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Easier said than done. Quit blaming the MT for this!! nm

Posted By: jeez! on 2005-07-19
In Reply to: Look, if I were on an account that - Busy MT'ing

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They were given our jobs. Quit blaming
aa
Got that right! If I'm not happy within 3 days, I quit! Too many easier positions out there. nm
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I'm not blaming MS Word
First off, I'm not blaming MS Word. I have been in touch with them about this problem, and THEY TOLD ME that MS Word counts differently on every computer.

The actual report that is submitted to the client is exactly where they get their line count. Count is based on 65 chars including spaces and nothing else.
it isn't funny blaming it on Microsoft
Now if you want to talk about not keeping up with upgrades, then you don't know the history of how long it took to get a Windows version of ST on the market. It literally tooks YEARS to get a Windows version out with many MTs having direct contact with J and with J pubically apologizing and promising it was being worked on. I have to defend J. on this one. He passed control of the product over to Williams and Wilkins and that is the company who is responsible for supporting it. Do you really think a company that makes it's money primarily on selling word books and medical software is going to give much attention to this ~small~ ST when it has bigger fish to fry? Especially when all you have to do is utilize a verion of word prior to 2003.

BTW, FYI, it was Microsoft who communicated that it was a change THEY made to Word that caused the incompatibility problem, so anyone connected to ST was blind sided until users began to complain of problems. J. can only do so much. Blame W&W who stands by their history of failing to recognize how their lack of support effects how we are able to perform our jobs, or even accept positions with companies using 2003 because we want to continue using ST!!
I would lend support to her if she wasn't blaming everyone but herself.
She was just on TV blaming these "two criminals" who have been left go because there was NO EVIDENCE to keep them and asking other nations not to take them in.  Where in the world does she get off.  What EVIDENCE does she have to support her "theory" that these two boys were "criminals" and who died and left her in charge of other nations as to who they should take in to their country.  She is implying that the Aruban government is not competent to decide whether or not there is evidence to keep these people in custody.  She needs to put her EVIDENCE up front as to why she is making these demands and accusations or sit down and SHUT UP.  She is coming very close to libel without information to backup her accusations and I would think she should recognize that.  If she is going to shoot off her uninformed mouth, let her do it in her own country.
Yep, liberals work really hard blaming others for their lack of ambition
It's all YOUR fault!
This is funny blaming it on Microsoft. SmartType only works in Word and they need to keep up with
nm
I quit once for 3 years, but then started again. (Quit cold turkey when I did)


I quit two months ago. I tried to quit for over a year, but I just had to be ready.
I tried the patch, NRT gum, Zyban, everything. One morning, I woke up and just quit cold turkey. There are some good online support groups out there that can help you when you're ready.
ALSO IF THEY WERE GOING TO QUIT SE, THEY WOULD QUIT ADVERTISING TO HIRE SE
And I have seen a new ad in the magazine Advance that has a sign on bonus for SE's, maybe just better pay, let's think positive!!
Do NOT quit MT yet! & dont quit looking.Try her
x
It's a lot easier to get rid of a BF than a DH
I wouldn't put up with it, but that's just me.
I think it's easier but.....
I also think MTSOs add them so we don't get paid for them, after all if they add them we do not actually type them.  Just my opinion. 
It will get better, and easier. My one sm

inhouse experience was awful.  Not only was I transcribing for $15 an hour, I had to make copies and go down 2 flights and stuff their mailboxes with copies.


I so much prefer working at home of a national, where all I do is transcribe, and they take care of the distribution of the records.  I just push send.  Plus I find the dictators a lot more doable than at that hospital.  They were a mess.  They didn't even have a standard format.  It was just, whatever.


We have it easier than we think

My youngest sister came by this late night after getting off work.  She works 2nd shift at a local factory.  It has provided an okay and steady living for her and her family but it has taken its toll on her.


