Home     Contact Us    
Main Board Job Seeker's Board Job Wanted Board Resume Bank Company Board Word Help Medquist New MTs Classifieds Offshore Concerns VR/Speech Recognition Tech Help Coding/Medical Billing
Gab Board Politics Comedy Stop Health Issues
ADVERTISEMENT




Serving Over 20,000 US Medical Transcriptionists

AAMT BOS Formatting Question

Posted By: TIA on 2006-06-06
In Reply to:

Can any MTs with the AAMT BOS 2nd Ed. tell me the recommended way of formatting headings and operative titles?  TIA




Complete Discussion Below: marks the location of current message within thread

The messages you are viewing are archived/old.
To view latest messages and participate in discussions, select the boards given in left menu


Other related messages found in our database

XML formatting - does anyone know how....sm
to create a double space after punctuation that holds and doesn't get stripped in XML?   Thanks!
formatting
Generally, if you don't have to identify the speakers by name or if there are several speakers -- just start a new paragraph with each change of speaker.  Or, if it is a question/answer type of interview, you can put Question and Response as headings on each new paragraph.  I've even done them with Male and Female headings to identify speakers when the company didn't want them identified by their names.  Good luck.  
Formatting

I have a few questions about formatting:


If more than 1 presciption is dictated should it be seperated with a period or a comma? For example: Prozac 100 mg. , Provigil 200 mg.


 


Thanks


Angie


SH bold formatting and others
In the "Dictionary Text [Add]" dialog box, as you
are entering in the "Text to Type", when you need
to add special formatting, you simply tap Ctrl-K, and
add the keystroke commands applicable to your
word processor to change to the desired font.
For example, Microsoft Word uses Ctrl+B to
enable/disable bold face. So to simulate bold text
with ShortHand in Microsoft Word, you simply need
to simulate the Ctrl+B keystroke. When you are done
your word(s) that are bolded will look like this:

{@KEY--Ctrl+B}your text{@KEY--Ctrl+B}.

When you actually type the key (as you transcribe)
Shorthand will automatically/instantly enter all the
special function keys that you have entered, and
your text will come out formatted.

You can use the same concept to add any formatting codes to your Shorthand text, including underlining, italicizing, changing font styles and/or font sizes. You can also add tabs, change margins, etc.

Try thi out and if you have any problems with this, post another message.

ask about that and formatting b4 you start -nm
.
Meditech Formatting Keys
I think it was control F8 for spellcheck, but you must be at the top of the document within the text portion of the report.  I have an old cardboard that fit over my F keys.  Here is what is says:  Control: SI, Add Line, Left Justify, Conv Case, Transpose, Del BOW, Del BOW, blank, S3, Word Attr, S19.  Then for Shift:  Bold, Italic, Underline, Set Attr, Center, Join, Help, Docum, Set Search, Search, Replace, MAGIC.  Then across the bottom it says:  Begin Block, End Block, Format, Get, Recall, Prev Field, Begin, End, Lookup, Delete Line, Exit, OK.  I hope this makes sense.  I basically had this placed overtop my F keys, and then I used this as a guide.  I think the post you were asking about was for the spellcheck.  I only worked in MAGIC Meditech, not in CLIENT, which is apparently word-based, so I'm not sure if these functions work the same in CLIENT.  Good luck.        E-mail me if ya' like - I am long time Meditech user (10+ years), but it has been a few months, and I haven't had to use it.      
Need help setting up formatting in MS word - sm
Computer crashed and died and now setting up my backup computer.  I need to fix it so I don't have 2 spaces after a period.  It is doing it automatically and I cannot find where to "fix" this.  This is Word 2000 that I am using on a computer with XP Pro.  Any help with this would be appreciated, it is driving me nuts (I am ending up with 3 spaces after a period as I am so used to spacing it myself).
Needing assistance with formatting
Asked to go to word, tools autoformant and  disable autonumber but cannot locate this. Can anyone help?
Clinic Note formatting question...

If the patient has a drug allergy do I make a new heading for Allergies or just include it in the HPI as dictated?  Also do I put the medication in all caps w/in the HPI if it is left there. 


I know I should probably know this,but I can not remember tonight.


TIA!


Did you look at the margins and formatting and see how your basic template is set up? Never had this
s
Need advice please re: formatting transcription test

It's been a long time since I had to do this.  I've been given a couple of report types to do.  The first appears to be a discharge summary.  Should I just type in the headings the way I "think" they should be based on how I was taught in the past?? 


Also, is it best to transcribe verbatim or try to make the test report look as professional as possible (like we would be expected to when on the job)?  As far as listed items are concerned, i.e. medications.....The old MT in me wants to number them.  Is that acceptable?   I'm really concerned with trying to format the report based on how I "think" they would want me to. 


I would appreciate any helpful advice anyone is willing to share!!


I agree 100%. Test questions on formatting or
anything else should not be asked on a forum of any kind. You need to research and find the answers for yourself on a test and not rely on people here to do the work for you.
I work for a hospital that is pretty liberal as far as formatting goes. SM

They have a basic template that they like us to adhere to as far as headings, font, font size, etc.  However, when it comes to more detailed formatting, they really have no set standards and leave it to our best judgment.


