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Rarely use any books anymore. I use Google.

Posted By: Maybe the Quick Look Drug book. nm on 2006-05-17
In Reply to: What reference do you use the most on a daily basis? SM - Acute Care MT

nm


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it's rarely offered anymore, thanks to the

AAMT. They started the whole problem, and then they bailed out after everybody decided it was the most honest method to determine what a "real line" was.

But there's still a way to break even. Go to this web site:  http://www.medicalese.org/line_count.html

Figure out what you want to bill for gross lines. That would be under the 45 cpl column (trust me on this ... I did stats for years when I was billing for gross lines). Compare it to what you would get paid if you billed for a 65-char line and that's what you want to be paid.

IOW, if you want to make 9 cpl for gross lines, under the 45 line length column it would be $200. Go over to the 65-char line and see how close you can match things up. It's 13 cpl = $200.00. That's what you want to make the same amount.


I rarely use books any longer....sm

However, I would get Vera Pyle's Med. Term book, Ellen Drake Sloane's Medical Word Book, and Claudia Tessier's Surgical Word Book.  Also Quik-Look Drug Book.  This is only if you are still using books 24/7/365.  The web has faster access in my opinion.   


Means gross line is a good way to get paid, but is rarely offered anymore. nm
s
Reference books and Google
Google is not always accurate either!!!! In my 7 years as an MT, I find it taking way too much time trying to find the correct spelling of referring physicians or primary care physicians online, especially if you have no clue as to which city they practice in, and when they dictate all these physicians names they want a cc to go to. I also would just like to add that maybe QALady should consider taking the word "Lady" off the end of her name. Obviously no one will ever be as "perfect" as you and I feel for the man you're married to, if you're at all married. If you complain about a few MTs, don't refer to all MTs, do your job, provide feedback, and if those same MTs continue to be sloppy, then the supervisor isn't doing his/her job at all. I'm a firm believer of shame on me once, maybe even a second time, but no more than a second time for the same mistakes. I welcome feedback and print every single report I have had a blank on for future reference. Sloppy may describe some, not all.
Thank you, could not find it in any of my word books or Google
xx
I completely agree with the advice below. Without your books, Google.
Just be sure that the entries you find are from a verifiable source; you can also access Dorland's at the Merck website (google Dorland Merck and then add to favs).

I travel frequently and have found MT an easily-adaptable job for this. You'll want to get very used to setting up and taking down your computer quickly, as well as making sure you have the correct cords, etc. Seems like a "duh" thing, but... :)

If you have money and inclination, you might purchase a couple of your most frequently-used Stedman's on CD-ROM and install before you leave on your trip. I have the equipment words, surgery words, and emergency medicine words on CD-ROM that I use without having to have the physical books handy.

Enjoy your trip!
FYI I HAVE reference books, but in case you hadn't noticed, thing change a lot faster than BOOKS
I was simply asking for suggestions of other places on line that I might look for the latest info, especially considering that my work is on the internet, what the hell is wrong with trying to be more productive and efficient?!?! Good Grief!!
I prefer books. I'm kinda old school. I like to be able to write new terms in my books. I do

have Stedman's Medical Dictationary on CD and I do use it quite a bit, but that's more because the actual print dictionary is so darn heavy to pick up and look a word up!


I rarely get to do them
I would love to type OPs. I rarely get to do them and like with anything, you don't use it you lose it but most places I work someone has been there longer and knows all the docs who can fly on OPs and that's who gets to do the OPs.
I try to keep in practice with doing it all and really hate to be limited to one type of report.

I'm rarely on here lately because of schedules ...
I work when I want to so stick it if you don't like it! Hahaha
I also use Ask.com, I love OPs but get them rarely, sm
make good money though.
I rarely use my Stedmans
Its so much easier just to type in what your looking for!  I must have 20 books just sitting on my shelf!
Yep, google has it goin on... I really like the google earth...
Have you tried Google earth? You can type in any address, street, city, state, country, etc. and it will zoom in and show the area and then you can hit the + button and zoom right in and see the exact house, building, etc. that you are looking for.
Mainly Google; I google the known words in the phrase (sm)
That's my most frequent tactic if I don't find the word in my word books. I'll play with leaving certain words out and adding them in, in various combinations, to try to get a hit that has a word which sounds like my blank. If I get a hit, I'll Google WITH that word, and see what hits I get, and what their source is (i.e.,checking the sources out for reliability). When I say 5 sites or searches, I mean I don't often try more than 5 different combinations without a serious hit. If I get a hit, then I will spend a little more time checking that out before I give up.

