There is a huge difference between expanders and the limits of

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.

See my note above about Spybot SD and spybot difference [2008-10-13]
SpyBot SEARCH AND DESTROY is a removal tool. SpyBot (that name alone, without the Search and Destroy) is, in fact, a Spyware itself. Search and Destroy can be downloaded from CNet.

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!

well, if not hippa police to enforce - quite useless. huge waste. [2008-09-27]
huge farce

To: IT Fan - one more thing [2008-12-02]
Forgot to ask - Do you think it makes a difference what platform you use with IT, in terms of how well the ShortHand will import and how well the IT/Shorthand (kind of combo) will work with the platform? I will be using Medrite and did not know what you use or if the platform even matters. Hope you can answer. Thanks again!

Have you seen photos of the tangled mess of [2008-12-01]
What an incredible MESS. To think that valuable, often sensitive personal information travels through that knotted mess made me nervous even BEFORE the attacks in Mumbai. And now the risk those records face there makes me nauseous. It's a huge U.S. security and/or identity-theft breach just waiting to happen.

I think you should read the post again.. [2008-12-01]
And now doesn't want to pay. OP never stated that they didn't want to pay. You really jump to conclusions. She has not worked with this physician before. It most likelywas a simple mistake. Why jump straight tothe idea that they are expecting her to work for free or will burn her? Do you really believe that this office will now go around and tell everyone that Lisa works for free? Do you really believe that? There is a difference between working for free and giving someone the benefit of the doubt when most likely they made an honest mistake. And, no, it has nothing to do with being a doormat. Here is that definition: One that submits without protest to abuse or indignities. Every person who has responded to her posthas, at a minimum, suggested that she make itvery clear that she will not accept this scenario again -- that would be protest. I'm sorry that you have been burned before, but that's a big stretch at this point in this particular situation.

I'm thankful to have a job at all [2008-11-27]
To my fellow MTs on Thanksgiving Day. A poem that makes me realize how blessed I am to have a job at all in this economy. Even if it's not perfect, it's a paycheck. Hope it touches the heart of all who read it. BE THANKFULBe thankful that you don't already have everything you desire.If you did, what would there be to look forward to?Be thankful when you don't know something,for it gives you the opportunity to learn.Be thankful for the difficult times.During those times you grow.Be thankful for your limitations,because they give you opportunities for improvement.Be thankful for each new challenge,because it will build your strength and character.Be thankful for your mistakes.They will teach you valuable lessons.Be thankful when you're tired and weary,because it means you've made a difference.It's easy to be thankful for the good things.A life of rich fulfillment comes to those whoare also thankful for the setbacks.Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.Find a way to be thankful for your troubles,and they can become your blessings.~Author Unknown~

It totally depends on the VR platform your company uses...sm [2008-11-27]
Some are very good and the reports require little editing, others are awful the reports can be typed almost as fast as editing them, not good when there is such a difference in pay.

Napster and Rhapsody last time I looked. [2008-11-27]
Rhapsody limits you to 25 plays a month, and Napster has poor sound quality for free plays, but should at least give you a good sample. I haven't used either in a couple of years, so their terms of service may be different now.

Thank you [2008-11-26]
It really makes a big difference when you see a little snow or decorations and know you nearly did not see that this time, and seeing the wheelchair in the room and being able to stagger on by instead of getting in! I hope everybody out there finds an employer who isn't just thinking about more more more as far as accounts and money! Seems like they all forgot the value or people, being good to people, and keeping people.

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?

SELF-EMPLOYMENT FANTASY [2008-11-25]
Am I living in a dream world thinking that I can actually find clients that will allow me to establish the rules by which I will run MY business? Or, does being successfully self-employed in this industrymeanthat I must allow the clients to walk all over me? I am flexible to a degree, but just want to be able to set limits while still being able to make a living. Maybe I should find some other industry?

billing vs coding sm [2008-11-25]
I'm posting here because hardly anyone visits the billers coders board. Could someone tell me the difference between medical billing and medical coding? I have the impression that the biller just inputs data already coded, etc.for insurance andthe coder actually assigns the codes thus needs more indepth knowledge. Would being a medical biller helpin becoming a medical coder? Has anyone done either or both? What is the pay range for each? Thanks.

