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Heads up warning! A company called DictaCall posted a classified ad
here yesterday claiming great cost savings. After researching the company, I have found that the company is overseas in India and is offering the identical rate structure as another US voice service.  There is absolutely no cost savings whatsoever and anyone using their voice system would be calling into a toll free number where the voice file would end up on a server in Calcutta, West Bengal, India. 

What does this mean to you, the transcription service?
1. HIPAA compliance is compromised.
2. Your client information is at risk. Offshore entities can come in try to undercut you and take your business.
3. In case of outage, you're stuck if you can't get in touch with technical support.

I could go on, but I think you can probably see the same big problems that I see.

You know how they say sometimes your dreams are your brain's way of finding solutions to problems?  I find that when I am transcribing my brain does the best thinking.  Yes, I am focused on what I am typing but I find that all sorts of ideas/solutions just pop in my head while I am transcribing--things that have absolutely nothing about what I am typing.  Can't tell you how many times I think about what to plan for dinner, etc.  I wonder if it is because I slow down enough and am still in one spot that my brain is finally able to focus.  Or maybe it is because I am so focused on my typing that my brain has room to think of other things too. Does anyone else do that? 

I have a mini-dachsund, whom I absolutely adore, who is 2 years old.  When we got him, I was working at home and he was potty-pad trained (if you know what I mean--meaning, that he did his business on the throw-away potty pads).  I didn't really want him to do his business outside anyway, so I just continued to let him go on his potty pads.  Then, I had to leave him for about a week with my husband last summer, who is not as diligent about changing the potty pads like I was, and when I got back home, he had begun hiking his leg on furniture.  Shortly after this, I also went to work outside the home, and so my doggie is now home alone all day.

Here's my dilemma....For the past 4-5 months or so, he sometimes will use the potty pads and other times he just hikes his leg on the furniture or whatever.  There seems to be no rhyme or reason for this.  He's home alone, and he mainly "hikes" his leg when I'm not home but sometimes will do it even when I am there with him.

What can I do?  Is there any way to retrain this dog to NOT go on the furniture and back to the potty pads full-time?  Please don't suggest I keep him locked in a room or locked in a dog carrier/cage because I can't do that.  He definitely suffers from separation anxiety and I have tried putting him into our laundry room while we are gone, and he has dug up the linoleum and tears up anything in that room while we are gone.  When left in a dog carrier, he pees all over the dog carrier and then has to be bathed when taken out because he smells so bad.  He must just go "CRAZY" when locked up in the carrier because when we get home from work, he will have moved the carrier across the room, apparently from jumping up and down so hard in the carrier. 

Other than this whizzing on the furniture, he is a wondeful dog--we love him, but he is ruining my furniture, ruining my carpet, and I don't know what to do. Any advice is MUCH appreciated from fellow MT dog lovers!  I'm wondering if having him neutered would help calm him down and keep him from "marking his territory?"

Would someone who works in RadNet please let me know how production-friendly it is?

Being new to MT full time and coming from a hospital setting (specialty clinics) for most of my career.....How does acute care transcription differ from "speciality"clinics (i.e. ortho, GI, oncology, etc.) when applying for jobs?   Acute care is the same as emergency medicine right?

Aside from the differing terms, doesn't the basics of format apply to all H&Ps, clinic notes, etc. when transcribing notes regardless of specialty?  Therefore, even if you have mostly specialty 'experience' wouldn't you still be qualified to do acute care?  Just wondering....

I am hoping someone can help.  I am trying to connect to a server (new job) and the MTSO I'm working for is away for the evenig.  She told me to connect by  REMOTE DESKTOP to log into their server.   I have no idea how to do this.  Boy, do I feel dumb. 

TIA.

Thanks to all of you for your advice about sciatica.  It gives me hope to know that others had it and have gotten better - and I am really happy to know what all the options are for being treated. 

To the person who said this is a result of being a Transcriptionist and sitting so much - is that true???  I never thought about that being a factor.  I normally walk about 4 miles a day (not right now of course) but I guess that doesn't outweigh the loooongg sitting that we do, does it?

Does anyone know of a Word expanding program, where at the bottom of the computer screen, you have options of chosing which expansion you want?   Also, what do you think the best expansion program is, and why?  Thanks

I need a software program similar to GearPlayer, free or cheap. Is there one that anyone can recommend? I want one that would work with the GearPlayer footpedal I have or with easy keyboard commands to start, stop, rewind, etc.   

I ran across a site months ago that had older versions of Stedman's spellchecker for $30 or so. If anyone knows that site, or one similar, please share that info, as well.

I also need WordPerfect, as new a version as I can get, but as inexpensive as I can get, also.

Thanks!

I am an IC who has been committed to the same practice for five years.  I have showed up when there was no work and they had forgotten to call me.  I ate the 30 miles of gas money without being rude.  I have answered all their emergency phone calls and produced the reports immediately at no extra charge.  I have often been delayed payment due to the doctor being on his own extravagant vacation and/or just delaying payment with no excuse.  I have worked weekends, holidays, all-nighters, etc., without any complaints. The last straw came today, when again, I was not paid.  It is two weeks past due, yet they have the nerve to give me more work.  I just do not get it.  It's time to move on...