If it's a drug name, I use RxList, or more frequently the Drugs.com website. Since they redid RxList, I haven't found one that has quite as good a wildcard search, but Drugs.com works okay most of the time.

If it's a place name (like when they give names of outlying outreach clinics and etc.) I'll use Mapquest and look up the city my hospital is in, then "pan out" and look at the outlying towns.

Hope that's what you're looking for. I do have bookmarks, but I find that even the ones I think I'll visit again, I waste more time doing that than with an intelligent google search. An example is the time I was looking for "banana bag." The only place I managed to find it with a degree of reliability was on a nurses' message board. I've found quite a bit sometimes on the various specialty message boards out there, but I think the quickest way to locate that is through a search engine rather than bookmarking each individual site and trying to figure out which ones to search for a particular term.
I rarely watch TV, much too busy. nm
 
I rarely, if ever, use the 2nd Edition. So nope, I have
X
My phone rarely (if ever) rings, but my -
cat is constantly interrupting me, getting in front of my monitor to get attention. Either that, or she'll sit in the kitchen and yowl until I come out to see what on earth is wrong - only to find she's all bummed out because there's a single cat-hair floating in her water dish. :/
This is true. I work for the Q -rarely run out
of work (live in CA). And by the way, I would get paid my benefit rate (which is at least twice the CA min wage. I always thought this was why I never got NJA. But at the same time, I know they would love it if I quit.

We try to set good examples for our kids. We rarely

drink, don't have alcohol in the house except for cooking wine/sherry, don't smoke, don't do drugs, are honest, hard working people.  My oldest son has "friends" who smoke, who put vodka in their Coke cans, cuss, steal, etc.  My son is a good kid and no I'm not naive and he isn't doing this stuff behind my back because we spend lots of time together.   My son is a health freak and won't allow anyone to smoke around him.  We've also tried to explain to him that even if he isn't drinking if someone he is with is caught drinking then he is guilty by association and he knows he needs to avoid these kids.  He has come home before upset that kids were using seriously foul language.  The "F" word at our house is spelled f-a-r-t. 


We live in a country club community.  The kids around here get new cars when they turn 16.  The parents don't keep up with their kids, just give them money.   My son has to earn his car with saving $$, keeping out of trouble, and good grades.  I don't keep tabs on him 24/7, but I know where he is at ALL times so that if I need to find him I can.  He even asks me if he can get on-line so I know he isn't using the computer for porn.  He is concerned that he doesn't have enough testosterone because he isn't wanting to sleep with anything that stays still long enough.  Don't know that his friends are, but they talk a good talk anyway.  


I think you are wise to be concerned and just need to keep open communication with your kids and hope that he makes good choices.  My son was a follower when he was younger and I had serious concerns about how he would be growing up, but now he has become a leader and I'm very proud of him because so far he is making good choices. 


Same here, I like operative notes, but rarely get them, by the end of the day (see inside)
I am fuming. I make more money on operative notes and am motivated. Discharge summaries are hard to make money on for me, as they are all different.

I am actively looking for another job. I am not one to job hop. I just cant see feeling like this all day long. Good luck.
Millions may have learned it, but rarely perfectly.
And learning it and speaking it are two different things. Lyndia makes a great point.

A pet peeve of mine is American arrogance in the sense that most of us don't really know a second language. Maybe we had some in high school, but most of the people I know speak one language, American English, and that's it. So we don't know how it is but we bash others for not learning it perfectly.

I don't mind the ESLs who try hard to communicate. I get ticked at the ones who don't care, and I think most would agree that it's obvious who those are by their dictation and their patient rapport.
I rarely have expander blips now that I use marker keys.
xx
I remember all that, too. The parents rarely, if ever, questioned the teacher or the principal.

I wonder what the change is?  Do we parents have egos because now most of us have as much education as teachers do?  Are we unwilling to sit back and never question "authority figures"?  Do we remember being wronged in our own childhoods, so we're quick to defend?