Proofing Help Pleeeez! (long post) [2008-11-24]
I am 53,divorcee with 1 child in college, been MTing for 32 years. When I started out I was one of the best in my field, accurate, at my peak was making close to 50,000 a year, only one job and only 40 hours a week. Now, here I am going through menopause, working 12 hours a day (1 full-time and 1 part-time) and barely making ends meet. My production is at an all-time low, and I'm working on my 3rd or 4th job this year- I forget, it's been so many, for various reasons why they didn't work out. But, now I find myself, going into my third week of employment with this company, still in QA, making stupid grammatical errors, and leaving out words, that I am not aware of. I would like to say one of my problems is that this is a huge Children's Hospital with a lot of procedures, diseases, and terminology I have never heard of, but I cannot really say that, as most of my errors are gramatical, i.e. not putting comma or semi-colon where it belongs, leaving out it, and, but and they. I am beginning to feel they may not keep me. I am 1 pay check from being homeless, now jobless, already uninsured, as I could not afford the Cobra. I have applied for jobs completely out of the MT field, so far with no luck of being hired. I put in an application last week for a State Job with excellent benefits, paid by company, and although the salary is 22,000 to 36,000, if they call me, I am definitely going to take it. I figure I have 15 more years before retirement, and if I can tap into the retirement for the next 15 years, that would be a help, as I don't have any 401K to fall back on. Anyways, if you guys can give me some proofreading tips that will not take away from my production, I would greatly appreciate it. Most companies don't offer a training pay that would last at least 2 weeks, which would be a help. So here I am trying to make money, which is virtually impossible when you're training on a new account, new company, new software and everything. Help Guys.

best of companies [2008-11-24]
I have over phone interview with Webmedx. Am I making a good move if I accept and what's the difference in enterprise platform and chart matrix

Does anyone ever wake up one day [2008-11-17]
Just not wanting to deal with the constant worry of feast or famine. Companies which treat the MT as a big zero if he/she does their job well, although when needed extra, the MT is made to feel guilty if they do not do 10,000 percent in spite of the fact they are previously treated like zero. Sometimes the paycheck although small, does not seem worth it compared to the quality or lack of quality of life. No, I am not depressed. I think this MT has finally wished for some time off to go outside, see the clouds, smell the fresh air, and consider the life passing by. As well, this MT would like to remember what it was like to have the security of a job which paid halfway decently, actually a boss who showed just a tiny bit of appreciation once in a while for doing a difficult job well, and the days when a person did not flinch when looking at the computer wondering what the day would bring. Silence, more silence, or an even smaller paycheck. I tell you, if I were to take 2 weeks off, nobody in my household would even notice the difference in budget, the pay has gotten so low from lack of work. Used to be a person could make a difference with this job. Wondering if it is time for a change. Do you ever feel that way?

interruptions in your day [2008-11-17]
Hi all! I have been at this now for about 9-1/2 years and now that I have gotten serious about trying to work it like a normal job, it seems EVERYTHING gets in the way!!! arrgh. I work for two companies, one with assigned doctors (not much work) and one with pool work. I am struggling to consistently work enough hours doing the pool work. The money is good and the lines are decent, but it seems I have a hard time committing to it. With the assigned doctors, they have XX patients, and I know I do those patients and I am done. I can't seem to finish out my time with the pool work. It is just stupid. Anyway, after giving it a bit of thought this weekend, I decided to work my schedule like this. I will say because I have done assigned docs for so long, I am geared towards having a schedule of XX patients to work through and I don't have that with the pool work. 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. 6-10 pool work, 10-12 assigned doc, 12-4 pool work. The issue I am having is my phone is ringing or there are issues with the kids, etc. So already this morning, basically 4 hours today have been shot due to phone/kids (HUGE ordeal this morning - I still have two kids at home, 16 and 17 - the joy of parenthood hehe). I just feel like I can't get anywhere. Currently I am doing the assigned doc and of course no one is calling, no drama, etc., so I will go right through his work with no problems. How do those of you who do pool work schedule yourselves? I think if I could ever get myself on a schedule with the pool work, which there is plenty of, I would drop the assigned doctor. My thinking is December 31 Maybe my brain is just stuck on checking off patients on a list instead of playing beat the clock doing the pool work HELP!!!!!

