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Windows Media Player - Posted By: Testing 1, 2, 3

Does anyone know if it is possible to use a pedal with the Windows media player? I am doing some test reports and have been unable to use my pedal to start, stop, and rewind. Without the pedal, this will take forever!

Voice Recognition Software - Posted By: angie

Just curious to see if any MT's use voice recognition software to aid in translating dictation? I know some of the larger companies are using it to assist in translating dictation.

Online education - Posted By: CR

I'm looking at a company called Future MT for online education. Does anyone know anything about them?

Pray for these poor people. - Posted By: see article.

Up to 20 Dead in Fire Aboard Evacuees' Bus
By SHEILA FLYNN, Associated Press Writer

Friday, September 23, 2005
(09-23) 06:01 PDT Wilmer, Texas (AP) --

A bus carrying elderly evacuees from Hurricane Rita caught fire early Friday on a gridlocked highway near Dallas, killing as many as 20 people, authorities said.

"Deputies were unable to get everyone off the bus," spokesman Don Peritz said. "We believe it's going to be closer to 20 fatalities.

The bus, carrying about 45 people, was engulfed with flames, causing a 17-mile backup on Interstate 45, already heavily congested with evacuees from the Gulf Coast. The bus was reduced to a blackened, burned-out shell, surrounded by numerous police cars and ambulances.

There were indications that oxygen used by elderly evacuees could have had a role in the fire, Peritz said. There were a series of explosions, apparently from the oxygen equipment, he said.

"The early indications are this is a mechanical issue. The driver did survive the accident," Peritz said. "It's my understanding he went back on the bus several times to try to evacuate people."

Interstate 45 stretches more than 250 miles from Galveston through Houston to Dallas. The crash site is roughly 17 miles southeast of downtown Dallas.

URL: http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/n/a/2005/09/23/national/a054557D10.DTL
�2005 Associated Press

Outsourcing affecting other businesses... - Posted By: MT2U

My husband's co-worker's wife is losing clients to cheaper labor overseas. She owns an advertising company and would charge $25,000 per client, and now they're paying $600 for the same thing, but not here. She has lost about $100,000, and they are struggling now. These people have tapped into something that is really hurting our country. I'm afraid for our kids' future and what they might not have, nevermind ours. I just thought I'd throw this out there. I know this is nothing new to hear.

Dictation chuckle - Posted By: NYMT

"Her vision is poor. That is why she does not see well." Really! That's what he said!

Here's a question about editing VR/ASR -- (sm) - Posted By: Alphabetically Challenged

I haven't yet worked with VR/ASR, but probably will eventually. Here's something I've always wondered about it:

You know how, if you're inhouse & listening to a word for someone, if they tell you what they think they hear, you then start hearing that as well, and have trouble hearing what it really should be? Or, if you're at home and your QA person is filling in a blank you sent, how upset they get if you tell them what it sounds like (for the same reason... then they have a harder time figuring out what it really is)?

Does that happen when you're listening to a report and correcting VR/ASR reports? Of course, glaring mistakes would be one thing, but in the case where the doctor is hard-to-understand, or where he/she is dictating letters of the alphabet (which I have the most trouble deciphering!), etc., sometimes you really do have to hear it with a truly open mind (and no "suggestions" beforehand) to have half a chance of picking it up.

Do any of you doing speech recognition work find this to be a problem?

bathing trunk nevus. Learn something NEW all the time. - Posted By: Just got a new word dictated to me.

EMR/EHR - Posted By: Anon

How will the EMR/EHR affect the small MTSO? Do any of you have any opinions on this? I was planning on starting up a very small business but this is concerning. Thanks!

Leaving MT - Posted By: mt47

Fellow MTs, I am leaving our once-esteemed position. I am taking a position as a trainer at a large national insurance company. More money than I've ever made, lots of paid time off plus holidays, and weekends off. It's been 10 years since I've had a "real job" and had not had to work weekends and holidays.

