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Does Accreditation matter? - Posted By: tooMUCHinfo

I currently work at an on-site technical school and have recently decided to make a career change from my general office position. Upon the start of my searching for on-line schools, I was told by many coworkers to make sure the the school was accreditted by the DETC. Are the "top three schools" accreditted by this body, or any other sort of board of education, other than just being affiliated to AAMT? Does this matter? Is it just as easy/difficult to find an on-site job as it is a home-based job with these "top three schools?" Alot of questions, I know. But I am so excited to start learning transcription, but all the choices out there are slowing down my process.

does anyone else have a problem with Word not capitalizing correctly on sm - Posted By: irritated

the first word in a sentence? i will get 2-3 lines down and realize it didn't cap something so then i have to waste time going back up there to cap it. any solutions on fixing this annoying problem?

Shorthand - Posted By: Terry

Anyone out there that has problems with their computer locking up when using shorthand?

Describe your workstation! - Posted By: Happy QAer

Hi, All,

I thought it would be fun to describe workstations. I get extremely bored with work sometimes. At various times in my career I've had different ways to combat this--once my office area (bedroom) looked out on beautiful woods. At another time I had a small TV on my desk which was usually tuned to QVC (usually muted) during work (that was a deadly habit that had to go!). Yesterday I bought a 2-1/2-gallon fish tank and have had fun filling it with gravel, plastic plants, a bridge and two creatures--a male betta fish and a golden apple snail. During the workday it's nice to kind of glance over and see what the critters are up to. The drama currently is that the betta is no too keen on having a snail in his tank, even though the pet store reassured me that he wouldn't mind and that there was enough space for the two of them.

As for the rest of my workstation, I keep it pretty clear of clutter. I have a river stone that has JOY carved on it, purchased at a fair trade shop. I have a few fortunes from fortune cookies promising nice things about money. There's a small black-and-white cat figurine that's supposed to be a creative muse. He looks just like my tuxedo cat, so I liked him right away. To the right is a mug that has the Chinese symbol for "fortune;" I've filled this with highlighters. And there's a card holder (a piece of wood with a carved slit in it) that I place inspirational cards in. Usually before work I'll draw a card and place it there. Sometimes I'll glance over and take a look at it. I figure if my mind picks up some good messages subliminally during the day, it's a good thing!

So...please share! What do you have on your desk? Pictures welcome!

Hope everyone takes this amusingly, as it is intended. :) - Posted By: Busy MT'ing

Please check out the following link:

http://www.msn.americangreetings.com/display.pd?bfrom=1&prodnum=3043464&path=23728&va=1

Fill in the blank time! Today I feel ______ (for me it's good)...sm - Posted By: Inquiry time

Good work day so far, kids will be home from school in a couple of hours and the weather is nice outside.

8 Crossings ?? - Posted By: J.R.

Received job offer from Eight Crossings, Inc.....anyone know anything about them?

Selling your client list - Posted By: Manuel Prado

Does anyone have any interest in selling some of their clients?

Valentines day?? - Posted By: MTMommy

Did everyone have a good Valentines Day???

My husband forgot....again.... but other than that mine was good.

Does anybody sell on e-Bay to supplement MT income? - Posted By: justme

How hard is it. Are you successful. I've been thinking about it and wondered about other MT successes. Thanks

What passes for clear and concise . . . - Posted By: Lllls

I'm really getting some good ones today. How about this for a clear and concise statement?

Dictated: The patient was not agreeable to returning to the skilled nursing facility from which he was readmitted on the day of discharge initially.

I need a very soft touch keyboard. Any suggestions? - Posted By: Sheryl

I bought an expensive (over $200) 3 piece comfort keyboard that you can position the sections anywhere you want. That feature is nice, but to me the pressure you need on the keys is too muHIS IS A for this particular model. This is the cause of most of my pain. Anyone know of a very light touch keyboard? TIA

I am so sick of this!!!!!!!!!!! - Posted By: Itsy-Bitsy

I can't help but vent. I was at a family picnic last weekend and YET AGAIN someone approached me about "doing what you do at home". Uh, you mean my JOB?!?!?!?!?!?!