Her beautiful young face is worn and tired.  Her clothes are nasty from the oil and sweat and metal shavings.  Her poor little hands are literally worn out, muscular, rough with callus.  Her back hurts all the time from all the standing.  Some of the attitudes she works with keep her humble little soul in discomfort. 


She gets in trouble by management and by every line worker if she has to miss.  She has no opportunity to move anywhere really within that plant.


We don't always have the work we want in this business and sometimes we have to really take a stand to get where we need to be.  All said and done, though, we have it easy. 


I don't have to wear my self out physically.  I can get up and stretch and take a break.  I can be somewhat flexible with my time.  I don't have to put up with people who try to control or intimidate me.  I have a marketable skill, though that market is changing rapidly ... it is still a skill that I can adapt and use.  There are so many ads on this very board that I can explore if I need a change or additional employment ... all those opportunities and I don't have to move anywhere, I don't have to uproot my life .. just go to work for someone else.


We have it easier than we think. 



Again, easier said than done.

I have found that many transcriptions who say they want to work for me have one of three issues:


1. They embellish on their experience/quality.


2. Time off--they want more time off than I get and they usually wait until they're walking out the door to say they're not available. Deadlines are seen a "negotiable".


3. They are asking for more per line than I am able to pay (usually they want .12-.14/line--I only charge .12/line on my accounts because that's all the market will bear)


Many of these are newcomers to the field who have somewhere gotten the idea that they can get away with all of these behaviors. (I would bet more than one of them are some of the criers on these boards as well.)


I would LOVE to find someone who is dependable and experienced, who knows how to work and is not looking to take my accounts on a permanent basis; someone who would do as good a job for me as they would want someone else to do for them if they needed some time off. Apparently, they're all working for other companies and are happy, which is great for them.


An easier way...
If you are typing in Word, there is an easier way. Where you have the ?? in your document (I am guessing it is a template), erase the ?? and hit CTRL+F9 This will insert {} Use this throughout the document where you need to insert things. When you load your template, you can hit F11 and it will automatically take you to the next field.
is it easier to use
the CD for the computer...easier to use than the 2007?
This will get much easier sm
I was nervous about first podiatrist as she talked fast, used some not so good English, etc., but after the first few days, I realized she used almost all the same terms repeatedly. I bought a book - don't have it with me now - but one of the  "word books" which helped me tremendously, it covered podiatry as well as other such entities. Just look up on the book search, believe it was a Stedman's. After that first week, I knew exactly what she was going to say next. I made more progress on this account than others. Just hang in there and it will be a breeze. I almost refused to do this account and was very surprised at my progress and earnings. Go with it! It only hurts for a little while. It's only the lower extremities usually and the rest is "history" which you should be able to figure out. It is important in podiatry that they mention diabetes and other such history which would bring on podiatry problems. They only know their own specialty usually and will admit they don't go outside the box much. They are insecure out of their box so you are helping them trememdously. Be patient.
easier yes, but a job
is still a job, and that part is not so pleasurable. but i do think after 30+ years that i would enjoy it much more if i were working only 3-4 hours a day. I still get great satisfaction from doing a job not everyone can, and doing it very well.
do you guys think it would be easier on the

To work a split shift, example 6-10 n then 3-7, OR would it be less painful to get it all done at once so you have more time to rest fully?  My hands kill me constantly.  I've tried everything.  Don't want to be in more pain if the split would end up being worse.  Thanks.


It would be faster and easier to ask
which companies treat their MTs well than to go through the masses that haven't treated people well.
Is doing QA easier than transcribing? nm
nm
It's easier if you are in India, I think. nm
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I am MT/ME and ME is easier on the hands...

I love ASR (automated speech recognition) aka editing as it's easier on the hands for some (me!!).  It does pay 20% less per line but I'm very fast with editing.  I like it a lot but to each his/her own opinion on it.


Good luck!!


I can tell you how to do it using Autotext, which is easier.

