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I also separate with semicolons--allows use of commas where needed within dose instructions. SM

Posted By: MsIndigo on 2007-11-15
In Reply to: Formatting - Angie

I see the value of stopping each med with a period; but the voice rec programs I've worked with so far have been using commas (or nothing), and breaking the strings up with period+spaces+caps, etc. is much too time consuming. Plus, account instructions typically ask for either numbered lists or comma/semicolons anyway.


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absolutely agree; they needed a good dose of Exlax. where was the local talent.
nm
No need for semicolons or
anything fancy; just type the -year-old, highlight it to save in your Autocorrect file as you normally would but make sure that it's saved as formatted text. Try it; it's simple, and it works!
My rule for semicolons
is that if the two statements support each other and each statement could be a separate sentence, I use a semicolon. Example: He underwent an ultrasound in March 1999; AT THAT time he was noted to have BPH. The sentence you asked about should be done like 'NM'says: He underwent an ultrasound in March 1999, at which time he was noted to have BPH.
2.5 mg to 5 mg Valium, lower dose by 1/2 tab a day until
you are off. You should have no problems. I went through that after major illness and surgery with no problems whatever. If you do this diligently, stick to your guns, last couple of days do same doses for 2 days rather than 1, then go to every other day, then off, you should be fine with no withdrawal
Climara low dose patch
The night sweats or hot flashes as they call them disturbed my sleep to the point I was useless during the day time.

I concluded that I would take these hormones as I simply had to work at top performance at my job and get things done around the house as well.

I'll deal with the "change" when I am retired and can walk around like a zombie. For now, I have to consider quality of life.

I tried several before Climara and though it is not on my formulary (50.00/month), I take it to live normally.

Now I realize why women my age sometimes can look ravaged.
I used it but it tended to "junk me up" so I took only a tiny dose...sm

for sleep, trazodone is better. It's an old antidepressant that's not really good for anything other than putting you out. However, if you need to wake up in the middle of the night (small children, etc.) you can pop right out of sleep and it doesn't have the hangover effect like benadryl or Xanax. So maybe ask about trying that. And I know, maybe I spelled trazodone wrong but I don't have my spellchecker on this board LOL!


After 15 years of being treated for depression on and off, and severe anxiety, I finally found a wonderful therapist. He got me out of a chronic low grade depression without any antidepressants AT ALL which I would have bet could not be done. So maybe think of that, too?


6 MV photons with dose specified to Bmax or Dmax?
6 MV photons with dose specified to Bmax or Dmax?
It definately helped me. From the first dose I took I had no urge at all to smoke.
Unfortunately though I had a bad reaction to the medication and had to stop it after only a few days. I should say though that the reaction I had to the Wellbutrin had absolutely nothing to do with a side effect, but rather it exacerbated a prior medical problem I had. It's definately worth a try IMO.
Does hormone replacement (specifically low dose Prempro) cause you to gain weight? nm
nm
commas
You really need to think about this comma situation. Grammar and punctuation are there to make a document readable. A medical document is a patient care and legal document.

I know the transcription companies and hospitals do not pay fairly and I really don't blame you for trying to do something to increase your line count, however, this is simply not an appropriate way to do it.

I think if you approach your supervisor with some contrition and try to make a conscious effort to not do this you will probably see some positive results.

Again, I don't mean this to criticize you, but doctors are really down on transcriptionists a lot because this sort of thing drives them crazy and I can see how it could.

Good luck to you and I hope your situation turns around soon.
Commas (sm)
I am from the old school where commas were essential for clarity in reports. I find in today's world there are far too many errors being made, both in and out of the medical field, because people have not been properly trained in the English language. I have requested copies of my medical reports for a serious medical problem only to find multiple transcription or dictation errors which are inexcusable. The hospital I requested these reports from is a large metropolitan research facility where people come from all over the world for treatment. Obviously they are sending their work out to the lowest bidder. They do not have a transcription department. Not only was my name repeatedly in the body of the report, but it was spelled incorrectly and not in harmony with the correct spelling of my name in the header. Commas were not used in the proper places and the report was horrendous. I have not brought this to the attention of my physicians because they could "care less" in my opinion as long as they were reimbursed. What a darned shame! I don't know where they got their QA people, if they have any, but there is no "quality" in any of those reports. Don't feel bad. Whether we are talking commas, periods, common sense, etc., it is all "out the window" and the cheapest price gets the job! Just venting (and pretty upset). This is MY body and MY serious illness. I am so sick and tired of those pompous "asses" who proclaim 98% accuracy. I once received a reply to an E-mail from one of those companies who told me I "scored high" on their testing and stated I would "here" from them soon regarding potential employment. It's all pretty disgusting to me.
maybe you should try using commas...
in all those compound sentences in your post if you are so big on grammar.
commas
Thanks for the help!!!
BOS and commas
The day that a doctor can actually transcribe a complete sentence/thought with the correct noun/pronoun/subject/verb/adjective, I will then use appropriate commas. Run on sentences is what they do. Most transcription is verbatim. As long as the WORDS are exactly what the doctor says, the punctuation (other than a period) is not even important, has nothing to do with the body of the report. I don't profess to be an English major and whoever thought it needed to be applied to transcription needs their head examined. In this industry, nothing is forever. A few years from now they will scrap the nonsense and move on to some other idiotic idea some moron comes up with in the BOS.

