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I found FREE shortcuts! -
Posted By: sm
I just found a website with a huge list of free Expander shortcuts if anyone is interested. here it is
http://medicaltranscriptionexpandproductive.blogspot.com/
Just a Reminder International Spellex Week ends Dec.11 Hurry and Save 10% -
Posted By: spellex
Spellex Corporation is proud to announce International Spellex Week (Dec. 5, 2005 - Dec. 11th, 2005).
Please visit http://www.spellex.com all this week and save 10% on any of our popular software products.
Regarding non American Google ads, as we see them we add them to the list so they won't appear -
Posted By: Administrator (sm)
again, but we don't see everything. If you see an ad that is not an American run company, please email admin@mtstars.com with the URL and we will have it removed.
Thank you,
Administrator
Drug s/l pronase 5 mcg -
Posted By: Jean Petree
Elderly patient is getting s/l pronase 5 mcg as needed. Can't find pronase except in some enzyme studies. Any help appreciated!
Whine alert! 8 cents/line is killing me! :( -
Posted By: SM
I have 17 years experience. I'm an IC, was getting paid 10 and 11 cents a line for the last decade or so. After that work basically dried up, I started looking for more work. No work to be had at at 10 cents a line anymore, rarely find anything even at 9 cents.
Decided to take an 8 cents/line job. Hey, I was gettin' hungry. I swear....I type, type, type, type, seems like all day and all night and still not making the money I need to pay my bills and eat!
I know, I know, people justify 8 cents a line by saying hey if you can do 200 lph, that's $16 an hour. Yeah, that's great for those who aren't used to making up to $30+ an hour for the past 8 to 10 years! Man, I'm soooooooo tired of typing, so burned out, just very unhappy. 
I can see now how some people are happy with MT and some people aren't, just depends on what you've been used to compared to what you get now. Sad.
I really don't have any other skills to do anything else, and I'm dying here as far as finances, killing my hands and other body parts trying to make money at this 8 cents a line...maybe could've done it 15 years ago when I was younger but just not able to type like a demon day and night anymore.
Let it be known that this is the end of my vent. I have no idea what I'm going to do
WOOOOW -
Posted By: MKC
I just had someone that bugged me and bugged me for a job, train. She is all happy fine with the doctor fine with the account fine with the pay and after i get all done giving her info via IM she quits responding and i get an email that she cant be responsible for this account. Other ppl have people do that to them? I am in just awe at how much time i WASTED on her and if you want her name go ahead and email would hate for anyone else to waste time on someone who doesnt like to work. Makes me worry she is "stealing" info!!
Best way to get clients? sm -
Posted By: Cana
I want to market my service in my area. I have gone to offices before in the past, but they sometimes get annoyed. I have also done mailings and get no response. Is there another way to get the OM's attention that maybe I overlooked? Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Need a good place to get ink cartridges. -
Posted By: mtathome
I have been ordering my HP ink cartridges for Office Depot. The expense is getting out of hand, and the ink does not last any time at all. Does anyone have any ideas? Walmart seems to be higher than Office Depot. I have gotten burned before ordering from some place online. The cartridges were an off brand, and although they said they would, they would not work in our printers.
IS THIS POSSIBLE -
Posted By: MT
Can anyone tell me if this is possible. I am thinking about getting a second part-time job. Is it possible to have 2 different platforms on the same computer or would it be better to get an external hard drive for the second transcription platform?
Thanks in advance.
Companies allowing dial-up? -
Posted By: Oldtimer
Do any nationals allow dial-up these days? May be moving to outlying area where that's all there is (frustrating because DSL is only 5 miles up the road). I tried archives but couldn't pin down any info. Thanks for any help!
companies who allow dial up -
Posted By: dial-uper
If anyone has any info on companies who hire us unfortunate dial-up interneters, I would appreciate it. It seems that all the decent companies I look at hire only high-speed. Thanks!
