Can expanders help if you mostly edit

In 12 years of MT'ing I've never re-read an entire chart. Edit/read as I type. nm [2008-11-26]
x

copying or transferring Extext expanders [2008-11-26]
I'm moving to a different MTSO and would like to copy all (probably 20,000) of the expanders/abbreviations I've created over the years. Hopefully, I can copy these on to a disk and transfer them to the my new MTSO, which utilizes Bayscribe. It wouldn't bemuchfun having to re-create these. Help, anyone?

Expanders [2008-11-09]
Try productivitytalk.com

Word Expanders [2008-11-08]
I am looking for a word Expander to purchase and I was wondering if any of you have Instant Text Pro and how exactly does it work. Are there entries already in there? Also, what is the difference between Instant Text Pro and Shorthand. Thanks so much. Do you think Instant Text Pro is worth the money? Carla

Any new text expanders out there? [2008-11-05]
I like Instant Text and the fact that it compiles multiple reports for you and creates shortcuts for you and almost any method works with it, ABCZ, AAA, ABAB, or just wildcard it. IT also gives you many suggestions at the bottom of the screen in the advisories. I also like the smartline under the cursor in Smartype, but there is no wildcarding in ST. I also like the feature in some of the autocompletion software that learns as we type and remembers words and phrases that are typed often. When will we get a text Expander program that gives us all of these in one program? We deserve it and it has to be around $50.

I have some expanders for [2008-11-05]
some common numbers, sxy for 60, tymg for 20 mg, etc., so just was wondering if there was a system that has been tried and proved. I know I was looking for a needle in a haystack , so guess I just need to start training myself on my number keys a bit better instead of the going over to the key pad :-)

Does anyone have good text expanders for vital signs data? [2008-11-05]
Do you any of you use text Expanders for the numerical portion of vital signs for example, 130/80 ? I have lots of expanders but none for the actual numerical data. It really slows me down either having to look at my number row or switch to the keypad. I do have some, but nothing consistent. Anything ideas would be great, thanks!!

Expanders [2008-10-31]
Hi, I use Instant Text and absolutely love it! However, I did check out the websites you listed here. The first one, vsisystems, I would not go with for sure, as there are typos and incorrect grammar on their website. I mean, that is not good advertisement at all - - lol! The second one in the list, soft411, doesn't sound as if it is for Word, it sounds as if it has more to do with getting around on the Internet, but I may be wrong. The third one in the list, thinkabdul, is a little confusing to me; so, I don't know about that one. Just my thoughts on the matter. Instant Text does take a little bit of time to get used to, but once you do, it is wonderful.

Bayscribe/expanders [2008-10-27]
I use ShortHand with Bayscribe and it works fine. The only drawback I have is my wireless keyboard messes up Shorthand sometimes but not always. I tried re-installing my keyboard and Shorthand but nothing seems to work, it still messes up occasionally.

How are they using their expanders [2008-10-24]
I use my Expander and still cannot get a line count at 7 cpl. Specifically tell us what they are putting in those Expanders please

Bayscribe and expanders [2008-10-22]
Need someadvice. I have just started using Bayscribe and have been using Shorthand. Does Instant Text work with Bayscribe like SH does, and it is worth the investment? I am coming from an editing position, so straight typing is taking me awhile and I am looking for a way to help my speed. Also, would you recommend ABCZwithInstant Text. Thanks!

ABCZ expanders for Smartype? [2008-10-21]
I need the Smartype version of an ABCZ exapander shortcut list. Anyone know where I can find a list like this that is already in the Smartype format? Thanks

Expanders [2008-10-20]
I've been using Smartype since 1996 when I was still using WP 5.1. I would fell like the fingers of my right hand were gone if I didn't have it to work with. Love it!

yes of course I use tons of expanders. At the most 25% normals though. [2008-10-20]
x

Expanders and normals...not mormals [2008-10-19]
just felt the need to correct your mistakes since you are picking apart others.

work for hospital account - use lots of expanders - nm [2008-10-17]
x

we were told that the only expanders [2008-10-16]
that work in the web-based ChartScript platform was Instant Text and ShortCut. I use ShortCut and it works just fine.