I applaud accounts that refuse to use BOS. I wish they would all do it and put an end to the insanity.
commas and which
which and that are often used interchangeably. You must decide what the dictator intends.

That always begins a restrictive clause.

Which always begins a nonrestrictive clause.

Test: Do you need what is said after which to tell tell what is meant? If the answer is yes, no comma. If the answer is no, add a comma.

Restrictive: Essential to what precedes it - no comma.
The arm which was fracture was splinted.

Nonrestrictive: Place a comma before which.
The right arm, which was fracture, was splinted.

That begins an essential clause or phrase. That is always specific to what comes before it. Do not place a comma before that.

I hope this helps.


too many commas? Nope -
perfect punctuation - way to go!
...and someone who does not use commas. ROFL! nm.
nm.
typing letter. Do my commas look oky?
She is a 66year-old white female who recently transferred to our practice with diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, hypertension and hyperlipidemia, who I refer to you at this time for further evaluation of anemia
Grrrrrrrrr Wrong COMMAS!!!

OK this doctor dictates things like this all the time...."He wanted to cry (comma) and appeared unhappy."


 


There is no comma there, right?  What should I do?  Pretty sure you need a subject on both sides of the comma.......that's what I thought.


BOS is a crock, but commas are still important!

Especially as demonstrated in the post above.  I think we all know (or should know) when a comma will change the meaning of a sentence.  I agree that is very important.  I believe in the AHDI BOS, Third Edition, it states that comma punctuation points are not deducted on audits because most of them are open to interpretation anyway.  Some sentences could take them or leave them, doesn't matter.


Somebody please tell me why these stupid hyphens are so important!!!!  How can they change the meaning of a sentence?  And another thing, who has the right to change the title punctuation in M.D. to MD.  We tried that on our account, HA, HA, HA.  Heard from those doctors right away and they did not like it one bit.  These things are why I say BOS is designed to cut an MT's pay, make more money for the MTSOs, and to give QA something to do! 


I, too, love commas! I was told by an English
teacher years ago to use a comma anywhere in a sentence where you want to pause, emphasize, or separate.  I worked for this one national where QA used to dock me all the time for my comma use.  However, I got out my college grammar/English book and scanned in pages to prove I was right.  Didn't matter.  It was, "Listen to your QA person."  She wouldn't even use a comma to separate two independent clauses with a FANBOY.  I couldn't unlearn 25 years of grammatical habits, so I quit.
I can see your point about grammar, but using commas to pad line counts??!!
Please, tell me you're not serious, okay?

Did I use my commas correctly? Because I gave it a lot of thought, too much so to use it as a way to pad my line count.
What a crock. I've solved it by starting to put in commas
more Keystrokes for me, and hey - QA just LOVES their commas! The more the better, in their eyes.
No flame--commas & periods go inside quotation marks--ALWAYS.
"right", they get "left".   Hate to see a good MT not do this correctly.
I would have to separate by category!

first 3 that come to mind are:  The Notebook, Hope Floats and Sweet Home Alabama (SHA didn't get rave reviews, but I just loved that movie!)


ET, Titanic and Forrest Gump are like classics and you HAVE to love them!


Independence Day, MIB, most of the Marvel (comics) movies, Van Helsing and both Underworlds top my list too!


Oh, and then there is the animated stuff... the list is never ending! (and we own over 400 DVDs!)


Not on a separate line, per se
but separated by paragraphs. It looks something like:

Name #1
Address
City, State, Zip

Name #2
Address
City, State, Zip

...and so on.
MS Word not separate (SM)
MS bundles Word with their MS Office product. Previous companies I have worked for had MS Word alone on a generic disk. As far as I know, none of them are in jail yet.

OpenOffice.org provides a program that rivals MS Office. You can download it for FREE from their site. If you are doing this for work however, I don't know that it would be compatible with platforms you would be using - I'd say probably not.

Should you need to purchase MS Office so you can have MS Word, check out newegg.com. I know with operating systems such as Windows XP, you can buy versions that computer builders use - no fancy packages, just a disk and a license - for significantly less than what you'd pay for an off-the-shelf product at say Staples. Don't know if you can do the same with Office. Check out CNet.com for reviews. CNet.com also has forums where you can post a question and an Editor will answer you.

