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Speaking of remodeling, has anyone ever done an addition?

Posted By: OT - off topic on 2005-08-01
In Reply to:

We'll be adding 350 square feet to our home and moving some interior walls around.  I was looking at some of the home design computer software on eBay because I can't figure out what I want to do with the kitchen and entryway.  Anybody have experience with doing this kind of project yourself?  We do have pros to do estimates, give advice and finish the hard stuff, but I don't want to mess this up.  Any thoughts?


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Remodeling T.V. Show did an Airstream...
once for a woman real estate sales person who wanted it for her home office.  It was beautiful when finished.  I have seen Airstreams for 1200.00 needing fixing, and what they did on the T.V. show was to basically gut it and then wood panel half  the walls and carpet the other half to make it quiet.  It turned out so nice I told DH I wanted one in Pink for me.  Still waiting!!
RE: Addition
Just added onto my house (my office) and did some remodeling throughout the whole house.  Just hired construction company and told them what I wanted.  I live in a small town though, may be different than where you are.  Not so many codes and all.
Yes, I have even seen it q1h prn in addition
to qid for rescue relief.
d~
In addition,
As far as costs, you would have the initial cost of the C-phone if the company does not provide it (check Ebay, also sometimes used ones on the classified board here) and the monthly cost of the unlimited long distance.

If you only have one phone line at home, this will tie up your line as busy while you are working, so depending on your situation you might want to add additional phone line (although if you have a cell phone, this wouldn't be necessary)

Can't help much regarding the unlimited long distance, but I believe it runs from $25-50 per month. Be careful though on choosing your plan and make sure it is truly unlimited (some have limits even though they are called unlimited). I have seen some horror stories on this board about people getting huge bills for hundreds of dollars when the companies found out they were using the plan for working. If you post a question specifically regarding unlimited long distance, maybe some others can give some input as to what companies are good for this, ones to avoid, etc.
In addition
You should be able to toggle between windows (the one you are working in and Goolgle) by using alt-tab. If you have several open, just hold alt down and keep clicking tab until you get to the window you want. :)
in process of new addition
VINYL/congolium (spelling?) all the way. We had ceramic tile and it was a light color, stains, slippy but most of all COLD. We love the congolium flooring (nice vinyl) we put in and are doing it on our new addition.
In addition to posts below,
read the Word Board here.  You can learn what MTs hear and what the actual words are.  There are other word boards but am not allowed to post the sites.  Google to find others.  And keep applying to anywhere and everywhere that will let you test. 
in addition to prev ?
what if they dictate one med as per day and the next one daily?  What is the correct way to do this?
MT in addition to other health care job?

I know that there are MTs out there that are MTs along with another HC job, but have never heard anything specific.


I am about to start MT school but in about 2-3 years the opportunity for me to go to school to become an RRT will present itself (it might not again for another 5 yrs past that point).  It (being an RRT) is something I have wanted to do for a while, but only as PRN or part time work because of the shifts, the ages of my kids and my dh's work schedule (out of town a lot and weird hours).  Because of that, I figure I could work as an IC (obviously 20hrs/wk or less) during RRT school and nights and weekends when I am not at my RRT job. We move every couple of years and IC work (for a national at home) could also serve as a steady income source while I find another RRT position (which could conceivably take a while considering my limitations regarding work hours outside my home). 


Since I obviously do neither job right now, I don't know how realistic my expectations of this are.  Does anyone juggle these two jobs?  I know its most likely nurses that do this, but I welcome anyone's comments.


I definitely plan on going to MT school, because its available now, the work will be there, and being an MT is an excellent fit for me. Just trying to plan ahead - I know dh will want to know if I am giving up plans to go to RRT school because of this.


Thanks.