She said she is trying to get some family member of hers to "do what you do at home". I gave her a bit of a blank stare at first and then as NICELY AS I COULD I explained to her that it is a great job but anyone considering it should know that working from home isn't as easy as the advertisements make it sound. (this is someone who I don't know well, picnic was at my sister-in-laws and she had her side of the family there as well). Anyway, I explained to this lady that I have been doing this for 20 years and I went to school first, then worked in doc office 6 years, then hospital 4 years, then home. I told her that companies want people to have at least 2 years hospital experience before working at home. AND, most hospitals want someone to have some MT experience before hiring them. So I told her not to think that it is easy for someone to just starting ~typing at home~ right away

She then *explained* to me that her sister lives near Cleveland (we are from a small town) and that she would probably have a better chance to work from home being from a bigger city. I then tried to explain that I work for a national company and that is the standard for the entire country. She didn't say a word.

HONESTLY I think people really think that we have a nonskilled job, like anyone can put a desk and computer in their home and sit down and start doing this. UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. I just wish people would understand that it is a real job!!!!!!

Happy at Transcend - Posted By: Barb

I have been working for Transcend for three weeks now. I am very happy. The training was very thorough. The regional managers are very responsive, and really do want their employees to be happy. IT always has the answer I need also. I will admit it is frustrating when you are trying to get your lines in and you have to sit and wait for them to get back to you, but I have worked in hospitals where it is the same way. They have to respond to many people having problems and it takes time. The Beyond.txt platform has not been a major problem for me yet, I am happy to say. I just want others to know I would not hesitate to go with Transcend if you need to make a move.

Homemade sav??? - Posted By: tmchupp

He is treating his wound with a homemade sav. I cannot find "sav" anywhere. It sav, sauve??? I know its like a lotion but I'm not sure how to spell it. Thanks!

so whos gonna be the new Apprentice? - Posted By: place your bets

I place my bet on Randal

Name of periodical - Posted By: Christina Vantilborgh

What is the name of the subscription periodical that gives updated drug information? I found it a few weeks ago and for the life of me, I cannot recall what it's called.

Express Scribe Question - Posted By: sm

How does it work? When you put in your FTP info and all that, do files just appear when Express Scribe is opened? Please help me understand this. their website and help info is not very helpful at all!

Cursing in dictation - Posted By: mt.of.3

okay, from one extreme to the other, I work on an account that Ive had for years and I had a doctor say the F word in his dictation. Stunned, to say the least, I typed everything but the offending word and blanked it, sent it to the doctor for 'clarification', hoping he would have the opportunity to have cooled down or whatever and either re-dictate, or write in whatever he wanted..... is this how the general populous of MTs would have handled this? I dont say the F word, let alone type it! :)

doctor credentials - Posted By: ke

I just got new health insurance and am searching for a new doctor. Does anyone know of a web site where I can check credentials of doctors?

Has anyone here ever heard of, trained on, or worked on Emdat? Any information? - Posted By: Curious

x

Merry Christmas and Happy - Posted By: tired in OH

New Year to all of you and your families!

Line counting/invoicing software - Posted By: Libby

I'm wondering if there is any line counting software that "stores" each individual doctor's line counts time after time, and then will provide invoicing (say twice a month) from those stored line counts. I'm looking for a way to just store up the line counts for each doctor, go in twice a month and easily send invoices for those stored line counts. Not sure if this can be done. Thank you!

Mouse vs function keys? - Posted By: suzylyn

OK, I just started with a new company and going through extensive training on-line. Been doing MT for 15 years and am very comfortable with the mouse. Trainer is trying to get me to use function keys. She says it helps greatly with speed and the mouse slows you down. I even have a "cheat strip" of all the function keys but cannot for the life of me get comfortable with using all the commands. How do you know (besides looking at the "cheat strip") when to use Alt, Ctrl or shift key in combination with the F keys? Is there any mindset you can get into that makes you remember Alt is for this type of function, Ctrl is for that type of function, shift for another? How many of you use the function keys vs the mouse and is it really that much faster with time and practice?

I'm Back to Transcribing - Posted By: Lynn

I just wanted to drop in and say hello to everyone. I don't know if anyone here even remembers me. I left the MT industry about a year ago, coming home to work on cottage industry things. However, I was recently offered a good job doing MT again, so I'm back! Just wanted to say hello to everyone. I had let my office get into a huge mess, but I've had a lot of fun undertaking an office redo. If anyone cares to see pictures, I've put some on my blog. Link below.

Lynn

s/l dimitin right lower quadrant pain. - Posted By: HELPplease. Sm Barbie

The patient states that over the last month she has had some dimitin right low quadrant abdominal pain.

Thanks for sciatica answers! - Posted By: Lisa

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?