Lanier headset -
Posted By: MT34+
I used to use a headset by Lanier that was white and had tiny white round things that fit very nicely in my ears. They recently broke and I cannot find them for sale anywhere. I have tried all the others available and they all hurt my ears. There are black ones out there that look just like these and they hurt because the black circular knobs that go in your ears are just a tad bit larger than these white Lanier. Any suggestions as to where I can find these, or are they no longer available. Strangely enough, I had the original box laying around for years until just prior to them breaking..... I threw it out. ROTFLMAO....... Go figure...
Just Venting -
Posted By: Gabriella
An emergency room physician assistant repeatedly dictates "thenar emesis."
Lanier -
Posted By: Lanier-er
If you use a calling card to dial into the hospital system using a Lanier, do your phone card minutes start to decrease immediately or only when you have the foot pedal down and are listening to the dictation? I hope this question makes sense? Tx
Does Medquist really pay out that sign-on bonus? -
Posted By: If so, when? nm
zz
Followup to resume -
Posted By: Opinion needed
Maybe someone can help me!
I have always been advised to follow up after an interview/test etc.
Is that possible after taking a standard computerized MT test?
Any opinions appreciated!
Thanks!
I think I asked for too much...sm -
Posted By: pamt
I applied for a FT position with a large hospital in my area. I have 7 years experience doing the "basic four". On the online application it asked what I would want for a salary and I said $17.00 p/h. Then, when I thought about it, I wondered if I had asked for too much and maybe they wouldn't even contact me. I looked up the median income for my area and for working in a large hospital it said $25,000 to $29,000. So, any advice? Should I reapply with a lower demand? I figured if I gave them a higher number they would have something to work down from, but I think I went too high. I would really love to get back into a hospital and away from working from home. So....should I reapply? Any advice? Thanks in advance!
Question re ExText -
Posted By: Olive Oyl
Even though ExText is a word-based program, I have not been able to use the control spacebar feature to keep 2 words together at the end of a line. Ex. Dr. Smith, or a month together with the date. No one seems to know the answer to this question. Please help.
TIA
expander -
Posted By: SHERRY FLOYD
I have been transcribing for 10 years, 4 at home. I have never used expanders, do they really help, how hard are they to learn and use?
Make Word 03 and 07 work together! -
Posted By: CB
First of all, I appologize for the LONG message, but well worth reading if you use Word. I asked this question on the Microsoft Discussion Board on 11/7/08. Here are the posts:
>>>> DeviousRedBaron wrote:
>>>>> I am running Word 2007. For work, I download a template created
>>>>> in Word 2003, then type my document in Word 2007. After this, I
>>>>> have to import header/footer info that I believe is created with
>>>>> Word 2003. This takes a long time and at the bottom of the screen
>>>>> the message "Word is replacing ..." appears. Is there any way I
>>>>> can speed this up, or avoid it all together? I love Word 2007 and
>>>>> would like to continue to use it. I do have Word 2003 also. I
>>>>> cannot change the info that I have to download. I access it
>>>>> through the intranet and it is different for each report. (I am a
>>>>> medical transcriptionist.) Speed is important in my line of work!
>>>>> Thanks in advance!!!!!
>>> "Graham Mayor" wrote:
>>>
>>>> You will need to tell us more about the importing of the
>>>> header/footer. How? From where?
>>>> What is the exact sequence of steps used to create a document. At
>>>> what point does the message appear?
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> <>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
>>>> Graham Mayor - Word MVP
>>>>
>>>> My web site www.gmayor.com
>>>> Word MVP web site http://word.mvps.org
>>>> <>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
>> DeviousRedBaron wrote:
>>> Hi Graham,
>>> I open my transcription program (created by the transcription
>>> company that I work for) and download my reports over the intranet.
>>> These are voice files and .doc information (that ends up in the
>>> header/footer). I double click on the report I want to type up and
>>> a template box pops up. I choose the .dot template that I need and
>>> it automatically opens Word in compatability mode with part of the
>>> header/footer info already in the document. This is usually the
>>> hospital/clinic address and phone number, or what ever info that
>>> particular company has requested. On some reports, there are
>>> headings that are loaded into the body of the document as well.
>>> This process is usually pretty quick, depending on my company's
>>> server.