I'm using Word 2003 with Instant Text as my Expander software.  I have been trying to figure out how to insert *stop codes* literally for months using Instant Text.  I finally gave up and here's what I do.  There may be easier ways around it, but I just learned today. lol


I transcribed the report,, which is a pain center report. I get the same doc everyday who has a style that he sticks with pretty much.  After I was finished, I copied the report and went into a new document to tweak it up.  I left in basically all of his  repetitive phrases along with the exam, and all of the headings.  Anywhere I wanted a stop code or field as MS Word calls it, I pressed the combination of ctrl+ F9.  When I  was  finished I highlighted the document and clicked on Autotext.  If you've never used autotext, when you want to retrieve an entry you've created, you start typing the name you've assigned to it, and either press F3 or enter and BAMM there it is.  The stop/field codes look like this {  }, but you can shade them gray.  To access each field you simply press F11 and it takes you right to the next stop. I hope I didn't confuse you.


I just bought a book that is truly a MUST HAVE for MTs working with Word.  It's called Tips N Techniques to boost the productivity of the medical transcriptionist.  It was put together by an MT.  I think you can find it under www.cherylflanders.com.


Good luck!


Rin


Thank you all!!! i do use templates, but its easier for me to just add the cc on the ones i need as
i put the cc: in autotext and it is working like a charm!! i have never used autotext, just autocorrect and it wasn't working in autocorrect. never knew what autotext was about. thank you so much!!!!!
I think that as long as you are available, it is far easier
than learning where to look for things.  When I worked in an office when someone would ask me, I would show them how to look it up.  Somehow, that came across wrong and I got in trouble.  If I asked for help, I wanted to know where to look the next time.  I would sit and run down the entire list of fractures, or whatever, to see if I could find the correct one, rather than leave a blank or have to bother someone.  I think some people have had things done for them for so long, they don't know how and don't care to.  
Yes, it gets easier. I do find it to be (NM)
dd
Found an easier way for me
I have the voice file load in ExpressScribe and type it in Word and copy it over. So much faster for me and I can use any of the pedals I have.
Easier (cheaper) for HIM! OMG,
that would slow me down so much...trying to leave out those little words. Tell him if he really wants those words left out to white them out after he gets the report. Hah!
Being an employee may be easier.
As an employee someone else takes your taxes out of your check before you get it. As an IC, you set it aside, but you do pay less because of business deductions. If you make as much as an employee as you did as an IC, you will pay more taxes, not less. I am hoping to switch to employee for the paid time off and benefits, but I want to always keep a little IC work for the tax deductions.
Another--usually easier--way is to use CONTROL-K. sm
When you are in the entry box and ready to type the text you want bolded, type CRL-K. It'll tell you the next keys you type will be assigned to the entry. Then you hit the same keys you normally do to turn on bold (CRL-B). It'll then ask you to accept what you've done. THEN you type your text. Then you repeat the CRL-K/CRL-B thing to toggle off the bold (just as you do normally).

Remember, CRL-K to turn on and off special functions in your entries. :)
It is much easier to train a new QA
to break the bad habits of an old QA that believes they are infallible.
It's would easier to view

some of this disorganized dictation as a delightful 'quirk' and a way to serve the customer, if it were not so expensive for US.  Every time I type a paragraph and then have to take it all out and retype it in slightly different language [which does not change its meaning at all]; every time a dictator starts every sentence with 'the patient' only to change it, every time a dictator starts and restarts a sentence several times, it costs me time and money. 


I've never gotten the knack of typing behind the dictator to eliminate this problem, though I've read that's what we should be able to do.  I type right with the dictation, which means I often have to delete stuff and retype it when they change their mind. 


I think it is just easier for some people
My mom is a fast typer. She was over 100 wpm on an old manual typewriter. She insisted I take typing in high school. My fingers fly, however, that doesn't translate to the piano, lol.

