Home     Contact Us    
Main Board Job Seeker's Board Job Wanted Board Resume Bank Company Board Word Help Medquist New MTs Classifieds Offshore Concerns VR/Speech Recognition Tech Help Coding/Medical Billing
Gab Board Politics Comedy Stop Health Issues
ADVERTISEMENT




Serving Over 20,000 US Medical Transcriptionists

Sheila, saving one from "Micky Mouth" mistakes is actually a big benefit. SM

Posted By: MissIndigo on 2008-02-22
In Reply to: Okay, but what is the difference? - Sheila

I make few typos as I go along these days, compared to without an expander. Although some peculiar things can get inserted into a report when the typo turns into an unintended expansion.

But as Shipaddict says, there's just no comparison.


Complete Discussion Below: marks the location of current message within thread

The messages you are viewing are archived/old.
To view latest messages and participate in discussions, select the boards given in left menu


Other related messages found in our database

I can see no benefit -
I have never had any problem getting or keeping an MT job. My work speaks for itself. A few companies offer a little more money if you are a CMT, but to me that does not offset the cost of keeping up those credentials. BTW, I used to QA several gals who had their CMT. One of them was a very marginal MT and the other was terrible and could not do anything other than simple clinic work. It has been my experience that the credentials really do not mean a whole lot. Some people may have a totally different experience.
LLC/INC - has no benefit to me

but, company wants that in place to do prn work.  Does anyone see the benefit of this???  It will cost me several hundred dollars to set it up, plus the separate income tax filing, etc.  Anyone with experience here?  I am one person, not a company and I don't understand the reasoning.


The benefit of being an IC is that

you are your own boss meaning that you can choose to work when you want.  Stay away from the companies hiring ICs with a set schedule as they are breaking the law and will abuse you.  Those companies need to hire employees, but don't to save money.


The other benefit to being an IC or self-employed (one in the same) is that you can write off tons of business expenses, i.e., tissues, paperclips, the area in which you work, utilities, staples, paper, ink for your printer, paper, computers, printers, hole punchers, scotch tape, mileage.... the list goes on and on; get a good tax person and not a fly-by-night.  You will get charged a penalty if you owe taxes at the end of the year unless you pay quarterly or have enough from an employee job withheld to cover your taxes.  If not, then I would suggest taking a portion of your income to pay quarterly taxes.


There are a lot of MTs who are ICs but will bend over backwards for their company they contact with because they need the money, but I, for one, will not.  As an IC, I am my own boss and I decide what work I will do and when.  The only requirement I have with the online MTSO I contract with is that I have what work I take from the pool back within 24 hours.  No line quota, no set schedule..  that's how it should be.  Also, as an IC, I have my own accounts; this is what an IC is about; not having all of your eggs in one basket.  There is no such thing as full-time part-time as an IC - it's just IC.  Full-time and part-time is for employees.  Check the site IRS.gov and you'll find examples of ICs and employees. 


benefit ideas

This may be a little late as it takes some planning, but my great niece was in an "American Girl" (the popular dolls) Fashion show which raised close to 40,000 for a child who passed 2 years ago from brain cancer and this benefit went to the fund the parents kept up for research.


The American Girl company coordinates it, has a whole package thing and the girls modeling are dressed just like the American Girl doll they carry...it was the cutest thing and well worth the money for the ticket.


you're right, but it is a tax benefit...sm

It may very well be a tax benefit for me because I bought my place in 2005 and I think home improvements can be deducted to some extent - I find out tomorrow when I go bring in my taxes to the CPA!!! 


Before then, I couldn't do any home improvements.  The floor $ came from a life insurance policy someone left me in 2005, unexpected to say the very least.  Now, every time I look at the floors, I think about that person!   There IS no extra $$ in this life ever is the way I see it, unfortunately, and I'm very humble(d).


Benefit question
I have worked only in-house for years and am now beginning an at-home position.  For those who work for nationals who have benefits how do you work under the stress of having to keep your line counts at a certain amount or have your insurance dropped?  What if you do not make your required line count? 
The benefit of personal experience

  I was surgically menopaused at 35 after 4 major abdominal procedues starting at 18.   Prior to the removal of my uterus and remaining ovary, I've hemorrhaged multiple times, been critically anemic, etc., etc.   Early on I was deemed a high risk for gyn cancer, although the major scare came at 35 with a necrotic ovarian mass.  I made a conscious, informed decision early on not to have my remaining ovary and uterus removed until the threat of cancer could not be ruled out with testing. 


  Within days of the final procedure,  I became despondent and so hormonally challenged I was suicidal.  HRT took months to help.  I have never regained what was lost by having a cleanout done, despite the obvious need to have it done.  It does impact every woman differently.  Some sail through and others suffer.  I can tell you that in retrospect, the only thing that would move me to have this procedure is a life threatening risk if I didn't.  Think long and hard because there are more terrible things out there than the imposition of monthly cramps and excessive bleeding.   The quality of your life may improve or it may decrease. Please do not misunderstand me - If you are under a cancer threat or require transfusions, I would not hesitate to do it.   Good luck to you.


