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backing up abbreviations

Posted By: Jan on 2005-11-30
In Reply to: I used to use Bayscribe.... - i_am_mtheaded

Thank you VERY much for the info!  Makes sense to me.  I'll give it a try. 


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backing up abbreviations

I'd like to make a backup copy of all my abbreviations on Word Expander.  I use Bayscribe for my work.  Does anybody know how I can go about backing these up?  I'm concerned that all it would take would be a virus or something funky to happen to my PC, and I'd lose all those abbreviations.  I have stored over 2,000 my own abbreviations for a total of over 60,000 characters and would really regret all that work if something happened.  Thanks. 


thanks for backing me up. It IS possible-sm
I have the same accounts every day and know them well. i do use macros and autocorrect in word. I have a gross line count, which is different from 65 character count, so that may make a difference. but I do work hard at 12 to 14 hours a day. I stop for a quick lunch and it is back at it. It is hard, but I have a good nest egg, as well. Oh. and i DO have a life. thank you. not bragging. just stating the facts for MY situation. Not every account is the same. I do not do acute care, either.
backing up

I am wondering if you somehow got yourself deleted as a user of the computer???  Don't know much about that.  But if your daughter's stuff is still there, then it would seem the computer is working okay (just a layperson here guessing).


I bought an external hard drive and I keep a copy of everything on that.  If the computer goes out, I can use that on another one.  Don't know how to get program files on there yet though. 


I let the shop do anything with the program files as I don't trust my limited knowledge.  They cloned my C drive (with the programs) and made me an F drive on the hard drive in the computer so that if C goes down, I can use the programs from F.  Don't ask me how to do this -- have absolutely NO idea but they do and and I know they can get me up and running.


I also use CDs for backup but they won't last as long as a hard drive will so keep that in mind.  But it's just more protection.  Like you, the neighbor has a copy of my Expander program. 


I wish you luck.  I'd suggest System Restore as well.


Backing up Shorthand
Could anyone tell me how you back-up Shorthand.  I have been trying to figure this out for quite some time.  If my hard drive crashes, then that means I will lose all my ShortHand entries I have added for the past 2-3 years...and that definitely makes me very nervous.  TIA.
Backing up files
You could look into getting an external hard drive.  You can connect your old computer to it and transfer all the files you want to keep; then put them directly on your new computer when you get it set up.  You can find them at Target, Best Buy, Circuit City, etc.  Hope this helps.  Good luck!
backing up expander
I bought an external hard drive when it was on sale and back up my dictionary and Expander stuff to that.
You know all throughout this thread I see posters backing

pro MQ posters and funny thing, they have all the same style of writing, emphasizing their thoughts with CAPITAL LETTERS.  Could this be one MQ manager working overtime to make it appear there are lots of posters who think MQ is the greatest and anyone who doesn't like MQ has a bad attitude?  I don't know but it looks fishy to me.  Those CAPITAL LETTERS are a big give-away that one poster is assuming multiple personalities to defend MQ but isn't smart enough to change style of posting.  


Just sayin.............


 


Our driveway collapsed while my dad was backing up
This is particularly a problem in the south where there is a lot of lime in the soil and underground watersheds. The county where I live has a large sink hole that brings visitors from all over...It is nicknamed the "Golly Hole" because "Golly" is what people say when they see it! It is more than 3 football fields in length and more than one across.

This also happened on my mother's property when she allowed her neighbor to use her water to fill some ponds on his golf course. He drained the watershed too quickly and she had sink holes pop up all over her 10 acres. An environmental attorney wanted $5000 just to look at the facts of the case to decide if he would take it. She just had the holes filled in...actually several of them more than once...and it was cheaper than suing. Not much you can do but call the department of health (that may be the right department in your state).
Backing up Auto Correct
Can someone tell me how to back up AutoCorrect in Word? I just purchased a flash drive and would like to put my entries on it. Thanks in advance!
Backing up Auto Correct
The file name for mine is MSO1033.acl. Just do a file search on your computer for *.acl and save it to disk or flash drive.
Backing up AutoCorrect Entries

