPI etc. are all paid at 2 cpl.  it will add up
double standard
Since you're so knowledgeable about how to treat people and what's insensitive you surely know that you came off looking like the bigger jerk with your condescending, bullying way of making your point.  There are ways of educating people without making them feel bad about something that was unintentional to start with.  I don't know if you actually have a double standard or are just a bully, but I have much more respect for the OP as a person since she admitted her mistake and apologized and you still wouldn't let it go.  You may be an expert on PC, but it seems a little phony when you present it in such a hateful way.  Grow up.
Each company has their own standard
for this. I have worked for companies where you were on it 3 days and if okay then you were released. The Q was known for telling you to do 3 to 5 reports, send for full QA and then take off--all with absolutely no feed back. Most, however, take it on an individual basis. If you are getting conflicting info from different people, refer all to your supervisor and ask which is correct. If it is different feedback from different accounts, each probably has their own way of doing things.
8 cpl for standard and 3 cpl for VR - that's a crock!
There is little to no standard typing for which you can make 8 cpl. It is 90/10 in favor of VR. If you buy into the slick sales job the VR snake oil vendors put forth and can actually double your output per hour, you are making 6 cpl. What a joke!
To the poster who said 2-3 cpl is standard for VR:

Don't fall for it.  It most certainly is NOT standard for VR.  From what I've seen, the standard rate for VR seems to be about 60% of your regular line rate for straight typing.  I was working for Alltype when they tried to force feed us the line that 3 cpl is the standard and IMO that's insane.  Also IMO, anyone who tries to pay 3 cpl across the board without taking into consideration the length of experience on VR and the straight typing rate is ripping you off. 


KVM switch is used to connect 2 computers....sm
your home computer and the computer from a company so that you can use use 1 keyboard and 1 monitor.
any companies supply computers for ICs? - nm
nm
I've had 2 computers in 5+ years and SM
The only reason I got the new one was because they were sending them out to every one - no problems with the old one.

It's like cars - sometimes you get a lemon. LOL!
which companies provide computers?

Needing to know which companies provide computer equipment


What kind of computers does Precyse use?
Thanks!
I realize this also, but MOST newer computers..sm
do not even have the 15 pin serial ports (game ports) any longer. I had purchased a 15 pin game port pedal and used it less than 6 months because my sound card went out and I had to get a new one. I could not find ANY that had a 15 pin game port any longer and ended up having to buy a whole new pedal (usb) in order to work. USB is what is mostly used these days. If she needs a 15 pin footpedal I will gladly sell her mine... been there and did that.
Do they supply/lease computers? NM
x
Which companies provide computers? TIA

part time computers
Thank you very much.
have you tried Medquist? they provide computers
Not sure about satellite Internet.  medquist.com
Question about company computers

Does anyone know if a company like Diskriter sends out a computer, do the company monitor this at all times?  In other words, can they see what you are doing, where you are surfing, etc?


Thanks!


Would this apply to personal computers
used for MT work as well? I work on EditScript. If I am waiting for jobs to come in, would the company I'm logged in to be able to track me just because I am logged in to EditScript?
When I worked for a hospital we used their computers

I could chime in anytime to see what we were doing.  They did it to me several times.  Plus, they could read our e-mails even though we were at home.  They were more worried about us minding our own business and working and not snooping into medical files.  


When we were connected to the VPN, internet was blocked.  We could surf without the VPN.   We could not put any software or any extras on it except what the hospital wanted. 


I am using my own computer now but I wonder if I would be better off with a company that provides the equipment for more structure.  


Does TransTech provide computers for their MTs? nm
x
NetMed in Cadillac provides computers. At least they used to.nm
nm