Thanks for letting me vent~

I have a part time job of 30 hours/week and a doctor account part time. 

On my doctor account, I am paid per report and get to use a lot of templates.  It is common to get 9 second dictation jobs, just fill in patient name and dates, save and close.  I still make $30/hr for this.

On my other job, I am on a very user friendly platform, produce clinic work at 8 cpl, everything over the internet, and make $20/hr.

Just a few years ago, I was on a platform just a couple hours a day making about $25/hr and the rest of my time was working in a DOS environment.  I never, ever worked more than 6 hours a day (sometimes less) and my 2-week check was over $1400, averaging over $26/hr.

I'm older now and have to work an extra two hours a day 5 days a week to earn the same money.  It is no wonder people are leaving this industry in droves.  I still have another 6 years before my youngest doesn't need daycare so I can get a job outside the home, so I need to make MT work for me, but wow am I getting tired of hitting the keyboard.  I've been in front of a computer for 30 years now.  Now that I have passed all my other bottom lines, I wonder how much longer I can last before I really will leave.  I have always said that if I can't make $20/hr Txing then it is time to find something else to do. I know a lot of people would love to earn what I do, a lot of fresher, younger people would, and I don't mean to sound ungrateful.  Just hope my body and mind last a few more years. 

How do you print your whole ShortHand expansions? I knew once how to do it but cannot remember it. I was playing around with it earlier and actually lost one of my dictionaries for my current new account! I have a couple of other old accounts with useful expansions, but why did I have to lose this one! I was really cruising with my lines. How the heck does that even happen? I'm so upset about that but had to start over with putting everything back in it. I know I need to save it to backup, but still...

Thanks for your help!

Apparently mine have more than one because I have one dictator who likes to use the following phrase:  Patient was told that he might have death and loss of current life. 

I saw it awhile back but can't find it now.

Would like to do an in-service on terminology but make it fun and get all involved. Anyone have info on sites for downloading a quiz, game, etc. that could accomplish this? Will need before next Wednesday, 8/13. One possibility was using medical terms for regular English words to make phrases..always interesting! Any help out there? TIA!

I was just reading the unemployment site for my state and came across some interesting information.

It said if you quit your job due to a "material change" then you could still draw unemployment?  What would constitute a material change? 

Would it be a forced shift and day change after 2 years?  Would it be the fact that you've gone from $1000 a week to $300 a week and you are sitting in front of a computer about 16 hours a day to do that, plus working 7 days a week?  Would it be having to work third shift instead of first? 

Any thoughts, any suggestions?  If I am only going to make $300 a week, I want to draw unemployment so I can go to college and not have to deal with this BS anymore! 

whazzup with softscript??? cant seem to get my line count up they keep changing my accounts when i do and give me Dr. asplkgabppsdkgiapdofnb every time.  evidently this is not uncommon.  glad to accept a new position today!!!!!!

an no one ever answers?

I originally posted this on the "Company Board," but one kind soul there suggested I repost it on the Main Board, so here it goes:

I'll tell you my personal take on this.  I'm a very small MTSO and am fighting like heck to keep my jobs in the good old USA - hiring only Americans, etc.

We face stiff competition from companies who offshore, use EMR, etc.  I charge my clients what the market will bear.  I've already had to lower my rates to 2 of my largest clients because even at the lower cpl rates I was charging them at the time, they were ready to walk to India, and in fact were testing out some Indian MT companies - this after I had, in fact, already lost 2 other doctors' offices to offshore Indian companies.  I feel I am fair and pay my IC transcriptionists 2/3 of whatever I make from my clients.  But whenever I advertise for experienced transcription help, I am pretty much told to go jump in the lake with the rates that I'm able to afford to pay, even though it's good, steady work.  So the bottom line is that I really find it difficult to get any competent help from American MTs. Not that there aren't many around, just that I and many like me can't afford them.  Not blaming the MTs (American OR Indian) for wanting to make a living either, I'm just saying this to demonstrate the dilemma I find myself in. I suspect it's the same for other small MTSOs.  Can't really raise my rates, because from prior experience, many doctors offices have no scruples about sending work offshore.  I've never resorted to offshoring anything, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't tempted.

Not singing the blues, just telling the facts.  Personally, I'd rather be selling hotdogs on the beach.

I charge them 12 cpgl and have for 8 years.  They are still going to need me through their transition (who knows how long) and will need me for overflow to type letters, narratives etc. 

I am wondering if anyone has had an experience like this and how they would do their contract.  Im thinking of charging them 1-2 cpl higher, but with a shorter Turn Around Time for the overflow work since I am losing the majority of the work. Any opinions or suggestions?  Thanks so much!

I am a QA and tonight I have a question by an MT as to the use of the term 'lesbian' in a note.  She wants to know if it should be excluded.  Being that this is a politically correct term in a psych note, and a private note, HIPPA compliant, etc., I feel that it should stay.  Any enlightenment?

Chelle

For some reason i am having a hard time with these.  Does anyone have an easy way to remember quickly?

Thanks!!

Does anyone know whether UnitedTran and United Transcription companies are one and the same?