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Unable to read any posts, screen blank. nm - Posted By: Becky Clark

nm

Foot pedal question - Posted By: mdtc

While cleaning out my office closet, I came across a foot pedal. I am unsure what it is compatible with. I think I purchased it off ebay or this website a while back. I wanted to use it with Express Scribe, but it is not compatible with that. I thought I would check with you all and see if anyone could help me identify what it would work with. The information on the back of the foot pedal is FTSWIN19 and then below that is A1001857. I am thinking that maybe it works with different transcription software, the SUM Medical Transcription Program, or maybe even an actual transcription machine. The connector is round with 8 pins. If anyone can help me, I would greatly appreciate it!

Thanks

CHERRY PICKER - Posted By: curious

I just started for a new company and the transcriptionists there seem to talk about cherry pickers all of the time. It sounds to me like the people who have been there a while do not welcome the new employees coming in. Could someone explain to me exactly what they mean by a cherry picker???? TIA

Does anyone have any experience with TRS Institute- thinking of applying - Posted By: Nicole

?

Could someone tell me what a Lanier is. - Posted By: duh

I know I heard of it but not sure exactly what it is.

Dictaphone EXText Speech - Posted By: boobear8

Are there any MT companies doing Dictaphone EXText Speech.

Another question.. - Posted By: Faith

What does it mean when you see a little yellow fire burning next to a post that someone made? I made a poster earlier, and there's that fire next to it, and I didn't put it there. Thanks

Somebody please help me!! - Posted By: Please!

I was switching back and forth between documents and Word asked me if I wanted to save changes and I hit no when I meant to hit yes and ALL of my work is now gone. Is there ANY way to recover this?

Thank you so much!

Karaoke - anyone else -sm - Posted By: blushing red

get uncomfortable watching someone make a fool of themselves? Gosh, I've NEVER been that drunk in my life to get up there and do that!!!! And, I get so uncomfortable watching someone that absolutely cannot sing a single note on key get up there and TRY to sing. I suppose I should give them credit for at least trying, but geeze louise, don't quit your day jobs!!!! Anyone out there brave enough to do this?

Etymotic ER6 earphones; do you all still like them (sm) - Posted By: Going Deaf?

To those of you who are using them,do you still like them? Are you able to pick up the stammering docs better? Are they comfortable, hard to get used to? I am open to suggestions on other brands if you have decided you don't like them

Watching Grey's Anatomy and never - Posted By: What happened

saw it before. I couldn't tell if they were daydreaming, going back or going forward. I missed a couple of seconds when the phone rang and the Asian girl who was pregnant is in the hospital and the doctor is cuddling her. Did she miscarry?

Hiring doctors as editors - Posted By: Chris

Hello all,

I am an optometrist. I recently opened a new practice and I am actively looking to do something productive while I wait to build my patient base. Being self employed, I would also like to find a way to qualify for group health insurance for me, my wife and my son. Does anyone know if medical trascription companies ever hire people in specific fields (i.e. eyecare) to read over documents prepared by qualified transcriptionists. I figure it would be good for the company to have someone like myself employed in order set themselves apart from other transcriptoin services. It would be great for me because I could come and go from the work in between patients and finish up in the evening.

Thanks in advance, Chris

looking 4 a good school - Posted By: Kim Keller

Seriously interested in the MT field. Can you advise me of a good school? Please excuse me if this posted twice - I'm new to this.

Trojan Horse - tried to enter my computer while I was on here - Posted By: tonight. My Norton caught it. (sm)

This is what Norton said it was

Norton Internet Worm Protection has detected and blocked an intrusion attempt.

Security - Default Block Gatecrasher Trojan Horse.

FYI

Error in Book of Style 2nd edition!? - Posted By: exilesky

Hey! I just paid over $60 for this dang BOS (my new employer requires I have one), so I'm studying it diligently, and on page 297 they're referring to Salter-Harris fractures as "Slater-Harris". Thought I was going nuts, checked Stedman's and they say its Salter. Am worried there are other errors in it, and I won't know it! Do they publish their bloopers anywhere?

