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Positively! When I designed the specs for this pc a few months ago, I made sure it would be...

Posted By: lynn on 2006-12-06
In Reply to: Anyone considering Windows Vista? - OldeMT

VISTA READY.




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Spheris made it public months back that they were going to try and buy them.
They said it in a news release and they were serious. It is my guess that this is a true rumor and if it is then you can expect it to come to a head in about 2-3 weeks. Just be watching
absolutely positively

We got our 18 YO son a truck, 1991 Ford, but he's making the payments. It helps him learn responsibility and he feels proud that he's buying it on his own.  Your daughter probably does see lots of new cars in the lot at school, cause there are lots of parents who somehow or for some reason feel obligated or just plain guilty, so they buy something to compensate.  Don't be that kind of parent, your daughter will benefit more if you teach her how to take care of herself and be a responsible, productive adult, not a spoiled brat!


Positively scrumptious

me too -- it was well researched/designed...
x
I designed my own site using register.com
.
Aria is not designed to have transcription

I used this garbage briefly when I worked in house for an oncology practice last year.  The transcription manager spent $5k on Stedman's only to find that it wasn't compatible.  She probably should have checked that out before she spent the  money, huh?  I worked there for four months typing every single character of every word.  Fortunately we were paid hourly.   Theoretically it is not compatible with Word, but we all had "normals" that we had created for the doctors that we would cut and paste into it, so I'm not sure where the incompatibility comes from.  Maybe from the fact that the transcription manager wasn't that computer literate. 


I had many of the same issues you do with the lag on the text.  We would type and then literally have to wait a full minute for it to get onto the screen.  One of the ways I found around that was to turn my computer off every night.  IT told us to just log off and leave them on and when I did that I would get the lag.  If I turned it off, no problems.  I quite frankly didn't care what IT thought at that point.


The nice part about it is you can put some decent templates in - or whoever has access to that can.  They can insert the vitals and lab work automatically if it's set up for it.


I looked at the Aria website when I was using the program and didn't see anything about transcription, so I think it's designed to truly be a point and click system with no transcription whatsoever.  Some doctors are always going to want narrative reports, so a true point and click is never going to exist, imo.   It's expensive, and I didn't think it was that great, at least from my viewpoint of using it.  When I was at the clinic last year, they were supposedly one of the first ones to have it and they had spent some horrible amount of millions to get it.  


There were ways to work around it so that we could be sort of productive - primarily with saving the normals for each individual doctor -  and I don't know if they managed to get any kind of Expander or dictionary program that worked with it.  The clinic I was at also didn't do their research on the sound files, which I don't think came with Aria.  They had to get a separate voice recording system, and then the Transcription manager and her pseudo-assistant had to actually move the work over to each transcriptonist every day.  It was horribly inefficient.


Good luck.  It has a few good points, but the bad points far outweighed them from what I saw from the transcription end.  I think from the practice management end it's a decent program.  It was just designed by someone who had never worked with the medical records division before, imo.


What a positively disrespectful, terrible post...
In my opinion, your attitude is disturbing. Have you read what you have written?

Firstly, you have misplaced your anger. These issues should be taken up with your employer and with the people hiring MTs, if you are so concerned about quality.

Secondly, venting is one thing, but do you know how you 'sound' coming on here like you are better than everyone else.

Thirdly, in defense of many MTs I must say you are under time pressure to pump out reports so you can get your lines, your lines/per hour, your disgusting pay because you are competing with people who make 2 cents a line when you used to make 12 and are now making perhaps 7 on average...

MTs are supposed to be and act as so-called 'professionals' only how many professionals do you really know who are treated like slave labor, and who have to work under the situations above?

Greed and people like you have created this MT you are so "sick" of, and now you want to change it back. Good luck with that. You are getting what you are paying for, and I say you because you are acting as though this is a personal attack on you.

If you are so sick, go to your employer and tell them they need to make some changes.

Next, in defense of MTs, you have the advantage of reading through a report already transcribed, just listening, after an MT probably has gone through and painfully done the best he/she can, but rather than spend any more time on a report, sends it to QA for help.

What kind of MT are you - have you never had that happen where you simply cannot catch what a doctor is saying, so you ask a coworker who comes along and immediately hears it clear as a bell!

Lastly, do you really think you are doing any justice to your job, if you are so disgusted and unhappy with it? Seriously, perhaps you could take a management position, or start a mentor-type program to help these MTs...
Fluctuance IS a real word and positively correct. SM
Fluctuance IS a real word - meaning that when the wound is palpated (touched), there is a wave-like feeling. See my cite of Stedman's MEDICAL DICTIONARY in the previous post for the definition.

Flocculence is listed in the Online Medical dictionary as a variant of flocculation:
The rapid precipitation of large amounts of a solute out of a solvent.