I try not to be a buttinsky at my kids' schools, but sometimes I just don't agree with how they're doing things there.  One day, three bigger boys with bad home lives and a history of fighting jumped my son, who is the most peaceful kid you've ever met.  Two of them held him down while the third one was on top of him punching and kicking him.  My son had to bite the kids to get them off of him.  He was cut, bruised, and had a bloody nose.  Guess who got punished?  My son did, for biting.  I called the cops and intervened at the school because my son has my full permission to defend himself against bullies, especially on a 3-on-1 situation.


I also remember being punished for things at school when I did nothing wrong, then my parents punished me a second time because of what the teacher said.  I got detention for sneezing in class once.  One of my teachers publicly humiliated me and threatened to pull me out of all the advanced classes if I didn't publicly apologize to another teacher when I wasn't even the one who said whatever it was she was upset about.  One of my male teachers actually picked up a student and slammed him into the chalkboard, ripping the kid's shirt off in the process.  So yes, I'm going to stay on the schools and make sure my kids aren't hassled by any burnt out teachers who are just biding their time until retirement.  My kids aren't angels, but they're not demon spawn either.


My clients hold the work for me. Of course, I rarely take off unless I'm sick. What's a vacati

I have one client for 11 years, another one for 15 years. They wait...they don't want anyone else doing their work. Are they spoiling me or am I spoiling them? My vacations consist of a 2 day fishing trip. One day to the site, 1/2 day fishing, and back home again.


If I'm sick, they understand. I still do the work, but at a pace that won't make me sicker. I sually catch up in a couple days.


Been paying aol since ྛ!! on BYOA now for kids limits, rarely use though

Offshore work is rarely client ready. Who is going to edit
p p
I've been on Escription for four years and I have rarely hit 2500 lines a day..
Yes, when I have good reports I can do 500 lines an hour, but unfortunately, that does not happen consistently in my day. I can cruise along for a few hours and then hit some ESLs, which just mentally slows me down and then I struggle the rest of the day. If, I was able to sit there 8 hours straight NO interruptions or breaks and easy reports, then I could hit 2500 lines but that is not my reality. Some of the reports are good but I'm telling you.. A LOT of them have to retyped, thus slowing your line count down an hour..and you've just basically done straight typing for a mere 4 cpl.  I truly think that editing needs to pay more. I am like you.. I am requiring at least $100 a day.. sometimes I can do it in 6 hours (no breaks and good reports) and sometimes for various reason I have to sit there 12-15 hours (interupptions, ESL, and just bad reports)..So add that up..$100 in 12-15, that's like $8 an hour.. Wal-mart here I come LOL
My earnings are very similar to shipaddict. Really good week I can top $1000 but rarely. nm
;
Thank you, Google God. My google icon is
x
do you ever wonder anymore when they say
they 'lost the account' if it went to VR or somewhere else?  Was it an easy account? 

Perhaps you just need to get used to the new one.  That happens to me, I panic on new accounts, and then after doing them a few weeks they are just as easy...

Sorry to hear you are losing money, though.  That can never be good when that happens to one of us...
No. I do not believe so. Not anymore.
i know too many companies who suck too bad.
Do they pay much anymore? (sm)

I've seen a few ads, one I saw yesterday paying a whole $25.00 for each audio tape.  The audio tapes were each one hour.  Puleeeze!


So if it took you 3 minutes to do their 1 minute, you would make a little over $8.00 an hour.  That is if their recording is good enough to understand.  If it took you 4 minutes to their 1 minute, you would make a little over $6.00 an hour.


I used to, but not anymore. sm

I went to Wal Mart at 6 a.m. (only because I was already up) a couple of years ago and people were literally fighting in line to get to the door.  I got in my car and went home. All I wanted was a 13 inch TV that was on sale, but figured it wasn't worth it.


I went back the next day and asked a salesperson if there was any chance they might have any of those 13 inch TV's left and he said, "Oh heck yes. We have hundreds of them out back. How many would you like me to go and get?"


Well, I just had to buy 2.