I'm not a member of AAMT (and probably never will be, I'm not a joiner), but I'm pretty doggone disgusted I just shelled out that kind of money for published errors, especially after reading repeatedly in the book how regular MTs aren't worthy of putting letters after their name unless they've been certified by the all-knowing AAMT! Guess I'd never pass their test since I'd say Salter-Harris instead of Slater!

Anyway, I feel ripped off, especially since all editors/employers act like the AAMT is holy like the pope! Thanks for listening to me vent!

Hard to Hear! - Posted By: MT

OK, I have been typing for this doc for quite a while now. Recently, his dictations have gotten harder and harder to hear. It seems like his voice is so quiet! In some parts it is like he is fading away and it's so difficult to figure out what he is saying. I am ending up with a lot of blanks just so he can check it and make sure I heard the correct word (that's what I'm supposed to do, right?) Now, the higher I turn my volume up to hear him, the louder the hissssssing noise is in the background and it's killing my ears! What should I do?

QA question. sm - Posted By: NMT

How is the work calculated? Is there a quota on how many reports have to be done per hour or day? Thanks in advance for any responses.

Help with QA - Posted By: dink

I need some advice. I can't get into the specifics because who knows who reads this stuff but I am having a problem with QA. I cannot win. I am getting corrections back that are ridiculous ( a instead of an). On top of that, I am getting corrections that contradict previous emails saying to do it the way I did it. Additionally, I am getting grammatical corrections that are incorrect. I do believe the QA person is knowledgeable and not a complete moron, but there are definitely errors on her part or just simply more than one way of doing things. If they keep changing the rules, how do I beat their game? I can't correct them or say anything because I do not have the previous emails and it will just make her mad and make my life worse. Suggestions?

Scam companies/schools that recommend them - Posted By: MTTOMANY

In regards to scam companies mainly Toth�I also wanted to add this note . . . there is a school (a small one) that provides passing students with a list of places that hire new grads. I cannot say the name of that school, as I have seen them advertise here and I don�t want to point fingers. Anyway, I do not know if she still has Toth on her list for newbies searching for potential jobs, but she did at one time. She claims she checks out the companies before she lists them, which is false. I personally informed the school about Toth because I along with four other MTs who had taken her course were cheated out of pay. She told me she didn't put Toth on the list � that she checks them out etc. Not too long after that a new grad approached me because she found that Toth was on the list and wondered if it was the same company that had cheated so many newbies. I told her that it was and she didn't take the job. At least I saved one MT. J Anyway, please do your own research when applying for jobs. Some schools don't care. They just like to say that they have a high percentage of working grads (they fail to mention the grads are not getting paid)! Please use caution. The best way to learn about the good places is by word of mouth. Okay-Thank you and have a good night. I am getting off my soapbox now.

Which offer sounds best? - Posted By: Looking

I have only worked for 1 national and there I get 0.969 cpl for 65-char with spaces, and right now the incentive is 1.5 cpl at 7,000 for ALL lines typed (inctive is subject to be discontinued soon possibly). I have an offer for 0.95 cpl with for 55-char line with NO spaces and 1 cpl for all lines with 98% quality, but a VERY slow platform. Second offer is 0.85 cpl for 65 char with spaces, 1 cpl bonus over 6,000 lines for only the lines over 6,000, but a pretty good platform. So much to figure and think about my head is swimming. The second 2 jobs have much better benefits. HELP!!

It is funny how... - Posted By: anon

It is funny how thankful you can become for a job that you really do not enjoy sometimes when you find out your spouse might be losing his job. It is a nice reminder of how we all need to be thankful of our many blessings we have and be thankful God chose us to live in American and can come blow off some steam on this board. Just a thought. God bless all the MTs out there!

Does anyone know if - Posted By: Kat

Help desk technicians work from home? I have a friend who is going to be graduating college for computer technician and I am thinking they can get jobs that are home-based, can't they? Thanks I appreciate any insight you might have!