Expanders for Dummies [2008-10-10]
Over the last several days I have been reading about Expanders on this board. A few names mentioned have been Mary Morten, Barb Grow etc. I do have IT but am still learning to use it. Many advised to Google ABCZ. I am sure this is all good advice (always is), but I always wonder what in the world are people talking about.I am not new to transcription but I am new to production. My mother is seriously ill and I chose to work at home to avoid placing her in a nursing home. My pay is still VERY LOW and I look at these boards for help. I must admit, though, that most times the posts (not medically) are way over my head. Can someone steer me in the right directon? Thank you and may God hold you in the Palm of His Hand!!(green for Irish)

Those aren't expanders, but tips on how to use [2008-10-10]
your Expander to help increase production and/or lists of expansions they have made. If you are new to the business/boards you'll see stuff that makes no sense. If you've been around a while and have seen one board evolve into a another than things will make more sense. If you don't understand something ask. When they first started doing appreviations in posts I would see tia at the end of a post and I thought they were saying that had a brain fart, but what it meant was thanks in advance. There are lots of people who still don't know what sm means and some wrongly think it means small message, so there are lots of people who don't know exactly what is being talked about.

Never used expanders [2008-10-02]
I actually did start when we were on typewriters and no expanders. I don't use one now, but would like to are they hard to learn??? Is there one you all would recommend???

Expanders and proofreading sm [2008-09-29]
This isa response to Expanders and is a little late but as a proofreader in a hospital once, I saw some horrible errors come past my desk, i.e., The patient is restricted from driving her carcinoma for a week. Expanders are wonderful but proofread, proofread, don't be greedy! I'm sure most of you do proofread but some newbies may think they don't have to take the time.

expanders and such [2008-09-28]
Thank you VERY much. What Expander programs do you recommend? Also, I wanted to ask you something else. I had started my MT training several years ago, ended up stopping halfway through to work for a company that does medical conferences. It's a lot different, easier, I think. You get paid by the word, not the line. So my question is, in your opinion, do you think the traditional kind of MT work would be better? In other words, is the field a good one to get into? I see a lot of mixed thinking on that in here, so I would like to get your opinion. Thank you, again, in advance.

Expanders [2008-09-27]
An Expander (or macro)program allows you to save keystrokes. There are many different Expanders out there; in the jobs I've worked they've been built into the platform. You can also purchase ones like Instant Text and many others. You create your own expansions in a way that makes sense to you. I think of it as typing in shorthand. So instead of typing the patient tolerated the procedure well over and over, I just type tpttpw and it spits the whole phrase out. It is the absolute best way to increase your speed. A great book I could recommend is When the Name of the Game is Saving Keystrokes by Diana Rolland.

expanders [2008-09-27]
Thank you very much. I will check into this. anything to make my life easier, right!

Word Expanders [2008-09-22]
Can anyone give me information on word Expander programs and which one would be the best to use. Does it really make a difference in transcription productivity?

I love it. [2008-12-03]
I can type 180 lph hour doing straight transcription and I can edit at an average of 600 lines per hour when I edit reports via escription. I make a lot more money editing than I ever would doing straight trans. This is also from 5 different accounts (big accounts) with 2 different employers. My average is relatively the same with each account. It really depends on the person though. The potential is there but it isn't going to work our for everyone. Good luck!

Do you relisten to your entire reports after you finish each one or how do you [2008-11-26]
edit your work before you send it in. Do you reread each one. Sometimes I think you can miss a word if you dont but not sure how to edit before sending without making minimum wage.

copying or transferring Extext expanders [2008-11-26]
I'm moving to a different MTSO and would like to copy all (probably 20,000) of the expanders/abbreviations I've created over the years. Hopefully, I can copy these on to a disk and transfer them to the my new MTSO, which utilizes Bayscribe. It wouldn't bemuchfun having to re-create these. Help, anyone?