If I understand your post correctly, you are looking for a way to easily back up your current work environment so that you can copy it onto another computer?  There is actually a very easy way to back up and restore your AutoCorrect entries.  If you go to the Microsoft web site at this link; http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/thankyou.aspx?familyId=73dbead3-b37a-425a-9ae8-dd3593b5675b&displayLang=en, you can download the Macro.exe file.  After you download the file onto your computer, click on Macro.exe, which will walk you through a few steps.  When you are prompted to extract the files into the C:Sample folder, instead choose a folder that you can find easily later.  When the Macro.exe file has finished running, you will then see a Macros9.dot file in the folder you chose to save in.  This file is a Macro written by Microsoft to back up and/or restore your AutoCorrect entries.  To back up or restore your entries, just click on the Macros9.dot file, and follow the steps for AutoCorrect entries.  Note:  If you have created any AutoCorrect entries that have a space afterward, it will cause an error when you are installing (restoring) them on a computer.  However, you will still be able to back up your entries, and you can fix the problem by opening up the backed up copy and removing the extra space at the end of each entry.  When amending the backed up AutoCorrect list, be careful not to accidentally expand out any of the entries, as they will install on the new computer in that manner.  The backed up copy of the AutoCorrect entries is a Word document, so it is easy to amend and re-save. 


In my experience, there is no way to easily incorporate your AutoCorrect entries into a brand-name text Expander program, but then again, I have only worked with a few expander programs over the years, as AutoCorrect and Macros have always covered all of my needs.


Another easier way to back up your work environment is by using the Microsoft Save My Settings Wizard, which can be found under Start, All Programs, Microsoft Office Tools (the Microsoft Office Tools folder is sometimes stored within another Microsoft folder under the program menu).  The first thing you would need to do is back up your work environment on the computer that has all of the settings that you want to keep (just run the Save My Settings Wizard and follow the prompts).  After you have backed up the settings, save the file in a folder on your desktop, which can then be sent to yourself through email.  Download the file you sent yourself through email onto the computer that you want to set up, and run the Microsoft Save My Settings Wizard to Restore the settings, which will automatically set Word up with the same environment as that of the other computer, including your AutoCorrect entries, AutoText entries, personal user dictionary, Word environment settings (Normal.dot file), and Macros.  Of course, if your Macros are currently stored on the company computer, you will not be able to back them up, unless you have access to that computer through the server.  The normal way that you back up Macros is by opening Word, and pressing Alt F11 to enter the VBE screen.  On the left side, you should see a folder Labeled "Normal," inside of which there should be another folder labeled "Modules."  If you double-click on the Modules folder, you should have a file inside labeled NewMacros.  Highlight the NewMacros file, and right-click your mouse, choosing Export.  You can then export the file to save it in a folder on the desktop, transferring the backed up file to the other computer via email.  To Import the file into the other computer, open Word, and go to the VBE screen.  Highlight Normal in the left column, right-click your mouse, and choose Import.  Find the folder in which you saved the NewMacros.bas file, and click to import it.  You should then see a NewMacros file inside of the Modules folder.  Note:  If you open the VBE screen and do not see anything in the left column, you need to click on the top toolbar, View, Project Explorer.  If you do not see the Macro code after it has been imported, click on View, Code.


I hope some of this information helps.  Back in the day when I had to set up a new computer at home, I had to learn all of this stuff the hard way.  As I am sure all of us know, there always seems to come a time when our computers die unexpectedly, so it is really nice being able to back up our work environment in case the worst should happen.  I not only back up my work environment on a monthly basis to make sure the information is up to date, but I also save copies of everything on CD and send copies to store in my email folder.  In the past, I have had my computer crash to where I could not get my backed up copies, which made it impossible to set up my alternative computer quickly in a pinch.  Saving the information onto CD is handy, but I do not rely on them heavily because they can become corrupt easily and/or break.  By sending the backed up files to myself through email and saving them in an email folder, I have everything handy if I need to set up another computer quickly.  