Stedman's MEDICAL dictionary has no definition for "flocculence." The dictionary.com entry of "a fluffy or woolly appearance" has no relation to PALPATION of a wound.

Stedman's definition of "flocculant" is "Resembling tufts of cotton or wool; denoting a fluid, such as the urine, containing numerous shreds or fluffy particles of gray-white or white mucus or other material." This has NOTHING to do with PALPATING a wound!

I guarantee that "fluctuance" is correct.
Specs
Hi - sent you an e-mail outlining minimum specifications.  Good luck!!
wanted to add it was nice of you to positively reinforce MT efforts on difficult dictations...(nm)
`
I do it per the account specs.
I have some accounts that want it spelled out and some don't.
Who designed the cover for Guide to HIPAA Privacy Rule published by Stedman's?

nm


Well, maybe the account specs call for

whatever changes she is making.  It may sound silly, but some accounts do not want things the "correct" way including grammer, meds, etc.  


Every job and account have their own specifics.  Get some experience and stay where you are, then move on up!   You may find the same thing at another job, depending on the account.


check your account specs too

One of my accounts doesn't want 0's added if doc dictates 250 even though it means 250,000


You need the same specs in a laptop as you have in your desktop.

You needs at least 512 RAM, a good sound card, Ethernet/wireless card, and a dial-up modem if you plan to travel and work, so you have multiple options for obtaining work.   Any computer you buy off the shelf should have everything you would need but maybe the dial-up modem. 


If you use a foot pedal you may need to be an adapter to convert your pedal to USB, if you are using serial/game port with desktop. 


 


computer specs info
The Belarc download to your computer will also tell you every single piece of hardware/software you have downloaded on your computer and it will also tell you if you have all of the Microsoft updates you need for your computer and will have a Red X on any item that needs to be downloaded again. I have saved this download to my desktop for future reference. This is a great tool that a tech guy from www.worldstart, message board, advised me to use.
What are the technical specs on your notebook (sm)
Would like more info on the specifics such as the brand, RAM, processor speed.
Could be the acct and/or lack of specs.

I also think it is important to start off with people who know the account, follow the specs for the VR to learn the specs correctly.  In time with everybody on the same page it should improve, but if you are using all the shortcuts and have experience in the account I can't help but wonder if it may be worth looking into another account.  My line count is actually down now from the account that made me really start like the Escription platform.  I had a mostly ER account with other basic 4 reports in it that would allow me up to almost consistently 800 lines edited lines per hour.  The work was very inconsistent and the company was not reliable so I moved on making less money but much less stress.  The accounts do make a difference but until you try another account you may not know what your potential really is. 


In answering the other question regarding hot keys, I learned just like mentioned above.  Learn them one at a time.  Start with Alt k, then Alt Shift K, Alt ., Alt ,, Alt :, etc.  Use you jump keys, which are very easy to learn and you'll use them all the time, ctrl arrows, ctrl shift arrow, ctrl backspace, etc.  All of them used together really are a time saver.  Get in the habit of using alt 2 and alt 1 too to adjust speed of playback.  For the nice easy ones go ahead and alt 2 to your content and get the report knocked out, for the tougher ones alt 1 and slow down.  I do this throughout the reports as I find it easier to listen quickly to some parts, and slower with others that need more changes.  Any bit of time saved makes a difference. 


Also, in my first report I mentioned working with kids, etc.  This is a biggy for me.  Working 3rd allows me to actually work without distractions.  Small distractions make big difference. 


I'll leave the specs suggestions to others, but - sm
one good place to check for both new and used equipment at a good price is Geeks dot com ... I've purchased from them many times in the past. They also sell factory refurbs,which can often be a very good deal.
i made $15/hr before and didn't stay long because i made so much more on production. sm
that was with full benes too. i wouldn't do it for less than $20, but i think even with $20, i'd want benes. are you in-house?
$32K/part time 6 months/full time 6 months
I have kept my child home with me half the year, but when pre-K started I began working full time. Helps to only have a main account and one backup account for the 2nd year now, so my abbreviation program rocks and rolls when I focus.
These keyboards are designed after the original IBM keyboards that
have the "clicky, audible sound" when pressing the keys - not the hushed, soft, nonexistent touch & feel of the newer keyboards.
Think it depends on what you've learned on & "typed" on as to your preference regarding touch, sound feedback, etc.
When my original IBM keyboard was going on the blitz(1995),I searched far & wide for a company to repair such and/or replace it. This company has repaired such - several times. This company does offer clones of the original IBM that are very comparable to the original. They also have other keyboards available made by their company, but I have no personal knowledge as to their touch, etc.
As a side note, this company will repair most model keyboards for a very nomimal fee if you have a favorite you don't want to part with - ask for Jim Owens - he's a doll-babe !!
I know this company makes several of their own keyboards, but what I believe mdlfcrs is referring to is not known to the newer transcriptionists. In other words, the keyboard she/he and I are talking about is not ergonomic, soft-touch or mushy feeling. It goes back to the days of the typewriter - you heard it, you felt the keys - a totally different feeling compared to most "computer keyboards" -
How does one find out the computer specs on my computer?