Good Luck!
I have a separate office
Although it's open and doesn't have doors.
I use a separate room
I have a 2 bedroom place, hubby and I use the master room and I transcribe in the "office." This keeps me, for the most part, without distractions other than those I create myself. I set up a place for my cats to sleep so they don't sleep on the computer desk, and have found that this works the best for me...very short attention span when I tried it in the living room. Just don't move work into the bedroom you sleep in, might cause sleep problems.
Are they separate checks (sm)
totalling 12,000+.  You'd have to check the court system, but that may actually be over the amount for small claims court and you'd have to go to the next level.  Has she made ANY attempt to pay any of it?  Do you have any "demands" for payment in writing?  If not, I think I'd get that in the mail today.  You need to establish a papertrail.  Formal demand asking for payment in a set period of time by cash or money order.  Send it cert mail with return receipt.
Yes I did have a separate firewall....sm
I have also used the AVG for years. My friend has also used it for years. I know a lot of people who have used it and continue to with no problems. I had no problems until someone hacked into my computer. When I took it to the computer guy, he said you are using a free AVG version. He said that is the problem. He said why do you think they are free? They don't fully protect your computer. I have no idea with a firewall on how they still got into my computer but they did. My friend had someone hack into hers while using AVG free version and separate firewall and stole her identity. I am just trying to keep the expensive mistake I made from happening to other people. It is costing me $250 to have the computer repaired.
Yes, separate computer sm
I have kept an older computer with SP2 but don't have the original CD rom. I use it for checking personal e-mails etc.,, will try it tomorrow, sore neck from trying to "make it work". Will try tomorrow when my neck feels better. Stress........Thanks for trying to help me.  Of all things, to misplace a CD rom, how dumb am I????
Yes, separate computer sm
I have kept an older computer with SP2 but don't have the original CD rom. I use it for checking personal e-mails etc.,, will try it tomorrow, sore neck from trying to "make it work". Will try tomorrow when my neck feels better. Stress........Thanks for trying to help me.  Of all things, to misplace a CD rom, how dumb am I????
Two separate issues

Her medical records were indeed compromised several years ago and they did a sting with the doctor to find out who it was.  The person responsible, ironically, died of cancer before she could be prosecuted.  Farrah talks about it in the documentary.  The documentary itself is Farrah and Alanna filming her treatment and journey over the last year or so.


 


Yes, it sure is. I was told on 3 separate occasions that
I could use it for work but when they saw how much I was racking up in charges, they told me I was not eligible and sent me a $2500 bill.  I would be careful if I were you!!!!!
Or try to get the kids a separate policy
xx
set up a separate entry for that with all caps. that's what I do.
x
its separate from hair and nails
is around 40k a year.  Thats the highest ive made as an MT.  You need a license, go through state board, and there are several schools throughout the US.  Just do a search on "aesthetic or esthetic schools"
I use a C phone and 2 separate lines.. sm
I have DSL and I was not able to have my DSL on the same line as my C phone though now I cannot remember why it did not work. I do know that if it had worked I would not have had a phone to use to call out or receive calls while I was working (which was fine by me.. my family knows to call my cell). At any rate, because of the fact the C phone and DSL did not co-exist I had to use a separate line for my C phone and then my DSL is on another line and that frees up my main phone line for calls in and out.
Are the numbers in a separate column? sm
If yes, go to the Data menu and choose sort, then sort by the letter of the column.
Also fortunate enough to have a separate room. And
s
It doesnt separate. You end up transcribing at
gf
2 separate companies/offers
x
Each 401K is a separate entity. You can have...sm
as many as you want. Sure helps with the taxes!
These are separate reports, called sm
corrections or addendums. We are not even allowed to change any report once it has been sent, and chances are that we are not the original transcriptionists who transcribed it. It is simply a new report.

I don't really mind at all when they say "go back up to History of Present Illness and put this in". It is just part of the job, not a big deal at all.
If it were me, I would have a separate hourly rate that
I would charge for things such as that, and keep a total of the time you spend doing this, but definitely bill them!!
Is it possible to use 2 separate monitors with just one computer?
I'd have two monitors but only one computer.  I guess there would have to be somewhere to plug it in...and I only see one place to plug in a monitor but was hoping someone knew of some kind of adapter or a way to get around this?  Thanks!!

 

 

Thank you for the instructions. I will try that! nm
x
I saw instructions for doing this yourself on
You sure don't need to pay to convert!
Instructions
While in Word document, type FEV1 with the subscript. Then hightlight, do Alt+T to bring up Tools, select autocorrect.  Screen will come up, type in FEV1 in the Replace section, click the Formatted Text button, click Add.  It should save it with the subscript.
sm for instructions

Go to My Computer, click Tools, Folder Options, click File Types tab.


Scroll down list and select WAV.  In the lower part of the window where it says Opens with, click the Change button.  In the new window, scroll down and select Scribe, then click OK.  Then OK to close the other window.