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Post below about transcribing at Starbucks is why - Posted By: no one respects MTs

A few think it is funny and it is most definitely not.

So very sad watching this - Posted By: GaPeach

Sitting here watching Animal Channel and the tribute to Steve Irwin. My heart is still crying. His wife, Terri, looks so grief stricken. What a loss.

Bayscribe - Posted By: ima

I imported my MSW AutoCorrect file into Bayscribe but a lot of it will not work. For instance, in MSW I use YO as the expansion for -year-old, but this now will not work after a number nor will YO work after a number followed by a hyphen either. Seems it only will work after a space. Any idea how to design an expansion that will work after a number or hyphen without a space in between?

Also, all the capitalizations I built in for headers get reversed to lower case when I follow them with a colon and I have resigned myself to having to re-enter all of those. Any Bayscribe experts who can shed some light?

transcribing for Doc's office - Posted By: Tinker

Moving to Idaho soon, would like to type for doctor's office..Any idea how I can find out how to go about this. Where would I look to find out particulars. Working for outsource now but do NOT want to get into that situation again..Too many confusing signals.

Empire platform - Has anybody worked on a radiology - sm - Posted By: anon

account that uses the Empire transcription platform. I personally have never heard of it. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

Who should I work for today? DQS or other? - Posted By: XanaX

I'm skeptical about DQS today. I have the option of working for one employer running the DQS platform, or my second job with another company, which is not on DQS.

hospital at-home -vs- national at home - Posted By: what to do...sm

I have an interview today with a hospital...work in-house for 3 months, then go home, paid on production. I don't know as of yet what they pay production, so my question is to anyone who works for a hospital at home AND has also worked for a national at home...

Which would be the best to choose? The hospital offers great benefits, but the national I work for now also has benefits, not as good as the hospital, though. Any input would be most appreciated!

Out of work due to MQ - Posted By: vastar

Thanks to MQ and their new format on 9/7 I have been out of work. They have offered me no computer support & was unable to link to the new system and they have been searching for a new account- amazing they can't come up with something in three weeks when they are always crying about backlogs right?? While they are still "looking" I have been looking for new work. I've worked for them for three years and my line count has steadily dropped (along with my paycheck) due to all of their additional add-ons in their formats. My problem is that I live out in the country and can only get dial-up. Does anyone know where I can transcribe at home with dial-up??

what a nice gift on MT day !!!! - Posted By: JMK

Today I landed a hospital pathology transcription position; per diem, $22.50 an hour with possibilities of f/t down the road! They hired me on the spot - yippee! Happy MT Day, everyone !

Joanne

I am looking for recommendations for a FTP site to retrieve digital voice files. sm - Posted By: FTP

Can you tell me what site you use, how much it costs, etc.? Any info appreciated!

Anyone using an Olympus recorder . . . see msg - Posted By: ---need help

The ending of each recording is cut off. Has this happened to anyone else, and what went wrong? TIA

Does anyone know what the 3 biggest MT companies are? nm - Posted By: Just Curious

nm

EXText Question About Normals - Posted By: Anita

Hi,

I've had trouble recently being unable to retrieve normals I've made.

When I make a personal normal and then try to access it during the current work session, it does not show up in the list. This is true even after having been logged out of the system entirely, such as overnight and then returning to work the next day.

If I try to re-do/re-create the normal using the same "Properties" info., I get a ping and message stating that that normal already exists. Any info. on this?

Also:

Could there be a limit to how many normals, personal or shared, can be created on one person's list?

Can personal normals be deleted?

I need more help than I've already gotten, so I'm posting here. (My next step is contacting Dictaphone)

Thanks.

I switched from Instant Text to Shorthand and my experience was....s/m - Posted By: IT user

I'm curious to see what the reactions were from those that went from IT to SH. Were you glad or did you go back? Please, help. I'm seriously contemplating a switch from IT to SH and really need some input from you well seasoned professionals!

I truly appreciate your time and help!

Computer emergency. Question... - Posted By: SM

I turned on my extra computer next to my work computer and got a black screen that says "operating system not found" What the heck happened? It worked fine yesterday and shut down normally.

