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new job in and out-house -
Posted By: tryinghard
Well, I did it! I start with SoftScript at the end of the month. Although there are fears and all that, I have done the right thing getting out of the unhappy in-house job I was in. It's a big gamble, but I feel right about it.
I'm posting here to tell you if you want an in-house job, check the job board at a certain hospital in Central Illinois, near Morton, IL. A big, Catholic hospital. I think there are actually 2 Transcription jobs open. The benefist are great. The rest of it is OK to absolutely unbearable. You'll see. I don't think I'm allowed to name the hospital. But the job is on the job board of the hospital web site. Good luck, I guess. Pray for me, as I will for everyone who gave me advice.
DropChute -
Posted By: Christy
I am having problems with DropChute. I have the Pro version and I loaded the Lite version on my clients computer. They can send to me, but I cannot send to them. It finds there address but says "no answer" when I know they are on-line. Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Christy
Gastroenterologists ripping us off. My mother just got her bill -
Posted By: A rip-off
for a routine screening colonoscopy. Hospital bill was $5000+ and the doctor's bill was 500. I know that this jerk does at least 10-15 scopes a day, which is $5,000 to $7,500 a day, $25,000 - $37,5000 a week, which is about 1.2 - 1.9 million a year . And most of these docs are foreign garbage!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DeQuervain’s tenosynovitis -
Posted By: snuggle
In August I had surgery for DeQuervain’s tenosynovitis. This was after having 3 rounds of cortisone injections, 6 weeks of rehab, being in a hard cast for 6 weeks (that was great fun! couldn't even tie my own shoes), and then 6 more weeks of rehab.
After I FINALLY had the surgery I had 6 MORE weeks of rehab. That time around it was better though, because I actually felt that I was working towards getting better instead of just "running in place."
Since my surgery and rehab I have done very well. I do my stretches every day and I have not really been bothered by much pain or irritation. Unitl now. I have noticed over the last couple of weeks that I am becoming increasingly sore as the days go by. I'm not really sure why this is, as I haven't changed any of my habits or routines. I am still working out my wrist and stretching that thumb on a regular basis and I make sure to take breaks during the day.
I am just so afraid for this to come back again. I went through a year of constant pain before finally getting relief and I don't want to go back there again. I was looking online the other day and I saw that the Smart Gloves have a new version out that have a thumb support that will hold your thumb still when you are wearing them. The regular Smart Gloves don't seem to really help much with DeQuervain’s. I was wondering if anyone has tried these, and if so, how they work.
I would also appreciate any other suggestions any of you may have that might help me out.
TIA!!!
Nobody here seems to definately know answer Thanks see mssg -
Posted By: opinions needed for affect/effect
Coughing and sneezing have no affect/effect on it, and bowel and bladder functions have been normal.
Express Scribe users.....what are your preferred Playback settings?.....sm -
Posted By: AllieCat
I am starting to use this and would like to optimize the settings. TIA
I hate dictaphone headphones and what I did about it -
Posted By: In TN
I bought an adaptor from Transcription Gear to convert a dictaphone plug to a regular 1/8th inch plug. Cost about $10. Then I got a Y adaptor from Radio Shack, you can plug 2 headphones into it. I bought 2 identical headphones from Walmart (Sony MDR-V150, retail about $18 apiece). I plugged both headphones into the Y adaptor. Of course, because it's Dictaphone, only one side of each headphones worked. But I fixed that. I pulled the working ear muff side out of one head phone. I pulled the nonworking ear muff piece out of the other head phone. I put both working sides together, making a headphone with sound in each ear. I then cut the wires to the nonworking ear pieces, and used twisty wires (from loaves of bread) to fasten the 2 cords together.
Lo and bold, stereo dictaphone headphonees that work in a C-phone. Take that Dictaphone, you piece of crap company, having extorted money from transcriptionists for years. $89 for Dictaphone headphones, and they only play through one ear, what a crock.
text expander -
Posted By: lmc
anyone use an inexpensive expander?
