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ask about that and formatting b4 you start -nm

Posted By: icanbereplaced on 2007-06-14
In Reply to: MT Testing - Angie

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XML formatting - does anyone know how....sm
to create a double space after punctuation that holds and doesn't get stripped in XML?   Thanks!
formatting
Generally, if you don't have to identify the speakers by name or if there are several speakers -- just start a new paragraph with each change of speaker.  Or, if it is a question/answer type of interview, you can put Question and Response as headings on each new paragraph.  I've even done them with Male and Female headings to identify speakers when the company didn't want them identified by their names.  Good luck.  
Formatting

I have a few questions about formatting:


If more than 1 presciption is dictated should it be seperated with a period or a comma? For example: Prozac 100 mg. , Provigil 200 mg.


 


Thanks


Angie


SH bold formatting and others
In the "Dictionary Text [Add]" dialog box, as you
are entering in the "Text to Type", when you need
to add special formatting, you simply tap Ctrl-K, and
add the keystroke commands applicable to your
word processor to change to the desired font.
For example, Microsoft Word uses Ctrl+B to
enable/disable bold face. So to simulate bold text
with ShortHand in Microsoft Word, you simply need
to simulate the Ctrl+B keystroke. When you are done
your word(s) that are bolded will look like this:

{@KEY--Ctrl+B}your text{@KEY--Ctrl+B}.

When you actually type the key (as you transcribe)
Shorthand will automatically/instantly enter all the
special function keys that you have entered, and
your text will come out formatted.

You can use the same concept to add any formatting codes to your Shorthand text, including underlining, italicizing, changing font styles and/or font sizes. You can also add tabs, change margins, etc.

Try thi out and if you have any problems with this, post another message.

AAMT BOS Formatting Question

Can any MTs with the AAMT BOS 2nd Ed. tell me the recommended way of formatting headings and operative titles?  TIA


Meditech Formatting Keys
I think it was control F8 for spellcheck, but you must be at the top of the document within the text portion of the report.  I have an old cardboard that fit over my F keys.  Here is what is says:  Control: SI, Add Line, Left Justify, Conv Case, Transpose, Del BOW, Del BOW, blank, S3, Word Attr, S19.  Then for Shift:  Bold, Italic, Underline, Set Attr, Center, Join, Help, Docum, Set Search, Search, Replace, MAGIC.  Then across the bottom it says:  Begin Block, End Block, Format, Get, Recall, Prev Field, Begin, End, Lookup, Delete Line, Exit, OK.  I hope this makes sense.  I basically had this placed overtop my F keys, and then I used this as a guide.  I think the post you were asking about was for the spellcheck.  I only worked in MAGIC Meditech, not in CLIENT, which is apparently word-based, so I'm not sure if these functions work the same in CLIENT.  Good luck.        E-mail me if ya' like - I am long time Meditech user (10+ years), but it has been a few months, and I haven't had to use it.      
Need help setting up formatting in MS word - sm
Computer crashed and died and now setting up my backup computer.  I need to fix it so I don't have 2 spaces after a period.  It is doing it automatically and I cannot find where to "fix" this.  This is Word 2000 that I am using on a computer with XP Pro.  Any help with this would be appreciated, it is driving me nuts (I am ending up with 3 spaces after a period as I am so used to spacing it myself).
Needing assistance with formatting
Asked to go to word, tools autoformant and  disable autonumber but cannot locate this. Can anyone help?
Clinic Note formatting question...

If the patient has a drug allergy do I make a new heading for Allergies or just include it in the HPI as dictated?  Also do I put the medication in all caps w/in the HPI if it is left there. 


I know I should probably know this,but I can not remember tonight.


TIA!


Did you look at the margins and formatting and see how your basic template is set up? Never had this
s
Need advice please re: formatting transcription test

It's been a long time since I had to do this.  I've been given a couple of report types to do.  The first appears to be a discharge summary.  Should I just type in the headings the way I "think" they should be based on how I was taught in the past?? 


Also, is it best to transcribe verbatim or try to make the test report look as professional as possible (like we would be expected to when on the job)?  As far as listed items are concerned, i.e. medications.....The old MT in me wants to number them.  Is that acceptable?   I'm really concerned with trying to format the report based on how I "think" they would want me to. 