>>>
>>> Now, I type up my report in the body of the document. When I am
>>> finished, I have to apply the demographics to the document. This is
>>> the information about the patient, clinic/hospital numbers, doctors'
>>> names, cc info...that is also downloaded with the report from the
>>> intranet. Some of this info goes into the header/footer as well.
>>> Some of this info is "attached" to the document so it is sent to the
>>> correct departments/doctors.... Once I apply the demographics, I
>>> have to wait for Word to replace .....something. (The message on
>>> the bottom of Word flashes from a long message to a short one very
>>> rapidly, making it impossible to read the entire message!)
>>>
>>> I have read a little bit about writing a code (macro) so that
>>> everything opened with Word is opened in 2003 format. I do not
>>> start Word, it opens with my company software, so I never get to
>>> choose a template in Word. I have also tried to set the
>>> compatibility for all documents to 2003 and this does nothing.
>>> Also tried to set it up to save as a 2003 document, as well as a
>>> .dot and this does not make any difference.
>>>
>>> I am at a loss! Thanks for your quick response, it is greatly
>>> appreciated!
> "Graham Mayor" wrote:
>
>> It is the application of demographics - presumably by a macro that
>> appears to be the issue. This was obviously created by the
>> transcription company with Word 2003 in mind. Whether it would be
>> possible to improve that code is impossible to say without seeing it
>> - and really that is a job for the company that provided it, so I
>> will stick to attempting to make the function use Word 2003 rather
>> than 2007.
>>
>> http://www.gmayor.com/Toolbars_in_word_2007.htm demonstrates how to
>> set Word 2003 and 2007 to share the same platform without
>> reconfiguring the registry each time one of them is run to grab the
>> shared settings for itself..
>>
>> You should then be able to associate doc and dot files through
>> Windows Explorer > Tools > Folder Options > File Types - DOC >
>> Advanced > Open > Edit and change the application used to perform
>> the action to Word 2003, which by default should mean entering
>>
>> "C:Program FilesMicrosoft OfficeOFFICE11WINWORD.EXE" /n /dde "%1"
>>
>> in that space.
>>
>> Repeat for DOT, though this time edit the action for NEW - the
>> application used to perform the action should be
>>
>> "C:Program FilesMicrosoft OfficeOFFICE11WINWORD.EXE" /n /dde
>>
>> and the DDE message should be
>>
>> [REM _DDE_Direct][FileNew("%1")]
>>
>> In both examples if Word 2003 is installed in some other location
>> than the default shown, change the paths to reflect that other
>> location.
>>
>> --
>> <>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
>> Graham Mayor - Word MVP
>>
>> My web site www.gmayor.com
>> Word MVP web site http://word.mvps.org
>> <>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
DeviousRedBaron wrote:
> Thanks so much, Graham!
> I have followed your instructions, but have not yet tested it with my
> company's software. I am going to test it out tomorrow. If there
> are any gliches, I will repost. If all goes well, would you mind if
> I pass this info on to my fellow MTs? (Medical transcriptionists.) I
> am sure there are numerous woman, and a few men, who could benefit
> greatly from your advise. I will await your response.
>
> Once again, thank you!!!!!
If it works for you, feel free to share with your colleagues. If double
clicking a doc or dot file opens Word 2003 and not 2007 it should work with
the company software - depending on how the company software calls Word.
--
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
Graham Mayor - Word MVP
My web site www.gmayor.com
Word MVP web site http://word.mvps.org
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
I hope this will help everyone! I know it helped me. I love typing in Word2007, but for now, I will have to type in Word 2003 until my company's software is compatible with it. At least I can have both programs running at the same time! The info on his web page about creating a toolbar is not necessary, unless it is something you need to do for Word 2007. 
anyone know if this is a reliable source for this information? thanks... -
Posted By: hopingfor15moreyearsMT
taken from their site (I especially like about the outsourcing and 'robot transcriptionist' :
Allied Health Profession of the Month - March 2005
Medical Transcriptionist contributed by Paul D. Mason, Oxford, NJ |
What is Medical Transcription?