Has anyone ever advertised their business in a medical magazine?.. sm -
Posted By: Melanie
I am a small MTSO (just me) and have been trying to drum up business with postcards and letters. It has been about 6 months and nothing! I found a medical magazine for my State and was thinking about placing a classified ad. Wondered if any of you have tried this, and if so, were successful. Thanks!
at 81....loved that 1971 movie *DUEL*...nm -
Posted By: Dennis Weaver *McCloud* died yesterday
x
RE: testing -
Posted By: sue
I was recently laid off after 6 years doing transcription for a surgical/imaging center. I had to transcribe all imaging and surgical procedures. I would like to test my skills so I can be up on the recent changes. Is there a web site for this. I have 20 years experience in all modalities having worked in the hospital setting for 8 yrs, rehab etc.. Any ideas would help.
Thanks
Question for QA -
Posted By: confused
Do you prefer that a Transcriptionist reply to all your e-mails about corrections or not, since you are generally swamped with e-mails, etc. The reason I ask is that I seem to be in a situation where I can't win. I gladly accept the fact that I make mistakes, but I do not know if I should e-mail back every time to acknowledge that fact. Sometimes QA asks for a response back...usually it is stated something like "Why are you DOING THIS?"... and when I reply with my explanation/thought process, etc, I just get another 'smackdown"...anymore I basically just say... I don't know, I'm wrong, etc" It seems like that is the only reply they want. I gave up long ago even trying to make my point and God forbid I challenge anything. I try to make sure my emails come across as very nonconfrontational and I will admit that QA is right 99.9% of the time... but don't ask me why I'm doing something and the smack me down for "my answer"... why ask for an explanation if that's all you are going to do with it? I understand the tremendous amount of pressure QA is under but this seems like a lose/lose situation to me... Anybody else in this situation? Any hints on how to approach it?
local jobs -
Posted By: hopeful
someone mentioned that younger docs like the electronic way of sending the transcripts. I have 9 years experience as a MT but this is all new to me if I was to do this with local docs. Is there a way to have them sent to you electronically or would they all be a pick up a tape and deliver process? If it is a tape is there a better device than another to do this? Thanks to all in advance. 
My IRS nightmares -
Posted By: Frustrated
Perhaps somebody on here can give me some advice......Back in August 2004, due to my husband losing his job, we were forced into Chapter 7 bankruptcy. At that time we provided our attorney with copies of income tax returns dating back to 2000. At that time, we were on a payment plan to repay taxes from 2000 (roughly $1300.) We had just filed 2003 taxes and only owed a few hundred dollars. Most of this underpayment of taxes was due to extra jobs my husband worked as a police officer. Anyway, we were told not to pay the IRS anything as the debt from 2000 and 2003 would probably be discharged. Bankruptcy was discharged in January 2005. We never received any correspondence from the IRS letting us know that we owed anything from those years. We ASSUMED that it had been discharged. We took another hickey in 2004 (they year we filed BK) as my husband had to cash-in his retirement since we lost our house and had to find a place to live...that check was in the amount of $25,000. Though we did have income taxes taken out when we received the check, I guess it threw us into another income tax bracket and that year we owed a little over $3000. When I filed my 2005 taxes last year, we were due a refund of over $4000 as my husband still is not working from the severe depression of losing his job and I am the sole breadwinner for the family. Long story short, the IRS took the $4000 I owed and spread it out over the the taxes that we previous owed for 2000, 2003 and a little of 2004. Their method of dividing the tax refund was odd as instead of wiping out the oldest debt first, they wiped out the 2000 debt but left a couple hundred of the 2003 and took a little off the 2004 debt. UGH!!!
After numerous phone calls to the IRS in May to determine what the heck was going on with the refund as I expected to get back a little of the 4000., they advised me it was tied up in the bankruptcy division. I talked to 3 different ladies at the IRS and all of them were extremely rude to me, no matter how polite I was to them.