Thank you to MT Stars for the fun contests! nm - Posted By: Debbie

nm

Microsoft SP2 tech ? please sm - Posted By: Gemini

Have older backup computer, won't take my Norton antivirus CD unless I update my SP2 latest download. I went on Microsoft download site and perhaps I'm doing it wrong but none of it will work for me. Anyone can help would be appreciated, on here or E-mail me. I really feel better having an extra computer as backup, and my license is for 3 computers so it's nothing that I'm doing illegally. Perhaps I'm just looking in the wrong place as there are several "fixes" and some are for techs only. Help! TIA

One last equipment question. :) - Posted By: susancarol

Does anyone do their transcription on a laptop? .... using a cordless keyboard, maybe? I want to get a laptop so I can work when I travel. This seems like it would be possible as long as I don't need a C-phone or Lanier and all work is done over the Internet. I'm wondering what I would need to look for when shopping for a laptop, since most transcription techies seem to have no idea!

Digital Recorder - Posted By: justme

If doc has a digital recorder what software does he need to download dictations via internet to my end? I am still trying to figure this out - Express Scribe did not work. The work I have received from him is through Media Player and I am unable to use my footpedal.

Subcontractor pay - Posted By: sophie

I do some subcontracting for an IC. My checks are usually different from the amount on my invoice by a little. Sometimes a little more and sometimes a little less. Shouldn't my check be the total on my invoice?

State abbreviations. Is there some style guide in LT or MT - Posted By: Nancy

where they don't use the postal code standard of two caps; i.e. CA instead of CA for California?

I immediately delete any application that comes to me if it contains gross error. I'm just blown away when I see MTs and LTs with 5+ years of experience who use the "Ca" formatting. Before I blast away this latest applicant, I thought I'd stop to check if there's something out there that I'm unaware of. Out of the 12+ resumes I'm getting a day lately, at least two will contain this error so now I'm questioning myself.

All Type - Posted By: cm

I am wondering if there are any transcriptionists on here who currently work for All Type located in New Jersey? I was offered employment by them upon successfully completing their on line test, sent in all required paperwork to them, had an on-line/telephone training course for the platform, email sent to me that I will be working with so and so this evening, have not heard from so and so, and nothing is happening as far as me actually getting going to work for them----all this very time consuming for me on top of it all. Any input would be appreciated.

I just bought Flashtype expander and I want to - Posted By: say thanks to MT stars. It really works great for

Silly question - Posted By: Whatup

What exactly falls under the category of acute care, and why is it so difficult?

Is it because there are so many different issues handled; therefore, not as much redundancy to minimize research and maximize expanders?

Saw one the other day... - Posted By: AnotherOldTimerMT

I know exactly what you mean. When I looked at one India website's communications in 2005, it became crystal clear to me that, just as in the attack in New York, this whole "economically devastating" our country was also well-planned. Once this country started giving Visa privileges for doctors to come train here, I believe that's when our downslide began.

We, however, being a pretty trusting people in general didn't either want to see or didn't pay attention when the outsourcing topic came up. In my experience, most doctors just want their transcription done correctly and in a timely manner, so when approached with this new and novel concept and voila! the cost was dramatically reduced, I'm sure the majority jumped on the bandwagon not realizing the hidden "consequences" of what they were signing off to do. I'm glad to see some hospitals here still have in-house MTs and hope this trend continues. If it does, I guarantee we will see all kinds of posts from MTSOs ballyhooing about their "lost" business!

Have a great evening!

Please help - s/l "Schebolamine" liposuction cannula - Posted By: Sue

It's a 4-mm s/l Schebolamine liposuction cannula. He says it twice. I can't find anything like it ANYWHERE. Can someone please help?

Thanks,

Sue

Something to make you smile. - Posted By: tired fingers

QWERTY ergo sum...I type, therefore I misspell.

I cannot claim the credit for this, but I thought everybody could use a little humor today.

My margins are changed! - Posted By: What the heck!!!

Just went into my acct for a clinic in which I am an IC being paid 12 cpl in MS Word. I have not worked for a week. Today, I notice the margins are changed. Does this change what constitutes a line (isn't it 65 characters per line)??? I go into their system and type on their MS Word via HSI.

I am dumbfounded.

Confused about test taken. sm - Posted By: CC

I took a test for a company, but some of the errors they said I made don't make sense to me. Has that happened to anyone else? The grammar is not in AAMT BOS Style, the spelling of some terms is incorrect, lots hyphens are placed that are no longer necessary according to the BOS that was marked incorrect. I'm confused!