My question is regarding the medication heading.  Do you list the medications in a numbered list or in paragraph form?  I have a friend who is a nurse and she says the clinical staff, i.e. Nurses and Doctors like to have the medications in a numbered list because it makes finding them in a report a whole lot easier.  So would you list them even if the dictator is not saying "number 1, 2, 3,..."?


Macros are better suited to repetitive tasks like formatting.
I have a macro to create a different second page of a letter with header info., another one that will update formatting from documents created using a different Normal template so they conform with mine, another one for highlighting, etc. They really can be timesavers.
It means you have special formatting applied to those paragraphs sm
like keep lines together or keep with next. You can turn those squares off with the show/hide button on the toolbar or hit Ctrl+Shift +8 to toggle marks on or off -- that's probably what you hit to turn them on.
Basically formatting, how to type the headings, numbering, etc...sm
Are headings capitalized or followed with a colon?

ex.
HISTORY OF THE PRESENT ILLNESS:

Is it p.r.n., prn, h.s. or bedtime?

Just your basic formatting and styles. I may just download the ebook. Thanks!
Formatting of the document dictates the line count, not a different computer.
xx
If you're working in Word, if your Standard & Formatting toolbars
s
Any Stedman SmartType users? Pros & Cons? Will it retain bold formatting without using DOS command
 DOS commands like ShortHand does?
Oh, someone benefits from AAMT - AAMT DOES!
x
Basically, harder dictators and harder reports with a lot of formatting with tables, etc. SM

give you extra lines because of the time involved in doing those particular reports.  Not so much you get paid more per line, you just get extra line credit.  For example:


You have a 100 line report, but it is weighted because of a table that you have to input.  Then you would maybe get credit for 130 lines for that report.


AAMT BOS
Well hey, spelling a lot as one word is commonplace too; does that make it okay?? Do they really think MDs keep up with all the illogical changes they come up with? Do they realize that MDs actually take the time to edit stuff they don't recognize to be correct? What good is it if it actually causes MDs to stop and edit??

AAMT
It's just too bad that AAMT has not taken an assertive stand for the American MT and keeping confidential patient records in this country. For such a long time medical record administrators have fought the concerns of medical transcriptionists since the 60's. There was always a divisive agenda from medical record librarians (as they were called then) toward the transcriptionist. They didn't want to see the Transcriptionist come to the forefront of the medical records industry, nor did they like the income transcriptionists made(then) -WHAT? a transcriptionist make more money than a medical records librarian? I still see it now - you see AHIMA's hand down the back zipper of AAMT puppeting what direction they want AAMT to go - minimize the importance of the professional medical transcriptionist and rushing to automate the medical record with ASR and EMR. Ask youself this question - how many of you believe that many of the "QA" people at the nationals are discarded or displaced medical record technicians or the like? Many of the medical record administrators lost their jobs about 10 years ago during hefty layoffs when hospitals began a surge of outsourcing and many of these people had to seek jobs in the transcription industry for national companies as sales people, administrators, and QA people. I can't begin to tell you how many RHIT people haven't a clue about medical transcription. I've worked with so many who got a lot of things wrong legally but hey, because they were above the transcription department, they were right. Don't question them.
AAMT
Have to afford those trips to Hawaii somehow.
AAMT
I know.  It is so strange.  I was just on the AAMT forum.  I know if I start making "waves" I'll be considered a troublemaker.   It is really said what is happening in that organization when it could provide such a boost.
AAMT
That is how I have been feeling.  A friend of mine says I need to run, but I'm afraid of how it would be handled. -
AAMT
Thanks so much.  You are right.  I will contact this gentleman.
well, according to the AAMT BOS...sm
"Always place periods inside quotation marks."  <<< see, like I did!
Ah, yes. The AAMT.
Medware offshores. They don't pay well, either. I see by your other post that you won't work for acusisindia, what's the difference? Offshoring is offshoring.

AAMT = Against American Medical Transcriptionists
AAMT
I don't think you read my message clearly.  There are many options to AAMT, not just one.  AAMT is pushing for licensure as it is.  That will do just as much harm as anything else in the end.
AAMT
AAMT is nothing but a poor parody of a high school sorority. It touts itself as being a professional organization. It is neither professional nor organized and needs to go the way ot the dinosaur and die.
AAMT
What I blame AAMT for is for touting themselves as a "professional organization" when they are neither professional nor organized.
AAMT/BOS??
I hear the rules are always changing in the AAMT/BOS.