I should know this, but I just don't remember how to do this.  I am hoping I have enough RAM, or whatever, to load work platform on my own computer and begin working on it, rather than paying *rent* on the company-furnished computer.  Thanks so much.


I don't know how it made such a small diff in your invoice... made a $100 diff in mine! (sm)

If it were only adding up to three bucks, I wouldn't sweat it. $100? Yeah, that's baseball registration for my son for this year. I am not giving tabs, returns, etc. away free when it adds up to that much difference!  Why should I charge less for a Return than I would for a"K"?


 


 


I have been doing VR for 6-7 months.

The system has not improved in that time and it is much more time consuming to edit VR than to transcribe.  I believe the companies are selling VR to the doctors saying it will eventually be perfected and dictation will be done cheaper and quicker.  Right now that is definitely not the case at this point in time.  On the other hand, VR for banking and other services seems to be working well.  I do believe it's the future of transcription but for now it leaves a lot to be desired and is very, very tedious and kind of nerve wracking if you are used to transcribing. 


On the other hand, for someone who cannot transcribe but has medical terminology course, you may be able to make some money on VR and I suspect that is exactly what companies have in mind when they push VR.  Eventually all MTs will be replaced by MEs (medical editors) at a lower line rate.  I have seen as low as 4 cpl posted for editing so for someone who wants to work at home, I guess that's good enough especially if you can't transcribe all that well utilizing expanders, etc. 


 


I have been there 5 months and have never (sm)
been happier. They are great!!
Sure! It took me 3 months to get (sm)
good at MT (no formal training, just science background); like you, I sort of fell into it -- was getting divorced and leaving grad school, needed a job, had done transcription at temp jobs, so saw an ad and jumped -- made a grand total of $300 the first month, 10x that after 3 months. There is only one other job I've ever had that kept me as interested as MT -- working as a paralegal doing insurance defense work. I love the challenge of researching a new piece of equipment, I love hearing people's stories, and I adore working at home and avoiding all the politics and other garbage of a worksite. I love working all night when the work is plentiful and breaking my days up how I like. What's not to like?
I like it. I have used it for a few months
and it is very easy to get used to. The only thing I don't like is it doesn't spell check your work until the end, I'd prefer to have it checked as I go along, like in MS Word.
About 2 1/2 months here
My biggest problem is in the evenings. I am so sick that all I want to do is lay down and sleep until it passes. I work two jobs, so I am having the difficulties you are talking about. I am moody, too. This is my first experience with this while being an MT, so I'm right there with you on not knowing what to do. Good luck!
At the very least 6 months
It is absolutely overwhelming in the beginning. Worked in-office and tried to quit my first day after a half hour! How lucky I was to have a patient supervisor and kind co-workers. (Plus good references that actually showed sample reports--so helpful to see what the ''finished product'' should look like.) I hated my former job so I just kept coming back, reading everything available, and taking terminology classes. Maybe I was a ''slow study'' but after around 10 months, things started to make sense.
As a new MT myself, not quite 6 months
on the job yet, I take any and all feedback with a grain of salt. The tone of the e-mail does not bother me as long as useful information is being given. I did not graduate from one of the top 3 schools either, so I appreciate the opportunity to work and learn at the same time. Feedback often makes you feel degraded and dumb to a degree, but let us face it, we are. We are ignorant to the world of MTing. We do not know everything. We learn daily. Once you begin implementing the advice given you will probably find that critical e-mail will lessen. Also, trainers often do not have the time or resources to be "sweet" to everyone they train. Their primary responsibility is to make you the best MT you can possibly be. Learn, grow, and do not take it all to heart. Good luck.
I did for 6 months sm
a loooonnnnngggg time ago when my kids were tiny. I started out pouring the models but had to leave due to babysitter issues. There is very good money to be made there. Based on production but I believe they pay by the hour. Go for it. Not any more boring than MT can be at times. Around here if you can paint the porcelain teeth, the pay is close to $20 an hour.
about 7 months

they have been using it on my account. 

it really depends on the voice.

