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adding my 2 cents

Posted By: sm on 2006-01-29
In Reply to: Bawling my eyes out. - Starting over.

It can be done, as I have been in your shoes as well. It will be tough without family close by, but thank goodness you have a job that can keep you close to your children. When I did it my job was 12 hours a day. Just wanted you to know that you have support here, and by the looks of it you have alot of it. You and your children are in my thoughts.


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just adding my 2 cents; not sure where you have
worked with 'Indians' to have such a negative viewpoint, but my experience was pleasant and the people I knew from India were polite, quiet, respectful but probably mistrusting of Americans I supposed. Most everyone is India gets a college education, not like here. Even on the phone from call answering centers, the 'Indians' I have spoken with for the most part are very soft-spoken and polite.

They were given an opportunity and are taking it and making the most of it and for that I don't blame them. It is our American companies that sought them out and went over there and started these transcription companies, yes?
12 cents. I'd love to make 12 cents. sm
a line as an employee.  17 years acute care experiencing doing all work types and I only make 9 cpl plus incentives. 
EXACTLY! Thank you for adding.
x
And that is without adding in the
Ouch, ooch, eech, (walking out to grab the paper off the step this morning).
And adding to that. ..
What happens when the company runs low on work, which is known to happen.  There is nothing in the contract about the "penalty/incentive" does not apply.
Nothing about MQ is adding up anymore.
x
lol.. thank you for adding humor to my otherwise
nm
Keep adding to that expander SM
Just backing you guys up. I'll never have those quick fingers either (nv hv tos qk fgs eir), just not in me, but by continually creating and memorizing abbreviations, I transcribe fairly challenging acute care hospital work somewhere between 330-340 lph--including short breaks for coffee refills and so on. It wouldn't add up to 3000 over 8 hours (most of my work is actually editing these days), but could be if I were doing work I could make more templates for, clinic for instance. Zero stress, BTW.
Adding Expansions

I was wondering how you build your expansion list, meaning, about how many words do you put in day?  A few, 20, 50?  And do you review them daily so you know what you have?  I tend to create them and then forget I have them and then do not use them.  What are you tips?  Thanks in advance!


Did you try leaving the .09 and adding .09.vox? nm
nm
Are you getting paid for adding the
demographics, such as the patient's name, the medical record number, the dictator's name, two spaces instead of one at the end of a senstence. Is the space included in your line count? Some companies are now paying by the character only. Unfortunately, a lot of these things we used to get paid for have been taken away, thus you need to work a lot harder for the same amount of money. Try to master the more difficult dictators, and once you do, then ask for a higher rate.
I had 6346 and adding each day. :) nm
.......
I am talking about adding a few more notches to
make the playback speed increase, only if you want it to, such as if you have a really slow dictator and you want to go back and proof the whole report. Since I proof every report by going back and listening, it really would make the proofing go faster to be able to increase the speed more than we are able to now.
td = 10/13/2005. in IT I just keeping adding them as td.
dd
We got plenty and adding new accounts every day it seems - nm
x
Stuck adding dictionary
  I've downloaded Stedmans 6.0 to Word (program files) and am attempting to add the dictionary for spell check.  I can locate the file but when I try to add a file name, I get hung up.  I'm sure the problem lies in the file name, either the original download or my efforts to add the dic.  I would very much appreciate an assist, pulling my hair out.  TIA - I have googled extensively and followed the instructions but I am missing something here.
adding 5 a week would not work well IMO

I currently have over 1500 entries in my mail abbreviation program file.  If I had built this by adding 5 entries a week, it would have taken 300 weeks, or almost 6 years to build my main file.  I have an additional 6 other files with varying numbers of entries built specifically for different purposes - one for medications - one to correct misspelled words in my current MTSO's spellcheck - and one for each of the different accounts I work (mostly entire op notes and templates).


I believe the one on ShortHand's site is a good start.  Once you get familiar (or even while you get familiar) with it's pattern, you can add your own.  I constantly add to my main file.  Sometimes when I come across something I haven't seen in a while and don't know for sure it is in the file, I follow the pattern, and voile'...there it is and I don't have to guess at the spelling or look it up.   


In addition, if you activate the prompt screen of available entries on your screen, you do not necessarily have to memorize all the entries.  You get to chose from a selection of 9 entries to help jog your memory if needed.  I am a firm believer in the use of expansion software, even though the first one made me dizzy for 2 weeks


Beg to differ with the adding of words
to report if not necessary. That is commonly known as "line padding," especially adding "the patient" when it is not said. I know MTs who have been let go for doings things like that.
Adding some info to this post...