Here comes the worst part.....yesterday I get 4 certified letters from the IRS, 2 addressed to me and 2 to my husband...informing us of intent to levy due to unpaid taxes. I called the IRS yesterday and once again explained the situation that we were unaware that we owed money from years prior to the bankruptcy and that I had also submitted a request to work out a repayment plan. The IRS rep, another rude woman, got snippy with me when I was trying to explain to her the reason why I could not get a loan to repay the tax today. She promptly told me, "No is a sufficient answer....I don't need to know the reason why." When I told her that since my husband is not working and I have the only income, I could maybe eek out $50 per month. She said, "Oh...that's not enough. That won't work at all." She also said, "You don't want the IRS to put a levy on your property (which I don't own anything for them to garnish, other than my wages. She then tells me she needs to transfer me to another department to work out a special circumstances repayment plan. Of course, I was on hold for 20 minutes and nobody came to the phone; then we were disconnected. I've been trying to reach the attorney that handled my bankruptcy to ask his advice and see what to do about the IRS.....That IRS customer service rep made me feel like a criminal and she spoke to me in a threatening tone. They wait 2-1/2 years, never bother to send a notice to say that we still owed for the prior years and now they're making my life miserable for an amount of less than $4000. Oh, and I told the lady that I had filed an extension for 2006 taxes but now had all my paperwork and would be working on them this weekend. I further stated that I felt pretty sure that I would be getting another large refund since I'm the only one working. I swear, I don't think the ding-dong heard a word I said. Truly amazing they come after my pittance when there are rich people out there that owe 10 times what I do. What really scares me is my parents just gave me a 2001 Toyota Camry that is easily worth $7000 or $8000 dollars. I really need that car and now I'm afraid to get it titled in my name for fear they will take my transportation!!! Not to mention what they could do to my bank account....and I have 2 teenagers I'm trying to raise. Maybe this will force my husband to get off his rump and do something besides odd and end cash jobs that don't pay anything. I had major depression a few years ago and I know it is bad but he kept telling me to get over back then.....I'm trying to turn the other cheek, but I can't do this alone either.
Has anybody out there been through anything like this that can give me some advice. Sorry for rambling!!
Thank you all for your support! -
Posted By: ERMT2
 There have been so many e-mails and posts about my situation with my family and their lack of understanding that I do "work". Only those of you here truly understand. I don't know if there are words quite special enough to say here, but I feel so much better after having heard all the comments. A great big thanks to all of you. So glad you are all here! Hugs!!!!!!!!! I will survive!!! Loved the post referring to Sylvia Browne! Thank you for reminding me of her. I so love her books. I have almost all of them. When I read her work I always feel better. The post regarding what she would say -- so true. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Can't state that enough here.
Need help quick! I am in the middle of baking cupcakes for -
Posted By: me
tomorrow and i only have 2 eggs and recipe on box calls for 3. Does anyone know what will happen if I use the 2? I live in the country and the store is way too far to get eggs. No neighbors either! :)
What would you do? Go ahead and try it or ditch it altogether? I was in the middle of mixing when I saw I needed 3 eggs!!!! Thanks so much!
Pilates - sm -
Posted By: sammypot
Just bought an Areo Stamina Pilates Performer at a Play It Again Store, but it did not come with instructions. Has anyone used this type of equipiment and can you share your experience/exercies with me.
Thank you
This was a shock to me..... -
Posted By: SM
My DH works in public education and some stupid kids have gotten hold of his cell phone number and have made prank calls over the past few months. They've blocked their number so we can't trace it. The cell phone company can see the number but won't divulge it due to privacy rights. Recently they've gotten our home phone number and have called a couple times. Nothing threatening, just stupid kid prank call stuff. Our home phone company doesn't record incoming calls, so no luck there either. Last night I got a very WEIRD phone call late at night which was a text relay call from a computer, much like the TTY calls that the deaf make. The relay operator just reads what it typed. This call was vulgar and sexual. We just hung up. After a little research I find out that these relay calls are not recorded in any fashion, so you can not find out who made them. The laws TOTALLY protect the privacy of the caller. Even the police cannot trace them. Can you believe that these operators have to relay ANYTHING under the umbrella of privacy, even death threats, not to mention sexual stuff. I am in shock. From what a read, it would take an act of congress to stop this. It just seems like the criminal has all the protections and the victim has nothing. Upside down world. Have you ever heard of these relay calls? I had not.
what do you use to clean computer screen? -
Posted By: nm
can i use lens cleaner like for my eyeglasses? alcohol? thanks.