Not anymore
Just a couple of weeks ago it got hacked and let through all kinds of worms/viruses.
Not anymore
I used to type verbatim and thought that was the way it was suppose to be as an MT until I was told that I needed to correct grammer, punctuation etc. from the company I work for "which is part of being an MT and not just a typist". So, since I was "informed" of how things were I make changes if necessary.
Don't cry anymore...get out as soon as possible.
Please follow the advice that has been written here in this thread... You've given this man (?) every chance.  I wasted 7 years of my life to an alcoholic who was selfish, could've cared less about his sons, and all the while, I was hoping and praying that he would change.  As a matter of fact, I gave him an ultimatum, and he is the one who left.  It was a Saturday, I cried all day, didn't have a job, never had a job, what was I going to do?  Well, come Monday, I went to the Welfare Department, got an emergency check, and by Monday afternoon, I was singing, dancing around, thrilled, and my kids had not seen me that happy all of their young lives!  Really sad when I think about what I let them go through!  It is not fair or healthy for the children, and to think I cowered until HE made the decision.  After I left the welfare office, I thought how easy it was, and why didn't I do this sooner. Then, when I got my bearings, I went out into the big world and started working, scraped of course, but life went on, and the kids and I were happy.  As the old saying goes, you have nothing to fear but fear itself.  Please do this for yourself, but especially your children.  God Bless You and give you strength. 
yes, but not bad anymore.
it took numerous dermatologists to even get it diagnosed right. But mine itches fiercely. Used to have to take anti-itch meds orally. I have a mild case right now on my hand and legs. Years ago, had an Rx specially cococted at the pharmacy. The only component of that I recall is urea. Avoid hot water and soaps as much as possible. Other than finding a GOOD dermatologist, I'm afraid I don't have any advice to offer though.
Not anymore.
x
from someone who does not have Mom anymore
I don't have my Mom around anymore and so with this in mind what I can suggest is time, do something with her, make time for her and make her feel important.   Give her your undivided attention.  It only has to be a lunch, a drive somewhere with lunch but most of the time all they want is time with their children.  Just like when we were children and wanted their time and attention, now it has come full circle and they want our time and undivided attention.   Even if you don't get along that well with your Mom, try it and see if it works.   Wish I had more time with my Mom and there were times we did not get along but would love one more Mother's Day.    Just a thought.
Not anymore, but I was 24 when I got into MT, 34 now. nm
x
Used to like her, but don't anymore (sm)
I agree.  Who cares what her favorite things are? 
Not anymore!
Happened to me too. I now work for a company that charges the hospital by the minutes dictated, so even when they do change their minds, I'm still getting paid.
I don't SR anymore but
I really liked it when I worked at the Q. The complaint that you can type it faster than edit it never applied to me because I used to be reading and editing way ahead of where the dictation was. After a while, I learned to interpret some of the garbage ASR put in and would change it before it was even dictated. So I was actually editing faster than it was being dictated. I am not sure I explained it well, but no way I could have typed it that fast.
it's sad that nobody ever says thanks anymore
I might catch and correct literally hundreds of mistakes in any given week, but if I happen to miss one - THAT'S the only thing I'll ever hear about.


not anymore. nm
x
books
I usually stick with Stedmans, they are pretty comprehensive, but require a different book for each specialty. Tessiers is good too.
no books here
is it Grey Turners or Gray Turners sign?  thanks
no books here
  I have books up the ying-yang for every specialty.  I am willign to sell you whatever you need.  Let me know.  Deb
books

John Grisham, Terry McMillan, Dean Koontz (sp), Eric Jerome Dickey.


which books
personally, unless money is no issue, i would wait until you are going to be hired, and find out which work types you will be doing. Then i would get as many of those main books, that would apply, new if possible and get used and/or older books to round out your library for less-needed subjects. I use on-line sites for looking up drugs, with partial words, etc, but still prefer a new drug book to CD form myself every year. i prefer the stedman's and my most used books are the GI/GU, cardiovascular/pulmonary and med/surg equipment. Abbreviations is a very used one as well. Good luck to you and congrat's on your scores!
books
Hi Angie, welcome to MT'ing. Preferences vary quite a lot and many people (not me) prefer to rely on only websites for their references or CDs. I do think Stedman's word books are very very popular however and use many of them myself (14 now). Keep in mind, that some jobs have a program to buy discounted books, and sometimes you may get some 2nd-hand off of ebay or the classified site here too. What books you need may depend upon what job you have, ie whether you do a lot of surgery or something specialized. I like the Dorlands dictionary better than the others. I prefer the Quick Look Drug Book and i have the 2nd edition of BOS (book of style), which is good if not necessary to be familiar with anymore. I also use a few websites frequently. Good luck, e/m me if you have further questions!