If I did the test the way I used to type, before the BOS Book, I would have passed the test!

BTW, it was cardiology. I took a test for a company that only does cardio reports and passed, but I bombed on this one due to BOS-style rules that they don't implement. What's the point in learning all this stuff and still can't meet their standards?

My neice has found out that she's pregnant. - Posted By: me

She's 19 yrs old and single. In my opinion she's not been very smart in the way she's dating, in fact I've told her to knock it off because she's acting like a XXXX. She told me I didn't know what I was talking about and to mind my own business. Now she comes crying that she's pregnant and she's going to get an abortion. She doesn't want a baby, doesn't want a baby without it having a daddy, can't stand the morning sickness, is still in college, blah, blah, blah. She just doesn't want the inconvenience that a baby would bring. I'm just sick. Abortion is WRONG (IMO). She's just coping out on her responsibility. If there were a medical reason she needed an abortion, I might rethink my position as far as abortion goes, but that's not the case here. It's just reverse contraception. She was on the pill at one point but she "couldn't remember to take it." I had a hard time believing she even knew who the father was because of the number of guys she has been with. Can anyone share something with me to help me from literally being sick over this?

Express Scribe problems on new computer - Posted By: frustrated

I have been using Express Scribe for quite some time. I just bought a new computer and downloaded the Express Scribe software from the website and for some reason it takes FOREVER to download the voice file. The voice file used to down load instantly with a second or less and now it takes a few minutes.

Any idea what could be wrong? This is a newer version that I downloaded. I wish I could find the older version somewhere to download that. Maybe that would work better.

Transolutions - Posted By: me

I read the posting of the person who asked about them and also the remarks of other persons. I will tell you what I think of this company. First, they are the nicest people you would ever deal with. The original office staff remains and that in itself tells you something. If you get feedback, it isn't nasty or degrading like some other companies out there. Yes you have a fixed schedule, but being able to start an hour early or an hour late is wonderful, and I know that even when I was a new employee before, if I had something come up, I could contact the team leader and work out an exchange of shifts so that I could take care of whatever came up. They don't hover over you either. There have been some QA changes, but it is so important that reports be consistent and watched for errors. Continuous errors can make or break an account. The bonus program, I believe, is very generous and the benefits affordable. I priced insurance as an IC and no way could I afford it. I had to leave them a few years back due to illness in the family and they welcomed me back with open arms and I even received a phone call from an office person who remembered the situation and very kindly called me to say welcome back and ask about the former situation. With my previous company, I made insane amounts of money, but they could have cared less if I died sitting in my chair; that would have been an inconvenience. Sometimes there are things more important than money and #1 on my priority list is having NICE people in the main office, great coworkers, and a chance of advancement. I would say yes to anyone considering this company. I worked for a few of the other nationals, MQ included, and they didn't know me from Adam, just when I started my shift and when I was to quit. I like being more than just a sign-in number on an account.

Arthroscopic portal or porthole? - Posted By: USMT

I have always typed portal but a co-worker is using porthole. Which is correct?

Anyone tried the Sony wireless headphones or another brand - sm - Posted By: newtothisscene

I currently have a Radio Shack version (900 MHz) but there is an awful hissing sound with every word of dictation. I like them because they allow you to turn the volume of your dictation up very high, which is perfect for my low-talkers, but the hissing noise is driving me crazy. Thanks in advance for any help or info you can provide.

EMR-Some very interesting perspective - Posted By: deenibeeni

See link below

Who was the MT going to med school? - Posted By: mtmtmtmt

Can you tell me how busy you are with that? I just wondered if you actually have time for anything else. I have friend who is 1 semester shy of her bachelor's degree and is considering putting med school off because she has a daughter, and is worried about how much time she would actually get to spend with her.

What to do? (sm) - Posted By: Canned beets

I can't remember for sure but I don't recall cooking beets out of a can. Instructions say to microwave. Seems I remember just putting in vinegar. Can't remember if I added anything else like sugar or anything. I don't like them and don't buy them often. I'm fixing them for my son who loves them. Any suggestions? Thanks.

missing WP5.1 file-help, please! - Posted By: Lifer

I recently started a part-time job which uses WP5.1. After it had been sitting in my computer unused for 2 years, I opened it up and got an error message; file keys.wpk missing. I have old floppies somewhere with the program backed up. If I found this file on the floppies, how would I go about putting it back in, and where would it go?

Thanks.