Home Contact Us

Serving Over 20,000 US Medical Transcriptionists

Medical Transcription Discussion Forums:

General Discussion Forums:

Recently Viewed Messages: (An archive of over 1 million messages related to medical transcription industry)

help on drug board please:) - Posted By: HELP

TIA

Need help with a recipe for tonight - Posted By: (sm)

At a friend's church function a couple months ago, someone had made a chicken casserole that had very simple ingredients, but was very good. I could probably throw together what I think was in there but would really prefer to find a recipe for it if possible. It had a cream-based sauce surely from canned cream of ?? soups...cubes of chicken....spaghetti noodles...and a melted shredded cheese and maybe either fine bread crumbs or parmesan topping. Anyone have anything out there close to this? Thanks!

errors - Posted By: blondie

I have a question. Ok say I want to go in to my system tools and do a scan to check for errors and if any fix them. Well I thought this should be in my system tools section. It was with my old computer. On this one which is Windows XP it has disk scan cleanup or something like that to get rid of unnecessary files. Well what about scanning for errors. I don't see that option. Maybe I am missing something?

know of any safe hairstyle sites? - Posted By: sm

I got a fatal virus last year from a hair site -- would sure like to look at hairstyles or 'try them on' without the worry. Thanks.

JLG Transcription, FL - Posted By: gigli

Looking for information/references from MTs in regards to working for this company. Any information would be most grateful

Expanders - Posted By: oldmqmt

Believe it or not, I have been transcribing for 20 years, and have never used an Expander such as Instant Text. Is it truly worth investing in. Does it really increase your production more than the expander that is in the Dictaphone program?

Weekend work - Posted By: weekender

I am trying to locate transcriptionists who have to work every weekend, unless the physician is out of town (for which you are not notified). I am trying to figure out how to get a weekend off without being penalized (which some companies penalize you for missing any work unless you are dead - those are the exact words one company that I work for used). I have not had a weekend off in two years. How long does one have to endure this kind of treatment by employers before you know it is time to move on. Anyone with answers on how you handled this, I welcome your advice.

Instant Text # of advisory lines - Posted By: I can't change them?

For some reason when I try to change my advisory lines from 10 to 5 they keep linking to things with 10 or more lines. Why is it doing this? I just want 5 lines to show in my advisory phrases and lines. Thanks for any help

Word expander use....sm - Posted By: curious girl

When you all use your Expander and put in abbr., do you typically put in shortcuts for a word or a short phrase or do you do both? For instance, would do you put in a shortcut such as "fol" for followup or do you typically just do phrases such as "ope" for On physical exam, ? I am just curious who does what.

SUV shopping - Posted By: need opinions

We are going to start shopping for a used SUV, less than 20K, probably 2003 to 2005 depending on model. Leaning towards Ford or GM models, mid size, but right now open to most anything.

Can any of you who own SUVs comment on what you own and what you like/dislike about it? TIA :)

Help - Posted By: TD

Anybody familiar with Dragon VR Medical? Please give me some info on this works. - Thanks!

pulses - Posted By: Shiva

Doctor dictates what s/l "pulses 1 and 4" in the lower extremities. Should it be "pulses 1/4"? Can anyone help me out?

Sourcerad for radiology transcription - Posted By: MEMT

Hi,

Just wondering if anyone out there has used this system for transcribing radiology reports and if you could tell me about it, such as ease of use, likes dislikes, line counts, etc.

Mimi

Thought I'd share this e-mail! - Posted By: happy v-day!