A question about backing up auto-corrects. - sm
I keep meaning to back up my auto-correct, which I depend on HEAVILY, and keep putting it off. This latest thread has given me new resolve. I have a question about backing it up:

I usually back stuff up onto a CD, and was wondering exactly what you do to copy your auto correct files. Any suggestions? I'm only familiar with backing up photos, music, and documents...

Thanks in advance for any advice you have regarding the autocorrect file!
I am sick of people posting crap on this board and not backing it up. nm.
nm.
Need info on backing up Shorthand files. Also Word Autocorrect. TIA. nm

x


abbreviations
On anything that I want expanded and is also used as an abbreviation, I put an x at the end. Such as CHF, I have it as chf and will capitalize and then chfx will spell out congestive heart failure without a problem. I do this for all my abbreviations. Hope this helps.
Abbreviations
I was thinking you could benefit from using a popular website for medical abbreviations. The sites are:
1) www.medilexicon.com
2) www.pharma-lexicon.com

You would enter the abbreviation and it will give you the definition. This is, of course, in addition, to your usual research methods using the search engine such as www.google.com
abbreviations

I do abbreviations like CHF is CHF and chff is congestive heart failure.  whatever it is I just double the last letter to get spelled out version.


abbreviations
http://www.medicalabbreviations.biz
ABBREVIATIONS - nm
X
abbreviations sm
I was taught years ago never to abbreviate in a diagnosis. I also would spell it out and put the abbreviation in parentheses as this is his direct dictation and that's how I've always done it. The BOS may disagree but never got called on it. I once wrote a physician a sticky note to please not dictate his diagnoses in abbreviations as they may be misinterpreted. He was nasty about it, but it is a very dangerous thing to do.
Abbreviations
What is proper abbreviation for A Fib?
Abbreviations
Thanks.  Thought it was a. fib. but saw it somewhere as A Fib and thought I was wrong. Looked in Stedman's Abbrev and it says AFib
I think it is best not to use abbreviations as much as possible.
In my opinion, I would prefer it typed "okay", but every company has their own opinion. If she is the boss, do it her way.
MM's abbreviations
You would have to add MM's expansions to Smartype yourself, one at a time. Here is a link for her abbreviations:

http://www.mtdaily.com/abbvs.txt

I use Barb Grow's vocabulary that I bought from her about 7 years ago. I don't have contact info for her now though, and I don't know if she still offers her vocabulary. I'd be lost without it. It makes much more sense than what the original Smartype or Stedmans came up with in their vocabularies. Her vocabulary is in the vcb format that goes into Smartype, ready to use.
abbreviations help

try this website: 


http://www.medilexicon.com


dangerous abbreviations
It really depends on the account. Some facilities/doctors really don't care for the new set of guidelines and want their work verbatim precisely. But employers want it practiced just in case for some of the more confusing abbreviations.
List of abbreviations
Yes, they are quite certain how wonderful that "dangerous abbreviations" list is, but don't kid yourself. There are quite a few physicians out there/facilities who don't care for the list and want abbreviations (and dictate them too) the former way; --- q.i.d., q.o.d., t.i.w., q. week, q. Monday, Wednesday, Friday, etc. Shall I go on? I know because I've transcribed from physicians dictating just this way. The docs want it THEIR WAY. Get over yourself.
need help on abbreviations board please...thanks
  
message abbreviations
What do sm and NM stand for? Is there a place to look up abbreviations used on this site?
I use the 1 after a lot of my abbreviations. How about cyto1? nm
nm
Invalid abbreviations
Sorry, was reading quickly and missed where it was saying invalid abbreviations AND mixed Latin/English abbreviations. The actual paragraph reads:

Invalid Latin abbreviations such as q.a.m. (every morning) and mixed Latin and English abbreviations such as q.4 hours (every 4 hours) have become commonplace. However, as with all abbreviations, avoid those that are obscure (like a.c.b. for before breakfast) or dangerous. For example, b.i.w. is both obscure and dangerous. It is intended to mean twice weekly but it could be mistaken for twice daily, resulting in a dosage frequency seven times that intended. Copyright (c) 2002 American Association for Medical Transcription

Sorry for any confusion.
I think with the prohibited abbreviations
to spell them out is essentially typing vertabim- it is what the doctor said, you are not changing it. If a doctor is foolish enough to complain about that knowing the penalty for each incidence of a prohibited abbreviation then he needs to get his head out of his hind end.