They should definitely ask. I have a lap top in addition to my work computer and it is for the..sm
kids and anyone else who wants to use my computer.  I'm not saying I'd never let anyone use my computer, but I'd have to trust them because this is my livelihood.
In addition, we have queued the ad to be removed
but it usually takes a few days for it to remove. 
ADDITION TO PREV. POST

I forgot to mention that the company does not pay footers and headers so I was told to use the number 24" instead of 26 and multiply that by the number of reports i do in a day; 24 is the number they use because they say 24 lines is the number of average lines for the reports I do, which is Urgent Care.  We use Dictaphone ExText and we used to be able to look at our "statistics" for the day now when I try to access that feature it says " You do not have access to this feature."  Any comments or opinions would be appreciated.  I smell something fishy here.


trying to run scandisk on ME addition. It keeps restarting. sm
A message pops up that says "ScanDisk has restarted 10 times because Windows or another program has been writing to this drive.  Quitting some program may enable Scandisk to finish sooner." I do not have any other windows opened. I vaguely remember before having to go in and turn stuff off that is running in the background (this is an older computer I have not used in awhile) in order to get the scandisk run without it restarting. I cannot remember how to do this. Any ideas?
I've heard all of that, in addition
to being sworn at and called every name in the book.  An egotistical neurosurgeon who was famous for throwing his instruments all over the op room and abusing the nurses/techs, decided to spew his venom on the MTs one day.  I gathered everyone around and we all listened and laughed and said what a jack@ss.  Then my boss called the HIM director.  About 2 weeks later Dr. Wonderful was not working there any longer.  I don't think it was just our complaint, but cummulative transgressions by this jerkwad.
I agree. And in addition to not making much
who has the TIME to pursue all that studying, class-and test-taking, and meeting-attending? I sure don't! As it is, I spend way too much time at this job, scrambling to make enough lines at low pay to pay my bills.

And I've never been much of a 'studier', either. (I'm more of a 'doer'). Which is why learning from books has never been that beneficial to me - it's too much information all at once, most of which I won't use within a short enough period of time that I'll remember what I learned. (AKA: 'use it or lose it'). However, I learn every day on the job, and that knowledge is more likely to stick, because I'm actively using that piece of information on the report or account I'm working on at the time.

You're right about AHDI not being for American MTs. It's all about making the big bucks.... for THEMSELVES! And when has their 'success' in business ever trickled down to the MT? How about NEVER?

If nothing else, the CMT requirement that some MTSO's have, or their affiliation with AHDI, are good reasons to avoid working for those companies. If an employer is in bed with AHDI, chances are their MT's are never going to see anything but higher workloads and ever-declining pay, not to mention speech recognition editing, and bottom-of-the-barrel ESL trancription jobs. Think of the large, more successful MTSO's we all know and work for. How many of them have passed rewards down to their MT's after having a successful business year? No, instead they hire MORE management, or give current management more money, or go out and buy themselves a small MT company. The workers never come out ahead.

'Back in the day', I once worked on-site for a couple of great small MT companies who gave cash bonuses to top producers each month, and when they had a good business year (which was usually always, back then), the MTs got such unheard-of things as BONUSES, and even RAISES! Imagine that!


In addition to your credit card receipt you should

get a printout of your payment and if they don't offer it, ask for it.   Be sure to check right away that they are showing you paid and if you have a receipt your payment was put in the system, which should eliminate this issue in the future. 


Billing an insurance company will give the insurance company a good laugh and will probably create further problems. 