Actually I use it and.... [2008-11-23]
I would have to say that I just put it all in regular mode and listen to almost in regular transcription mode and make the changes. I find it easiest for me. In edit mode, I find it difficult to have the cursor moving, I must take my foot off the pedal, make the change, then restart the pedal. I just couldn't do that! So in order to be able to use both foot pedal and cursor, I just don't it with all the symbols and stuff.....Make sense?

Clarification [2008-11-13]
The SR/ASR that my company is using is not on the client end. The clients dictate as normal. This software we use will listen to the recorded dictation and then spit out a report for us to edit.

I hear you sm [2008-11-13]
ASR is a joke and any of us who have edited it think that. You know, a while back JLG dumped their ASR and fired their MEs. One can hope it was for a legal reason and that this will be a trend because it SHOULD BE. I know where I work we have ASR. I have read posts by some of our ASR gals. They only edit every other paragraph, or edit without the voice, or skim rather than read the document because they have a line quota. It is just like it is with a sloppy MT and the work that comes out IS JUST AWFUL. I know this because I have access to all the past reports. Hand me a document with really silly errors in it and I'll show an ASR document that was *edited*. I don't have any difficulty being appreciated at work. BOTH my companies value me to a point I find embarrassing. Yes, I am a crackerjack MT, very good at what I do, but it is MY ATTITUDE that has won friends and influenced people. Besides that, I appreciate myself. I have long ago quit worrying about this industry and made the most of what is in front me. This is why both my companies put plenty in front of me to do and they don't ask that I do ASR at all, I am too valuable where I am. Sorry, but chicken little doesn't live at my house.

Oh wait... [2008-11-13]
What I mean is, the doctor may not even be aware that his/her account is SR. I don't know if they are telling the clients or not. The doctor dictates as per normal. The SR is done at the MTSO by the ME using the SR software that listens to the recorded dictation and spits out a document to edit.

Anyone have this trouble? [2008-11-12]
I use lots of Expanders and create more all the time. It's great when I do the same account or two regularly, but during spells of getting more accounts (when my main ones are low) I find I waste time fumbling to see if I have an Expander for things. I have had to deviate from a normal expansion pattern (in a variety of ways), and as long as I am typing the same several dictators, I get used to the way they speak and my expansions and all the deviations just come automatically. However,when I get tons of other docs saying things in so many different ways, the deviations don't come to me and I fumble. I think I could go faster with more straight type. I know people say to have expansions for everything, but do any of you have a good way to determine when it's better to just type it out? - I don't think anyone could use 100% expansion (or even 90%), but does anyone have any advice or general thougths on this? Thanks so much!

Question regarding editing [2008-11-11]
Does anyone know if there is a resource out there for learning how to edit transcription reports. We all edit our own reports now, but would like something for a resource to help train new transcriptionists. I know there are booklets on transcription but would like something for editing. If anyone knows of a good site for this or a resource book that I can buy that would be great. Looking to eventually needing it for our group if we go voice recognition and want to be on top of things before it happens. Thanks

legal tx is very different from medical (sm) [2008-11-10]
I've never actually done legal transcription, but I have done legal editing, so I know for a fact it's an entirely different world....Legal transcripts MUST be verbatim - no exceptions; one transcript can be hundreds of pages long; there are multiple speakers who may or may not be clearly identified and who frequently aren't easy to hear if they're too far away from a microphone or shuffling through papers while they're speaking; and because every hearing is different and must be verbatim, tools such as Expanders or macros are virtually useless. It's very interesting work, but very, very difficult.