I would appreciate any helpful advice anyone is willing to share!!


I agree 100%. Test questions on formatting or
anything else should not be asked on a forum of any kind. You need to research and find the answers for yourself on a test and not rely on people here to do the work for you.
I work for a hospital that is pretty liberal as far as formatting goes. SM

They have a basic template that they like us to adhere to as far as headings, font, font size, etc.  However, when it comes to more detailed formatting, they really have no set standards and leave it to our best judgment.


My question is regarding the medication heading.  Do you list the medications in a numbered list or in paragraph form?  I have a friend who is a nurse and she says the clinical staff, i.e. Nurses and Doctors like to have the medications in a numbered list because it makes finding them in a report a whole lot easier.  So would you list them even if the dictator is not saying "number 1, 2, 3,..."?


Macros are better suited to repetitive tasks like formatting.
I have a macro to create a different second page of a letter with header info., another one that will update formatting from documents created using a different Normal template so they conform with mine, another one for highlighting, etc. They really can be timesavers.
It means you have special formatting applied to those paragraphs sm
like keep lines together or keep with next. You can turn those squares off with the show/hide button on the toolbar or hit Ctrl+Shift +8 to toggle marks on or off -- that's probably what you hit to turn them on.
Basically formatting, how to type the headings, numbering, etc...sm
Are headings capitalized or followed with a colon?

ex.
HISTORY OF THE PRESENT ILLNESS:

Is it p.r.n., prn, h.s. or bedtime?

Just your basic formatting and styles. I may just download the ebook. Thanks!
Formatting of the document dictates the line count, not a different computer.
xx
If you're working in Word, if your Standard & Formatting toolbars
s
Any Stedman SmartType users? Pros & Cons? Will it retain bold formatting without using DOS command
 DOS commands like ShortHand does?
Well then, don't start at the beginning, start in
x
Basically, harder dictators and harder reports with a lot of formatting with tables, etc. SM

give you extra lines because of the time involved in doing those particular reports.  Not so much you get paid more per line, you just get extra line credit.  For example:


You have a 100 line report, but it is weighted because of a table that you have to input.  Then you would maybe get credit for 130 lines for that report.


How about we start one? Here are a few ...
TransHealth - 0.08 - .10 per line. Employee status. Benefits. Does not offshore.

QED - 0.06 per line to start.

First Choice - 0.10 per line, IC only, no offshore.

Keystrokes - 0.08 per line, $1.08 for radiology to start. Both IC and Employee. No offshore.

TRX - up to 0.09 per line. IC only. Not sure on offshore.




does her first name start with an L and last name a T?

Hey, maybe they should start (sm)

a legal secretarial organization and screw that up for half a million people.  They've done enough damage in this field.


I say start looking elsewhere...sm
but don't leave this job until you have something else.  In the mean time, call these people and ask what the problem is.  It could be something that they are unaware of.  It happens to me all the time.  And unfortunately, usually one e-mail or call to any company works.  You have to be persistent.  Get on the phone and call them and don't stop until you get a reply, and while you are waiting on work and a reply, start applying eslewhere.  Good luck to you!
Start out with
having your lawyer send a letter asking for prompt payment to avoid legal action. That might just be enough. Plus, having your lawyer write a letter doesn't cost TOO much. If that doesn't get it then you will have to sue. I hope it doesn't come to that. Good luck!
Why don't you start
by calling the funeral home/director who handled the original burial. I am sure this will not be the first time he has dealt with this situation. If you don't want to deal with them, find a funeral home your are comfortable with to handle the arrangements.
I'm not trying to start anything, but (sm)
what would this organization do? I've never really understood what AAMT does/did and why I should be a member. How would AAMT or any new organization benefit the MT?
Start looking around...
My department has gone from 20+ to 3 in the last 2 years. In part due to voice recognition and the addition of EMR.
Hey! I know! Maybe you could start up your
own blog or something to cover all these big issues - you, the American MT. Oh, but that's right - you did that and its a dismal bomb. All 7 (?) people who agree with you can keep each other company, dissing everyone. The only thing I did like on your blog was the bag over your head. Quite appropriate. I remember you, too, as the one who thought it was just so precious when your kid was using your work computer and your Expanders kicked in. Yup, a real pro. Gotta run now and work - sure hope I don't forget my compound modifier hyphens...snicker...snicker.
Where to start?