I am not sure, I have a unique situation, but sm [2008-11-16]
My problem was no mortgage and being an IC. In October of 2007 I filed my taxes for 2006 (had an extension) and I got sucked for $7500 and then another $400 for penalties. In April of 2008, I got sucked for another $7600 and another $350 in penalties. There went my new car. There went paying off a debt I have been years working on. So, no I don't know how you do it and pay your taxes! In 2008, I went to work as an employee. They will pay part of my taxes, they pay a fair portion of my health insurance premium, I have PTO and everything else. I was thrilled to work for only one place, till my tax accountant told me that in my circumstance, I would not be able to deduct any of my expenses because I can't itemize my taxes! He told me to work at least PT as an IC. I did for a time Jan-March and then quit. By May 1,2008 I knew I had to look for something. I ended up going back to work for the place I had quit in December 2007 to work for my employer. It turns out it is a 6-hour day on top of my 8-hour day. That was not the agreement, but it is the reality. I will be able to file as an employee and a Schedule C as an IC. I'll have my cake and eat it too. I am saving 1/3 of after tax income, but I have very little free time and only one day off a week, if I have that much. I will meet my goals for a newer vehicle and paying off my debt next year, and that is great, but I will have had very little fun otherwise. I don't even have time to grocery shop most months, but I'd have money if I could get there. I am known for being a total workaholic and it is true. The only thing I can tell you about making it all work is to scale down, down, DOWN! I went from a 2400 sq ft house in a large city, to an 1100 sq ft mobile home in a small town that has DSL. I bought the mobile home outright for a paltry $3K and while I don't own the land, my rent for that is only $75 (hence my tax problems). Where I live, it is so rural that the nearest Walmart is 60 miles each way, but it is best that Walmart and I should be parted that way. I get there perhaps 3 times a year, which is plenty. I eat at home. I make my clothing. I clean my own home. I do my own laundry. I pinch every penny I can figure out how to pinch, and then I pinch it harder. I gave away much of my furniture in this move and replaced it with second hand furniture that fits my new smaller home. The house was a real fixer upper and I have almost completed it...on a shoestring doing most of the work myself (but not this year). I grew up poor, I was poor when I was married and raised my kids poor. I am no longer poor, by the standards of where I live I am quite well off, but you would never know this by how I live. I run around in comfy sweats that are old, that is why they are so comfy! I live in a tin can and in a dirty little town full of wonderful people. I happen to be in love with my tin can which I have transformed into a very cozy, inviting home where guests love to visit...for tea in cups and saucers from the thrift store. It is hard to make more money. I knew my energy limits and what I could and could not do. I made a conscious decision to work the money equation from BOTH sides...spend far less and make as much more as I felt I could. The end result has been better than I had anticipated. As for getting out of MT, we are all pretty well in the same boat if we have been doing this for a long time. You might try a job center through where you live. Have them help you brush up your face to face interview skills, and see about how to present yourself as professional and capable. We have all been out of the fix your hair and makeup, actually get dressed and leave the house mode for a long time. I know if I were going out the door to work, I would need to follow this advice myself. I need some fine tuning, possibly so do you. So stay in or get out, that is up to you. I thought I would give you why I have stayed in and how I did it.

Whoa . . . another thing, don't be so quick to judge. [2008-11-16]
It depends on the type of account you're on. A lot of time the 300 lph MTs are working onshort clinic notes for one or two docsor ER reports. There's a big difference in the types ofaccount you're on. I work on an acute care account for a large teaching hospital. I do HP, consults, ORs, discharge summaries, echos, eegs, and about anything else they dictate for internal medicine and all the specialties, including infectious disease, radiation oncology, cardiology, neurology, etc., you get the picture.Sure, I can fly on short clinic notes or ER reports, but then I get so bored I could scream. My dictations are more technical and time consuming, but much more interesting. I have to stop and research sometimes on the latest meds or procedures, but it keeps me on my toes!

I don't know if you are referring to me...sm [2008-11-16]
as the other poster who was judging. I haven't judged anyone on here. I did state what I thought to that nasty poster who said that if you aren't making good money it is more than likely you. If you are doing good I am happy for you. Some MTs do have plenty of work, and that makes a big difference. If the work is not there, you can't very well make any money. I certainly would never suggest you pad your lines or any of those other things. I try not to judge people.

I should add [2008-11-14]
I work day and evening hours, all week, and Saturday and Sunday. Fridays and Saturdays were great days to work because most people take those days off. Now I cannot tell the difference between Friday and Monday, work-wise. So unfortunately I cannot shift my hours to try to find the spot where there are less people. I work from 7 am to 11 pm every day and this work flow problem is consistent throughout the day, every day.