Well that stinks, my vet just built an addition onto the "house" she was using - sm
It is now basically 2 houses connected with a wide hallway. She has 1 partner, who she has had for the last few years, and has not changed her services/prices at all. She now does have a $25 visit fee but you only have to pay it once a year, if you are regular customer she won't charge you for it everytime you come in. She does not charge for putting an pet to sleep either, as long as you are a regular (She knows us pretty well, I was there a lot with my old dog). She is very helpful to me, recently boarded our 16-y/o schipperke though she has not had her shots this year (my normal kennel would not take her since she was not current on her shots -- was due in 9/05) but as she is on her last legs I see no point in getting her vaccines. The dog is deaf and blind, having kidney failure very slowly but seems happy and my DH can't bring himself to put her to sleep yet. Our vet agrees with us on this point too.
I would like to know the answer to that question also, in addition to attempting to
comprehend the madness behind the motives of some posters who feel it is more therapeutic to mock than become masters of medical transcription.  The latter is the purposes........Isn' it??!!!
the Valium in addition to lowering the Oxycontin as I stated
in my prior email. The Oxy is what you want to wean slowly 1/2 tab a day until the last few days do it 2 days in a row, then 1 day in a row, then every other day, then every 3rd day, then off. That is a little clearer and it does work and you won't have any side effects at all with the 2.5 mg or 5 mg of Valium once or twice a day. Then get yourself off the Valium the same way but you would not have been on it too long to just go off, but always best to wean.
In addition to "port" settings, also try different ports or USB connections sm
on your computer. Mine would not work in the USB plugs in the front of my PC. Mine also would not work on laptop if I was going through a USB adapter to allow more USB outlets. I had to plug it directly into a USB port on the laptop. Mess around with it, updating your settings and doing the wizard each time. Also, reboot and see if it works. If not, try another port/setting.
In addition to the Soft Flex gloves I recommend...sm
an ergonomic keyboard (the old Microsoft Elite PS-2 is my favorite and I have three stockpiled); but, the thing that has made the most difference for me has been typing with my keyboard in my lap. I have rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthitis in my hands, as well as CTS. Transcribing with my keyboard in my lap has been a miracle for me.
In addition to maintaining a certain level of production, my service - sm
also requires that we stay below a certain percentage of reports that are sent to QA, and if we go above that percentage we lose our benefits eligibility.

On the surface, that seems reasonable. However, our service has a no-blank policy, for one, which means that ANY blank in any report is automatically routed to QA, no matter the reason. They also come up with all sorts of other reasons that we should route things through QA, the majority of which are out of the control of a competent MT, and those are counted against us, too.

So, essentially, we're penalized for errors and omissions made by others.

Isn't that special?
She probably cares because as long as she is on 100% QA, she is receiving a lower wage, in addition
to holding up her eligibility for benefits (if she is entitled to them).
welcome; i printed it out and have it hanging beside my desk. current AAMT BOS, electronic addition
:
Keep busy out of the house in addition to your job. Volunteer. Take a class. Walk a dog. Be open
s
speaking as the mom of a 15 YOD

TELL THEM!!! This is way too dangerous...tell them pronto! They will thank you and you will be able to sleep at night!


TELL THEM!


Speaking of which...
Great - not only does this guy have a thick accent, he mumbles, not to mention all the coughing in my ear he is doing. I'm only halfway through and have about 20 blanks. Hopefully the second time through will be a little better. Oh, and it's about 15 minutes long. Looks like a three or four time proof to me :-(
If you are speaking to me...sm
I didn't say I am THE BEST, I believe I said I am quite good, because I am. Happily, there is still room to grow and learn for me. It is not yet as good as it will get.

