Grammar Text Book
Posted By: Debbiedoo on 2009-04-15
In Reply to: Since grammar and punctuation are - sm
Hey sm, just looked for that book on Amazon and there are quite a few different Little Brown Handbooks, could you tell me the ISBN#, author and edition? Thanks.
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Yes, the Rad book is good, as is the Ortho & Rehab words. A drug book helps or one on CD. Book mark
,
Sted's Ortho/Rehab Words, a lab word book, and at least 1 drug book. nm
s
Even an "open book" tests requires you to look in your own book, not just as the guy next to y
x
grammar, honey, grammar...
Not at all intending to say I was better than you. Merely pointed out that grammar is an integral part of MT and one area in which you are handicapped. I felt my post was respectful, informative and fair. However, feel free to sink your two grand into MT schooling and then try to find a job. I've been at this for over twenty years and I'm telling you right now-- you won't find one...
Instant Text
I use this and it is great and you can add to it also. It is worth checking out
Text expander
I currently use IT text Expander from my course at MT at home. Is there a better text expander that I should be using?
also referred to as canned text (sp??)
These are physical exams, review of systems, certain operative reports, etc., that are dictated over and over by a doctor and can be called into a new report with only slight editing required. They boost your line count a lot if you get lucky enough to transcribe for a doctor who consistently says the same thing over and over.
Anyone familiar with beyond text platform?
I am job hunting and an account that is available is using beyond text platform. Can anyone tell me what this is before I get in to deep.
Text Expanders and counters
Does anyone know where I can get a free word Expander and a word/line counter? I was using FastFox and TextTally, but I didn't realize it was only free trials. I may have to go ahead and buy them though. I just don't have a lot of money to spend on them right now, and I can't keep entering in my information over and over again. Thanks for all the help
using a text expander helped me drastically.
Also, this may seem really obvious, but if you're using MS Word, use the AutoCorrect feature to auto correct any errors you commonly make. I actually use the AutoCorrect feature as my text Expander as well.
Shorthand versus Instant text
Looking for a great word Expander to work with. I am clueless at this point as to what is out there and how they even work. I have had ShortHand and Instant Text suggested to me, but not sure which one will be better.
Thanks for your help.
grammar
I don't mean to be so critical, but it seems that quite a few people on this forum have poor grammar and very bad spelling. These are two VERY important skills in this profession. I think it would be wise for some people to reconsider their choice in professions. If you never liked Engish in school or did not do well in in this subject, this will not be a good job for you. You will spend too much time correcting yourself. Please think about this.
GrammAR
"What is your very good in all the other parts of MT and only average in the grammer."
You are poor in both grammAr AND spelling. How do you expect to be good with medical terms if you don't even understand basic English?
Grammar
"... mispelling of English terms such as there/their and your/you're. Some MTs tend to think the way a poster spells on an MT board says something about their mastery of the English language."
It does. Either you know correct English grammar, or you do not. If you use the wrong form of a word, it's because you obviously do not know the difference, not just because you happen to be typing someplace besides "at work." Get real.
grammar
Are you the grammar police? I believe that was a simple mistake and I do know the English language, but I am also a happy person you on the other hand do not seem to be. Thank you though for the wonderful uplifting message you left me.
Grammar
grammar
Thanks! sounds like a great idea.
Grammar gals
Hey just wondering if everyone in this business was a top notch grammar gal in high school? 
Since grammar and punctuation are
very important in MT & you say you're having some trouble in that area, you could pick up a copy of a college grammar text book such as 'Little Brown Handbook' and brush up on it. I found it very helpful.
verbatim/grammar
I used to get hung up on the same thing. Do what you feel most comfortable with. When you get a job, they will tell you what they want you to do. Just realize that it very difficult to type exactly what they are comparing you to. Look at it and see if it really an error or just preference of formating.
PCDI teaches some grammar...
Believe it or not, PCDI actually does have a good section of their lessons put aside for grammar. I have still not mastered grammar (I'm not even close), but the lessons that PCDI gave me for grammar sure helped refresh some lost and forgotten rules!
and lots of grammar errors.
It is always good to have dreams.....
Without good grammar you would not even pass - sm
the test(s) you take in order to get a job. They ask a zillion grammar questions, which word to use (affect/effect; their/there; advise/advice), spelling, etc. Also all MTs, no matter how many years experience, be it 1 month or 15 years, must be able to take criticism (and learn from it). That is the first lesson you must learn. No matter how good a MT course is reputed to be, you will still have plenty to learn at the end of it. Many have the attitude that they all the all-knowing diva of MT and everyone else is full of it. So the OP needs to get rid of the chip on their shoulder, I know people here can be quite harsh and some of those here could be a bit more tactful, but bottom line is that they are right.
book for MT
Go find "The Language of Medicine" and go through it chapter by chapter. It has a CD with it and do all of the tests, each worksheet, etc. That will give you a good start. I have been in the business for 17 years, and have taught from the bottom up, and have also taught MTs who had a solid MT certificate. I can say with all certainty that this is not an easy business by any means, but it is worth it. The first years I did MT work, we were paid hourly and I made decent money. Seventeen years later, I make great money, but without those years behind me and knowing every discipline of medicine, every tool used in surgery, every disease known to man, every laboratory value and study, ad nauseum, I would not be making the money I do at this point. If you are good and persistent, it is easy to make anywhere from $25 to $40 an hour in this field (with a good shortcut program, I prefer ShortHand 8). I have taught nurses, chiropractors, anyone with a medical background, and those were the people who needed the most help, not the ones who had gone to actual MT school, although they needed help too. With the ESL dictators, if you don't know the procedures, etc., being a fast typist with a basic medical background will not be of any help. I don't want to rain on anyone's parade, but honestly, do the schooling before you attempt this career and expect to be placed. Otherwise, try transcriptionmatchmaker.com and see what she can do for you.