Make Word 03 and 07 work together! [2008-11-10]
First of all, I appologize for the LONG message, but well worth reading if you use Word. I asked this question on the Microsoft Discussion Board on 11/7/08. Here are the posts: DeviousRedBaron wrote: I am running Word 2007. For work, I download a template created in Word 2003, then type my document in Word 2007. After this, I have to import header/footer info that I believe is created with Word 2003. This takes a long time and at the bottom of the screen the message Word is replacing ... appears. Is there any way I can speed this up, or avoid it all together? I love Word 2007 and would like to continue to use it. I do have Word 2003 also. I cannot change the info that I have to download. I access it through the intranet and it is different for each report. (I am a medical transcriptionist.) Speed is important in my line of work! Thanks in advance!!!!! Graham Mayor wrote: You will need to tell us more about the importing of the header/footer. How? From where? What is the exact sequence of steps used to create a document. At what point does the message appear? -- Graham Mayor - Word MVP My web site www.gmayor.com Word MVP web site http://word.mvps.org DeviousRedBaron wrote: Hi Graham, I open my transcription program (created by the transcription company that I work for) and download my reports over the intranet. These are voice files and .doc information (that ends up in the header/footer). I double click on the report I want to type up and a template box pops up. I choose the .dot template that I need and it automatically opens Word in compatability mode with part of the header/footer info already in the document. This is usually the hospital/clinic address and phone number, or what ever info that particular company has requested. On some reports, there are headings that are loaded into the body of the document as well. This process is usually pretty quick, depending on my company's server. Now, I type up my report in the body of the document. When I am finished, I have to apply the demographics to the document. This is the information about the patient, clinic/hospital numbers, doctors' names, cc info...that is also downloaded with the report from the intranet. Some of this info goes into the header/footer as well. Some of this info is attached to the document so it is sent to the correct departments/doctors.... Once I apply the demographics, I have to wait for Word to replace .....something. (The message on the bottom of Word flashes from a long message to a short one very rapidly, making it impossible to read the entire message!) I have read a little bit about writing a code (macro) so that everything opened with Word is opened in 2003 format. I do not start Word, it opens with my company software, so I never get to choose a template in Word. I have also tried to set the compatibility for all documents to 2003 and this does nothing. Also tried to set it up to save as a 2003 document, as well as a .dot and this does not make any difference. I am at a loss! Thanks for your quick response, it is greatly appreciated! Graham Mayor wrote: It is the application of demographics - presumably by a macro that appears to be the issue. This was obviously created by the transcription company with Word 2003 in mind. Whether it would be possible to improve that code is impossible to say without seeing it - and really that is a job for the company that provided it, so I will stick to attempting to make the function use Word 2003 rather than 2007. http://www.gmayor.com/Toolbars_in_word_2007.htm demonstrates how to set Word 2003 and 2007 to share the same platform without reconfiguring the registry each time one of them is run to grab the shared settings for itself.. You should then be able to associate doc and dot files through Windows Explorer Tools Folder Options File Types - DOC Advanced Open Edit and change the application used to perform the action to Word 2003, which by default should mean entering C:Program FilesMicrosoft OfficeOFFICE11WINWORD.EXE /n /dde %1 in that space. Repeat for DOT, though this time edit the action for NEW - the application used to perform the action should be C:Program FilesMicrosoft OfficeOFFICE11WINWORD.EXE /n /dde and the DDE message should be [REM _DDE_Direct][FileNew(%1)] In both examples if Word 2003 is installed in some other location than the default shown, change the paths to reflect that other location. -- Graham Mayor - Word MVP My web site www.gmayor.com Word MVP web site http://word.mvps.org DeviousRedBaron wrote: Thanks so much, Graham! I have followed your instructions, but have not yet tested it with my company's software. I am going to test it out tomorrow. If there are any gliches, I will repost. If all goes well, would you mind if I pass this info on to my fellow MTs? (Medical transcriptionists.) I am sure there are numerous woman, and a few men, who could benefit greatly from your advise. I will await your response. Once again, thank you!!!!! If it works for you, feel free to share with your colleagues. If double clicking a doc or dot file opens Word 2003 and not 2007 it should work with the company software - depending on how the company software calls Word.-- Graham Mayor - Word MVPMy web site www.gmayor.comWord MVP web site http://word.mvps.org I hope this will help everyone! I know it helped me. I love typing in Word2007, but for now, I will have to type in Word 2003 until my company's software is compatible with it. At least I can have both programs running at the same time! The info on his web page about creating a toolbar is not necessary, unless it is something you need to do for Word 2007.