They are playing for my airline tickets, my accommodations, food and car while stationed away from home. I am one lucky duck.

I used to love doing MT, but it has been a challenge for me the past 2-3 years to stay focused. To all of you who still love the job, I say hurray! This is a blessing for me to make this move at this point in my life and I'm very grateful. I intend to enjoy every moment of it.

Bye, all!

Hospital background check laws - Posted By: MT2

Can someone tell me where I can find the hospital background check laws? Looking for IL mainly. Thanks.

can't pronouce words -- why don't these schools - Posted By: teach them!!

ie,

proximal atrial fib -- meaning paroxysmal AF

ortho-knee-a -- meaning orthopnea

al-faze-ian -- meaning Alphagan or how do ya like:

e. freakum -- meaning E. faecium or

intraseptal -- meaning interictal !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The PAs are the worst -- but some MDs just as ignorant....makes me crazy!! How come some of them graduated is beyond me.

QA, pay not cutting it - Posted By: M.

I accidentally posted a (whinier) version of this to the Medquist board, oops. Sorry if anyone is seeing this as a double post.

I have a community college certification in medical transcription, but have only been able to find work as QA. I've been working QA for about 9 months and now do oncology exclusively - I had transcription work for a while, but then the account went over to an electronic system and that went out the window.

The pay I'm getting right now ($0.02 a line as an independent contractor) really isn't cutting it. I know I'm relatively new, but I just don't have 5-10 years to spend making this kind of money to get enough experience for a company that will pay me enough money to live on!

After losing the transcription work I had, I don't have much faith in transcription itself for a career. I think editing would be best, since presumably even doctors/hospitals utilizing an electronic program need someone to edit/proofread the reports generated. So, is it possible to find a QA position that pays adequately? Do salaried QA positons exist? What's the difference between QA and a transcription editor, if any, and how does one make that transition?

Should I just go back to school and become a coder instead?

I would also appreciate links to any QA/transcription Editor message boards.

I want to specify that I am grateful for my job. I like my supervisor and I greatly appreciate that someone gave me a chance. It's just that I can't live off it!

Thank you so much for any input.

sm - Posted By: Msg to Tampa Poster Below...

My husband and I are thinking of relocating from Arkansas to the Tampa-Clearwater-St. Petersburg area. What is like as far as cost of living, safety, and jobs? Could you rate the areas from best to worst in your opinion?

I have been reading so much on the web about these areas and checking out Craigslist, but it's hard to tell the truth from the Chamber of Commerce websites!

I do MT and manage a small clinic and my husband is the hotel/restaurant industry. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!

In IT, a paragraph is always in entry screen (from Wordpad). How do I get rid of this 4ever? - Posted By: Thanks! (NM)

dd

Hyperventilating/Panic Attack - Posted By: I just had one.

I just had a panic attack and was hyperventilating. Should I go to the doctor? No insurance.

Client contract question?? - Posted By: Sharyn

I have a local physician contract good until April 2008. He was very clear and consise as the terms of the contract when signed in regards to payment, termination, pick-up, etc., He merged with another small group in NOvember and he will return in February. I was never notified of this and only found out after reading the notice at his office during a normal scheduled pickup time. He told me to call the new docs and have tried on several occasions with no response. Is there anyway to make these new docs uphold to this contract and fulfill it until it ends April 2008? They seem to think I"m am employee and only said for me to fill out an application and they would put it on file to work in the office. Now, shouldn't the new docs assume all business agreements that were made prior to their merge. The business name has stayed the same. I averaged all invoices and came to an average weekly amount of payment and there is 28 weeks remaining on the contract. . I was going to write a letter, certified, stating the terms of the contract with a copy of it and stating this is what's owed on the contract.

local hospital accounts - Posted By: sunshine

do any of you IC people have any tips on what is the best approach on how to find out info on who does transcription for local hospitals? Thanks!

