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Serving Over 20,000 US Medical Transcriptionists

Learned at my mother's knee.

Posted By: CrankyBeach on 2009-03-26
In Reply to: Please answer about starting as an MT - SarahE

Literally. 37 years ago she was the transcriber (that's what we were called then) for a 10-man (yes, they were all men) multispecialty group here in town. She needed extra help, I knew how to type and spell, and I had passed high school biology, so she dragged me in, kicking and screaming. I was not given a choice. A couple of years after that, I was hired part time at the OB-GYN office down the street. In 1976 I had my first full-time job, in an orthopedic office. In 1981 I went to work part time at another multispecialty clinic, and part time in an oncology office. That segued into nearly 28 years in oncology, and some more part time orthopedics on the side. Last fall my boss closed his practice, and I went to work for one of the big nationals. I still type for one orthopedist on the side.

With 36 years of clinical experience, TRS took a chance on me, and now they are up-training me into acute care. Actually, the only thing "new" to me, besides the actual dictators, is the op reports. I've done literally hundreds of consults and H & Ps over the years, and a discharge summary is just kind of a truncated H & P, if you ask me; so I'm not sure I "get" what the huge deal is about "acute care."


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Never learned it? Hah! I learned it and still didn't like it.

Don't know about knee
replacement but I broke my leg (tib/fib) and was able to work once I had the cast on.

The wonderful thing about our jobs is, no commuting!
I know sometimes my knee does cough...

right knee pain
I am not an older MT, but I have been doing this for over 13 years and I just started to notice this last year that my right knee started to hurt, so I change my foot pedal to my left foot, and it really helps, so I have become ambidextrous with my foot pedal.
Fractured knee cap
I fractured my knee cap and had to have surgery on it with several pins and wires in it and Vicodin did not work for me and so they put me on OxyContin and was on it on and off for about 2 to 3 months.  But I did not take it religiously just when the pain got really bad and especially whe I started through PT and had to move that knee cap to break away the scar tissue.  A knee replacement takes longer to heal and recover from than a hip replacement and when I was typing for an Ortho it took up to six months sometimes.  But I just say, don't take the pain pills if he doesn't need them and usually the doc will say, take up to 30 mg a day -- meaning if you need it and a lot of people just think, well he said to take it and so I will.    But I am not a doctor and also recommend that you contact the doctor or NP if they have one or just his assistant. 
I had a knee replacement....SM
five years ago. Worst experience of my life. I took narcotic pain meds for about two months, then switched to Advil and Aleve. It takes quite a while for all the pain to go away. Miserable surgery.
knee surgery
half days for a week. Should have stayed off the full time but did rest when I at home.
When comptemplating podiatry work the surgeon said no work for two weeks till off the pain meds due to thought processes possibly being affected.
knee-slappin' LOL (nm)
.
Had 2 knee scopes
On the same knee for a torn medial meniscus 11 mos. apart. I've been a fitness maniac forever, so it was all of that stuff. The day after the surgery I went to the gym on crutches and did cardio with the ergometer. My sports medicine doc knew it was pointless to even say anything, but his partner told me "it's abuse" when I had biceps tendinitis. Oh, well. The 2nd MR showed a recurrence of the tear, but my SMD told me that's commonly seen on MR but it's not actually torn. So I did conservative stuff for a month as I recall, and it still hurt. The second time it was basically debris.

I did my PT in the gym with my trainer, but even so, it was the worst surgery to recover from (& I was in good shape, I guess). This is comparing it to all the neck surgeries, too. The reason it was so bad was the wt-bearing.

I hope you do well with it, as many people do. The main thing I would advise you is to do everything possible to not limp. It doesn't take long to teach yourself to walk a new way after this surgery, and I found it annoying to have to go back and concentrate on the "heel-toe" walking. Even when my trainer wasn't beating me up (therapy-wise), I was constantly stretching my quads and hams. Another really good exercise at some point to strengthen is the sitting leg lift. Yes, you'll be in tears, but they're worth it.

Elevating it is still like breathing to me all these years later. The treadmill bothers me, but the StepMill (the moving stairs thingy) is okay.

My guess is that you'll get lots of varied answers. Just don't let yourself get stiff or allow yourself to limp. Those are my 2 main suggestions. I don't envy you one bit.
Every knee shall bow, every tongue confess ..
... that Jesus Christ is Lord!
No, manure has nothing to do with knee pain.
It had nothing to do with it whatsoever, and for all you know OPs patient could have been there for strep throat. Prayer wouldn't have anything to do with that either.