Help needed...are there any rights/repercussions for an IC... -
Posted By: Experienced MT
who was fired after a year of employment as an IC? No warning was given. IC had a problem with TAT one day, rather than MTSO firing that day, waited a week and then was just let go. Is there any way to apply for unemployment....any rights at all for an IC? Now I will have no income until next job starts. I have a family to support and bills that are due. Wow, I am just so surprised!!
What is everyone doing for the holiday weekend? sm -
Posted By: Cindy
We're not doing much - probably will go and see the Herbie movie at some point and of course cooking out on the grill is mandatory. 
Transcend -
Posted By: MT
Transcend is by far the worst company I have ever worked for so I totally agree with the post above. They treat their employees absolutely horrible and I would never tell anyone to apply for a job there. A lot of promises that are never kept....
VPN Connection -
Posted By: Lilly
When I am working if I get a call I lose my VPN connection. After several minutes I can reconnect and pick up where I let off, most of the time. Sometimes I have to save my work and completely reboot in order to conneect. Does this happen to any one else. So annoying and time consuming. 
Keystrokes -
Posted By: linda
Does anybody know about the company called Keystrokes Transcription Service, Inc out of Illinois? Am thinking about working for them.
netbook with air card, has anyone tried this -
Posted By: me
Hi,
Has anyone tried using one of the new netbooks with a broadband "air card" which plugs into a USB port, a wireless keyboard and mouse (for ease of typing), and a foot pedal plugged into another USB port? Am thinking about getting rid of the high-speed cable and going this route which costs about 60$ a month so that i could take my work with me or check on work away from home. This has really become an issue lately because my granddaughter is in Children's Hospital with a heart defect. Most of the time there is "sit around and wait for hours" where i could be doing some reports while waiting for news. Verizon gal told me that the broadband is "secure" where WiFi is not. any advice/ideas? I say a netbook because they are so cheap ...about 350$ compared to a laptop.
Bagism, anyone? -
Posted By: Grrrr
I think John & Yoko were on to something when they came up with the idea of "bagism" - all of us should wear bags completely covering our bodies to prevent people from judging you by appearance. I think that is what we need today, how 'bout U?
Patti or other MTSOs... -
Posted By: wc
Hi,
Need to get my own account/s instead of relying solely on the national (guess who). Getting a client in my area is probably the easy part. The hard part is the logistics of software, paper, etc. Not having dealt with this stuff working with a national, it is the *simple* things that are a mystery to me (and others, I suppose). I hate to even inquire about transcribing for someone, not knowing what equipment I will need, what software, kinds of paper. I am sure I would come across as an idiot (like right now, maybe?)
OKay, well, I looked online at Dictaphone and it looks like there are mini, micro, and standard cassette units (not to mention digital online programs), so I guess you WOULD have to find out which the client prefers before investing in one, and I know you can get them on EBay, but what else? Does the software come with the transcriber? I don't suppose you can type them out in Word? I suppose one can buy a medical spellchecker. Then you need paper if you are going to print them out...what kind? Anything else? There are so many variables. I suppose I should first contact the two MTSOs that I know locally and ask for overflow work. That way, they could help me learn about this stuff.
No slamming, please. Very sensitive tonight as I just received a call from my Supervisor, very nicely hinting that I need to bring my line count up but, as we talked and now, hours later, I have *no jobs* on my screen. Pretty hard to get that line count up with no jobs!
Thanks for any tutoring and/or advice. 
Scam schools -
Posted By: Catherine M. Glad
I am posting this in the hopes of locating other students/grads who attended the same school in Wisconsin that I did. Thank you for your help.