Got my chuckle for the night, doc talking about breath sounds - sm - Posted By: Laura E.

and how the lungs were clear, etc. then the next sentence is "the patient is currently not breathing", just funny after the previous sentences on his lung sounds. Also diagnosed at age 2, however the child is only 14 months old, hmmm, nice trick there! Presume he means 2-months but will have to question it though since he did not say!

Happy Administrative Professionals Day to All! - Posted By: Cardiology MT

Even if the company you work for does not remember this special day, let's just appreciate each other and all that we do for our companies. Have a wonderful, special day, everyone!

Looking for a good medical spellchecker that doesn't cost as much? - Posted By: Help

Is everyone just using spellex or stedmans or are there lower cost alternatives?

How did you find them in the first place? Just curious because I don't want a cheaper product to act cheap also.

Any ideas?

TIA

Digital Recorder - Posted By: Curious

Is anyone using the Olympus DS-30 for physician transcription. I am looking to purchase one for a doctor and would like some feedback. Thanks!

Thank you Sarah1114 for your info on stop codes! - Posted By: NYMT

I ran across that note from 1/22 today. I've been trying to figure out how do do that for the whole five years I've had this computer, but didn't even know what phrase to look for (ie, "stop codes"). You've just made my like a lot easier!!!

American Idol...sm - Posted By: Fan

Ok, last night's show...

First, I can't believe that Kevin dodged the bullet and got into the top 12...but I'm glad, he seems like such a sweet kid. Kinda figured Will would go, but I liked Gedeon too.

I'm glad Ayla (sp?) got the boot, didn't like her. She was snotty! Kinnik was nothing special either, so guess she had to go too.

As for Bo's performance, I don't know...he seemed kinda off or something.

Now it gets good...the top 12...who's your pick to win? Mine's Taylor...or maybe Chris!

Invoice format question - Posted By: AzMT

This is my first account. This is the format I'd like to use for my invoice. I want to be 100% sure I'm not missing anything. Thanks so much! I'm open to suggestions.

My name, address, phone number

INVOICE TO:

ATTN:

INVOICE FOR:

TOTAL PAYABLE:

PAYABLE TO:

INVOICE #:

DATE OF INVOICE:

Due upon receipt

Expander with Beyond Text - Posted By: USMT

What Expander works best with Beyond Text? I have been using Smartype but my system crashes a lot with it.

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

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

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

Thanks!

Fibromyalgia - Posted By: another MT

Just visited my doctor today. I have many indications of fibromyalgia. Of course there is no test to diagnose this, he wants me to try process of elimination by first trying a wheat free diet. I'm kinda bummed about this.

OMG - What a Shocker! - Posted By: Struggling

I did a search on Google to find out more about C-Bay laying off employees and was directed back here to MTStars. I started reading the threads which told of a company, Heartland Transcriptions, that was sold out to India and the company proceeded to fire all the American MTs - This was back in 2006! I can't find any updates to this. What happened to all those poor MTs?

can anyone set the record for - Posted By: longest list of medications ?

My record is around 45. Right now i'm on a report that is up to about 23. Talk about toxic!

What happens to pt. records if an MD closes his office?? - Posted By: Does anyone know??

If an MD in solo practice retires or leaves town, where do those records go and how would one go about obtaining needed records? Any help is appreciated.

For those who started a new job before leaving current job - sm - Posted By: greenie

Any pointers on how you did this? I'm sure the answer is plain as day, but I can't figure it out...do you call in sick on the first day of the new account training and see how it goes? And if you're not sure after that, and keep working at the new account until you are sure, how do you handle both jobs? I don't mean to be dense, but this has always been a puzzle to me how you do it. Any tips? TIA

Soft Script - Posted By: seeing the light

When I first started 4 months ago with SS I thought it was great but now I am seeing the light shed on some of what people are talking about on this message board. I wish I had been a little more patient and research this company before accepting their offer, I may have missed out on a good job opportunity as I turned down another offer and went with SoftScript but I guess I will never know. If nothing else my experience with them has been a lessen well learned. PLEASE, look at the numbers, compare the number of people on this board that oppose to those that agree with SoftScript and it will tell you the real truth, the numbers do not lie and as far as the line counts go let me add this....I work for two companies. A small company I have been employed with for the past 7 years and SoftScript I have been employed with for the past 4 months. On the same day with the small company for approximately 4 hours work I transcribed 61 reports with 1200 lines very easily with minimal effort, with SoftScript (now remember this is on the same day) for approximately 8 hours, working as hard as I could I transcribed over 100 reports with under 900 lines. This tells me something is definitely wrong with the line counting. Needless to say I am turning in my notice to SoftScript and seeking new employment.

