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Serving Over 20,000 US Medical Transcriptionists

I've done transcription for a Court Reporter using the setup described.

Posted By: sm on 2007-11-21
In Reply to: Before you all go beating yourselves up - DW

The pay was pitiful, $1/page, and the quality not all that great. Apparently, the good pay is going to the actual CR and not the schlub doing the "work".




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Has anyone had court reporter training or looked into court reporting?
I am thinking about taking a distance learning course in court reporting and I was just wondering if anyone has tried it, done it, looked into it and what they have found out.  If you have gone to school for it or are going to school for it or know anything about court reporting could you share what you know with me?  I have been in the transcription field for 15 years and I thought that might be something that I could bridge over to pretty easily, but not sure.  Any comments on this idea?  Thanks everyone for your help!
last time I was in court -- no court reporter
I have taken my ex back to court a few times in the past couple of years and there was no court reporter in the room... In fact it was mentioned that they make a recording of the proceedings and then it is transcribed... I just asked a simple question if anybody knew if this job could be done at home and based on my experience it would make sense that it could be. No need to get nasty.
MT to court reporter?

Does anyone have experience with CR training?  Anyone made the transition from MT to CR, or the other way around?  I am looking into this as an alternative to MT.  My chief regret is that it is rather late in life for me to invest in expensive/lengthy training.  I should have seen the writing on the wall long before this, as far as MT is concerned. 


My post on a court reporter board met with thundering disinterest...not a single reply.  Would appreciate input on this if anyone has first or even secondhand experience.


But they still always have a live court reporter -nm
.
Thinking about career change..court reporter
Have any of you ever thought about court reporting or gone through court reporting school? From what I have read they make more money than transcriptionists and there are jobs to work from home too in captioning for television and movies. 
Court transcription
Most of court recordinds are now done on CD's during the hearings.  If someone wants a transcript you can buy the CD.  I have done some when they were on tapes and they are not wasy to transcribe with voices coming over voices, not being able to hear clearly, etc.  A friend of mine works for an atty and she sometimes has to transcribe the CD's and she has torecord them over to tapes to transcribe -- now not sure if they would work with a .WAV pedal or not.  But again, it is worse than insurance depositions or interviews as someone is always talking over someone else and it is hard to place the microphone where everyone that says something says it.  And you never know when someone will want one transcribed.   I acatually got a CD from my divorce hearing. 
Court Reporting Machine Used for Transcription
Does anyone happen to use a stenograph machine (the kind used for court reporting) to do transcription?  If so, has it been much faster than typing?  What are the pro's and con's?  Have you developed your own set of (probably hundred's, no doubt) brief forms/abbreviations (since you I assume you don't have an Expander like InstantText or autocorrect/autotext as Word does)???  How has the wear and tear on your hands/wrists been?  Thanks......
I've been looking into it court reporting...

 


...and the training is EXPENSIVE...so is the software and equipment used.  Go price a few stenotype machines online, basic models, nothing fancy...you're looking at over $1,000.00.  Just when you thought MT had an expensive start up/out of pocket cost, this career takes the cake and the 'best' part of all...there is NO guarantee you will ever reach the 225 WPM required to earn your degree. 


I had been looking at The College of Court Reporting, as well as a few other schools, currently I'm comparing programs and degrees offered...Plus, I'm still debating if I really have the desire to proceed with a court reporting career. 


I'd think it would be next to impossible to learn the language skills required to master the stenotype machine without receiving proper training.  Can't just buy the machine and the software, hook to your computer and expect to increase your MT production...there's a whole language of court reporting that needs to be learned.


If anyone is seriously looking into court reporting, I'd suggest you visit the NCRA site and read about it.  


Good luck. 


I've Typed Insurnace Transcription, Also
I got a break from doing medical transcription for a couple of years doing insurance transcription, also, but this was in-house at a third-party insurance company.  Most of the adjusters' reports were quite lengthy, but pretty basic.  Nothing too difficult at all.
Well she started out as a reporter 26 years ago.
She's not poor by any means!
I've thought of doing it too! Anyone remember the ROS School of Transcription? The lady that SM

started that school was an MT working out of her home.  She ran the school out of her home too!  It was a distance learning program.  She contracted with CMT Transcirption Service to let her students type some of their accounts.  CMT in turn employed a mentor who would basically train the students, check their work, and give them feedback.  Once they graduated the program, CMT usually hired most of them if they had enough work.