What makes me the "tops" if you will, is that I am willing to share what I know. I am happy to take the time to help ANY OTHER MT who wants to learn. I know a fair amount about Expanders and I share that. I give away my glossary to anyone who asks me for it. Newer MTs who take me up on my offer of help thank me and tell me that they come to MTStars because they don't know where else to turn. Often they are greeted by nastiness and rudeness!
Speaking of which...
...since settlement of the suit, has anyone been contacted by AHDI to see how they want to receive their pittance in '' benefits'' from the settlement?  Or are we supposed to chase them down and demand it?  I really have no intention of pursuing this, but wondering how they are supposed to be distributed.
Speaking of Aruba....
You are EXACTLY right. Good post. We're both going to be crucified for this.
Speaking to yourself? Because I'm not leaving here ... :)
..
Speaking of Nike/Just do it
I heard on some news channel doing a flash back thingie, that a young woman athelete is the one who actually created the Nike Swoosh logo...sold her swoosh sketch to Nike years ago for get this..........35.00, period! All rights, etc.  Must not have had any advise or she'd be rolling in the $$$ for the rest of her life
Speaking of trailers, what exactly does
Eminem mean when he says, "Two trailer park girls go around the outside."  Not even Whitetrash.net had an explanation.
Speaking of information...
I just called the phone company to move some old lines off my property from when I used to have three phone lines here to work.  The lines really hang down low, so it's a safety issue.  The guy gives me the third degree saying that I have to answer his "CI information".  He asks me if I'm married, if I'm employed, where I work, for a relative's phone number, and all sorts of stuff.  I asked him what he needed to know this for since I pay my account in full every month, so he tells me it's for the 9-1-1 system.  Why would they need to know all of this?  He never did set up the service call or tell me if there would be a charge.  Most companies only update information if they think they're going to need to put legal action against someone for not paying a bill.  Mine's paid!
Speaking of MedQuist
I got a check today for $114.60 and I haven't worked for them in over 2 years.  Well, I do appreciate the check. LOL
Maybe it's just the thought of it. Not speaking for
I walked into the lab to have my blood drawn and the phlebotomist set a glass of wine down and said I'll be right with you.  I'd even feel the same way if I went into the dry cleaners and the woman at the pressing machine had a glass of wine next to her.  It's all in the perception, I guess.  My perception is that if there was nothing wrong with it, even if it's just 1 glass of wine...or a half a glass of wine for that matter...if it was a perfectly acceptable standard to drink a glass of wine while working, you'd see it in work places everywhere.  The standard shouldn't be any different just because we work at home.
Speaking as MTSO...
As MTSO and having 20+ girls who work for me, here is my slant:   I never give out more work to my MTs on a Friday than can actually be DONE on Friday.  I would spread it around before I would make someone work a weekend.  Now occasionally -- every few months -- there might be some weekend work, but that is unusual, and I always ask who wants it and who does not.   Note, none of my clients work weekends either -- all private practices M-F.    You did 1000 lines -- at your skill level, that is a full day for you.  If she ended up doing "most of it", then she is not fully staffed enough to cover her clients.  Not your problem.  Unfortunately, they probably scream at her.... so she uses you as excuse and screams at you.  Still not your problem.   I would much rather have my MTs tell me "I don't do weekends" right up front -- then I can plan around that.  You should do same -- then there won't be problems in future.    Hang in there!
Speaking of Yeehaw
If you don't think docs think "Yeehaw off to the bank I go!" think again. Consider their three week yearly cruises on the finest ships to Europe, complete with stateroom and balcony, jetting off here and there both personally and professionally, waterfront homes, Lexus, boats, mama's daily shopping trips, junior's tuition to Harvard and juniorette's tuition to Brown.  I say the MT should say Yeehaw. She works hard, like the doctor, so they both deserve it.  
Speaking as an MTSO
All I can say is the work has to be done some how, some way. Do you realize that there may be a $ penalty involved if the work is late? If the work is not on the medical record it may impact patient care? What gripes me is many complain that we are sending work out of the country. Those out of the country do not complain about the workload and are willing to go the extra mile even if it includes working on the weekend. People are sick on the weekends too. That is the nature of healthcare. Documentation of medical records does not depend on how much time you want to spend with your family on Saturday and Sunday. If your family member came into the emergency room on a Saturday would you not want their medical record to be available for healthcare professionals in a timely fashion? What if the doctors and nurses decided they wanted to be off with their families every weekend instead of taking care of you or a loved one? Please look at the big picture here.
Speaking too fast
Wake up call -- they speak too fast so they can blame you for any mistakes. The same with those who write poorly - "That's not what I said." Another reason is they are too cheap to take the time to speak slowly, have to keep making those $$$. It's all about the money - not the patient. It also gives them a sense of "power" over you. You'll catch on.
Speaking of bonuses...
We were getting $3 extra per rad report when out of TAT, but now it is 25 cents. Talk about going from filet mignon 2 horse meat!
Speaking of Survivor.
Anyone every applied before or know someone who has, my Niece is trying to get on and is going for an open audition this coming Friday, any advice?
speaking of carrotts

Instead of steaming them, roast them in the oven:


Preheat oven to 400 degrees


Spread carrotts in one layer on a baking sheet--make sure it has edges


Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper; coat well


Bake 35-45 minutes until carrotts are tender...they come out sooo very sweet and delicious,much more flavorful than steaming and still healthy!