This is interesting (non-compete clauses) - Posted By: anon

My contract has a standard non-compete clause. Basically, that any subcontracted Transcriptionist will not contact or contract with any clients of my service. I finally had a transcriptionist ask for this complete list of clients. Makes sense, because how will they know who to avoid if they, well, don't know? But I would much prefer they didn't know to begin with. I don't want to tip my hand by giving someone a list of my entire clientele base. Does this seem fair? I feel I should reword my contract to avoid this in the future, but I am not sure how to do so.

question about MT - Posted By: Sam

I am interested in working as a MT from home. I am an entry level transcription. Are there any companies who hire entry level????????????? I am not having any luck.

Can someone tell me how to have Vista and XP on same desktop computer? - Posted By: Transtech MT

Someone said a post was on this board, but I have not found it yet. What does this process entail, please. I don't want to get rid of Vista, but have both XP and Vista running on the same computer. TIA

This is cool...ShortHand offers monthly SM - Posted By: Chickadee

subscriptions. I have a free trial right now and was worried I wouldn't have the whole $99 after my trial, but I can buy a subscription and save for another month! That's so cool! I didn't know they did that. Didn't know if others knew, so thought I'd share. :)

Chickadee

anyone ever hear of a place called... - Posted By: k

Type4Cash.com? If not go to website and maybe someone can help me figure out if it is scam

How many lines per week do you transcribe? - Posted By: sm

Do you think shooting for 9000 lines a week is way over the top? I need to work as much as I can and I am thinking I may commit to 9000 lines a week (can do that over 5, 6 or 7 days or however I want) - but I'm afraid of burnout. I have been an MT many years and in my younger days I did that much on a consistent basis; just not so sure I can keep up that pace anymore. Just wondering how much others are doing.

help for frantic mom - Posted By: JayRae

This is my second week working at home for the hospital that I work for. I love it and am grateful for the opportunity, but there are a couple of hours a during the day when I am working and my kids are up. They are 21/2 and 10 months. Please give me some tips on what other mother's have done to keep them busy and still be productive at work!!!!

newbie - Posted By: survivornut

I have recently finished my exam from an MT school and am awaiting my results. My question is: Should I start applying now for jobs or wait for the results? I have to have a job of some form by the end of May. I was thinking maybe trying to get a part-time job now to get the feel for it and maybe by May I would be comfortable enough for full-time. I saw where some places would only allow you to apply every six months so that kinda scared me. Any information would be very helpful to me as you all have more experience. Thanks!

Describe your dream job in one sentence. (anything goes; it's a dream job.) - Posted By: Octo-MT

My dream job would be straight transcribing half oncology and half psychiatry on a flexible schedule Monday through Friday as a statutory employee for a reputable company with decent dictators at 11 cents per line (a fair living wage for 17 years' experience), first shift.

can someone tell me - Posted By: Lindy

what a c-phone is????

Is there any benefit to getting clients anymore? sm - Posted By: Anon

Most clients where I live (Virginia Beach) want me to pick up tapes. They will call if the MT quit, and then they want to pay only 10 CPL. I can�t hire MTs at less than 8 CPL. Then, behind my back, they look for in-house personnel. Once they find it, I�m out of a job again. Dishonest OMs that just use me. Don�t know which way to go. Don�t need a lot of work, just trying not to work for nationals (f that�s possible anymore).

I�m thinking of getting work outside my state. Does anyone have any suggestions?

New to this. Are you bound to work..... - Posted By: GaPeach

My first year as IC. If asked specifically to work on your off day for a holiday, do you ask for extra pay, work as usual, do you feel obligated to do so, answers for these please. Thanks

see message please - Posted By: Instant Test question - I have sentence I want to

It is

The patient's last clinical breast examination

I type tplc and the sentence comes into advisory to top line. I hit [ which should expand it but after only three words, "the patient's last," it fizzles. Sometimes it throws out mumbo jumbo, sometimes two words, never the full sentence.