Actual writings from hospital charts (that's what this
SAID, what it meant was this was dictation that had
been transcribed incorrectly but was placed in the
patient chart. As a medical Transcriptionist in the
past I understand this all too well! LOL):

1. The patient refused autopsy.
2. The patient has no previous history of suicides.
3. Patient has left white blood cells at another
hospital.
4. She has no rigors or shaking chills, but her
husband states she was very hot in bed last night.
5. Patient has chest pain if she lies on her left side
for over a year.
6. On the second day the knee was better, and on the
third day it disappeared.
7. The patient is tearful and crying constantly. She
also appears to be depressed.
8. The patient has been depressed since she began
seeing me in 1993.
9. Discharge status: Alive but without permission.
10 Healthy appearing decrepit 69-year old male,
mentally alert but forgetful.
11. Patient had waffles for breakfast and anorexia
for lunch.
12. She is numb from her toes down.
13. While in ER, she was examined, X-rated and sent
home.
14. The skin was moist and dry.
15. Occasional, constant infrequent headaches.
16. Patient was alert and unresponsive.
17. Rectal examination revealed a normal size thyroid.
18. She stated that she had been constipated for most
of her life, until she got a divorce.
19. I saw your patient today, who is still under
our car for physical therapy.
20. Both breasts are equal and reactive to light
and accommodation.
21. Examination of genitalia reveals that he is circus
sized.
22. The lab test indicated abnormal lover function.
23. Skin: somewhat pale but present.
24. The pelvic exam will be done later on the floor.
25. Patient has two teenage children, but no other
abnormalities.

Top 10 dead end jobs.... - Posted By: tia

Article in CareerBuilders

This was one of a few clerical positions that were listed as the tope 10 dead end jobs. I really am thinking of doing something else now.

Word Processors and Data-Entry Keyers
This sector of workers is expected to decline due to the proliferation of personal computers. Employment growth of data entry keyers will still be dampened by productivity gains, as various data-capturing technologies, such as bar code scanners, voice recognition technologies and sophisticated character recognition readers become more prevalent. In addition, employment of these workers will be adversely affected by businesses that are increasingly contracting out their work.

Pooling--how is this figured out? - Posted By: another mt

Day to day how to companies/managers figure out what pool to put you into?

Slow Keyboard? - Posted By: Gretta

I had switched keyboards and after a few months decided I thought I liked my old one better. I switched back and do, indeed, like it better; however, I have noticed that my old one is slower when I need to delete several words from a template. If I shift-end (to highlight the whole sentence) it is just as fast, but if I shift-arrow to do four or five words it is slower. Back spacing is slower too, which I try to avoid but do use.

I guess I never really thought about keyboards being different in that way. Does anyone know of a plain old straight keyboard that is fast in this way?

billing on clinical psych narratives - Posted By: anonymous

I am an IC and am being asked to give a quote on transcribing some narrative/office notes, etc for a clinical psychologists office. In detail, it is a 1" margin around the page and there are headings on a template that you fill in either one word phrases or paragraphs. It did not look that difficult. I would have to pick up tapes, e-mail reports back on a daily basis an so I believe that gas and time doing so needs to be counted in. I am needing some advice on how to propose either by the line (gross or otherwise) or page (either full or half etc). Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

transortho out of Washington State - Posted By: Seasoned MT

Does anyone know about this company transortho.com out of Washington State? Input would be appreciated

Early Santa Gift - Noise-Cancelling Headphones under $15.00 RadioShack - Posted By: ThePajamaGame

Merry Christmas all - I thought I would pay this forward. I was struggling with the dictators sound quality even with volume top level for computer sound card. It was really affecting my production. I tried everything - even typing slower and softer so that the keystroke sound would not distort the quality of the dictation. I was recommended to Noise Cancelling Headphones from Radio Shack. Item # is 33-104. Made by Presidian. I LOVE THEM!!!!!!! Not $300 or $400.00. Just $14.97. I thought to myself- o.k. for that price I will try them. Anything has got to be better than this. They rock and I'm passing it along. I don't work for Radioshack or anything but was thinking about swapping my MQ stock for theirs now... LOL.

Parents of College Students..Any of your kids going on Spring Break? - Posted By: Mom of Spring Break-er

Ugh! I have a son going with a group of friends to Mexico for thier first "spring break." They are all good kids, but I've seen the late-night Girls Gone Wild videos... They better be good.