 


Is there any benefit to getting clients anymore? sm
Most clients where I live (Virginia Beach) want me to pick up tapes. They will call if the MT quit, and then they want to pay only 10 CPL. I can’t hire MTs at less than 8 CPL. Then, behind my back, they look for in-house personnel. Once they find it, I’m out of a job again. Dishonest OMs that just use me. Don’t know which way to go. Don’t need a lot of work, just trying not to work for nationals (f that’s possible anymore).

I’m thinking of getting work outside my state. Does anyone have any suggestions?

I would think a split shift would benefit them!

I know where I work they swoon over people who can pull a split shift...say early in the morning and then again late afternoon into evening.  I think it really helps get places out of TAT jams.  I once did 7am-11am and then 3pm-7pm for a while and it worked out great for me at the time and was equally beneficial to them.  Have you tried pointing out the potential benefits for them, to them?  Might be worth a shot if you haven't already.  Good luck! 



AlphaGrip mousing benefit

When I first began using the AlphaGrip my right forearm, wrist, hand, and shoulder were already in pretty bad shape from typing.  I noticed a new pain on the side of my hand, but I think this was due to trying to get used to using the AG, as I no longer have this pain now that typing flows more easily.  All of the other pains mentioned are much improved now, and it seems that the more I use the AG versus using the keyboard, the greater the reduction in pain has become.  I much prefer the AG and unless I am scrambling to meet a deadline I do not use the keyboard at all.  I cannot wait until the day that I feel I can throw it in the garbage can. 


 


You are right about the mouse.  I think that the pains I was having had a great deal to do with mousing, and that was the number one feature that sold me on the AG.  As I mentioned, I was looking for about two years, but purchased the AG in under a week after first seeing it.  This is exactly what I was looking for in a new keyboard . . . a way to mouse right there readily available, and the traditional mouse was the first thing to go when the AG arrived.  I haven’t looked back!


 


It actually was not strange to hold at all and fingers fall into place naturally, and a lot of the keys are struck with the same finger as one would use on a conventional keyboard, though not all, and it is a matter of getting used to the new positioning, which is the same reason that some of the ergo keyboards that have a normal key layout are awkward to learn to use and will slow one’s typing speed down. 


 


There is a lot of information available on their web site for learning to use and customizing the AlphaGrip.  While I’m sure it’s not for everyone, I am very happy with mine and glad I found it.  


MQ letter/comprehensive benefit package
 I really did not make much of it.  It would be GREAT,especially if they can offer something for the part timers, but I'm not holding my breath to hear the news.  It's been promised/talked about for forever, sure would be nice to finally hear.
Give them the benefit of the doubt the first time.
x
I'd give them the benefit of the doubt....especially since it has never been a problem - sm
It could have gotten lost in the mail, it does happen, or mislaid by the P.O. (that happens to). My checks had been a big late recently myself but it was the fault of the mailer, she was not too responsible in getting them to the mailbox....the office has since corrected the problem since 15+ MTs kept wondering why their checks were 5-7 days later than usual. --If you don't have it by the time you invoice for your next check, ask them to cancel the missing one and either cut you another and mail with the current check due or just combine them into one check.
by hour definitely $15-- I am not super fast so this would benefit
x
Yep, see what our work looks like without the benefit of an American MT making 3 cpl
to edit!  All you MTs out there working for peanuts just so you can say you're an editor, realize you are making the Indians look good and taking away OUR paychecks!
That is a wonderful benefit...and I am sure your daughter appreciated you being there...
nm
MTSO usually also repeats benefit of padding
x
What did you make of the comprehensive benefit package they talked about

For decades, a company benefit has been health insurance
along with retirement plans, paid holidays, PTO, etc. Only in the world of MT (and maybe Wal-Mart) are many companies not paying for these benefits.
some people benefit from making a list, all the plusses and minuses, and

saving money

I, too, am vegetarian and yes not buying meat sure saves a lot of money.  Buying fruits and vegetables in season saves money also.  I also buy at the local 99 cent store.  The cat and dog food and cat litter are inexpensive there and also the canned goods.  The breads are still fresh, they have beverages, they even have wine.  The 99 cent store near me is as stocked as a grocery store and drug store.  We have a full service WalMart about 20 blocks away.  So I can do my grocery shopping, department store shopping, plus get my car worked on at the same time.


 


 


Isn't MQ saving a kazillion$$$ by not

anymore?


Think of the $$$$$ they have just seen in profit reaped by not having to pay for the 1-800 lines used to get the dictation and modem it back in.


Will any employees see that benefit? 