Chocolate banana milkshakes. sm - Posted By: mlstoo

Nephrology doc had me on these twice a day when my protein and electrolytes were low. Ice cream, 1 banana and milk, add chocolate, whip it up in the blender. I even used to throw my multivitamin in there for good measure. Tasted so good I got addicted to them. LOL-it was a great chocolate fix. I think you could add some peanut butter in there, too, for a different twist and it has plenty of protein.

Does anyone know of a way to make a tissue paper (or anything else cheap) wreath using handprints? - Posted By: sm..Frazzled room mom..again!

I am trying to come up with something cheap since I am the only one footing the craft bill for 25 kids!! I have all of their handprints and was thinking it would be a nice keepsake craft to have them make a wreath with them. I was going to use foam, but it is way to expensive to buy enough to make a wreath for 25 kids! I was thinking of using tissue paper and just cutting about a zillion handprints of each kid out and putting them together to form a wreath. Any ideas on how to make that work? A few years ago the class made the other kind of tissue paper wreath where you just wrap strips of tissue around the hanger and it turned out pretty nice. This would be nice too, since it would be with the kids' handprints. Any help or ideas would be GREATLY appreciated! Thanks everyone and Happy holidays!

Might be a stoopid question...BUT - Posted By: not sure...

I am relatively new to this board, so forgive the question, but I do not know what Medquist is in that, why is there a board specifically for them and - I guess, just what is up with them?

Thanks

Need help ASAP - websites that are similar to WordPerfect for dummies. - Posted By: wimt

Went from working soley in Word for last 8 years to WordPerfect 8. Last time I worked in WP it was dos. I need quick tips, time savers, keyboard commands, that sort of thing. Need to get my speed up. Thanks.

Catchy newsletter title. - Posted By: A. Munro

Any suggestions for a "catchy" MT newletter title?? Thanks!

IC. How much notice to give? - Posted By: MT

There is no contract besides on saying to say for six months. I have been there for almost 1 1/2 years. If I wanted to give notice, what is usual for doing so? Is it 1 week, 2 weeks....

Thanks!

I have 2 questions for people who own their own company - Posted By: Wondering

I started a company up and have a few clients; however, 2 of them insist on using my SS# instead of my EIN. Will I still be able to claim this as income for the business? Also, I have someone working for me and I am wondering if when I pay taxes on my business do I do it on the money before or after I pay her? I'm not sure if you have to pay taxes on EVERYTHING you make or if you can count a salary off and just pay taxes on what is left.

Books - Posted By: GA MT

Does anyone know of a book store around Atlanta that sales reference books? We used to have a store called Majors, but it's not here anymore, or at least I can't find it.

Coffee drinkers? How many cups or pots do you drink/day while working? sm - Posted By: Addicted to caffeine

I drink 1 - 2 pots.

Windows Media Player and Foot Pedal - Posted By: Larry

Does anyone have a simple solution to hooking up a VEC footpedal so that it works with Windows Media Player to stop and start? The VEC hooks into a USB port on the computer and has 3 pedals, rewind, forward, and type.

Relacore - any experience? - Posted By: sm

I'm not looking for a magic pill - just a jump start. I realize I am an emotional/stress eater. If anyone has any experience, please share. Thanks.

In the market for a new ergonomic keyboard. I would love some suggestions!!! What are you using?? - Posted By: KyMT

Right now I'm looking at the Comfort Keyboard ($289) and Ergoflex ($179) that are on e-bay. If you haven't seen them, they basically look like a regular keyboard, just in two halves. I've also been looking at the Microsoft Curve Comfort and the Logitech Wave. I HATE the big, bulky ergonomic split keyboards like the Microsoft Elite. I cannot use them at all. I also tried the Kinesis Classic and after a month, couldn't get used to it either.

Right now I'm using the A-tech AntiRSI keyboard. It's okay, nothing great.

I would appreciate ANY suggestions. Price really is a factor even though the ones I listed are outrageous. I'd rather not spend a ton, but will if I have to.