Laptop preferences.......I currently have a Dell... - Posted By: looking to get another

Hi Everyone!

For those of you who use laptops, I was just curious if you would share your brand preference. I currently have a Dell and I love it. I am thinking of getting a second laptop so my son would be able to use this one for school and I would then have one just for work. Like I said I have a Dell and love it (and will probably purchase another Dell) but before purchasing another, I want to make sure I am not missing something with another brand.

TIA.

This could quite possibly have been - sm - Posted By: Frustrated

I've just had the worst and the most unproductive working day of my life. After several days of not a heck of a lot of work, I sat down today hoping to make up some lines. So my internet wigs out on me. Cable guy comes, fixes problem, I'm back in business. About 3 ridiculous family emergencies later (loads of sarcasm here), my phone goes on the charger and I ignore the constant ringing for 2 hours. Since I work at home, everyone thinks I've got loads of time to chat.

My SIL was kind enough to take my boys to the pool today. I was so happy to know that I would have 4 hours of peace and quiet to be able to transcribe. But since my internet was not working from right after they left until the moment they returned, that didn't happen. My son comes home from the pool with bleeding and raw feet (Athlete's foot) that I have had no success at treating with the Tinactin the doctor told me to use. So, I A&D his feet, put some socks on, back to work. Then my youngest dumps a box of Cheezit crackers on the floor and decides he will walk on them until they are very finely crushed. After an hour in the kitchen, I'm back to work. Not for long though. Older son decides he wants a bowl of coco krispies. They also end up on the floor, scattered from one end to the other. Then big brother decides to use his younger brother as his sketch board. So I spend about 20 minutes trying to get pen off my little one's face.

Please somebody, tell me I am not the only one with these problems. I'm beginning to think the only time I will be able to work and actually accomplish something this summer will be if I work when my little monsters are sleeping, which means no sleep for me.

Shelly Winters. - Posted By: RadGuy

So sorry to hear of her death - what a great actress and huge talent - I feel like I've lost a family member. RIP Shelly!

but I still love my job - Posted By: just venting this morning

How many of you have doctors whose dictation sounds like they are a commentator on a golf course, afraid for anyone to hear them, INCLUDING YOU!

MT50 are you still here? - Posted By: Country MT

If you are, will you please answer me or email me

Advice needed. - Posted By: SDS

Hello everyone! I am needing a little bit of advice. I have been talking to a clinic about doing their transcription. It is a strong possibility that I will be picking up and delivering tapes and files. What do you suggest I charger per line? I do not want to price myself too high, but neither do I want to price myself too low either. I will be driving approximately two and a half hours both ways. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

Feedback on Proscript? - Posted By: Still searching

Hi, again, O mighty MTs!

I don't know where I found it, but somewhere I ran across a company called ProScript out of Florida. Does anybody know anything about them, good or bad? Enquiring minds want to know...

fingers not working today - Posted By: is it just me

I have had my days with horrible dictors, and today I have a dream dictor, could no thave been happier to get her and my fingers do not work. I can't seem to type anything correctly. lol. Thank goodness I proof my work before sending - thank goodness for spellcheckers and grammar checkers - cause I suck today lol

Does anybody else have that kind of day - or is it just me? Now be nice lol

Re: MQ letter/phone call - Posted By: wondering MQr

Has anyone heard anything definitive from a supervisor regarding what is coming in this early October packet? Rather than speculate what "might" be coming, I'm wondering if anyone has spoken to their supervisor and gotten some sort inclination as to what's coming.

Is there a way to set Shorthand to capitalize - Posted By: see message

the first letter of each sentence? TIA.

This is my Friday SCREAM!!!! sm - Posted By: Lyndia

I have had a terrible week that just keeps on "getting better" over here.

I don't to talk about it, it would take hours. I just wanted to scream. Mercury must be in retrograde, the moon might be full, SOMETHING is out of alignment.

If you want to scream too, DO IT. It won't help much, but it gets it out.