Will they raise our rate?


No, like one person said, pretty soon we will get to be editors and if we don't want to be editors, we can get the scum out of the bottom of the barrel like transcribing a full diet of Dr. Kweporiuasnedriur 25 times a day.


By then I will be ready for the funny farm and MQ won't have to worry about me working, I will be on Disability due to being insane.


Saving Keystrokes
I did just purchase this book and think it has substantial advice/ideas and with a little reprogramming of my brain I think it will pay off greatly in the long run. I don't see how a line count can't be increased with using the short cuts shared in the book. I'm not disappointed with the book.
Thank you for saving my sanity ;-D
I think I'll check this out - sounds interesting.  I really appreciate all the information you enclosed.  Thank you!
daylight ??saving??

How exactly does it save daylight?  I recently moved from AZ which is one of the few places smart enough not to go along with that nonsense, and it's about the only thing I miss from AZ now that it's been californicated to death.  When DS first became national an AZ legislator summed it up well - "all we need in the summer is more daylight/heat". 


 


 


They don't have set rules for saving
I've never had to set rules to get them to save money. My kids generally save most of what they receive without me telling them to, and they just aren't into shopping and spending money.

I assume they've learned from my example because I'm pretty good with money myself and don't spend extravagantly.
Saving files
I have my wav files save to a folder I have named for the company I work from as a subfolder in My Documents.
Saving sent emails,,sm
saving sent emails may sound like a good idea, but that is taking up storage space in the email box. I don't know how much quota your email service provides, but mine is not that much, and I have business class. Your sent box is counted as part of your quota, as well, so it would not be advisable to store a months worth of sent emails, particularly with attached files. perhaps she should look into using an FTP site where you could store the files in My Documents and then just send via ftp, which is a whole lot faster than email and it is encrypted for transfer. suggest it to her. and then start charging her for time spent resending files. That is her job, not yours. my boss occasionally will ask for an individual file to be resent, but never a whole months worth. maybe you should also start looking for different employment. I could not work for someone who got mad at me for something she did. sorry. JMO.
Saving Keystrokes
I probably don't type as fast as most of you, but our company set a standard of 160 lph, and said that the national average is 175.  Since adding shortcut keystrokes, I have gotten my production counts up to an average of 179 now.  I got a lot of this information from you girls - reading your comments, and now have just gotten the book "Saving Keystrokes" as I want to keep adding more.  If you add a few each week, you can build up your production.  I was at about 130-150, depending upon how the doctors dictated that day - one is much more challenging!
saving grace
being in the military may be your saving grace - from what I have read previously, government jobs like VA mandate FBI checks on transcriptionists doing their accounts.  Would assume especially at this time in the world all military personnel would need that protection.
saving macros
You can save onto a disk by going to tools>templates and add-ins - click Add. Browse to find Program files/microsoft office/office 11/macros folder. C Click ok twice then pick tools>macro>macros. Choose support.doc from the bos. In the macros scroll box choose backup click run.
I am saving up for a Mirra. sm
I don't think I could put an Aeron together.
saving your work
What all do you save and for how long do you keep?  Do you save the actual dictation or just the transcribed work?  When the doctor sends little messages back and forth, how long do you keep that kind of thing?  TIA
They will be saving on all overtime, sm
benefit packages such as health insurance, pension, etc., holiday pay, as well as not having worry about vacation coverage and sick time coverage.

Is it worth it to the hospital? I don't know, some seem to do well with outsourcing and others do not. I think it depends on what the standards are of the institution and the people running the department.

In my 25 year experience as an IC and small MTSO, it is my opinion that Community Hospitals are most likely to care more about quality and retaining happy employees. Most of their money comes from endowments and wealthy individual gifts.

Those hospitals eaten up into a Huge Health System are more likely to care about the bottom line only as they are now eating up physician practices, taking them over and making the physicians employees of the health system.

It is difficult for physicians to maintain a private practice because of malpractice insurance rates. So, the health care systems are taking advantage of the situation and getting group rates while taking over the physicians.

Our entire Health System in the USA is going down hill fast. In my opinion, it is a disgrace...
SAVING AUTOCORRECT
How exactly do I save autocorrect.  I have sooo many in my old computer and recently purchased a new computer.  How do I put all my corrections onto my new computer.  Can I use a flash drive or do i have to save it onto a disk.  Also, how can i easily save all of my kodak easyshare pictures onto a new computer.  Thanks, everyone is always helpful.
SAVING MY DATA

I have an external hard drive and want to save my data from my old computer to my new computer.  How exactly do i do that.


saving autocorrect
could someone please explain to me exactly how to save autocorrect.  I really am not too computer savy and need very explicit directions.  Also, i do not know how to use auto text.  Please Help
saving autocorrect
i saved my autocorrect onto my hard drive and want to add this to my laptop.  i saved the program on the laptop but how do i save it to autocorrect?  Any ideas
saving normal dot

Problem is with some of the proprietary software created by some MTSOs, the normal dot still will not save even when you have the prompt, all you get is a message that normal dot is open elsewhere or some such nonsense, and then you are offered the opportunity to save normal.dot by another name, and even then it still won't save.