Here is an interesting bit:  http://law-wire.blogspot.com/2008/02/india-to-adopt-data-privacy-rules.html


Also, you may want to look into the Information Technology Act (India).


And adding insult to injury,
I have a few that dictate like they're trying to keep it all a big secret; ironically, it usually sounds like they are trying to keep their voices down so they don't disturb the people having the LOUD conversation 5 feet away! Hello, get a clue! Gaaaah!
Adding up line counts
I am about to start as an IC with a company.  Up to this point, I have not had to add up line counts at all.  What do you use to figure this out to invoice the company?  Any favorite softwares?
Adding insult to injury,
it's IC (independent contract) work with an insultingly low line rate. If I were going to take THAT big a pay hit, it had BETTER have one KICKER of a benefits package attached to it. No, thanks. Don't call me and I won't call you.

In addition to the various fees charged if you don't jump through all their hoops (and they were a bit fuzzy about whether those fees would still be assessed if the failure to complete the required work was THEIR fault not yours, there was also some verbiage in their contract that sounded like they might require you to use a dedicated computer--i.e. you can't use the computer you use for their work for anything else. Naturally, they do not supply this dedicated computer. Excuse me, if I own the computer, I can do whatever I bloody well please with it.
Just for your info.. this 30-year MT is NOT adding s to Down syndrome
so that is not what the problem is... I don't care HOW long you've been transcribing a split infinitive is a split infinitive!  and verb tenses haven't changed, as far as I know... so don't act like 30-year MTs just aren't "with it" cause this one is!
Thanks for your feedback. Will see about adding back the time.
/
Determine your line rate by adding that 25%
get and don't forget to add in costs of marketing, setting up a HIPPA compliant system, printing, sending/receiving work, travel expenses, trying to mantain a client who wants to lower your line rate because someone else will do it for less and/or suddenly finding the need to get a different client because the own you got decided to use voice recognition and didn't tell you until they no longer need your services....
Thanks. I'm adding to my shortcuts. I Googled and saw different spellings.
nm
Line padding is also adding little blank characters

like spaces throughout the report to get paid more.  I saw reports at MQ and Sp that had lines of spaces shown on reveal codes between paragraphs where someone either didn't know how to work their expander, was cutting and pasting, or was deliberately padding their lines.


As for typing out abbreviations, I work on an account that doesn't use abbreviations at all.  I use otcx for over-the-counter, etc.


Instant Text, over 19,800 entries, adding all the time,
and I don't have to remember because the IT is at the bottom of my screen for as many lines as I like, I have 3 showing.
You're welcome, thought to be fun. Will be adding falling snowflakes and
/
Personally I feel very uncomfortable adding something the doc didn't say

I would ask the OM for standardized templates so they would be on file and if there was ever any question, you would be able to show that you were given a template for that particular situation.


Let the doctors worry about covering their @ss. You worry about covering yours.


Thanks!...good idea about adding the def to the glossary...I'll try that too
.
Smarttype - Adding a text file list?

Is it possible to add a text file word/phrase list to Smartype? If so, how do you do this?


Thanks! 


8 cents versus 9 cents
Wait a minute....9/55 is to 8/65....would not 9/55 be significantly higher pay than 8/64 (spaces are not counted in either case)?
8 cents a line. Should be 10 cents for over 10 yrs exp but
b
Line padding is also adding extra words. See inside.

Doc says:  "General. Alert and oriented, no distress. HEENT:  Eyes clear. Lungs:  Clear."


MT types: GENERAL EXAMINATION:  In general, the patient is alert and oriented. The patient is in no distress. HEENT EXAMINATION:  The patient's eyes are clear.  LUNG EXAMINATION:  The patient's lungs are clear.


I kid you not. And there are companies out there that will defend the MT's right to do so. But, would the client's approve of it? I seriously think not.


 


RE: Auto Text - I keep adding AutoText entries but then the next day they are gone. Any suggestion
\
Maybe it is cents a day. nm
 
You do mean 7.25 cents, right? . . .
 Otherwise, you are working way too cheap.  Those darned decimals! 
My 2 cents
They also say that the end of the world will be preceded by natural disasters. Think about it, we have had the Tsunami and now Katrina - perhaps the end of the world is approaching, however I do not ponder these thoughts. Only God knows why, when, and how.

My personal opinion is that all will be fine. With hundreds of thousands of reports being done daily, albeit transcribers or machines, editing will still need to be done. Also, in my opinion, there are a lot of old-fashioned doctors out there who will never go for VR.