Medical transcriptionists (MTs) are the miracle workers of the medical records! They turn doctors’ daily dictation tapes - rough, hurried, harried, mumbled, muttered, highly technical, and always absolutely crucial - into clear, concise, polished gems of documentation. They work this amazing transformation every day under tight deadlines using just a simple tape or digital audio player, a computer, and a stack of medical books and online reference sources.
Jobs Outlook – “Boom”ing?
Remember all those “baby boomers”? According to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), job opportunities for MT’s will be good - growing faster than the national average for occupations through 2012, with the demand fueled by the increased healthcare demands of a growing and aging population.
It’s not hard to see that lots more senior citizens needing lots more doctor visits means tons of new medical records to be generated! There’s going to be plenty of work out there to go around.
Then there’s the big “O”: Outsourcing…
There has been a steady stream of news lately about various US industries improving their bottom lines by replacing American workers with low-wage overseas labor – skilled jobs like computer programming, telephone help desks - almost any job that can be performed remotely.
In medical transcription, however, issues such as little or no foreign enforcement of US privacy laws, instability of foreign labor, lack of English fluency, expense and uncertainty of adequately training foreign labor, etc. can greatly complicate foreign outsourcing and offset the initially perceived cost savings.
Legal questions have even begun: The California legislature has discussed prohibiting all California industries from using foreign outsourcing involving confidential data, mainly because it is simply not possible to guarantee privacy outside of the country.
The BLS states that foreign outsourcing should not significantly impact the medical transcription profession in the US.
Robot Transcriptionists?
Another MT industry buzz involves new technologies such as speech recognition technologies (SRT’s), computerized “smart” data entry forms (EMR’s, CPR’s), etc. that promise to automate or eliminate traditional transcription work. Several software vendors have been very successfully selling tools of this nature to various industries and have been making noise to promote their use for medical transcription.
It is becoming apparent, however, that the complexity of medical diagnosis and terminology combined with the life-and-death importance of accuracy will prevent large-scale acceptance of these technologies in the medical field for the foreseeable future.
According to the Medical Records Institute (an organization that promotes the adoption of computerized medical records systems), most current research shows that penetration into the medical field by EMR’s is only 5-8%, with SRT’s at less than 1%. |
I want to work on escription program -
Posted By: sm
what companies use it? TIA
Christmas bonus... -
Posted By: sm
My DH just got his Christmas bonus from work...out of the $4000 bonus, he brought home $2450 after taxes...Thanks bunches Uncle Sam!!! 
Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful for the extra money, but geez, 39% tax rate on a bonus, come on now, that's a bit much!!! Just venting here, Merry Christmas Y'all! 
A+ Scripts n'more -
Posted By: Leanne
I'm wondering if anyone has heard of A+ Scripts n'more. They apparently offer an internship program and I don't know if this is a reputable company or not. There are so many companies out there and I can't seem to find much info on this one. I have completed my MT program but like all newbies I'm having a tough time getting my foot in the door. I am considering taking some sort of intern/mentor course to get started. Any ideas?
good one! -
Posted By: Dawn
This is just to funny not to share:
"The patient may have had a decrease in weight due to a decrease in appetite and weight loss."
Really! I never would have figured that weight loss would result in decrease in weight! How about that?!
I LOVE the banner ad that just popped up - sm -
Posted By: LowlyMT
at the top of this page! It says, 'Beware of At Home Jobs - Most Don't Work"!
Well, how TRUE is that!
MT - What a great 'career'.
Cheap digital hand helds vs expensive ones -
Posted By: Fast Fingers
I want to get my doc to switch to digital instead of tapes. I need to know what the difference between the expensive handhelds and the cheap ones at radio shack is. There is a huge difference in price and I can't really see why he needs one of the expensive ones. Thanks for your help.
Career Step? -
Posted By: just me
I have over five years experience in psychiatric transcription. I started at a counseling facility with no experience or training -- just a good command of the English language and a good typist.
Anyway, I went about five years doing no transcription. I recently got a home position doing psych trans. again. I would like to continue working for this company, but broaden my skills in acute/medical. Of course, there is some medical in psych transcription, but limited.
My question is: Has anyone here been through Career Step and is it worth the money? Also, do you think it would benefit, or should I just try to gain experience as I go?
