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

The typing itself will take 3 to 4 X the length of dictation if it's easy but...sm..

Posted By: Diane on 2007-03-22
In Reply to: Two hours of dictation.... - Curious

I don't know what kind of meeting you're talking aboutl.  Board meetings is usually formated as an outline, which will take quite a bit of extra time even if you already have a template for it.  It's just a pain.  I hope you have a meeting outline template.  If not, keep one after the first one you type for any after that.  You could ask them for one.  Tell them you want to see how they like it formatted.  Hopefully, they'll give it to you on disc or something so you don't have to re-type the outline. 


It also depends on how many people are speaking in the meeting and if they're speaking into the recorder.


 




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

Most of the tests are really easy. Much better than the actual dictation.
x
length of time
I usually figure 1-2 times the length of the dictation if the doctor doesn't mumble, pause, or have an accent. If there is an accent of lots of vocab I have to check, it can take anywhere from 3-4 times or longer. And as above, this is using expanders. A meeting format would probably be more difficult unless they are taping it professionally. Otherwise, people's voices may fade in and out, you might have background noise, etc. In this case, I would figure around 8 hours, maybe a bit more.
Well if the file is 60 min in length

How long does it take you to transcribe 60 min of dictation?   If it doesn't take that long, then swell, but if it takes you all day, then that's not much hourly...


Paid by the dictated minute is horrible especially when you've got a speed demon dictator that turns out it's actually 120 min worth of dictation because they talk so darned fast...


 


The font has nothing to do with the length
of a line, that is set by the margins. A 65-character count line is a line, whether the line itself has 55 characters or 85 characters. It takes 65 to make a line.
Depends on length of page
If you get $2.50 a page, that's including short pages? I find that my average page is 25 lines. They are not all full.
What about the sometimes-variable pay period length??
Twice a month, it's usually 11 working days, but can be a day shorter or longer from time to time....

We have a very generous 125 LPH requirement, which in an 8-hour day would come to 1000. Multiply that by the number of days in the pay period.

We have to average at least 1200 lines per day to make the first incentive bonus level, and it stays at 1200 lines per day regardless of pay period length. I.e. if it were a 10-day pay period, the incentive level would be 12,000 lines. For the usual 11-day pay period, it's 13,200.

My sister works for a hospital in Oregon; they have a 1400 lines per 8-hour day requirement, which comes to 175 lph.
As I recall, ONLY after you've been there for a set length of time.
x
Medium to long length acrylics.
I type a little better without them, but not enough to make me want to get rid of them!
Does anyone know how to set Page Length in Windows 97? See inside
New account, they need the page to stop at 8.9 or 9.1, and so I have to put in a hard page break.

BUT, does anyone know how to set the page length to be shorter automatically? Something I can create a template or whatever, and when I type on that account, the page length will automatically break at 8.9 and then I will know to put the hard page break in when the machine does?

Thanks.
I keep it on 24/7 but turn off monitor when I'm away any length of time.

I actually do turn if off every week or 2 but very seldom.  I've been told it's much better for computer longevity to leave it on.  Hope that is correct!


I think it means any line no matter what length.
but that's a guess
Also, at times I'll skip a job due to length, not
If I know I've only got 30 more minutes to work and have to leave, I'll skip over a 25-minute long file, regardless of the ease/difficulty factor, so I like that we have the option. I can finish a few more shorter reports for the client that way whereas I might have otherwise logged off altogether. BUT, I also do my fair share of the hard ESLs and long files at the beginning of shift. I used to be 100% against skipping any files, but OTOH, if someone knows they can't do that ESL's work, maybe it's best for someone who CAN to take them on so the reports are more accurate. I would at least hope that the MTs have given it a good effort first though. I agree this might not be abused as much if MTSOs would pay for difficulty factor, though.
This is one place the font and line length absolutely
make a difference. If you have to use a small font and long line length, you will make the same or less than a 65 character count. Always check out the number of characters that can be put on the line with their defined margins. For example, 1 company uses 1 inch margin, but a tiny font, so the line length can actually be 104 characters, or almost double what the counted 65 character line is. Some have a "secret" formula for saying it will come out the same as a 65 character line, but that is a hoax, as well, as only part of the report is adjusted for that, not the entire report. The only gross line count on WP51 was the only good way for gross lines. Word has really changed that picture.
I just bought one and returned it! Headachy. I think more vertical length would be better for our pr
nm
The easy answer, taking all the easy work and
x
Typing. This is NOT typing, it is transcribing. There is a BIG difference. sm
Transcription includes typing, but so much more.
Well, Word is easy to buy and easy to install. Word 97 works great. Cheap. SM
I still would not work anywhere I could not use a spell checker with grammar checker and a Steadman's Medical Spell Checker.