Why does it seem that VR/SR has just recently taken off -
Posted By: I mean it has been around for years...BUT
it just really seems like in the last few months everyone on here has been forced to go VR (I know not ALL of you), but the majority. My work had one account on VR last year and now ALL accounts are within the just the past months. Why all of a sudden are we getting bombarded with it. It doesn't seem to matter what company or what platform, but it is taking us by storm. I happen to like VR myself, but WOW its exploding!! Want your opinion as to why "all of a sudden"?
I am FURIOUS and need advice...pronto -
Posted By: totally not MT related...sm
Hey y'all,
This is totally not MT related, but...here goes; my D(ang) husband just called me and told me that his very good friend's (married man) friend (female...not his wife) just called my DH's cell phone looking for said MARRIED friend...
These 2 (friend and female caller) met this weekend at a local restaurant; he got too drunk to drive home (how attractive, right?), so she drove him home. Evidently, the friend gave the female his cell # PLUS MY DH'S cell # too! So this morning, she calls my husband looking for his so-called friend! I want this person's (I can't stand calling her a woman, much less a lady) number so I can call her and inform her that she better not EVER call my husband back looking for his MARRIED *friend*...but my husband won't give it to me!!! 
Another thing...I am dying to call this *friend's* wife, as she and I are somewhat friends...(we've been to their kid's bday parties, her bday party, etc..., but we don't talk on a regular basis...) Give me some advice please...am I wrong for being so upset that he won't give me this #...I know when he gets home, it'll be deleted off his phone and I won't see the bill...his work pays for the phone! Help me please!!!
Average montly income? -
Posted By: Question
What is the average monthly income some of you make with MT if you don't mind sharing? Thanks a lot!
MT schools questions. (m) -
Posted By: MT
What are your thoughts on them? I have a friend who just started Career Step and says they have 98% placement in at-home positions upon completing the course. Does anyone have expeirence w/them or know if this is true? I've never had a client ask about my education, only my experience. This is why I ask about the validity and usefulness of the courses. I appreciate any thoughts!
wake me up!!! -
Posted By: tired!
I am sitting here about to fall asleep -- not because there is no work, but just ready to fall asleep on my keyboard!! I keep telling myself- GIRL- WAKE UP!!! I know there are several families out there that have no work or their significant other is laid off, which mine is off for two weeks, so I have to be THANKFUL for my job and make myself wake my booty up-- oh, along with my fingers!! Hope you all had a wonderful X-Mas! Santa was good to our family and friends- hope he was to you all also! Now, I have to get back to work!!!!
Ask the Fruitcake Lady. sm -
Posted By: Avsnut
Just for grins and giggles. Still LMAO.
https://home.comcast.net/~jfmelnick/fruitcakelady.wmv
I did not start this to divide us..It was to unite us -
Posted By: lets fight
I am in the beginning stages of this fight..Whether HIPAA is a fighting point or not I am not yet sure..It was a thought...I am researching more on Homeland Security...HIPAA and this new electronic medical record thing that people have been speaking about...While I research..All I am asking for is two things one is if you are willing to go forth with this with me...I blind copy mass emails so NO ONE will get your emaill address... And two give me ideas and guidance...If when the research is done and it doesn't look like it will fly what have you lost,,,nothing..What have I lost a lot of time and energy but at least I gain knowledge...Lets not fight amongst ourselves that was not the idea...
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CH 13 bankruptcy & tax refund? anyone know? sm -
Posted By: help!!
Do you get back ANY of your tax refund? Who asks how much you got? and then what?
someone dictating for him -
Posted By: another dictator
here is one for the books - have a sub-intern dictating for attending - dictates the following - "Dr. _____ states that the patient has a history of "what did he say "quinaquina" failure.. I am not sure if that is the correct spelling."
well he would not - it is chronic renal failure. Now why is he even trying????? - thankfully at the end of the report the attending who apparently was sitting next to him by this point, corrected him when he dictated it again. I give up.