Thanks!!
accounts/specialties -
Posted By: Stefanie
I've been an MT for 2 years. My experience is mainly in orthopaedics. I'm looking to get on with a new company, but I'm worried about the difficulty factor of making that leap. Obviously I don't have the unrealistic expectation that the new company would assign me just an orthopaedics account, and I wouldn't want that because I want to learn something new. I would say give me cardiology, GI, GU, but don't give me cardiology, GI, GU, obstetrics, psychiatry, ophthalmology, neurology, oncology, and on and on. So I'd like to take on more than just orthopaedics but not too much either. Question for you all, how many accounts are you typically assigned to and how many specialties are you expected to know? Thanks.
Ideas for FPT site? -
Posted By: mt47mtm
Thanks to all who answered my question about line rate. Now, I need to find an FTP site to use. They range from 3 to 35 dollars a month. Anyone have any experience and could you recommend a site for me? I need encryption and ability to handle up to 3 users.
TIA.
Need help on word board please. Thanks -
Posted By: nm
Dinner tonight -
Posted By: Dano
Meat loaf, mashed potatoes and brown gravy, creamed corn, broccoli/cauliflower salad and Kentucky Derby Pie for dessert. I love to cook.
Does anyone know if you have a foot pedal for a USB port if you can convert it somehow to a 9 pin -
Posted By: MQ2
port or must you buy another foot pedal. Anyone ever had trouble with foot pedal compatability with using their own computer.
instant text -
Posted By: waiting for spring
help! I am having a problem figuring out how to put the AXIS I-V diagnosis into the expander. For instance, when I expand AXIS II it comes out to AXIS I on my screen because it moves up the line as I select it from IT running across the screen. As you can imagine it happens to the other AXIS diagnoses. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! 
filling downloaded IRS forms -
Posted By: very small mtso
Okay, I'm supposed to be able to fill in the 1099-Misc form I just downloaded but for some reason I can't add any information. Am I missing a plug-in or something?>
CRUELTY CLARIFICATION -
Posted By: converting soon?
To the multiple posters below, regarding the thread on farm animal cruelty. First of all, I believe you. Second of all, me and many like me don't have access to video and/or cannot watch the video. Yet, we still want some facts. I was not able to pick up fact based on the thread. Here is what I found out -- VERY INFORMATIVE by the way, and I appreciated reading it -- but there were still questions in the air. Can someone please CLARIFY, by way of simply stating the facts, what is going on with each of the following animals, so that we, AS CONSUMERS WHO MOSTLY SHOP AT BIG CITY SUPERMARKETS, can make an INFORMED CHOICE based on these facts:
1. Chickens. Know they live their lives squashed and get heads severed off via rotating razor blades. True, false, anything missing?
2. Veal calves. The cruelest fate of all (besides french geese for fois gras or however you spell it). Tiny crates, water deprivation, light deprivation, no straw, no way to move the extremities. And how are they killed?
3. Regular calves, and cows for meat. How are they killed - really? I think the general public thinks they get a humane bullet in the head. Is this not true?
4. Dairy cows. Their fate? And aren't they treated a little better (fresh air, etc.) for dairy vs meat? Please inform.
5. Pigs. We know that they eat, we know they are dirty, but assume that they, too, get room to roam, and are killed with a bullet BEFORE being cut up. Is this true? If not, how different?
6. Anything else we need to know about?
So very, very much appreciate a WRITTEN answer to those of us who have no access to / cannot go the video route. BIG THANK YOU IN ADVANCE.
Ortho reference website -
Posted By: Ortho reference website?
Does anyone know of a good Orthopedic reference website? TIA!
help on word board, pls! nm -
Posted By: ???
Allergy/Asthma Clinic Work -
Posted By: LisaLisa
I am hoping someone can give me some insight on Allergy/Asthma Clinic work. How difficult is it and is it something that can be transitioned into easily? I have the opportunity to pick up some work but I've not done any Allergy/Asthma Clinic work. My experience has mostly been in Radiology/Ortho work but I have also done OB/GYN, Family Practice and ER reports. Thanks!