I will make just over $40K this year sm [2008-11-07]
Actual, I am typing, hands on the keyboard time is about 8 to 9 hours a day. I work as an employee at 8.5 cpl and as an IC for 10 cpl and I do some QA for $16 an hour. The QA is a courtesy to my IC company and really cuts into my typing time there where I can do $30 an hour or better. QA is only about 5 hours a week, except when I am training an MT, and I am training 2 right now. It was 8 hours so far this week. You ask about normals and expanders. I use an Expander with a lot of shortcuts, as in many thousands. Normals, I have some. The system at my employee job has some in it, I have made a few (less than 50). The IC job I have made a few too (less than 25). Most of my normals are shells of headers and the few things they always say. All I do it is acute care, primarily OP notes and yes, I don't have that many normals. When your pool has about 2000 doctors in it, normals are a challenge to find and make. I have oh, reasonable work habits. I take frequent short breaks because I have to. I do work a split shift, which really helps me make it through the day, and the IC is catch as catch can, and about 6000 lines every 2 weeks. I usually spend about 2 or 3 partial hours a day typing at top speed, like an athlete. The rest of the time I do the best I can. I have stellar days and days when I feel I like I need to eat every hour! And I do it too. Yup, I do the laundry and the dishes while I am working. I always have the TV or a DVD in, but music on Saturday mornings.

lying on the web [2008-11-07]
I talked to a recruiter once who told me she could do 700 lines an hour (no, that's not a typo) of straight typing (expanders only, no templates). That's right, girls. 700 lph. Talk about feeling small! 700 lines an hour???? My best is 400 template-able text. I posted about it at the time & everyone seemed to agree this was not do-able. So I don't know. Anyway, when I heard that I was ready to throw in the towel.

I second that! [2008-11-05]
I keep trying to come up with good Expanders for number items (including labs and medication dosages, etc.) I have some, but I think because there are so many ways numbers are used, I can't seem to come up with anything consistent and waste time fumbling around checking to see if I have them when I am typing. As the poster said ... if anyone has come up with a good system, we will could use the help (and we will owe you big time!) :)

Does anyone have good text expanders for vital signs data? [2008-11-05]
Do you any of you use text Expanders for the numerical portion of vital signs for example, 130/80 ? I have lots of expanders but none for the actual numerical data. It really slows me down either having to look at my number row or switch to the keypad. I do have some, but nothing consistent. Anything ideas would be great, thanks!!

Don't see that you are saving any time, [2008-11-05]
in fact you are typing more characters for 60 by using sxy and the same for tymg. That is the point of expanders, to save typing time. Using the keypad costs big time in production. Taking your hands off the keyboard is not a way to improve productivity.

Yes and no [2008-11-05]
At the time that I purchased mine, I was fearing that I would not be able to continue transcribing at all. I had caused my own arm injury by attempting to move into a recliner (not reclined, but just sitting back in the chair) while still sitting at my desk in order to try to relieve my back pain, which it did, but did not realize until too late that by reaching slightly more upward and all the mousing in that position I was causing an arm injury. So, I will never be as fast as I once was (not the fastest typist out there at 75 error-free wpm) I have achieved (timing on the free typing tests on-line) 60 wpm, but I now use a combination of expanders, voice recognition (Windows Vista), and straight typing, as well as having the mouse literally right there, and I feel that, with these modifications in place, typing speed is not as important anymore and I am able to complete the same amount of work in a given timeframe as I once was with straight typing/limited expansions.