A question regarding patients' rights -
Posted By: to their test results
I was just wondering this. My mother was recently sent to a "liver specialist" who is local gastrointestinal doctor because of concern over persistently elevated liver function tests. He drew a LOT of blood work on her and only told her that it looks like she might have a fatty liver. He set her up to come back in six weeks to "get the results of her lab tests." SIX WEEKS! With her being very concerned, of course, we immediately searched the net and found out that fatty liver occurs in patients 1). who drink alcohol (she never has), 2). Patients who are overweight (she is not) or 3). Patients with diabetes (she hasn't got that, either). It says that a liver biopsy is how they find this out. He never mentioned doing one of those. My question is.. would a physician want to wait 6 weeks to find out lab results? You know it doesn't take 6 weeks to get the results back, they probably had them back within a day or two. In the meantime, she is stressing big time about what could be wrong.
Chickadee are you from Portland, OR area?? -
Posted By: Patti
If youwent to Mt. Hood CC you must be. Are you still in this area? Patti
Instant text expander -
Posted By: amj
I want to download the Instant Text word Expander for the 30 day trial but what website do I go to for this? amj
How to Activate My Stedman's Med/Pharm Spellchecker within MS Word -
Posted By: Dave
Hello,
Just installed my Stedman's 2005 Med/Pharm Dictionary and realized I no longer have the manual. Does anyone know how to activate it, that is, add it to the MS Word spellchecker? Thank you much. Dave
I need help in MS Word. I have a new doc that requires almost every page to have different margins. -
Posted By: (sm) AzMT
I used to have an account that we could type Control and L and that would make a page break with the margins for a letter. I don't know how to create this. I looked into macros in Word and am totally confused and have no idea what to do.
Can anyone help me figuer out a way I can assign Control and L for the letter margins and control P for progress note margins. I'd really appreciate any help
Any suggestions on wav players? (nm) -
Posted By: Best wav Player Software
*
Xs and Os -- Which are hugs and which are kisses? NM -
Posted By: Anyone Know?
XO
word 2003 help -
Posted By: shawna
When I am typing, all of a sudden my cursor goes away. It is really annoying! Every time I get on a roll with something I have to stop and click the mouse to get started again. Do I have some kind of virus or what the heck is going on?
One hand goes cold as ice when typing...?? -
Posted By: Sheryl
My right hand goes ice cold when I type all day long. I asked the ortho doctor about this a while back and got a dumb look in response. Anyone have this or have any clues as to what is wrong? That wrist has a ganglion in it. The other hand remains normal temperature.
Thanks!
About ABC Good Morning America in Mumbai -
Posted By: mqmtnewbutold
As a person of strong faith, I don't believe in vengence or discrimination; however, with all our work going to India this has changed me. I look at the opulence, Bollywood excess, etc and think; okay we have slums right here in the USA. We have people who ARE WILLING to work now for even slave wages. And just like India we have those who live in opulence with disregard for the poverty in front of their eyes.
My point, help me not be so darn angry every time I here the word India!! I know it is not right. I am a peaceful person.
Does anyone use a safetype keyboard? -
Posted By: Laurie
Does anyone use a safetype keyboard or heard of reviews either good or bad? I am seriously considering buying one but I hate to spend the money if it won't help with the pain in my hands (from OA). Thanks for your help.
www.safetype.com
Question regarding editing -
Posted By: Carla
Does anyone know if there is a resource out there for learning how to edit transcription reports. We all edit our own reports now, but would like something for a resource to help train new transcriptionists. I know there are booklets on transcription but would like something for editing. If anyone knows of a good site for this or a resource book that I can buy that would be great. Looking to eventually needing it for our group if we go voice recognition and want to be on top of things before it happens.
Thanks
Need help with punctuation and caps -
Posted By: Going crazy
I have MS Word 2003. This program has always capitalized the first letter after a colon (:) and for some reason today it stopped. I cannot figure this out for the life of me. I have been in Tools, etc, and see nothing that addresses this problem. If anyone has had this problem and knows how to correct it, please enlighten me. LOL
TYIA
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