I know because I used to be an IC for CMT as a Mentor/Editor.  Pretty good job at the time except once everyone got trained, there was very little left for me to edit.  That's when I started thinking "hey, maybe I should start my own school!"


Now with ROS defunct, I was thinking about again.  There really is a need for a good school created by MTs and run by MTs where the sudents are mentored by real MTs.  But that's just me, I'm always full of big ideas, but can never really figure out how to make it happen, ya know? 


I heard it wasn't a reporter's job to be accurate;
it was a reporter's job to sell newspapers, LOL.


Or even notifying an investigative reporter/call for action type of thing on tv - nm
x
Well..Here is my setup

I have two different IC positions.  I sought out the second one when the first started shorting my pay and paying late, intending to replace the first completely. 


However, both are IC positions..The one requires that I type 1000 lines between the hours of 6 a.m. and 10 p,m. I can work overnight if I want to, and often do...


The other just has a daily requirement and I can do that anywhere in a 24 hour period...


However.  I can put out 1000 in four hours..and so I usually do 2 hour blocks...I will do 2 hours for one company, and then two hours for the other...and so on and so forth...the first company, which I now have a part time commitment but still do full time work(they consider FT 10,000 lines in a 15 day cycle), has had a tendency to be slow and run low on work recently...The second company does not ever seem to run low as it is a MAJOR hospital in a largely populated area and there is both inpatient and outpatient dictation. 


I am a single mother of two children under 5, with a car payment and a mortgage.  I am not accustomed to living beyond my means but their father just left last year and I have bills to pay(he took 4,000 a month in income with him when he went and the odd twist on the whole thing is the judge ordered no child support because we agreed on joint custody, even though I am primary)


Stuff happens and we all have to make a living..I remember six years ago making more than I am now and that is insane...wages are supposed to go up, and not down...and that was a local service and I now work for two national!!! go figure


 


How this is unethical or illegal I do not know as long asthe requirements for both are met.  I think perhaps the definition for both terms needs to be revisited if poster is using them to refer to a situation that meets the criteria for neither. 


 


Just my 2 cents worth, anyway


op setup
Look in BOS, appendix a, page 443.  I always use them.  No colons, returns after the capped heading.
setup in the car
I like to think that the three day drives to Massachusetts that my family took each year prepared me for this! :)

I have a converter that I can plug into the cigarette lighter so I can plug my laptop in (you can get them at Walmart for 20-30 dollars) and I have Verizon's PC card that works just about anywhere in my area. I usually just stick my foot pedal in the floor board and go to town. The only bad part is my husband likes to take corners quickly so I have to hold on to my laptop or it ends up in his lap! :-D
did you setup?
There's a setting to go in and define what a line is, did you set that?
I had the same setup...
and it worked just fine.  I hope everything works out for you.
Well, that's the setup at my doctor's ofc.
he places the chair where he can see you while he types. It is as if you are dictating and he is transcribing and he types fast! His nurses come in first, and they also type your complaints, vital signs, etc.

I have typed ER in the past, so maybe I will go back to that since it will be the last to go EMR. I just hope I can retrain for something else soon.:)


P.S. more info re: my setup
Sorry, I should give more info. I'm currently using "pre-Stedmans" ST for Word 2000.

Oh, and yes, I too found out the hard way about the weird behavior with Word 2003 and went back to Word '00. Hey Stedmans and M-Soft, keep up to date and work with each other.
I have that setup and may have tiny lag...
but its only a bit more than I had using wav pedal without Vonage. I do find the C-phone pedal to be a different cat from my wav pedal, though, and not very fond of it! Mine has gone psycho a few times and does its own thing, totally unresponsive to controls. As they aren't too expensive I may just replace it at some point with another used one and see what happens. If your C-phone is not new, you might cosider replacing the pedal to see if that helps. I have been told the pin-plug setup is very sensitive and easy to disrupt. Good luck!
My setup is working
I've never tried using a PS2 to USB adapter so can't comment on that.

I'm just started using StartStop today with a USB 3-pedal footpedal and an ergo keyboard plugged in via USB to the laptop (have been slowing setting up the new laptop for the past month).

My keyboard has USB ports in it also. Maybe he means you can't plug the USB footpedal into the USB ports on the keyboard? I have the footpedal plugged into a USB port on the laptop expansion base and the keyboard plugged into a laptop USB port.