I would check with your supervisor but surely when they say verbatim they mean not changing the sentence structure around or what have you. I can't imagine they would want you to type these abbreviations just because the doctor says it.
Medical Abbreviations
A really cool site for searching medical abbrevitions
Yes - it helped w/abbreviations, etc.
I think it helps to broaden your knowledge of certain standards if you're job hunting, even if you've never used them.  For example, you won't be surprised when you get a different job or client and someone chews you out about starting a sentence as "27-year-old patient comes in today" (versus "This 27-year-old..." or "Twenty-seven-year-old...").  JMHO and IME
Suggestion/Abbreviations
I'd like to make a suggestion to MTStars.  There are so many abbreviations used on this web site and I often am unsure what they refer to.  I'd like to suggest that you create a board with the definitions of these abbreviations that we can refer to as we are reading.  I've been in this business for 18+ years and still many of the abbreviations are unfamiliar to me.  I am sometimes able to figure them out, but sometimes I'm just not sure.  I find your newsletter very interesting and helpful and a help tool like this would only add to it.  Thanks for taking the time to consider this.
Dangerous Abbreviations

Q.D., QD, q.d., qd (daily) = Mistaken for each other = Write "daily".


I woud say this should over ride anything BOS has to say, but we aim to please the client.  As transcriptionists though we should be aware of these dangerous abbreviations since it can affect a patient's medical record and how it is interpreted.


Abbreviations Book
Can someone recommend a good abbreviations book or a good website to use as a resource? I have Stedman's Abbreviations and I am not that happy with it. Thanks in advance!
Dangerous Abbreviations
"IV" isn't on the Joint Commission list of dangerous abbreviations. Don't take this as an indication that you're getting old--the confusion surrounding those darned abbreviations can be aggravating.

Here are some reasons for the aggravation. You might have seen it on a facility's list in the past or you might have encountered it as a recommendation from a consultant or in a journal article. Before The Joint Commission solidified its list of dangerous abbreviations, there was a lot of confusion about this--some groups banned any and all abbreviations.

There is an abbreviation that is banned because it can be CONFUSED WITH "IV." It's "IU," the abbreviation for "international unit." While it's OK to use IV, some facilities do not want you to use it, reasoning that if IU can be confused with IV, then IV can be confused with IU. And then some would want you to avoid using IV, until they discover that they have to pay extra for you to transcribe "intravenously."

Here is a link to the whole list. The document on The Joint Commission website was broken, so this link is to another website, but it is the same thing. http://www.aapmr.org/hpl/pracguide/jcahosymbols.htm




How would they know what abbreviations you used. (No message)
x
She does mention the abbreviations in
x
Thoughts on dangerous abbreviations

You're partly right.  Joint Commission has no jurisdiction over a private office setting; however, this was adopted by Joint after it was first given to the national pharmacy assocition.  When a doctor has his/her nurse phone in a prescription or writes one himself regardless of private office or inpatient setting, s/he better follow these guidelines. 


Having worked in a pharmacy, I understand how critical it is to be able to know EXACTLY what the doctor wants the patient to have presribed.  Pharmacy is going down the same path as MT work.  Notice how many insurers allow for your prescriptions to go to a mail order company who will fill up to three months of your prescriptions at a time.  The first line of defense these companies have (well, really just one anymore as they are becoming the MQ of pharmacies), is to scan the prescription.  If it is not written clearly, a body must contact that physician.  Addtionally these mail order companies allow MDs to relay prescriptions online.  These guidelines better be followed or they will be contacted.