I am a very proud Christian, but the whole issue here is ridiculous. She didn't start a discussion, she just asked a question as to whether it should be in there. There's a simple answer...yes. It was dictated, so yes. It does not require the whole tolerance lecture or have anything to do with beliefs at all.
post knee surgery
i had arthroscopic knee surgery a week and a half ago.  my MRI showed fluid and a medial meniscus tear, but when the doctor got into the knee he said it was very angry looking and inflamed and he couldn't really find anything to be causing that inflammation.  he couldn't even find the tear, but did find some frayed cartilage that he shaved off.  he said he did about 5 laps around my knee trying to find a source of my problem, but did not find it, except for the above mentioned.  my knee still feels stiff and very, very tender around the kneecap.  it hurts when the skin is pulled up or down, the entire kneecap area.  the incisions are healing nicely, but i am still having swelling and pain and stiffness.  it's better than pre-surgery, but it just seems to me that i should be "better" by now.  my doctor told me i can go ahead and do whatever i want to do and let pain be my guide.  it seems like my knee felt better a few days ago and now it seems to be getting stiff again, and it's not for lack of exercise or use.  i do ROM exercises and go up and down steps, trying not to baby my knee.  i keep hoping it's going to just get better but i'm getting just a little disheartened at this point.  has anyone else had a similar experience?  my doctor said he was going to be cautiously optimistic that he "fixed" the problem.  i certainly am trying to be too but this morning when coming down my steps i was walking very awkwardly due to stiffness and pain.  any thoughts are appreciated.
there was an old post - someone asking about a knee lever - sm
The foot pedal was getting to her (me to), i.e., swollen ankles, soreness, etc., and she wanted to know if there was such a thing as a knee lever/gadget to alleviate the problem. Or if anyone could rig something.

No one had a solution but many said they started working in a recliner and posted pictures of their set up.

was intersting. I myself have built a box with an angle to both raise the pedal and take the angle off my ankle.

Any knee/back pain sufferers out there? sm
What are your favorite shoes to wear that don't make your knees hurt?   My back doesn't hurt if I wear Birkenstocks but my knees hurt if I do.  I've tried countless types of arch supports and the ones that help my knees don't help my back.  I have arthritis in both areas and the cartilage in my knees are shot due to degeneration.   Yesterday I wore my Birkenstock inserts I recently got in my sneakers while I ran around Wal-Mart and boy am I ever paying for that today - my knees are killing me!   Any advice would be appreciated. 
Had knee MRI - "erosion of meniscus" results (sm)
as I was told by the nurse who phoned in the results.  I will be referred to an orthopedist for further new.  Anyone had this or any info on it? 
MT work after total knee replacement
I'm having a left total knee replacement next week and was just wondering if any one out there has had this done and if so, in what time frame did you return to transcription.  thanks.
sorry, that first line should read AFTER a knee replacement. nm
x
Knee-hi support stockings, get up at least once an hour,
s
I had bilateral arthroscopic knee surgery for sm
internal derangement, synovitis, chondromalacia, etc. The doc told me I would have "healing pain" that would be worse than the original pain as my patellae learned to track in the proper groove. It took several months before I stopped having pain. I had all kinds of fluid--big bags of fluid flopping under my knees,stiffness, swelling, and heat. For lunch break I'd walk the length of the mall next door and at home would do plies (sp?) (ballet) while holding and cuddling my 10-pound cat. It was a long, long haul, but it eventually ended. Wish I hadn't waited so long for that surgery!

You'll get better. It takes a while.
Only one knee hurts, have trouble with full extension
so I learned how to work the foot pedal with the other leg. The more I keep my post surgical knee bent, the tighter the muscles coming into the back of the joint get. I have to stand and toe and heel stretch to work out the stiffness. Summer will be here soon and swimming does wonders for the knees...it always makes my flares go away.
These knee jerk bleeding heart liberals could not take responsibility for their
actions if it hit them in the face as it did with Mrs. Twitty.  The Arubans are sick and tired of her and frankly so am I.  Wash the makeup off your face, take off the false eyelashes and go grieve for your daughter.
Learned something

I never thought that many peole would want a transcript of a show especially when it was availabe of DVD or tape.  That is why I did not think it would pay that well.  But I learned something and always glad to do so.   The last seminar that I type did not involve medical at all but was building a chip for a computer and all oriental speakers and so when I think my docs are bad, I remember that.  Lots of blanks needless to say. 


Have a good day and thanks for the compliment but all I know is common sense and practical sense through years of doing this. 


 


I learned that way too, but now
nm
has anyone learned that their QA
person is using an outdated BOS ?  I can hardly believe anyone taking their position seriously would do this.  Am I wrong to be amazed and disappointed?
I know what you mean...you'd think I would have learned

my lesson in season 2.  I would love a Taylor/Elliott finale, but I really don't know what to expect.  You'd think Taylor has a big enough fan base to put him through, but after last week, I feel like anything can happen.


yes that's how I learned

how else to learn specialties?


What I have learned from VR is
that it does take an experienced and alert MT to recognize when a mistake has been made by VR. If the MT is editing too quickly or too careless when a mistake has been made by VR, and the incorrect term does sound close to what the doctor is dictating, the MT may not realize there is a mistake in the report that needs editing. This could be very dangerous if the doctors do not proofreading their reports carefully after they are returned to the system as complete.

Unless the VR technology improves substantially from where it stands now, I believe there will be gross errors not caught, which may lead to poor patient care and possible litigation.

I have been a MT since 1981 and have witnessed a lot of changes in this field. VR may appear to be an asset for medical personnel, but it may prove to be a detriment for patients. Sorry to come across as negative, just my opinion.
what I learned...
one can put 30.000-40.000.