Question on meds for Wegener's - Posted By: tm

The patient has a history of Wegeners treated with a s/l psych-sito-toxic agent?

Soft Script - Posted By: Kathy

Could you folks talk about Soft Script, good or not so good, as best you can. Thanks in advance.

MTSO list - Posted By: tiredandfrustrated

I have worn the keys off my keyboard searching every way I can think of to find a MTSO to apply for work with, other than those commonly named here. If anyone knows of a "list" or can suggest a way to search, I would be grateful.

MT Week - Posted By: donna

Happy MT Week to All!

Finally steady money. whew. Applied and got job at Dept of Law Enforcement entering - Posted By: criminal info. Not mind boggling but kind of inte

They started me way above minimum because of my experience. I was shocked and happy all at the same time.

And of course I'm esctatic to not be wondering how much money I would be getting each pay check. Working on production in transcription now is like playing Russian Roulette.

There's good benes where I going, retirement, sick days, no games with my health insurance. I should have done this long ago.

Word Expanders....need opinions on which is the best..... - Posted By: MT

.....and that doesn't cost $200.00. I have seen many downloadable expanders, and wondered if anyone has downloaded one from the Internet? I've been considering Fastfox by NCH or Swifttext by Bytescribe ($49.00). Anyone use these with good results?

Thanks so much.

Anyone have this trouble? - Posted By: Courtney

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!

Sticky Paper - Posted By: Paper Help

Does any one have any suggestions on a type of paper that can be printed on and then stuck into a patient's chart? I would like to find a lable type to fit in a certain space. Brand names would be helpful. Thank you in advance

Office Update!! - Posted By: Who me?

Just letting everyone know who uses MS Office. There is an update on the MS update site for Office and I downloaded mine last night. It is a Service Pak. I also want to let everyone know that it wiped out my Stedman's Spellchecker and I had to re-install it this morning when I started working. So keep a heads up.

I've found the answer and how to declutter. - Posted By: decluttering queen

Get diagnosed with cancer. Got the diagnosis yesterday and today I've been going through the house like the Tazmanian devil. I'm throwing stuff away, boxing stuff up to go to Goodwill and Freecyling some stuff. We were in serious need of a Clean Sweep (though I never would do it because I'd be too embarrassed that I let my house get like that). I know it is a bit of an overreaction, but both of my parents died and didn't have things in order and I was left to deal with it all and don't want the same for my family. I also don't want to look at the clutter anymore and want my house to be relaxing and not be afraid to open my door when the doorbell rings. It also helps keep my mind occupied. I only made a teeny, tiny dent in the clutter, but at least it was progress. I also don't want my kids growing up thinking that our house is "normal." I have boys and I don't think their future wives would appreciate a slob for a husband.

Regarding US companies using overseas labor - Posted By: sm

Maybe we can start by not utilizing their services and getting the word out.

http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/lou.dobbs.tonight/popups/exporting.america/content.html

Wireless and Cable? - Posted By: Laura

I have 4 computers all connected via a router and would like to make one of my home computers wireless and get a laptop. Is there any way to be able to do both - the cable and the wireless? My home computer/work computers need to be on the cable, but my son's and my husband's do not. Is there a way to do this?

Thanks.

Laura

Has anyone bought special mattress like Tempurpedic or the air mattress that let's you select - Posted By: Just curious

comfort level. I'm in the market and can't make up my mind. Definitely want something a little better than box springs and regular mattress. Do they make water beds anymore? I had one in the past and that was really ugly but comfortable.

Gift for client - Posted By: Lynn

What have you given to your client(s) for a gift at the holiday season?

Any reks for a quiet keyboard that has NO - Posted By: number pad? My drawer is small. Thx! NM

s

Sciatica pain help - Posted By: mt

Any hints on pain relief for sciatica while working?

IC invoices - Posted By: Carmen Druckenmiller

I am a new IC Transcriptionist and I was trying to find an invoice on the internet for transcriptionists. Does anyone know where I can find one? Thanks!