How can I get an idea how much I want to deduct for the year, not what but how much money I should be trying to deduct or can.  I need to get better prepared and deduct what I can this coming year. 


Thanks in advance for your help!!


Everyone has to start somewhere.

My mom was an LPN for 30+ years and she came home one morning in tears.  She (a devout christian) admitted to me (then just a little kid) couldn't believe how mean she was to a nurse's aid who was just starting out on HER floor.  My mother's ego was bruised because this "kid" (even though she was a lady with kids, she still called her a "kid") had the same type of training my mother had but yet had a different initials on her name pin and my mother felt she had no business giving shots or doing something or other....it was so long ago I forget what the problem was. 


My mother was so upset at her own behavior she vowed to take all the new people under her wing and show them not all people were bitter, and that we all have to start some place.  It really did her heart good to do that.  Now mind you, I'm not preaching here, because I'm an atheist (boy did that really frost dear old mom's patootie!), but I do belive in life's lessons.


Try not to be so hateful and bitter towards her.  It sounds like you kinda already have her discounted before she's even had a chance to begin.  You said it's a high-volume office, so maybe you could use the extra hand.  Try, at least try, to be a little tolerant and kind is all I'm saying.    


start looking for another job
Longevity means nothing anymore in this business. I know a couple of people that this happened to. The first one was jerked around so much she finally just gave up when told to come back to the office to work, would have been over an hour drive each way for her. Another person is still hanging in there working at the office once a week. I think companies would rather jerk people around instead of firing them. Not saying this is what is going on in your case because I don't know all the circumstances. Maybe youve been with them too long, making too much money?? I had the heave-ho once myself for this same reason. It was obvious they were pushing and pushing until I finally gave up and left. The situation was very hostile and not one I wanted to stay in. Best of luck to you whatever you decide. With your 16+ years experience Im sure you would have no trouble picking up right where you left off somewhere else.
Seems like not right at the start but
when you are in the middle of a 10+ minute report. I will try the logging out and coming back. I will also try the other, just letting it set for a minute or so. I really appreciate the assistance!
it is a better start than most of us have here.....
but knowing anatomy and terminology will not be all you will need. Learning the equipment is also secondary.

first and foremost, you have to be able to type at a relatively quick speed if you want to make any money in this field. Second, you have to develop an ear for foreign accents, and that is what seems to be difficult for most.

Good luck in your pursuit. If you battled your way through enough school to be a dentist, you will find your way in this field as well. It is just not as easy as a lot of people seem to think it is.
Start with irs.gov and
The first 2 results are a start. I can't say if they're everything you can deduct, but it's a good start. Also, I've noticed a very common misconception on this board that only ICs can deduct home office, but the first sentence of the first result of that search says you may be able to take a home office deduction whether you are self-employed or an employee. Good news for the rest of us!
why don't you start nm
nm
Oh man, where do I start? SM

1.  Space heater (in Winter) or fan (in Summer) at my feet, heating pad on my lap to warm my hands (all year long).


2.  My Harley-Davidson mug with ice and three cans of Coke.


3.  Chair must be centered in relation to the monitor and my butt has to be centered in the chair!  It takes me at least 10 minutes to make these adjustments.  My chair is always at the right height, in my house if you adjust mom's chair you DIE!


4.Back scratcher.


5.CNN or Headline News on in the background.


This question made me smile.  All my years working in the office I have met more MTs than I can tell you that are so particular about their work space.  God help you if you had to share a desk with one of them!  Then you realize you ARE one of them! 


I got my start in OPs...
...exactly how the above poster states.

My supervisor had asked me if I could do a stat OP for her. She then quickly realized I had never done OPs before and was stuck finding an MT. I told her we were all new to OPs at one time and I still wanted to try at least to learn them. I used to send them to QA requesting full reads and corrections. It took me about 2 weeks to feel confident and comfy with OPs, from there I just stopped sending them to QA and straight to the hospital.

My supervisor was happy to oblige my request and OPs are now part of my daily workload.