I posted earlier an autoclose macro that may solve this problem; however, it probably would be a good idea to also use an autoexit macro as well to cover all bases and I will post both here. 


If that does not work for you, I do have another work-around but it is a lot more complicated.  You can solve part of the problem by attaching and add-in your own templates, and save your macros and your autotext there instead of normal dot, but autocorrect is saved in normal dot, and you have to save your normal dot to save your autocorrect:


So try these macros;  cut and paste into your macro editor:


Sub AutoClose()
On Error GoTo ErrorHandler:
If NormalTemplate.Saved = False Then NormalTemplate.Save
MSGBOX "Normal template is saved
    Exit Sub
ErrorHandler:
MSGBOX "Normal template is not saved
End Sub


Sub AutoExit()
On Error GoTo ErrorHandler:
If NormalTemplate.Saved = False Then NormalTemplate.Save
MSGBOX "Normal template is saved
    Exit Sub
ErrorHandler:
MSGBOX "Normal template is not saved
End Sub


If everything is saving as it should, then you can just delete the line of code that has the msgbox so that word just closes without having to click okay. Write me if you need some help doing this.


Don't see that you are saving any time,
in fact you are typing more characters for 60 by using sxy and the same for tymg. That is the point of expanders, to save typing time. Using the keypad costs big time in production. Taking your hands off the keyboard is not a way to improve productivity.
Chicken pox in the mouth
I'd be calling my doc asap with it being in her mouth. The home remedy I had to use was Maalox/Benadryl and doc added diluted Xylocaine to numb it. My dd had it on her uvula also. Made a concotion of yogurt with the above also and added Lysine to it to. That is after the doc had a look at her. Good luck but don't mess around.
We go to them. Word of mouth is a big one.
There are farmers markets and roadside stands.  Some of the ranchers advertise in the weekly advertisement papers, and others advertise in the daily newspaper.  We also have religious sect colonies near our town, who either set up stands or go door to door.  You can always drive to the colony as well to buy produce or meat.  Ask the small butcher's shops or meat processing businesses where to get organic local meats.
You don't need to use the mouth for F10 and insert (see msg)
Not sure what you mean.  If you use the F10 and insert the word, use the Alt, (I think it's T or X) whatever has the little underline in it, then esc.  Mouse doesn't have to be used at all.  Try it.
Put your money where you mouth is
I suggest that you go out and get accounts and have the MT's work for you and you don't pocket a dime when they give you "perfect work" and yet you have to still proof it, deliver it, answer all questions, invoice out and make sure the account is happy.   I doubt that you would do all of that for free -- .  I make 2 to 2.5 cents per line from my sub's.  I am sure some of the VERY large companies are making 6-8 cpl but that covers the QA person, the software that they provide, the benefits, if they provide you with a computer, management, etc.  But for us small to medium -- dare you try it and see how rich you get -- that is why I still type 2000 to 2500 lines per day and am ready to give up my subs as it is not worth the 20% I get off of their accounts. 
snart mouth, eh?....does not ........NM

no, but my mouth is watering! nm
x
DO NOT PUT WORDS IN MY MOUTH...OP

First of all, I only mentioned the fact that the child has 4 parents to make a point...they have twice the resources we have to give their child things like a car for her birthday...that's the only reason I brought that up. I do not hold the fact that her natural parents are divorced against her...I love this girl! I'm just worried about her being, first of all, turned loose in a car mere hours after getting her license, and the fact that now my daughter is wanting to run around in the car with her!


I know it's none of my business, that's why I have NOT stated any opinions to ANYONE...except my husband, about the situation. So, you completely took my post out of context. Perhaps you have some unresolved issues with your parent's divorce?


the mouth noises!!!
I hate it when they are sitting there thinking about what they want to say and are moving their tongue around in their mouth so it sounds like they are sucking or smacking!
it means nothing by mouth sm
but they probably wanted the exact meaning which is nothing per os.
It is not that I am 'frothing' at my mouth
because she implied that I am Indian, I am angry because she thought that she is some kind of detective and was criticizing my GRAMMAR!

Do you understand NOW ?

school is a saving grace for me
during school I have 9 hours to type and I do it straight through after they leave.  I do take some small breaks.  I was up to 1600 or 1700 lines last school year at my other job.  I am hoping for 2000 this school as an average.  I like to be done completely by 4 when they get home and have the rest of the evening to do work around the house, cook dinner and help with homework, baths, hair, blah blah blah.  Like I said, can't wait for school to start!!!!