And you have to admit, it doesn't really matter what the AAMT/BOS says, it's what the doctor prefers, right or wrong.
According to AAMT BOS, you do put
an apostrophe to form the plural of single letters and symbols. The values will vary from patient to patient.
AAMT
AAMT is totally useless; everyone knows that. They're a bunch of aging prima donnas. You would do better to invest your money in a good basic grammar book than anything AAMT has to offer.
Jim
Where is AAMT
They're too busy deciding who is white enough and straight enough to belong to give attention to relevant issues. I abandoned them in the 90s when I saw first-hand what their agenda was. It isn't to help the average Joe or Jane Transcriptionist, believe me.
AAMT
AAMT is a dinosaur.
AAMT BOS
Yes, and dangerous abbreviations list instructs cc should be replaced with mL as well. I agree a lot of it is silly, but there is some useful information. Some doctors appreciate it, other doctors want verbatim always and don't care for it.
AAMT
I will conveniently stay anonymous, but I completely agree with you. I cannot afford the membership dues. My former employer is sponsoring a discounted membership with AAMT for MTs who want to join. I think this board is invaluable and agree it probably does have a lot better information. I know of other MTs who used to be AAMT members who could no longer afford the membership and dropped it. Besides, I think you can visit their website and obtain info that way. I bet the book you purchased is a good resource as well.
AAMT
AAMT does not only support offshoring, I believe they are responsible for it. Apparently, you don't know that they offer their CMT test and credentials to MTs in India? Nothing very "American" about that.

Also, you will find that most AAMT officers are from MTSOs that offshore work. If you dig deeper, you will find that these MTSOs were pioneers in offshoring work. I belonged years ago, but then I decided they were just a bunch of egomaniacs out for their own glorification.

I can't see that they have done anything positive for the MT business. I think it's gone downhill since AAMT came into the picture.
Like she said, AAMT...
Yes, the AAMT website has a great instruction guide for setting up and maintaining a QA department.  It is the QA Primer 2004.  I used it to establish a QA department for one of the medium transcription companies and they love it. 
Can one sit for the AAMT's CMT
x
AAMT

If the AAMT gets their way and gets an apprenticeship program apprvoved, MTs are sunk.  Students will come out of the top 3 schools ready to work, but will have to work for lower line rates as apprentices.  So who do you think the MTSOs will hire? 


 


The AAMT has applied to the Department of Labor to get this scheme going.  We are sunk unless we oppose it and state that the AAMT does not represent the majority of MTs.  The group that wants to represent us is sending us right down the tubes.  We have to stop them before they go any further with this scheme. 


Did the AAMT ever ask MTs
whether THEY wanted this apprenticeship program? The AAMT wants to pretend it represents MTs. If you want to represent someone, you take the time to do the groundwork to find out what the people in the industry want. You don't sit down and come up with a deal and send it to the Dept. of Labor, letting the Dept. of Labor think that this is what the majority of MTs want, and THEN try to sell it to those who make up the working body.

That is NOT the way to attract support. This is why the AAMT is accused of being elitist. The AAMT does not use the boards to poll working MTs. It tells MTs what they SHOULD want, SHOULD do, SHOULD think.

Ask first, then act. Don't try to sell us some scheme after it's all put together, and don't try to fob it off as something the majority wants. That is dishonest.
That turns the majority of MTs against the AAMT.

When we are making the same wages as the MTS who live in other countries, maybe the AAMT will wake up and feel a little bit of guilt about their part in taking us down.




Thank AAMT for this. nm
x
AAMT now just AMT?

This is in reference to their now teaching overseas to outsource our work:


 


I myself do NOT feel comfortable having my information sent overseas, including my name, DOB, and often SSN listed in the demographics screen of each note. I have heard stories of prosecution (or lack there of) by identity theft from people in other countries. Maybe Americans should start boycotting or protesting the healthcare industries that outsource overseas!!!!!!!!!!!!


 



Re: AAMT BOS, etc.
Thanks for your honest, non-rosy answer about switching from in-house to at-home. We have actually been gradually switching over to a more rigid adherenct to the BOS, but it's been a hard sell for lots of the older docs, who want it their way or no way at all. And some of us older MTs aren't too thrilled with lots of the idiotic, picky-picky stuff the BOS throws at us. So far we've reached a compromise, where we MOSTLY adhere to it, but other things we do the doctors' way to keep them happy. I would have a hard time with with verbatim, because one of our ways IS to do SLIGHT changes in grammar for some of the ESL docs. But they can be only very minor, and the rule of thumb is when in doubt, don't do it. For the most part I sort of like the ESL guys better, because at least they try harder to be understood than many of our English-speakers.

I found your answer very forthright and valuable, and will definitely add it to my "cons" list! :)
AAMT
Throwing good money after bad, and sending our work to India.
AAMT
What a waste. You can get all of that free off the internet. Those CEC's you are talking about are worthless and not transferrable.
AAMT

Is it still the rule with AAMT to spell out WHOLE numbers zero through nine, use numerals for 10 and above or did they change this with the 2nd ed.


Also what is the standard font and size used nationally.


Thanks - Sandra


According to AAMT BOS 2 sm

"With proper nounds, capitalized words, numbers, and abbreviations use a hyphen to join a prefix to a proper name, capitalized word, number or abbreviation, i.e.:


non-CMTs


non-Hodgkin-type lymphoma