THIS IS DRIVING ME CRAZY. What is it I am doing or not doing!!!!

ahem...thank you

A must read for our profession...any thoughts? - Posted By: MTthink

http://www.medrecinst.com/pages/libArticle.asp?id=28

We must be more open-minded and willing to adapt. MQ actually may have the right idea.

This is an excerpt from what is, in my opinion, a reliable source:

In the US, transcription will morph over time, and ultimately, transcription as we know it now will be thought of as an archaic, cumbersome, expensive, inefficient, and inadequate part of the healthcare documentation process. How long will this take? Probably decades more, but within the next decade there will be increasing evidence of its decline.

The decline in medical transcription will not be seen immediately through dramatic changes in the numbers of MTs, or the money spent in the industry, or the number of reports transcribed. Rather, the initial evidence will be the increasing interest in and adoption of new technologies that offer direct, real-time, point-of-care documentation methods; this has already begun. The handwriting is on the wall, and anyone who has analyzed it will have to take notice: it is not speech recognition, but the opportunities that mobile health care brings to practitioners that will be the biggest threat to transcription. Although mobile health care is in its infancy, it seems clear that, in the future, practitioners will capture information at the point of care and largely without transcription.

At first, these changes will be enhanced by transcription, but more and more they will be facilitated by structured interactive dialogs, decision-support tools, speech recognition, and natural language processing, as well as XML-based processing tools. There will be no dramatic date on which history will look back and say, this is when transcription died. Rather, it will be a slow process. Some might call it an insidious process, but that implies intent, and I don�t believe the intent is any longer there, though it certainly was in the past.

gift - Posted By: Lisa

What is an appropriate gift ( reasonable ) to give a doctor's office that has a ton of employees ( I am an IC)? I feel I should give them something since I do appreciate the work, but do not want to spend a ton of $$. Thanks

Help! Bought Stedman's new Spellchecker and can't open ZIP files! - Posted By: mary

I emailed Stedman's numerous times and their Tech email addy bounces back. I have called 3 times and left messages!! I work at home for my hospital and haven't gotten a Call from them. The new Spellchecker was downloaded and I should have bought the CD!! Because it was downloaded I can't get my money back!

Can anyone email me instructions on how to find these files (says I'm missing the exe file and won't run) and get it installed. I'm really getting disappointed in Stedman's. Their reference Books are great but customer service is the Pitts!!

Have shorthand on 1 computer but need on another - Posted By: Assistance anyone?

Is it very hard to transfer/export or whatever the term is to get my ShortHand from the computer to my new Dell? I use it so much and would be lost without it. TIA.

Losing expander by switching companies - Posted By: Jeanie

If I decided to switch companies but am using an Expander program that is the company's software, I would have to start from square one with new company. (There is no way around that, correct?)

Not planning on leaving now but was just thinking that if that should become a consideration, my line count would drop big time until I could build all those expansions again. Has anyone ever gone through that? Do you remember how long it took to get back up to speed?

Semicolon -- Am I Wrong? - Posted By: Anon

The QA people in my company insist that a semicolon goes in the following sentence - I beg to differ. What's your take?
"He appeared comfortable; in no acute distress or pain."

Painful bruise on forearm - Posted By: Deebomb

Please don't tell me to call my doctor - I don't have one in this area, just moved here a few weeks ago. I will be calling to get established next week.

I have a bruise on my forearm about 1 inch below the antecubital fossa. It spontaneously appeared 2 weeks ago, is about 1 inch long and wide (not exactly circular). Normally, my bruises heal VERY quickly and are gone in 3 days or so - this is around for 2 weeks now and hurts - the pain is constant although rather low level.

I am not on a blood thinner and do not take aspirin products. The only med I take is a thyroid replacement pill every day.

I'm not a wimp, and I'm not asking for sympathy or sarcasm but since this is a new occurrence for me, I'm wondering whether I should mention it to the doctor's office when I set up my establishment appointment.

P.S.: I had a sister with leukemia, undiagnosed until after she bled to death.

Thanks for any information you care to share.