I just learned that "lungs are clear to sedation"
and parentheses do not know if they want to be princesses or impressions.


took over 2 months for me

I worked for them last year.  It took over two months for them to get it together and then I finally had typing to do.  They do not go by their contract.  In it, it says you would have so many (50 maybe?) typings before they got out out of training (which has less pay of course) and it was over 200 and then it was only after I asked about it when they moved me to an actual account.  After that, I worked for about 3 months and every time I would be put on an account and start making decent money, they would switch me to another account and I'd have to start all over getting used to....thus not making money.  I finally resigned and explained why and the owner sent me an email, saying she didn't bother to read my email....but she didn't understand what the problem was....duh...if you had read the email, you might understand.  It was a mess and not worth my time at all.  There were actually hours where I could have made more money at McDonald's.  Oh, and when they fax you back any corrections, they charge for fax time......even when they're having problems with their fax...they charge you the time!!!....they charged me nearly 1/2 hour once because they were having problems with the fax and they were faxing MY work.....just not worth it to me....I'm sticking to my own accounts.


Gee, my 'E' is okay after a few months, it's my

a,c.v.b.k.l. and the period that are worn on this new keyboard.


I wish I would have known about the clear nail polish before I started using this. I would have tried it. I have gone through 3 keyboards in as many years and my first keyboard keys were worn down to nothing.


2 months before they pay you?
I would explain that to them, that this is not ONE month, but it is TWO months before you will see a dime for work done, and that you have MTs that depend on paychecks much more often than that. Ask them if there can't be some kind of negotiation. I really don't see how they are even requesting that set up. NO one pays just every 2 months. If I paid my bills only every two months, I'd be sitting in the dark, for sure. I wish you the best on figuring this out. It's an awful situation for you.
when I was very new, about 2 months ago actually

the doc said to avoid NSAIDs and I typed incense! 


Ot maybe this is the first time in six months that the
account has been out of work because ALL medical providers are slow this time of year.
All you need to do is stay there for 3-6 months to get the
We all start out in really crappy jobs, but stay there because it looks good on the resume for a better company.  My first place I worked with, I had to work with a guy who had no idea what he was doing, would type just about anything he wanted just to get paid (at that time 7 bucks an hour was big bucks) and when i'd correct him, because it would look bad on me too (there were only two of us per shift in the small room connected to the ER), he'd flip me off behind my back and make faces.  It was complete nonsense, but it got me into a better company.
I complained over 6 months ago about J. sm
I was using my computer but i believe it boils down to J doesn't have a clue what he is doing. somethings he couldn't figure out and i knew exactly how to do them. i think they got him off the street holding a work for food sign maybe. he likes for you to use company computer because he doesn't know crap about fixing yours. loved the company other than J and the hatefulness/stupidness that came along with him.
Thnx, been 4 months sm

She has been here once in that time and she just started crying all over again until hubby felt bad for HER and started taking her side and I have just had it.  He is a big one on the few house rules we have DUE TO HIS MOTHER being so lax and not responsible, so rules are rules apparently except when his mother is involved.


We have been over this issue the past 15 years (since first child) as she is the one who always trys to break any discipline just becuase she happens to be there.  Sorry, they knew you coming and if they decided to get in trouble that is their doing and letting things slide all the time just becuase she is around made a mess of things and I am just full of it and decided if this is not a big deal for her...it should be for my husband and until the two of them realize how serious  her actions were they will not be left with her for any reason as I have no clue what serious is to her if that was not.  I could see if she did not know that the kids were to tell us anything that is/might be an issue first hand, but she has been in on that rule for many years, so it was not new or something I just decided to get upset about...standing rule so that we can discuss and find alternative solutions for next time, etc. depending on if an issue at all or something that might come up down the road again.


If you asked that 2 months ago
I would have told you MQ whom I was happily with for years and years but now I sorrowfully have to say, NOT HERE!
3 years, 9 months - nm
x
I spoke with them a few months ago SM
and they said they are getting a pool of resumes together to fill positions AS THEY BECOME OPEN.  So there is really no "position" there, they are just getting a bunch of them together to go to if they need to.
We've been using ours for two months now.
No more $20 gas bills like in the summertime.
I agree, at least 3 months. My
accounts I have been on for 5 years, well I fly and the money really does pour in. Good luck.
Three months sounds about right. nm
:)
I had that for a couple of months and it has
recently gone away.  I tried pillows, sitting up straighter, etc.  Nothing seemed to help.  It was to the point I could only sit for about an hour at a time.   I didn't realize it until I saw your post, but I'm not hurting anymore.  I haven't been as stressed lately and I wonder if that was causing it.   I tend to manifest stress with a physical ailment, used to be migraines, then back spasms when major sudden stress. 
not very long, only nine months...
we have a sliding scale and all of that...but you have to do 1200 lines to get .055, can you believe that?
As of about a couple months ago, we are to
not spell out any number at all. I hate that because it looks ridiculous.
I went through the same thing for 6 months
It was so good to have an apartment with a door I could lock that only I had the key to. I guess the upside to transcription is that if you do become homeless, you can still keep your job.