Hope you can get it going.
EXZText setup, at wit's end

If I double-click on the EXText icon first, it will not load Word and I get a "dump" message. If I load Word manually, the EXText program doesn't respond. However, if I load Word first, EXText loads just fine, I TransNet also connects, but none of the EXText keyboard commands are working.

If anyone else had this problem, how did you solve it? 


router setup

i set up a router on my main computer to my son's computer.  i then set up the e-mail account on his to match the ones on mine.  now, my son's computer is getting all the e-mails and mine gets none.  How can i set it up so both computers get all the e-mails.


thanks


Okay, here is a pic of my recliner setup

from the sitting in the chair view


It really depends on your setup s/m

I stay that if your CPU is down there, then it is not safe.


I personally have a corner style desk that has a room for a space heater, which is what I use.  All of my cords are tacked to the desk, so no accidents waiting there. 


I do like the idea of an electric throw blanket though.  I did use a heating pad for years (an extra large one) draped over my feet.  The heater I have now does great wonders for heating up my small office area, otherwise I would spend the money on the blanket. 


For work, I have it as a desk setup

I have a table that doubles as my sewing craft table and my work desk, depending on the day.  I set up my laptop for work as such:  laptop used as a cpu and monitor, external keyboard and mouse attached via USB/PS2 adapter cord, placed ergonomically, and footpedal attached through a USB port.  It works pretty well for me, especially once I had everything set up comfortably.  When the work day is done, I can grab the laptop, disconnect all of the wires, and sit on the couch with it and surf the internet or whatever via my secure wireless connection.  I know some people take more advantage of the flexibility of a laptop, but I just cannot type on the integrated keyboard for more than a short while and it is nice to have a comfortable set up for work, and the convenience of my written reference materials next to me on the table. 


I have used it on the road in a hotel with hotkeys, but I still brought my external keyboard with me!


Good luck. I love laptops - so much less bulky than a regular PC. 


 


 


Where I work for they can tell during the setup process.
And, they'll take someone who has accelerated dialup.
Those using digital, what software/setup?

For those of you using digital recorders iwth your clients, what software do you use to manage sending/receiving dictation and sending transcribed work back?  I use Olympus recorders and have just been using the software that comes with them, but I'm wondering if there is a better way/better software??


I am by no means an MTSO, I have 3 physicians right now and 3 more starting within the next few months.  I do not have any subcontractors or employees.  Is there any better software out there or a better/more simple way to set this up?  Just wondering and any input is greatly appreciated.  Trying to make things as simple as possible for me and the docs. Thanks! 


Is there a way to use my C-phone with my Vonage setup? SM

I need to plug my C-phone into a phone jack.  My Vonage setup is completely wireless set up by my local cable company.


I've got an analog telephone line, but the local phone company in this area is incredibly incompetent and I am at the end of my rope and am desparate to figure something else out.  I have called this company of Keystone Cops four times trying to order their unlimited long distance plan.  Each time they have apologized for the inconvience and said "somebody dropped the ball" and they are just so sorry.  This morning I called them for the 5th time because I got a letter in the mail yesterday thanking me for signing up for the 5 cents a minute long distance plan!  Now I'm told that they are making "notations" on my account and when I get my bill at the end of the month I will need to call their "investigations department" to get the long distance charges reversed.


So as you can see, my frustration meter is maxing out with these people!  Help me figure out a way I can use my Vonage with my C-phone and tell these people to hang themselves with their telephone line!


Wireless router setup sm
Does anyone have any experience with setting up a Linksys wireless broadband router? I have a cable hookup coming tomorrow and have had to buy a wireless router and another wireless setup for a second computer. I heard the cable company will install only one modem on one computer and I must make my home wireless for other computers. The "Geek Squad" at Best Buy in my area warned me that it would be wiser to pay them to come out than try to do it myself. E-mail me if you have experience doing this. The box looks self-explanatory but I'm a little hesitant. Thanks for any help.
Sometimes they are setup so no place available to plug in. You
should probably get a new battery. 
independent setup details

Have you considered a consultant?  I know a very good one who not only works with independent transcriptionists but also assists acute care facilities with new information systems.  I would be happy to send you the info. 


Your problem may be in the Page Setup
Go to File, Page Setup and set your margins to what you want them to be. Make sure under Preview that you have it set to whole document. Click OK. Does this help?
Have you tried the Footpedal Setup Wizard?

I had a similar problem, went through the wizard and then it worked. It's worth a try.