THANKS!!

wav player - Posted By: janett

Sorry to change the subject and hope this is the right board. But, I have a problem. I was testing with 2 reports to transcribe. My wav player only would let me do the first one. It is rather hard to explain but I could not access the 2nd file. I shut my computer off and tried again but it would not let me have access to it. Does anybody know what I mean? The file is unzipped and I can click on it but no audio comes up. This is on both. I just got this player and, of course, cannot find the directions so if anyone can help I would appeciate it.

Looking to upgrade skills, though sm - Posted By: Kj

just for personal reasons, as I'm still working, etc. I see Medword has a 9 specialty CD set for $269, and of course there is the SUM Advanced package but that's $840. My goal is to be more employable by just broadening my skills as I've only been doing ER and clinic for years (going on 10); however, I'm certainly not made of money! ;) Do you think the Medword one would be okay or a waste of money? I've heard great things about the SUM program but do you think it's really necessary?

Thanks for your thoughts!

How do I get my clock back in the taskbar? sm - Posted By: zoe

I removed it long ago and now I want it back and can't remember what I did to remove it! I looked on the internet but could not find an answer. I have Windows XP incidentally. TIA!

Electronic spellchecker and line counting software for Word 07 - Posted By: Amanda Eades

Does anyone know of any line counting software and electronic medical spellchecker that works in Word that is out there for Word 97. I just upgraded to Office 2007 and my abacus does not do the same and I really don't like it in the standalone version and also my Dorland's electronic medical spellchecker will not even install on this version of Word. Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions. Please help as I have to have this to do my job.

Thanks so much

Tips on how to focus, would - Posted By: appreciate it.

Posting this because I want to get my line count up. I work as an IC and can work anytime I want to... when I type I do about 200 an hour so it is not the company line counter, as reason why my lines have been pretty low. I have been in this business a long time though and find it hard to sit and focus. If I could just even do 2 hours at a stretch and do that 3-1/2 times a day it would be great. I just get so tired, bored, I don't know what that I cannot seem to tolerate the length of time needed to sit. I am making a fine line count for part time and meeting my contract, but I sure would like to earn more money and the work is there. Anybody having the same struggles? Any input would be highly appreciated. BTW: I tried setting a timer, giving myself little goals, even long-term end-of-pay check treats for myself, but the boredom or tiredness or something is just too strong. Thanks again for any ideas.

Satellite/WiFi/Broadband - Posted By: jdodd

I am going to return to working at home soon. My husband has retired and we are going to be spending a portion of our time in Scotland in a private residence with a wireless connection. In looking at the requirements of several of the company websites I have found, they apparently do not allow satellite or WiFi connections. Do any of you travel and use your laptop for work? If so, what sort of connection do you use? When I was working for Medquist I worked from Scotland with a wireless connection, password protected, in two separate private homes, no direct computer to modem connection, and had no problems with this at all. This was a couple years ago. I am currently employed at a local hospital, so I cannot ask my current employer about this. Many thanks to anyone who has an answer.

Teach a newbie to fish - Posted By: Let's be better teachers.

I don't think it helps them. I started looking at the Word Help board after I read a post earlier this evening about the low-level questions newbies are wanting answers for. One was something like "vigomatic...this is somewhere on the head." Are you KIDDING??? I couldn't believe it. I think it would serve this person much better to give him/her some ideas on how to find the answer rather than to just give the answer away. Just giving the answer away is not really helping them learn anything. It's just letting them copy your homework.

What's that saying? Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime.

In the earlier discussion I mentioned, someone thought posting on the board (in a virtual situation) was the same thing as asking a teacher for an answer in a classroom situation. Well, I think a great teacher in a classroom situation would do the same thing; i.e., point the student toward the dictionary or the encyclopedia or whatever, not just give away the answer.

I really have to wonder how someone can end up as a working transcriber & not know, or at least have been exposed to, the word "zygomatic" at some point. How did this person get a job? Scary, especially considering how protective we are of our field and how much better at it we think we are than anyone else on the planet.