However, I might suggest you work on your grammar skills!
Most services are looking more for proper spelling, grammar, and
sentence structure than they are layout. I don't give a hoot what the layout looks like because I have my own way of doing things that I train the MT on how to do upon hire.
Not true, I made a 95 once. But grammar and spelling
are key issues as stated below.
Gastro book
I began transcribing for a gastroenterologist and I have to look up every other word. Does anyone know of a really helpful gastro terminology book?
 Thanks for any help.
gastro book
You need to get a GI/GU book from Stedmans, www.stedmans.com. I believe they are the best.
Has anyone read this book....?
Hello all-
I had gone to the AAMT site (now AHDI) and found the e-book entitled Getting Your Foot in the Door: Two Years' Experience Not Required. Before I purchase it, I wonder if any one has read it and if it had any good tips for an MT that does not have the 2 yrs that is spoken about so much.
Thanks in advance. 
Drug book
Stedmans Medical Dictionary is a good start. The drug books I use are Saunders and Quick Look Drug Book. The Quick Look is good for beginning as it has a lot of information in the appendix section and drugs listed by disease process in the back. The AAMT Book of Style is a "must have" as some companies require you to follow the guidelines in this book; this book you can study now and it will help you be a little ahead down the road when you start testing for jobs and working. Stedman's word books are good (each book for a different specialty), but you may want to hold off on getting any of these until you know what specialty you will be working in when you graduate. I do hospital acute care and so have the complete library of Stedman's word books.
I don't know how far you are in your schooling, but testing for different companies is the best way to know what you do not know and what to study.
I wish you luck in your schooling and hope it is a rewarding experience for you,
DJ
Another good book is
Grammar and Writing Skills for the Health Care Professional. You can get a used copy on Amazon for around $10 shipped. The Gregg Manual is also good ad you can find that used on Amazon for around $7 shipped. Good luck and don't get to discouraged, you'll learn over time what is acceptable in the "real world" of transcription.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0766812596/ref=dp_olp_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1220570885&sr=8-6
There is no need to correct grammar or spelling mistakes on this board. (NM)
Goldbird
Which drug book do you prefer? NM
x
Which lab word book do you prefer?
Which lab word book do you prefer the Sloane one or Stedman's?
medical phrase book
What is the best medical phrase index, Stedman's, Vera Pyle, or Lorenzini.
which is best medical term book
Thanks much for the input.
in addition to the phone book
Go get 2 Rolodex's. They are cheap at any office supply store. Use one for medications and one for medical terms that are new to you. Also for a pharmaceutical book, the Monthly Prescribing Reference is free on line. Just Google it under that name and download it into your system. It will give you weekly updates to the drugs that are either being taken off the market or being put on the market. It's the drug book physicians use and far superior to any book that has to be renewed year after year.
BOS stands for book of style. They
want you to use the BOS guidelines for transcribing. There isn't a template, but using things like daily instead of q.d., etc.
That is a book that is part with the CareerStep Course.
You would only need it if you are a text student. Otherwise, it is a unit in the online course.
couldn't agree more - grammar is critical yet not taught in the MT schools sm
I find it makes or breaks any MT I take on. I wish they would focus more on it. Most people can't figure out plural possessive or whether to use affect or effect.
Nice advice, however, learning good grammar usually falls somewhere
between grades 1-8 and, even more so, 9-12, if you are lucky enough to be exposed to good schools. If they have not been the afforded the opportunity to attend a solid grade school, as well as a high school, with teachers who emphasize and demand the importance of correct grammar, they are going to be left behind when it comes to MTing, or have to take some English classes to catch up on what they missed during the early days of learning.
The egregious grammar errors are much worse than misspelling one word.
Congratulations is not a word used frequently in MT, it was just an example. I'm being honest (and trying to be helpful) suggesting she brush up on grammar. Definitely meant no offense.
Good pathology book recommendation?
Can anyone recommend an easy to use pathology book? Needto brush up. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
buy...couldn't resist! :) LOL...great book though. NM
d
I usually update the drug book every other year as I
use it so often and there are new drugs all the time. Equipment books I update about the same as there is always new equipment coming out. Other books I don't update as often, depends on how much I use a particular specialty.
New Saunders 2008 Drug Book
Just received it in the mail yesterday. I get a new one every year and sell the old one either to coworkers or on Ebay.
Search the boards and send out resumes, and review your grammar and punctuation
s
aren't we lucky this site has you to correct our spelling/grammar usage.
maybe you should consider editing.
Love the idea on using a phone book A-Z for writing down
I have almost 4 year experience now and may branch out on my own next year I think, or at least try. Love the idea of using the phone book, can't believe I never thought of it. Thanks for the tip.
The new Quick Look Drug Book and the Saunders Pharm Words come
d
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