Lanier Setup Question
Does the Lanier system connect through your computer somehow or does it just connect to a phone line only for access?  Thank you!
I had a dual boot up setup. sm
I had 1 monitor,
2 keyboards,
2 mouse, 2 tower PC.
It had a button to push to switch over to the other PC.

On 1 PC was their platform and I needed to still access my PC for all my reference stuff I had created.

So on their PC, somehow it was set up where both PCs, my DSL, the internet to use Google and email

Sounds cumbersome, but it was okay, set up at the same workstation, did not have to shift chairs, the keyboards were kinda on top of each other or just in front of the other. Used the same monitor for both PCs.
On this format, no need to specify to whom you respond, as the setup shows you. nm
x
I have the same exact setup - works great! nm
xx
Did you try changing your margins in Page Setup?
After you make the changes save that document as something...ex:  Template Form.  Then when you work on that account you can pull your form, use it, and when done save it as whatever it needs to be.  That way your Template Form will always remain the same.  I don't know if this is what you wanted or not..hope it helps.
Wireless router setup/laptop

You don't say what kind of router your have but your wireless router DOES NOT need to be connected by ethernet cable to your computer--you only need to connect by cable when you initially install the router software.  Next, if your router has WEP or WAP security enabled, your laptop wireless will not be able to just connect automatically.  Copy your router settings from your main computer (the one you installed the router software to) onto a USB flash drive if you have one and load those settings on your laptop.


The easiest way to set up your network if you have Windows XP is to go to control panel, then go to the Wireless Network Setup Wizard. It will prompt your on how to set up a secure wireless network if your router has it and how to add other computers to your wireless network.  It is very easy if you have a USB flash drive--otherwise you'll have to manually add in the settings. Good luck!!


Unless you setup the respective blocking script (which I did), you

can expect IE 7 to be installed on your system if it is configured to retrieve and install high priority updates from Windows Update. HOWEVER, the update is still interactive. You will not just come back to your system and find IE7 all ready to go.


As far as the icon that just sits on your taskbar, it is causing no ill-harm. It's purpose is to serve as a reminder.



 


Microsoft Word Help Please -- New Template Setup

I have done this before and for the life of my I cannot remember how I did it. Can someone help me out?  Okay.  This new doctor would like heading and numbers under each heading.  He wants me to tab over from the number to begin typing and the words to sort of "wrap" so that the second line would not return to under the number.  I will try to show it here.


Treatment:


1.     The patient will ____________________________


        the rest of the sentence would continue under the words "The patient.


Setup.exe file does not work in Smartype?
I am trying to install an old Smartype disk and when I click on the setup.exe file nothing happens.  Why is that?  I am using Windows XP if that helps.  Thanks
I'd setup IM or similar instead of making phone calls. It
seems like the company is very disorganized.  I personally would not make any phone calls that I am not reimbursed for. 
Are you looking for "landscape?" In word it is under file-page setup--nm
//
click on EDIT and printer page setup

I got one of those printers when I ordered my last Dell and I gave it away free-of-charge - looked too much like a cheap toy to me.  However, do what the other poster said in the control panel and if that doesn't work, try clicking on EDIT at the top left of your browser and click print or printer page setup and check things there....


also - if you reboot your computer, your settings might all come back the way it was before. 


can you have both computers logged into the internet at the same time with this setup?(nm)
x
Digital dictation setup to use with express scribe (sm)

I can't find the post that tackled this subject a month ago.  I'm looking to get one of my clients set up on digital dictation.  I have on my end express scribe, the headphones and the foot pedal.


I'm either going to set up an upload function on my webspace or have the client email me the voice files.


Can someone recommend an inexpensive recorder that I can purchase for him (I can't afford the $200-$300 recorders) that can have the files uploaded to his PC so they can be sent to me and I can transcribe them on express scribe?

Thanks in advance!!


Couldnt get Express scribe setup to play dss file
x
Court?

Thought I had a great, lengthy report the other day, for it to be over 7 minutes of one physician talking with another about getting sued by a patient due to overmedicating - the patient overmedicated, but the doctor prescribed the meds.  Anyway - have any of you ever had to go to court and testify?  This, along with Dr.Infection (almost every report I get is someone who has had surgery and now is infected - and this is not an infectious disease physician but the surgeon), I am wondering if I will ever get called in.  I can't believe that none of these patient's are suing.  Just wanted to vent and get someone's take on this.