No I hadn't heard of them...sm [2008-11-02]
The only thing I am familiar with is the Expanders such as Smartype which has a word completion aspect to it. I am not familiar with those you mentioned. Something to look into I guess.

Soothsayer, AutoType, etc [2008-10-31]
Has anyone used any of the word/phrase autocompletion software that learns what you type when you type a word or phrase a certain number of times? Then it will pop up in a suggestion box beside your cursor and then expand for you. This is NOT Instant Text, Smartype, or Shorthand. I am not talking about the MT expanders. I am talking about like these: http://www.vsisystems.com/autotype.htm http://www.soft411.com/software/autocomplete.html http://thinkabdul.com/2007/11/22/turbo-type-on-screen-auto-complete-word-suggestion-software-for-any-text-input-editor-on-windows/ Has anyone tried anything like this for MT work. I need something better than IT, Smartype, or Shorthand. They really aren't working for me. Thanks

That would be tough... [2008-10-29]
You would have to doabout 3300lines per day, which means that 471 lph is the slowest you could do to meet $100 in 7 hours. VR is really unpredictable in what you have to change. I know there are MTs out there who can edit really fast. I would not say it can't be done. I would just say that it would be hard to do.

you get what you pay for .... [2008-10-28]
That's where editors come in. Even if they are paying 2 or 3 cents to India, they are paying US 3 or 4 cents to edit those reports!! Sorry but that is not worth it for me to sit and edit other people's mistakes that takes me as long as if I were to type it myself making half the money. It is crazy and I am starting to hate the industry for it

I suspect employers are being forced to care. SM [2008-10-27]
Since it's a new platform, it's a new problem that probably a lot of companies are just waking up to. My sympathies for people who find themselves effectively forced to use it as it apparently is now. With serious compatibility issues with common brands of the Expanders that have become vital to so many of us, at this point I would not apply to a company using it, and I suspect few other good experienced transcriptionists reading about it would either. This seems such a grave flaw that it will have to be repaired, or this platform will end up a dead end used by only a few institutions. How about contacting the company that developed the platform directly for answers and fixes? Also the developer of your own expander, who must be well aware of the issues Chartscript raises for them. The ShortHand tech guy (not my own MTSO techs!) fixed me up promptly when I was put on eScription and developed glitches. Best wishes with this.

The otherwise is one of my favorites. How about a ...sm [2008-10-27]
small 1-cm incision? Is there a large 1-cm incision? Why is it I only hear a linear longitudinal incision but never a linear horizontal incision. Another one I hear frequently is the surgeon removed all dead and devitalized tissue. Another one is I put sutures in both the subcutaneous tissue, as well as the skin. Good grief! Of course I do edit, transcribe dead/devitalized, take out as well as, etc., but some you just have to leave as is.

You know I wondered how they knew...sm [2008-10-27]
My boss (the owner of Allstate) just said how many of you are cutting and pasting from word? And most everyone said they were. She said the client is having problems and I didn't even understand what she was talking about like what kind of problems. But they traced it back to cutting and pasting from word. The client asked if the MTs were doing that and she told them yes because our Expanders and spellcheckers won't work and they said DO NOT do that anymore. So I said you know I can't do this. It was just a pain. Wasn't worth it. So I don't know how they knew but they did.

Amy, top producers at my company SM [2008-10-24]
earn $60K and UP. They're experienced, fast, use Expanders extensively (of course!), and work a full shift every day. $50K is doable for many, and even slowish but experienced MTs should be bringing in $40K working a full shift every day. Lines rates at this MTSO are pretty standard, with a good incentive scale but not extraordinary. My recommendation for you at this point, now that you've invested so much in becoming experienced, is to shift focus from increasing cpl to increasing lines per minute. Getting faster (without sacrificing quality). That's where your big jump in income is going to come from. Add another cent per line to THAT figure, and you'll have no problem staying positive.