IF they want people to TRANSCRIBE MEDICAL REPORTS, then I guess they better get the programs they need.

It's like probably 110% easier to buy and install Word 97 than to try to program their own programming. And, yes, I do mean Microsoft Word 97. Why? Because you can install it unlimited times, in case you need to install the operating system again. And it has a few features that Microsoft, in its un-wisdom, took away in Word 2000 and 20003 and 2007. So, yes, I'd go with Word 97 for its cheapness and it works better than the later versions. Just my opinion, with 20 years experience being an MT. So what if they "don't have it" on their computer? It's easy to get.
It depends on font size, line length, margin size, etc.
There are too many variables. 
Easy easy money they are!

I don't mind seeing those puppies filter in at all.  Same for H&Ps.  They are always different though, so can't really pop in the same pre-formatted autotext, but it's usually WHAMMO 2-3 pages at a time.  Give them a shot...you may just be pleasantly surprised! 



I think I smell either VR on the easy stuff, or offshoring of the easy stuff.
d
OMG...yep! Air typing!!! it's like

don't even think of typing before you get
nm
80+ and still typing.

A great woman crossed into the arm's of God this morning.  She was 80+ years of age and still doing medical transcription up to the day earlier this year when she was diagnosed with cancer and even then she came to the office just until recently.  She loved her job and everyone loved her.  She will be greatly missed in the world of transcription as well as among family and friends. 


Until we meet again. 


80 and still typing
did she live in NJ?
When I had typing in H.S. (sm)
we had those little pieces of chalky paper that you would have to slip down behind that little "thing" on the platin, and type on that.  Can't even remember what it was called it was so long ago.  Boy, were we thrilled when white out, yellow out, and pink out came along.  LOL
Will you be actually typing them?
If you are then they are ripping you off.  I for one refuse to work unless I get paid for everything I type.  It all adds up over time!
Typing Fun
Hee, I do that all the time.  I like to see how fast I can make them speak and still type along. 
anyone know how to go from typing
To search Google for terms without using the painful mouse?  Thanks.
I did something while typing
that changed my settings on my IE. Now I do not have my toolbar at the top and my icons on the bottom do not show for the programs I have up, but this only is when I am on the internet page. When I am using other programs, my icons show at the bottom. Now my favorites show at the side instead of being able to use the pull down through my toolbar. I do not see anything I can use to fix this. Any ideas?! Thanks...
You will still have some typing with VR.
You'll get more done with the VR, but he'll pay you less for the editing. What type of VR is he wanting to use?
typing
I found that I make out better typing than doing VR. I make half.
What are you typing???

Too broad of a question --  is is a seminar, deposition, insurance statement or what.  I have done a lot and for 60 minutes per tape it has averaged out to over $100 at 10 to 11 cpl -- many years ago.  Again depends on what you are typing and the quality of the tape.  Lost my shirt one time on a planning meeting, too hard to understand, etc.   Took many hours to do and not enough pay.   More details and could answer you better.