CONGRATULATIONS! Ashley Z. of Arizona on winning the Avon gift certificate! - Posted By: Administrator (nm)

/

What a joke . . . - Posted By: typingforpennies

Got an offer for a job -- specialty that I just love, but only 5 cents a line? Come on now! I have over 2 years just in this one field of transcription. Plus they expect me to pay for malpractice insurance? Okay 5 cents a line at 100 lines an hour for example -- less than the state minimum wage plus I am supposed to pay for malpractice insurance. Hey -- I'm not the doctor! Doctors are leaving my state because they cannot afford malpractice insurance. Get real.

working for chiropractors - Posted By: Eileen

I was just wondering if anyone out there is working for c hiropractor.

Cherry picking revisited - Posted By: allbright

A few months ago I complained here about the rampant cherry picking at my place of employment. My boss finally did something about it - she laid down the law that we could not begin today's work until all of yesterday's is completed. Fine. But NOW, my favorite cherry picker has simply revised her strategy. She watches the rest of us work, and the INSTANT someone takes the last job from yesterday, there she is to pluck the cherries. We wade through the crap, and then she helps us with the stuff we don't need help with. Any ideas? I think my boss doesn't want to hear anymore about it from me.

In reply to job ads . . . on the company board - Posted By: Oncology/OrthoMT24INPA

I would like to respond to a post about new job listings on the company board. Yes, it seems the same companies continually post want ads for MTs and yes it seems like these companies in question do indeed have revolving doors, but please do not blame the MTs or complain about them speaking their minds on the board.

I left a very good MT job because of a paycheck that was returned for insufficient funds. I say "good" because I loved the accounts and for the most part I was content until the pay incident. It took me nearly a year to find what I had given up. I applied for and accepted many jobs advertised here only to be very disappointed. I asked questions up front before accepting and for the most part the companies lie to get you in the door.

First company gave promises of working whenever I wanted. Said there was always work. That turned out to be nothing but "BS." There was never any work unless I wanted to work overnight.

I had two job offers at the same time soon after that and I accepted the one that promised 8 cents a line. Well I never saw 8 cents a line. Once again it was a sham. First off they only allowed you to type a total of 9 reports a day until off hold. You never get off hold (months) because no two QA people QA by the same standards. They claimed to follow the Book of Style, yet faulted you for typing things as demonstrated in the Book of Style. Once my paycheck was over a week late and I had contacted payroll 3 times and received no response. Another time I was cheated out of pay (60+ lines) I informed payroll and they never responded nor did they ever pay me for it. The final straws � one day I had called for work � by the way most times there wasn't any because the pool was dry, once again you gave a schedule as to when you wanted to work � yet work was rarely there � anyway there was a smart remark about still being on hold. I have never been on hold more than 2 weeks with any other job in the past so it wasn't me. I followed the Book of Style � seems like some QA people have never opened the book! They only ever checked the ESL reports � horrible dictators by the way � what about all the other perfect ones? I'm sorry but you can only do so much with bad dictators. And when the company fails to pay on time I don't feel obligated to go that extra mile to leave zero blanks with and ESL doctor who makes my ears bleed! Last but not least I received a paycheck without a signature. Yep! I reported it ASAP. Big surprise no one in payroll that day. They didn't overnight me a new signed check either. I had to mail the check back and wait another week for it to be returned with a signature on it. I left. There was no advancing in h e double hockey sticks.

There was another job that I tried while this mess was evolving. I asked up front what type of platform they used because I dislike Emdat and Inscribe. The person who hired me wouldn't say what it was but that I would love it. Well, it was indeed Inscribe. Also the contract stated I would be paid for spaces � I used my own counting software and discovered I was not being paid for spaces. There was also a charge for typos in the demographics and according to my line counter the company didn't seem to be paying for the demographics as it was. How can you fine someone for typing something incorrectly that she is not being paid for in the first place? With this particular job I also asked up front "Would I have my own accounts?" I was told yes. Nope it was a typing pool.