Even when I was at MQ on Medrite, I got over 250 lph, and I was a newbie, right out of school. I do use a lot of expanders, but honestly, my fingers are just fast.

When I worked on an ER account, I was able to do 425 hour (lots of templates, but still)

However, the older I get, I wonder if I will be able to keep up the pace.
it's supposed to be EASIER with the program - ha!
i always get the line that since we went on DQS that it's so easy to just put MTs on other accounts where they're needed. that would be true if the client profiles were all consistent, but have you seen some of them with all of their nit-picking - bunch of crap!!
A lot easier to scam people for $11.75
This sounds like a similar scam that used to post here. Non-MT work-at-home jobs that sounded a little too good to be true and the email addy was always HR at something or other dot com.

People are probably not going to pursue losing $12 in a scam like they would several hundred.
I agree that boys are not any easier.
I have raised 2 girls and am now raising a 13-yo boy and 2 11-yo girls. I think boys are worse, although the girls are no picnic.
Hang in there. It does get easier with ESLs.

Especially if you're used to them and use your Expanders if you get the same guy more than 5 or 6 times.


I have one ESL that took me 30  minutes to do ROS for the first time I did it as I could not understand him and he went through all systems. Even though I don't get him much, I have him in my expanders with ROS and the first 3 letters of his last name. Expanders take time, but they're worth it in the long run.


I would give yourself 6 months. I know it sounds like a long time, but it'll keep getting easier to you and then you'll be able to do anything that is tossed at you. Trust me on this. I've been there. ESLs were my biggest challenge in the last 2 years, but now I can sail through them.


I always loved that line, "You know you're an MT when you understand all of the clerks at the 7-11."


Good luck and keep it up.


I make my own candles - easier that way, and fun!
nm
I would find it easier to add the headers myself--sm
and the reason why is because MOST of my docs do not follow any template order, even if it is THEIRS. they jump all over the place and I have to consequently do the same thing. I am paid for the headers, though, so that is okay, I guess. as far as patient demographics, I also put those in, when they are given, which is not all the time..sometimes the docs rely on past notes for that info and being one of many MTs, I don't always have that info available, which takes lines away from me, too. Perhaps the MTSOs think it is easier, but in some cases it is more time consuming. JMO
my opinion is that VR is easier on hands...nm
.
I am on 3 jobs right now. Gets easier with practice. Just get
p
If when you say "less complicated" you mean easier...
Derm. 
Might be easier to set up another tower with XP loaded and use a
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Are some VR/ASR programs easier/faster to
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I find it much easier to use my autotext....sm
and where I want the "??" I do a ctrl F9 (which puts in fields).  I save the report in autotext (with the ctrl F9 fields) and then to get to each field you simply use the F11 key.  It's much easier this way, I think.  I have always hated templates.  Just make sure you keep a backup.  Hope this helps.
SRT shortcuts that are easier on your fingers

If you have Instant Text you can create command entries in your glossary for all the editing shortcut combinations of your platform and create short forms that are easier to type.


If you are using marker keys to expand, you can even give these short forms a longer, descriptive name which will be easier on your memory, knowing that you don't have to type the whole short form. The command entry will show as soon as you type 2 letters, and then you can jump ahead within the short form and type the most relevant letters. Each command entry should end with an underscore to avoid adding a space.


You can always email me if you have any questions.


Marianne
Textware Solutions


COPY AND PASTE, IS THERE AN EASIER WAY?

The doctors I transcribe for are specialists so I do a full consultation but the doctors only want part of the consultation sent to the referring doctor so I copy and paste part of the dictation to a letter.  This very easy, but very time consuming.  Is there an easier way than to copy and paste for every letter. I am working in Word.


hang in there - it DOES get easier. I remember
when I first started (over 20 years ago) - I cried more than once because I thought I'd never get it.  I used to think, "How do people do this!"  It just takes time - you'll get the hang of it.