Are you first typing what you
want to save, as in "-year-old," highlighting that,and then choosing "Autocorrect"? If so, you should have both choices of "plain" and "formatted text" available. If you then choose "formatted text," it should work. I had that same problem a long time ago and it was explained to me this way. Talk about easy! Good luck! :)
$40/1h rec = 4h typing = $10/h pay only? nm

Just typing, typing, typing.....
Can you do this every day, 8 hours long, with only a total of 40 minute break?
No talking, no emails, no telephone, no nothing? When do you eat and pee?
Don't you have a husband or children, who want to interact with you? What's the advantage of working at home, if you work like this?
This is a 'sweatshop', what a life! No, thanks!
What's going to happen to your blood circulation, your veins and arteries??? Your health? How long can you keep this up?
Are you trying to lure MTs back to this profession under even harder conditions?
No, thanks!
typing
I would call putting in Expanders and normals manual work. Actually, also typing is a manual job.
also, (something different), typing in -- SM
CAPS is YELLING. just plain rude.

you'll be fine.


Typing on your lap

I just moved and my new desk setup is a built-in desk which is too high for comfort for typing on the keyboard.  I can adjust my office chair up, but then it's too high to comfortably reach the pedal.  I have been typing on the keyboard on my lap for two days but my shoulders are sore and so are my calves apparently from flexing when I wasn't aware of it all day.


Awhile back I read here that some MT's type on their keyboards on their laps.  Please give me any feedback how it works for you and also do you know of any products out there or things around the house to support the keyboard and make it easier to balance on your legs.  I kind of like typing like this other than the strain on my neck and legs from trying to keep it balanced and from sliding off.


Thanks in advance! 


always typing

My kids say that is all I ever do anymore---MT work at my computer. When I am home I type! Sometimes 10 or more hours per day........


But, I tell them I could be at work someplace for 8 hours and that is what I would do there.


Typing IME's

Just trying to get a few ideas for obtaining more work.....probably like a lot of other starving MTs!


Does anyone type strictly IME's?  If so, is the pay any better than traditional transcription?  Any info greatly appreciated.  Thanks! 


It's THEIR dictation. They want what THEY are
dictating. If they use poor grammar, etc., that's not the MT's fault!!

Many don't trust the MT to make appropriate corrections and I can certainly understand that.

dictation by doc's
you're absolute right about the hospitals doing something about how doctors dictate and it probably wouldn't take that much effort to do it, but they're not going to do it. If the dictation is wrong, the MT will get the blame regardless.
low dictation
This is several hours of time just disappearing.
? min. of dictation per day

What is considered the average amount of minutes for 7.5 hour day.  I'm thinking 45 to 60 minutes???


PA dictation
You must be lucky! Our group had two PA's and they literally "outdid" each other to see who could dictate the fastest. I got used to them, of course, listening to them all the time but many times had to stop and look up a med to be sure of the dosage because I couldn't tell if they were dictating 5 mg. 50 mg. or whatever! They seem to have an "attitude" too; we had one female one who really thought she was hot stuff. If they were that good, why didn't they spend the extra time and $$ to go to med school???
RE; Dictation
Kept forever. Chart is microfilmed and kept. Regular transcription is kept for 10 years supposedly at hospital I worked for.
I just had a dictation where
he stopped dictating mid sentence in the chief complaint and I Iistened to silence for about seven minutes (maybe he fell asleep, I dunno) and then he says, "hello? hello?" and hangs up!  Gotta luv this job! 
60 min of dictation

How long should it take someone to do about 60 minutes of dictation on average.


Thanks you.


60 min of dictation?
My own personal average is about 1 hour for each 15 minutes of dictation.
Can't help with the dictation but...

LOVE YA!


Hope that helped. 


Dictation
The problem is that MTs are rarely in the workplace any longer.  When I originally started in transcription years ago, we were in-house and accessible to the doctors. I would tell the the speeders to slow down.  We had one ER doc who loved to look through reference books for words to use.  I would tell him nicely, "If you have to look it up, spell it and save both of us the hassle."  That usually worked.  But now, most of the time, they have no idea who is transcribing their work and as long as it gets done, that's all they care about.