If your hospital/facility could take MT back -
Posted By: Mave
from the outsourced services, would it be interested in doing so? If you think it's Take Back Time at your hospital, facility, doctor's office, I am ready to offer them a proven solution to take control back into their own hands and create a win/win situation for hospital, MDs and MTs. It's Take Back Time!
How about you? If you could work for a hospital or facility without having a service between you and them, would you be interested? Do you have the proven quality and experience to offer a hospital? (Excluded: new grads, MT wanna be's, and trainees - this question is only meant for those with solid and strong acute care experience)
If the above scenarios appeal to you, contact me and let's talk.
Moving to AZ...sm -
Posted By: bunny
I tried posting this on the state boards but there is no activity there, so I am posting here.
Thinking about moving to Arizona next year. Somewhere around the Goodyear, Surprise, Litchfield Park area. Love Estrella Ranch but it is just a tad too pricey for what we want to spend. Anybody from Arizona care to share if there are other communities similar to Estrella Ranch? Where are the best schools for high school and middle school? good, bad and ugly would be great.
Thanks
Anyone work for Sten-Tel? -
Posted By: ArkieMT
Do any of you work for Sten-Tel? I was thinking of accepting their offer, but could not find any recent posts about this company. Would appreciate any information what it is like to work for them.
Thanks!
I am shocked -
Posted By: sm
I still can't believe it. I did a search for MT companies and came upon Zydoc. Searched here but found only one person asking a question. Started filling out the form on their website and got to the last page and it asked me to enter my CC info!!!
VR -
Posted By: TD
The doctor I work for has offered to purchase VR in order to help reduce typing reports.
Any suggestions as to which software would be the best to purchase and should I even agree to this. I am also worried that VR will take over my job!
Thanks
Word is making my crazy and I'm ready to tear my hair out!! -
Posted By: sm
Does anyone else have this problem?
When working in Word, there are TONS of ~WRL0000.tmp files that are created (the 0000 are just placeholders for random numbers) and being used by Word. These files eventually cause the program to crash, close and restart, always giving the message that the normal file has been changed and asking if I want to reload. This can helps SEVERAL times a day and I'm just tired of the aggravation.
I have looked high and low for an answer to this question and I have yet to find one other person that has had this happen. Microsoft is NO help at all. Their KB only says that the normal.dot is corrupted. I have recreated normal.dot and that hasn't fixed the problem, either. I've done the same for the soap.dot that I use for notes--no luck.
The only thing that I can figure is that these .tmp files are copies of the actual note/file I'm working on (I've opened them up and looked at them). Most can be deleted but there are always one or two that can't be deleted because they're being used by another program (or so the computer says). Closing Word and rebooting Windows is not helping either. BTW, I'm working on XP OS.
If there is anyone out there with either the same problem or, better yet, an idea on how to get this stupidity to stop, please let me know before I go totally bananas!
 
IC Contracting -
Posted By: jc
I just signed on with a company for my first MT position (IC status). I will be receiving all of their software/programming next week. My question is, do most MTs abide by their security contract with the company as far as not letting anyone else get on their work computer? Is there a way for the company to tell when you log on and off your computer through some kind of network? We are looking for a new computer for my husband at the moment for his personal use and I was just wondering.
I need tips for transcribing a lisp -
Posted By: Hello
Help MEEEEEEEE
Poll -
Posted By: What's the happiest thing that has happened lat
Need some positivity today!! Having a bad month and want to hear that others are having a good things happen! Thanks.
Practice dictation sm -
Posted By: Speedqueen
This is a crazy question but I've had to take time off and feel really out of the loop. Never worked from home before. Is there any company who would forward some sample dication to let you kind of play with for awhile before you formally test for them? At this point, I don't think I'd pass the test although I've had plenty of acute care and specialty experience. I know it sounds really unprofessional but I thought I would at least ask. Hate to fail, spent too many years being a perfectionist, I guess. Are there any sites you could recommend for someone returning to the profession after a few years taking care of family business?
what does s/l and s/m mean? -
Posted By: chcknmn
i ran a Google search yesterday looking for sclerae injected and it came back with an s/l sclerae injected search result. what does s/l mean and what does s/m mean? thanks
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