There are no shortcuts. Every great working Transcriptionist has had to look everything up, has had to go through the unbearable period when getting through one report was like swimming through concrete. Are newbies these days under the impression that there is another way? Because there isn't.

Newbie needing tech help - Posted By: cb

I live in a very remote area and am unable to get DSL but can get it through Alltell cell phone. Is that good enough for internet transcribing? Also where could I buy bulk durable micro-cassettes ?

Thanks cb

If you have done both radiology and acute care - Posted By: Just thinking

which account do you think you made more money transcribing?? tia

Value of SUM program...What would you pay???>>> - Posted By: MTwannaB

I asked this on the equipment board, but I think maybe I'll get a better response here, so I hope its okay to post it here, too.

Does anyone know what the SUM CDs are worth? There are some on ebay. The beginning one is 2005, and usually they are the older ones on ebay. I looked on the HPI website, but they come with books and are VERY expensive.

Anyway, does anyone have an idea of what they are worth without any extra books? I want to bid on them, but don't know how much. They are at $9.99 each now. There is a beginning one, an advanced one and a surgery one. Shoot. I want them, but don't want to pay too much, you know?

Thanks for any input.

extext - Posted By: anon

How many of you who work with ExText can make a living? This is my second job using ExText and I'm very upset at how it counts lines. I've worked several hours today, not all day, but several hours and I made....are you ready???....$12.35. That's absurd. I can't make a living like this.

Do you just have to work twice as hard with less than half the pay? The line count on MSWord is significantly higher than what it is for the same document on ExText and I'm not sure how to make this work.

Are there any Nationals that consider vacation pay, holiday pay, and sick pay separately sm - Posted By: anon

rather than wrapping them all into one so you have to use your crummy 10 days PTO to cover vacation, illness, and times of low work? Doesn't leave any vacation time.

Routing of work... sm - Posted By: Info seeker

Currently working for a small national. I'm curious as to how other companies route the dictation to the MTs. For example, are you expected to transcribe pretty much all the dictation (300 providers/teaching hospital & clinic), or do you have certain specialties you transcribe, or just a certain amount of providers? Do you do only acute-care work or only clinic work? Of course, every provider and/or specialty has their own set of rules to follow, thus making it difficult to be productive when constantly researching the rules. TIA!

Scribes Data Canada Independent Contractors out there??? - Posted By: Michele

I have been working at home as an independent contractor for Scribes Data out of Ontario, Canada for the past three years and have loved working for them. I have worked my way to the top of the pay scale and am currently earning between $38-$40/hour. Recently I have been contacted twice by management asking me to consider becoming a full-time employee with benefits rather than an independent contractor. This would mean a dramatic decrease in pay... a $17,000/year base salary plus 60-70 cents/minute of dictation. For the last year I had been paid $1.60/minute of dictation, but just this past month they decreased that to $1.50/minute, stating that was more in line with their pay structure and that I would only be earing $1.60/minute on the radiology dictation I typed. And then a couple of weeks later they contacted me again statingn that I was no longer going to type any radiology dictation unless I was needed and then I would still only be paid the $1.50/minute.

This decrease in pay of 10 cents/minute does not really concern me, it just means I may have to work a littel longer than my normal 5 1/2 hours per day and I do not have a problem with that. My concern is that they are really going to push me to become an employee and just keep taking accounts away from me until I do just that.

Just wondering if there is anybody else out there who may be worried about the same thing.

MQ Monrovia - Has anyone heard about - Posted By: ssc

Has anyone heard anything about the new pay plan? Nothing has ever been said to me about tier pay or what "level" I am. Has anyone else from Monrovia been given any information on this?

Satellite internet connection - Posted By: Lora

I can't get DSL/fast access internet where I live and am thinking about getting a satellite connection, but it's a huge investment. If anyone has it or has had it in the past, please let me know what you think and how it works for you. Thanks a bunch!