Moral of the story . . . if you don�t want MTs to complain about these jobs then please do not lie to them! Pay them on time and treat them right. I have found I cannot make money on a majority of the platforms out there. MS Word is the only way to go for me. I also thrive on my own accounts so please . . . when we ask if we will be assigned our own group of doctors again do not lie to us. A typing pool is not what I consider to be my own account!

Thank you and good night.

Take at home transcription job or unit secretary job at hospital? - Posted By: Uncertain MT

I've been an MT for 12 years and have worked at home doing MT for 10 years. Recently got replaced by EMR so had to find work elsewhere. I took a job at a local hospital as a unit secretary working 3-11 now I have been offered a job with a national transcription company. I'm not sure if I should go back to transcribing since the line count/money making potential has me worried. I've been assured that I will never run out of work but I'm worried that I will actually be working longer than the 8 hour shift in order to make the amount of money I need. I would love to be back home with my kids typing again as I miss not seeing them as much as I used to and they want me to be home. I am just not sure if I should stay in a job at the hospital which has a guaranteed amount of money per pay period since I'm being paid by the hour and not by the line where my paycheck can vary. Any thoughts/suggestions/opinions, recommendations out there? Any and all would be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks!!

wound closure - Posted By: Kathy

I know this is the wrong board, get error message on word board.

"The wound was cleaned, dried and then layers of s/l Indermal were applied"

NO WORK AGAIN - Posted By: amherstMT

Here I am again able to do every work type as an MT/ME with 6 accounts and no work again. Are they trying to acheive TAT to the second? Very impractical. I have been on the same primary for years and know that they did not have to contract with them for real time TAT to get their business, this has NEVER happened to me before. It was always a rare occasion to even get a report from what use to be my 2 back up accounts, unless they needed help. Now with 6 accounts running out of work is a daily occurrence.

MT STARS: Thank you for my lovely gift. - Posted By: ETMT

x

Heartland Transcription - Posted By: info

Anybody work for them? Any info on them would be appreciated. thanks!

Annual salaries of full time transcriptionists - Posted By: Kay

For the veteran's out there- What is your average annual salary (working from home). Also, the companies that offer full time transcriptionists benefits, are the benefits any good?

Why is it? - Posted By: muttering under my breath

Why is that there are days when the worst dictator seems to dictate more than any other doc? Why can't the good ones dictate as much? I just don't understand how it can be this way. You might get one now and then that is decent just to give you a sliver of hope that maybe, just maybe, the mush mouth has gone home for the day. But, no, you finish each one just to get Mr. Mush Mouth who sounds as if he is drunk and has snuff in his mouth. Aghhh!!!!

Shopping tomorrow! Crest Whitestrips?? - Posted By: The Singing MT

Any info? Do they work? I tried the Wal-Mart brand, no luck. Thinking of making an INVESTMENT IN MY SMILE! That sounds sooo exciting. Oh and what about that new enamel building toothpaste?

Are there any text expanders that would use the same saved files from Shorthand?... nm - Posted By: Tobie

Would someone recommend a company or companies - Posted By: anon

that are good to work for as IC? Looking for flexibility especially. Would love 24-hour turnaround. I'm considering signing up with 2 or 3 to TRY to guarantee a consistent work load. Any thumbs-up would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Any flybabies here? Having trouble flying. n.m. - Posted By: pat

Mouse - Posted By: MTTomb

I'm really technologically deprived, so forgive me. I was wondering if anyone knew the typical "life" of a mouse? I just replaced mine about 6-10 months ago, and it's starting to go out already. It's like the little ball thing (see my tech terms?) isn't working, and it's a pain to try to get the cursor to move. The one before I had for about 5 years, and before that, it was eons. Did I get a bad deal, or is this average? Thanks for any help! (I use it daily, working, if that helps determine the life expectancy!)

Line counting - Posted By: D

I have yet to find a decent line counting program. What does everyone else use? Do you count a line as 65 characters or 55 and with or without spaces?

Thanks,