Did you just say: You can very easily "add lines by inserting a word here and there" [2008-11-14]
I recall back in the mid 1990s, I was working with a fellow MT who was on midnight shift in medical records. He was making a huge sum of money and we all thought he was the Whiz. Come to find out, he was inserting phrases, embellishing dictated sentences I guess you'd call it, to get more lines per report. He got away with it for a number of years but was kissing up to the supervisor and director, always available to help out, nicest guy in the world - but a thief - who fooled us all. Radiologist would surely notice eventually if not QA.

Overhiring and hospital MT [2008-11-14]
I hope your friend knows how lucky she is. Some of our doctors fussed about server issue problems with this new company. We could not get work, so hospital did not get work. This week has been better so maybe it got fixed. I wish our hospital would bring us back. Hospital had excellent MTs, but they did not want to spend money on new equipment which was always breaking down and really we needed more MTs on evening shift which we had none which was crazy because my ex-hospital was huge. I never could understand why they did not have at least 2-3 girls on 2nd and 3rd shift and then we got behind a little, not much, but it was mostly due to hospital dictating system, then a few docs complained to administration and that was itm out the door and we were history. I think we did excellent for the work volume we had. The thing is that I do not understand is that they got rid of use acute-care and cardiology MT, but kept the in-house radiology girls, and luckily my acute-care friend had a friend in radiology dept so they called her and asked her to come and work for them FT, so back to the hospital she goes hourly rate again too. She is lucky. We were a good group of girls who worked very good together, but as usual Administration never asked us our opinions on how to improve anything. They never listened but what else is new. What it boils down to there is no security in the job field anymore.

Why are we not valued? [2008-11-13]
I cannot, for the life of me, figure this out. One would think that an MT with skills and experience would be something of value. The MTSOs and the physicians we serve seem to not even see us as skilled human beings but rather like dull drones, machines without real lives who were created just to just pump the work out without much thought (it is as if they think we do not THINK!). With the ASR game in full swing, this feeling is more prevalent than ever before, at least in my experience/perception. Why? Why are the years of dedication it took to acquire these skills not appreciated? Why are they so quick to get rid of us? If our job is so easy a monkey could do it, then why does it seem so hard to me? Why do they think it is okay to not only freeze and regress wages, eventually cutting our pay in half for ASR work? I find all this very depressing. My company has announced it will begin switching us over to SR/ASR. I am really afraid this means more work for me for less pay. I wish what they are saying now will be true, that I will be able to do 3 times as much in the same amount of time, but I don't believe that. I am afraid it will turn out to be snake oil. I also think that if they are charging the clients the same for SR/ASR reports, then I should be paid the same. WTH is going on? :( (Do the MTSOs the cut rates for us to do ASR/VR charge the clients half as much as well? Somehow I doubt that. They get to pay us half for the same skills/work and make the same, thus THEY get a huge pay raise while we get slammed. Am I wrong about this? I would like to be.)

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!

You're right if you're single it's tough. [2008-11-12]
I am an IC as well, but I have a husband with benefits and makes a fair buck. I am fortunate after 20 years to able to work from home. I worked on site for 17 years with a chocolate cake the day I left. Nothing more... The loyalty in any profession is gone, gone, and gone again. Most companies want new employees/ICs that will take low pay and that won't cost much in the way of paying vacation time. I do take every Friday off and try only to get on to check e-mail, etc. However, I wouldn't trade being here for my kids at this point. There are headaches no matter what profession you are in. It seems if it isn't one thing it's another. Raises? Out of the question in this profession since most are afraid they will lose the account including myself. I also underbid my last account because I wanted the account so bad. I should be charging more. It is a neverending cycle really. But, I still enjoy the work, so I guess that's the difference. It does take will power to sit and type. Some people need that boss hanging around to keep the production up and the incentive of a nice paycheck is just not good enough. Good luck with your new job! Sounds great!

Wow, I did a line count comparison...sm [2008-11-12]
what one of my accounts paid me for and what my other account would have paid me for with their counter and only came up with a 15% difference. A 50% difference is pretty hard to stomach. I have no ideas except for some really crooked software.

why on 1 computer for the same report would the word count be different in Word? (inside) [2008-11-12]
Like on 1 computer with word the document was 27000 character counts w/spaces and the other computer (the one i type this account on says 13,000. How can there be such a difference with Word being the same? I am baffled.