Only if it is dictated 'between' 30.000 to
40.000, then write 'to';

or from 30.000 to 40.000.

Also AAMT BOS 2nd edition
Have learned
Have learned from talking with IRS I can become a Sole Proprietor and get an EIN. Nothing changes as far as filing and paying taxes, same as an IC. Sorry if this posts twice.
I took this course too. Learned how to
build my own computers. Never pursued a career in it but am planning on doing so if MTs goes downhill completely.

Does your course include networking too?
I learned that
disc was for the body and disk is for computers. I go by whatever the account spec says.
41 YO here, learned on the job 22 years ago(sm)
and still love MT.  I do acute care, clinic, whatever they throw at me.  Started out in a hospital in 1983 and went home/nationals in 1996.  Been working at home ever since and have no desire to go back in-house.
I have learned something!! I never knew this was possible!
I've always thought liquids damaged/ruined keyboards, but I guess I was wrong. What a good idea you all have!!
learned (not leared)
sorry
My beagle has learned
not to lay near the foot pedal, but just to the side of it. It's the darn cat that won't stay off my keyboard. He'll even lay on it while I'm typing, and knows I'm going to boot him off! I think he likes the attention when the kids are at school and DH is gone to work.
Does anybody out there sew regularly. I have never learned
how to sew and I want to learn.  I am going to take some classes here at a local craft store, but my question is that I want to buy a nice sewing machine, not top of the line but not a cheapy either.  I can always upgrade later if I need too.  Does anybody have any recommendations on a nice, easy to use sewing machine that doesn't have so much crap on it that I would be totally confused. 
From what I've learned from...
doing psych reports, people rarely have MPD unless they've been abused horribly.  First off, I wouldn't blame this poor child.  Her life has obviously been unstable and erratic, no thanks to her parents.  I type it time and time again.... Kids are brought in and labeled with all sorts of conditions, ADHD, oppositional defiance disorder, OCD, you name it.  And WITHOUT FAIL when the doctor gets down to the social history, the child comes from some sort of broken erratic unstable home.  The parents don't create a nurturing environment for their child, parade boyfriends and girlfriends in and out of their lives, and then the poor child is labeled with a dozen diagnoses.  Sounds to me like this poor child has been abused, which isn't very far fetched if a mother is recycling boyfriends.  I'd contact a local psychiatrist and start from there.   I wouldn't take one person's word that the child wasn't abused.  Even if she is lying, she's doing it for some reason.
I learned it exactly the opposite...
back in 1980 I learned that disc was for the spine and disk was for anything ophthalmological ......
Yep, learned that the hard way, but then when I
told them I was looking things changed and now I'm down from about 95% ESL to about 60% and for the most part they aren't horrible. 
Learned the hard way
I am one of those editors who can't just let a blank go unless I have spent at least 10 minutes trying to research it. Of course, if the dictation is just not clear, then a blank is the way to go. I found at my last job, though, that I was spending too much time on correcting grammar - quite a stickler for that - but the company wanted a much quicker turnaround, even if the report looked like it was typed by a third grader (my opinion) lol.
figured it out and learned something new,....
thanks everyone...this has taken me forever to just get one thing done...thanks.
thanks, learned something today :) (no msg)
.
I learned it in school
I had to take a class on how to use the software for my schooling. I wondered why it would be useful in medical transcription because it is a program in which you speak and it types and does functions for you. I have never used it now that I have started working. Sorry that didn't really answer your question.
But they have learned it to the point of being
x
My education is better because I learned on the job.

I paid too much for a crappy program that did even come close to preparing me for real-world medical transcription. 


What I am saying is this, take a medical terminology course and keep studying after the course is over, take a human anatomy and physiology course, and take an English or have demonstrated skills in language usage and grammar, and then get out there and get a job. 


You will learn more on the job then can ever be taught in ANY classroom!  Quite frankly, you could order a medical terminology text book and A&P text books and study on your own and be just as prepared as you would paying $4000, 2000, 1200 or whatever to a school.


And yes, I have trained and QA'd Andrews and MTEC graduates and they have sucked eggs just as much as the next newbie MT. 


Thank you so much! I learned something new today.
x
I want to add that I learned that it is wiser
to respond to rude comments with irony and sarcasm than with equal rudeness.


I'm 49, confident, learned this 18 years ago on the job, sm
still learning. Looking to get into another profession. Offshoring keeps our wages here low.
I just learned rad after 16 yrs of acute care.
just by having a couple of good reference books and some live body to ask a few questions of has been all that I've needed.  It's different, but like anything else, after a while they're just saying the same things over and over again.  No different than just doing a different specialty in acute care.  I can't imagine needing to go back to school for radiology.  That's overkill.
I learned to spell the European way, too.
cheque, flavour, et cetera I guess JanaRae can spell it any way she wants to, eh? It's not like you're paying her to do it your way, right? Are you her boss? Then leave her alone.
that is awesome! Once again, I learned from this board! Thank you so much!
I printed out the commands!