.32 caliber handgun - Posted By: sm

This pops up in my Stedmans Smartype when you enter thtwch

I keep having this happen because I accident leave out the "a" in "that."

Is everyone's like this, or is it some glitch in mine?

Not-so-good news re: medical coding, - Posted By: billing, etc.

I was watching the news tonight (Sacramento, CA area), and there was a story about a lady who was looking for work. She had spent $10,000 on a coding/billing education, but can't find work. Apparently that field is "saturated", as the newscaster said. (Maybe from lots of MTs trying to get into that?) Anway, I had sort of been thinking about going to school to learn coding, but now I think I'll pass.

Q&A TIME! - Posted By: Sher

Anyone have information on Allstate Transcription and having to go through AIM for $99. for mentor program? Recent newbie here, got a list from several MT's.....applying at all of them......but Allstate says I have to go through mentor program for $99 with AIM.....is this a legit thing? Please someone, have an answer or two for me....hubby concerned about the paying for mentoring......???????

Need bonus ideas! - Posted By: Editor-in-Chief

The company I work for is setting up a new bonus-type incentive program for QA audits - something like this: 99% accuracy and above (bigger bonus), 98% accuracy and above equals passing (smaller bonus).

What we'd like to know is - other than enormous money suggestions ;-D - what would be a nice gift? Remember, this is separate from a Christmas bonus-type thing, which would be bigger. We do our audits every 4 weeks (per the clients), so it would be a smaller thing.

Gift certs? Realistic dollar amount ideas? Paid time off? Shoes (kidding - I'm a shoe freak - ha!)? Any ideas welcome!! And thank you!!

sorry for being clueless here but - Posted By: confused

where are you guys seeing where all the MT week prizes are?

Medical transcriptionist melts keyboard with fingertips - Posted By: Fun Story!

Ryan sez, "We have a medical Transcriptionist on staff who has been using the same keyboard for the last 8.5 years. My co-worker replaced it yesterday, and when he first showed it to me I thought someone had taken a blowtorch to it! The most frequently used keys have been completely worn through, exposing the mechanism beneath. Zoom in and check out the indentation on the Backspace key! The keyboard still works fine, so there's something to be said for durability. BTW, it's a NMB Technologies model RT2358TW."

Some people are hard on keyboards -- I tend the blow the contacts on the left side of the board really fast, knocking out the Ctrl, Alt and left side of the spacebar. Charlie Stross's keyboards lose their lettering in mere months, and my pal Seth Schoen types like a machinegun, but I've never noticed any particular wear on his keyboards.

Has anyone ever had benign vertigo and - Posted By: question

had to go for therapy. If so what kind of therapy and was it successful.

tecturna - Posted By: ew

I cannot document s/l "tecturna" 300 mg p.o. daily.

Thanks.

Internet address - Posted By: Linda

Hello. I was wondering if anyone knew how to delete internet addresses that are seen when you hit the drop down box. I have a bunch of them that aren't valid anymore, and I want to get rid of them. Sorry, I don't know the technical wording, but hopefully you know what I mean. Thanks.

Thanks for your help! - Posted By: Finally employed!

Hi all,

After 120 emailed resumes, a dozen online transcription tests, a couple offers and a phone interview, I happily accepted an offer from one of my top choices! Thanks for all your advice the last couple weeks.

Convert 9 pin to USB? - Posted By: MT NW

Help please! Does anyone know where to buy an adapter to convert a 9 pin pedal to usb? Appreciate the help!

Anyone using Vista yet? Pros/cons over XP?nm - Posted By: My new computer has to have Vista :( nm

nm

Looking for MQ number...sm - Posted By: MQMama

I went through training and am supposed to start soon. I got a phone call from someone named Elaine who said something about the CHW Mercy/Memorial account and gave me a 3658 extension. I called the MQ number I have and they said there is no one there by that name or extension.

Does anyone have a phone number for this person or know how I can reach her?

Thanks!