Depending on which division within the mail order pharmacy you work, a tech may fill more than 100 prescriptions an hour.  If ONE of those prescriptions is filled incorrectly, it is reported to the State Board of Pharmacy who requires a monetary penalty be forwarded by the company depending on the error classification.  If there are too many errors in a given month, the pharmacy is shut down, the supervising PHARMACIST receives (typically) a $5000 fine and a one month to five year suspension of practice, all actions of which are published and distributed to all 50 states in a monthly newsletter.


To say this is all AAMT's fault is ludicrous.  To say the doctors are not going to change their ways because they have god complexes is ludicrous.  This happened because too many mistakes were being made through haste, bad handwriting, lack of time to thoughtfully write prescriptions, etc.  This is today's reality.  If you do not adapt, you do not survive.  Just ask a Cro-Magnon.


d~


Grrr! I just had a doc who spelled the abbreviations!

COPD, that's captial C, capital O, capital P, captial D.  LAD, capital L, capital A, capital D. 


Plus...


Patient has been in drug recovery - that's R-E-C-O-V-E-R-Y


Really?  I did not know that.  Thanks so much. 


 


 


I use Stedman's Abbreviations, Acronyms, and
Symbols. Works nicely. I also go to www.medilexicon.com quite often. Using that website prevents me from having to stop and look it up in the book.
Are these abbreviations taken? I'm seriously considering starting my OWN association sm

and calling it AMTS: AMERICAN Medical Transcription Society and leave the AAMT or whatever their new name is, to the transcription WORLD.


 


My "society" would be kind of like them but the only difference is that absolutely NO oversea members would be allowed; only those American MTs working in other countries who could prove to the society or association that they are, in fact, American Born and Bred.


What do you say? I would charge a minimal amount per year and begin local chapters.....by contacting local colleges and tech schools and employers telling them about our local networking, American, society or association.


I would periodically work with large MT companies and large hospitals telling them of our highly skilled MTs and DEMANDING that pay be increased and showing them why American MTs are the way to go......Doesn't that sound like fun?  It wouldn't be anything like a union, as I don't believe in unions, but a UNION of MTs around this great country I call MY AMERICA!


 


GOD BLESS AMERICA AND GOD BLESS YOU!!!!! Allah and Buddha could bless the AAMT all they want, but I just don't think they will do that.


I have used a list of abbreviations for years.. sm
but just switched from ShortHand to Instant Text and there are problems with my old Shorthand import into IT that don't seem to be able to be resolved with tech support.  I am faced with creating a new glossary though I may be able to pick and choose the largest blocks of text to transfer.  It is the smaller phrases/words that will take the most time to redo as I have thousands of them and the thought of starting over is too painful so I was thinking of buying Jon Knowles list to give me a much needed boost. I am open to other ideas or suggestions! 
JCAHO dangerous abbreviations
Do physician offices/clinic notes need to comply with this list?  I thought JCAHO was joint commission for hospital compliance. 
Someone posted abbreviations before this board went
bonkers and I had copied it down. When site went down, so did my copy. Does anyone have a good site for abbreviations? Thanks.
Spelling out abbreviations in the diagnosis
when told specifically not to is not following instructions.
yes. In a document, hit CTL CTL to open your abbreviations sm
then hit File and Save As. Then save them in My Documents as your name.esp e.g. Jane.esp. You should then be able to transfer them to a jump drive. Best of luck!
JCAHO Do Not Use Abbreviations List
This link will take you to the JCAHO site with the "Do Not Use" abbreviations list. Most of the questions you are asking here (i.e. q.d. now being "daily") will be answered on this site.

BOS just came out with a 3rd edition, but not many are using that yet. Try to get a copy of the 2nd edition - it will answer a LOT of questions that will come up for you.

Good luck and welcome back! :-)
Make sure you expand any abbreviations that are allowable. (sm)
I'm sure you have compared being paid on characters now vs. gross lines.