Speaking from experience (sm)
Save yourself the headache and heartache by not thinking of getting help from your siblings. We went through this with the illness and death of my mother and if I had it to do over again, I would not have contacted half of the ones I did to try to get help. It was awful. I severely disliked several of them because of it. I would get so angry because they weren't helping a woman who brought them into this world. The excuse I always heard "I have to work. I don't want to take off vacation days. I can't leave so and so at the office by herself if I take off; she'll have to do it all herself." Oh, that list could go on!!!! I finally took wise advice from a friend who said to quit asking them for help and just plan on going it myself. It made a huge difference!! There was no more stress of me worrying about their next excuse or worrying whether this was going to get done or not. All that mattered to me, mom needed care, health care, and if I had to be the one to do it, with a few others in the family, then so be it.

The rest of your family will never get it, so sorry to say. It will save you headache and heartache but not depending on them and trying to figure out WHY they don't get it. You could spend your whole life wondering and still never figure it out.

So sorry you're stressing like this.
Speaking of Elliot.....
Have you heard he was at the Beverly Hills Hilton hotel taking pictures and Nicki Hilton had security stop him! Those Hilton girls are just pure white trash who happen to have money - I don't know who they think they are!
Speaking of Nip Tuck, anyone know when
Can't wait!
Speaking from experience...sm
If it doesn't directly concern you or effect YOUR job, stay out of it. Everytime I have ever done what I "felt" was the right thing when it didn't concern me, it backfired. If the policy is that strict and there are only the 4 of you, this MT will be busted eventually. Someone earlier mentioned that "if" you have a good MTSO, they will do or say the client contacted them or handle it to where you won't be effected. No one knows what what your MTSO will do, good or bad. Even if this MT does have a private agreement with the client, the key word is private.

I've been in similar situations and you will end up having someone mad at you no matter what you do. If she does get busted I would plead the 5th as to even having any knowledge of it. Just keep transcribing.

Just curious, do you work at home?

Good luck! Keep us posted.
Speaking from someone who has never had such hardship, huh?
By the way, I do not complain about my line counts. From what I can remember, I've NEVER made a post ever about such. I am complaining loudly because most of what you say stinks, period...and I do get my line counts done, every day. I do have a paycheck I am happy with. Yet, you stated that I proved your point that all of us are not professionals and could not make it in a job outside of the house because I chose this profession to stay home. You assume so much about me and others, yet know nothing...only assume.
Speaking of wireless
Do any of you use a laptop to be able to work while on "vacation".  I realize that most people don't work when on vacation - but I am wondering if MTs are doing this.  If so - how does this work?  I'm thinking of buying a laptop to be more mobile and want to know what I need in order to work this way (what I need to hook up the wavpedal, etc.)  Could anyone who does this recommend a particular computer brand and model?
GENERALLY speaking

first shift is 7 AM to 3 PM


second is 3 PM to 11 PM


third is 11 PM to 7 AM


this is general - it may be +/- an hour or two.


shift differential would probably be based on company policy.


naturally speaking 8

If anyone can help me.  I am working for a Dr. that uses naturally speaking pro 8.  I have downloaded the main disc onto my computer, but it will not let me access his files.  If anyone can help with getting this set up, I would really appreciate the help.  Supposedly, I am supposed to be able to open his files with my pc.  Thanks for any help I can get!!


Sharon