6 cents!!!!!!
People who work for this crap money are the ones helping to ruin the transcription industry!!!
my 2 cents too!
You should take your computer to a computer shop and have it looked at. There are ways to have it locked up, I have my in lockdown mode and no one can get in except my son, he is the one that locked it down, (CSE), so take it somewhere and have it done or they will continue to hack you! Good luck.
My 2 cents
I think the touch is somewhat better than the original MS "Natural" model. Seems to be quiet, no clacking. However, the letter "i" is giving me fits for whatever reason, although this is my first night using it. Space bar feels a bit funny too.

The function keys are a bit smaller and hard to read if you're in the bifocal set like me. The zoom feature is pretty neat, as is the calculator function.

I think I will eventually get the hang of it and I do find it to be comfortable. I'm not a big fan of MS hardware, having once spent $$$ on a trackball that I could never quite get to work and didn't like the lack of product support, but this thing is a winner.
Well ....my 2 cents......
If I wanted to work mandatory OT... I sure the heck would not be working at home! 
My 2 cents sm
Grr...sometimes I get a little cranky when it seems I am the only one who doesn't return the 25 minute blah, blah, blah progress notes that are behind TAT because everyone else skips them. However, with my company this is recognized and rewarded. I will get the cherries routed to me by my supe and have been told that once my minimun daily line count is met, I may cherry pick to my heart's content.

I chose not to cherry pick because I think it's important to maintain my own integrity. Why waste precious energy on on another person's lack of value for their own integrity? What goes around comes around, in some way or another.

I'm going to go have a cherry ;)


My two cents
Unfortunately, most platforms do not have a built in feature in which to provide feedback to MTs. It is standard to have to use a software other than the platform to provide feedback.

I suggest you speak with your supervisor about your concerns of low production. If he/she cannot offer any suggestions that may improve your level of productivity I'd start looking elsewhere. Please keep in mind that if you decide to seek another QA position you will likely have the same problem.
My 2 cents....
I have no problem with saying Happy Holidays, Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas, Joyous Kwanzaa, Seasons Greetings, or Happy National Potato Week.... Whatever floats your boat.  But when saying ANY of those is BANNED, I have a problem.  Can you imagine if we only banned saying Happy Hanukkah?  That would never happen.  So why is it okay to ban Merry Christmas?  Americans wouldn't know a theocracy if it ran over them.  Everybody needs to relax.  The only theocracy we might ever see is if we go soft on fighting these Islamofascists who seek to destroy us.
My 2 cents

Well, I think speech recognition is definitely growing, but I think 3 to 5 years is exaggerated.  When I worked in house, quite a few rad MTs got laid off because of VR, but they still had to keep a few for the difficut ESLs.  I work for a hospital at home now.  This is a large teaching hospital and they still hand-write the majority of their reports (H&Ps, consults, etc.).  They are working on dictating these in the future, but I just can't at all see things turning totally to VR in 3 to 5 years.  I think there will always be hospitals who want to have MTs, plus there are a lot of private doctors out there and clinics who need MTs.   Yes, I think the demand for MTs in general may decrease, but in my opinion there will always be some demand.  I suggest to broaden your experiences and don't limit yourself to one work type or specialty.  The more experience and versatility you have, the more marketable you will be in the future.  


 


 


just my 2 cents.....sm
not a prude here but what I don't like about this show is all these SO-CALLED MEDICAL PEOPLE (characters) having all this unprotected sex.......in the 21st Century....where sexually transmitted diseases have the potential to KILL.  And at 10 pm when it is shown on the East Coast, teenagers are watching......*tsk tsk*
just my 2 cents.....
These kind of things are probably better handled if you don't let him think you need his okay for everything...go apply, sign up, and then let him know on these nights and times you will not be at home, that this is a done deal...all the responsibility for the children will be his. He probably will react negatively at first, but what is he going to do? Move out? Now come home?

Also, first check and make sure there is a market for a dental hygienist in your area. My niece has to travel 1 hour to work as a dental hygienist every day, and the local market is very tight. Good luck!
my 2 cents
I don't always send corrections back. It depends on how busy I am, how many blanks you left, whether knowing what the blanks were will make you a better MT, how new you are to us, how new you are to MT, how long you've been on the account, etc. I always respond when someone specifically requests their corrections.
My 2 cents

I am a hospital coder by day, home MT after hours.  I have my CCS (certified coding specialist) certificate and have been coding in house for 6 years.  I must be honest and say that I make more money transcribing part-time than I do coding full time.  MT pays by the line, you write your own check depending on how hard you work.  In house coding is not only hard to breat into but usually pays by the hour.