Good luck to you, hope you get the same opportunity to learn them.
Don't even start
As a 23-year MT, currently working for an MTSO, I feel betrayed by the profession.  I really made a mistake leaving the hospital position I once held.  I'm making half as much as I used to.  I'm single and self-supporting, and I wouldn't encourage anyone to choose this work, sadly.
Where do I start?
One of the things that is bothering me lately is dictators who not only talk for hours, or so it seems, but constantly ask you to go back up and insert here and there and not just 1 time, but many times during the dictation. We have to be mind readers or know a lot because dictators change their minds all the time and we have to know what they want put in where. I hate the cell phones/phones sitting close to the dictator/beepers going off, sometimes they are answered, sometimes just ring and ring and the screech in your ears. OMG! I hate the smacking or swallowing of saliva some do when dictating. Are they eating, are they drinking or just swallowing down a gob of goup? Ugh.
start looking ?
With the kind of attitude that this doc and wife have, are they any good to work for anyway? Do you have other job possibilities where you live? LPNs are really in demand and you should probably start looking. You might find someone who will REALLY appreciate you as these people obviously do not. Good luck to them to find another LPN that can and will transcribe while performing LPN duties as well. If they are good people and you want to stay you could do as the other poster said...calm and cool and don't break your neck ! I think the doc and wife are bluffing. Good luck.
I see. Usually, people start with
snide names when production is brought up.

I do work 5 days a week about 3100 lines a day...but truly I'm not a whiz. I am very fast but more than that I stay very steadily at it.
Start slowly and try this ...
Proof 3 out of 4 reports for the next day or two. Then, proof 2 out of 4 reports for a couple of days. Then cut that down to 1 out of 4 reports. Keep yourself abreast by proofing 1 of 10 reports. Proof the reports and let them go -- don't sit and worry!

Two things will happen:
1) You will become more comfortable with your own level of skill
2) Your lines will increase

I meant to start with
This was meant to start with at a new company.  I have never been an editor before, either.  I have a friend who has been an editor for many years (nearly 15 with 23+ years as an MT) who makes some $30 an hour as an average.  Do you know anything about this company, Soft Script?  I need all the information I can get. I know they need editors, and you don't have to have experience apparently because I didn't.
start with this link
www.learnthat.com/tutorials/freetutorials.asp?cat=29


There are better companies out there. I would start looking.
dd
Not wanting to start a war but sm
it just really gets old reading the same ole, same ole about SS.   As far as I'm personally concerned, there are usually 2 sides to every story.  If  I happened to be in SS's shoes,  I believe I'd be talking to a lawyer about something called "slander" and I'd be telling some folks to put up the proof or shut up.  Nope, I don't work for SS, never have and probably never will.  If I happened to be in the market for a new job, I believe I would give them a try just to see if they're really that bad.  If they were......well, I'd move right along.
best advise is to go to Help on the start
menu, type in copy as the question, and then follow the directions.
the start up $$ is ridiculous

That's what I think is so sinful.  They sucker you in telling


you can be an employee, you can make 12,000 a pay period


easY!


None of that is true.  And then you are left trying to figure out


how to pay the insurance, pay for the computer you sunk money


into buying and meeting their requirements, reference books,


the whole 9 yards.


And do they have a conscience about leaving a mom and her children


with no food?   I really doubt it.


And NO a new MT is not then ready for the next job because


all over again he/she will have to INVEST in the new stuff that


THAT particular company to meet THEIR peculiarities.


I'm sick of transcription now.  When they sent us home - that relinquised


the responsibility of these nationals from providing equipment and


turned all the $$ over to profit for them and ate $$ out of our income - not to


speak of the extra utilities run while home.  This computer heats up


my house terribly in the summer - it helps in the winter but it still makes


a considerable dent in my bill compared to my neighbors who work during the


day. 


Start your own company
See if you can get doctors to pay you more than 10 cpl (when they can send it to India for 4 CPL) and see how much you can pay your MTs.

6-8 CPL is the current industry standard. If you don't like it, it's not the MTSOs fault. Start your own business and get your own clients and you can make those couple of extra cents for yourself and deal with all the rest of the headache that goes along with it. :)