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On sedond thought, when I do a word count on

Posted By: Tracey on 2007-12-12
In Reply to: Gross lines are great! Take it if it's 6-7cpl. nm - Hard to find

MS word with a 65 cpl the lines are more than what I get paid for actual lines. So it seems like I am getting ripped off.

That is what I don't understand


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If you currently type in word, then do a word count
then I really can be of no help.  Usually when trying to get an idea of a line count with spaces and without spaces, you can use this method.  Some people have actual line counting software.  I, however, do not, so I am not much help in that regard.  Hope this helps at least a little.
Word Character count.
The easiest way is to go into your Word toolbar, and click on character count (with or without spacing, depends on you school or employer) take that number and divide by 65.  There you go.
Word's line count is not ideal to use. sm
Word does not always count certain things, like headers, footers, tables, etc., from what I've heard, and I've never found it to be very accurate on the whole. For one document, it might be higher than my line counting software, whereas for another document, it might yield a lower count.

If you use specific software to count lines, you will get a higher count with actual (or gross) lines. Do a Google search for Sylvan's Sylcount software (and there are probably other free downloads, like maybe PractiCount and Abacus). You can download a free trial and then you can set it up to run actual lines versus 65-char line. Sylcount has 2 different options for counting gross lines, one being just a standard count-all-lines command and another being a line equals at least 1 character, and each may give different counts.

I still have a couple accounts that pay actual lines and it has always worked out to be significantly higher. In fact, it proves very challenging for me to find work at 65-char because it's not worth my while in comparison. Love the actual lines!!
Maybe do a word count in some of your documents and get an average per day or week. Total for new
s
Just thought I would give some food for thought. nm.

I thought that was what I was doing???
Actually, I have been in this profession for a few years, and when I refer to seasoned MT's, I put myself in that category as well.
THAT IS WHAT I THOUGHT!
/
Thought I was...
until I started my course at M-TEC. I feel like I have to learn it all over again! Commas and hyphens are my big problems, but they are getting better as as I go along! :)
I thought it had to be a joke too. nm
 
Just thought I offer (sm)
this link to HPI's website. They have helpful books and other resources. I don't work for them, but I like their Radiology Imaging Words and Phrases book and some others.


I thought I was learning a new

regional phrase and I was gonna ask where you are from! 


I can't answer your question because I'm not new.  But hang in there. 


After school I thought about doing the same...
different......From what I looked up and what I am working with right now are completely different. I don't think that it helped me out much besides making me more confused!

Good luck
I thought CS was a good fit for me...
and I was hired as an MT before I finished the course. I do have medical background from previous college work though so I new my stuff, but their program was a good fit for me. Good luck!
Food for Thought...

While reading a lot of the posts on this board, I see that grammar usage in posts is brought up A LOT.  While I understand that many of us come here to relax and kick back, this is my idea...


Say you were a newbie that posted on here about wanting to find a mentor or job.  If your post is littered with incorrect grammar and spelling, the chances of someone replying to you is thin.  However, if you were to take the time to write correctly, maybe someone will see your post and email you back!


I was one of those lucky ones who made a few really good contacts and even better friends on this site, and I am now working in my first job.  It isn't the worst job, isn't the best job, but I'm learning a ton and I know it is a stepping stone to where I want to be one day.  I seriously doubt that any of those would have started to talk to me or email me back with helpful insights had I used slang and poor grammar and/or spelling. 


I'm not trying to start a war, I just thought it was something to put out there!  Good luck, and congratulations to all of you who just graduated or are about too! I know I'm happy to be out!!!


Please make sure to ask word questions on the Word Help board. There are
people who specifically answer questions there.
Have you thought about just going to work inhouse
It's best to do that.

If your focus is to work at home, you probably will not fare well with this career -- one really has to want to do MT work to be successful at it and productive.

Do what's best for your career -- go work inhouse for at least 2 years in a hospital setting, learning every dictator, every worktype, until you are competent on it.

Then you will easily find work and be a equipped to focus on your production.
i thought this was for the new MT, not the MT who knows everything in the entire world..
oh brother.
Just glanced here for a second, and thought I'd share ...
When I first started, I thought I knew a lot from what I learned in school. They never tell you that it'll be 1000 times harder than your courses. It's tough to jump into the "real" and find out how different it really is.

I used to QA, and I can't speak for anyone but myself, but anything I EVER corrected was NOT a personal slight. And while I knew it was rough for the newbies to get constant feedback, I hoped they understood that I wasn't doing it to make them feel bad - I was doing it to uphold quality that I was responsible for.

I know it's tough, but try to look at all of the "nitpicking" as an opportunity to be a better transcriptionist. The harder they are on you now, the faster you'll become a solid, fantastic transcriptionist. The more you can be thankful for the feedback, rather than let it get you down, the less feedback you'll need to receive in the future.

Good luck! I know you'll get there. This is the hardest part, and you're already partway through it.
I thought she was talking about the E school
Right, that couldn't have been M-Tec. Wonder if the person attended that school with the name that looks like M-Tec?

Couldn't have been Andrews, either. They provide quality references as part of the course, so you don't pay extra. They're the ones some nationals require you to have. They use SUM and now include the ESL set. Their instructors teach different modules, so you learn to deal with a variety of QA approaches and styles, but they all use the same guidelines. They also help you see what can vary, so there's no surprise later. They doesn't require attendance at online classes, but they provide technical support even for grads, even years later. Support for jobs begins at enrollment with focus on employer needs and how to fit with that and you get access to employer recommendations well before graduation. Andrews simply has a list of employers who will hire their grads even if they otherwise require years of experience. I don't think they've ever had a grad who had trouble getting a job and most seem to get the job of their choice. They also remove problem employers from their list as soon as they hear about undesirable practices so that their grads don't get burned. So, whatever school that woman went to, it wasn't Andrews, either.




I thought the thread was for everyone...not just newbies BTW are you a newbie? nm
x
Thought I would point out that you misspelled accurately
since you seem to be so keen on everyone being accurate around here.
thought it soundy pretty scammy...
thanks for the heads up...thought it sounded pretty fishy/scammy.  I just need to find something ASAP and am really getting aggravated with the whole job search drama.  Any input or help would be greatly appreciated.
You can count on M-TEC
You can count on M-Tec to get you where you need to be. They are equally as good at placement and training as Andrews in my opinion. No school can guarantee you a job, because they don't know how good you are until you finish the school. I have seen a lot of graduates on the M-TEC message forum saying they got jobs, and some even before they graduated. I thought I read there where companies will waive the two years experience. THey have a website http://www.mtecinc.com if you want to check out the frequently asked questions and messages there.
count me in
I love it.
Don't count on it.
I have done free internships, been screwed by and even severely insulted by an MTSO who used me, never paid me, now after graduating for over a year, still in an internship at 2 and 3 cents a line with no hope for gainfull employment. They all want 2-3 years experience, but no way for you to get that experience. So I too failed all these online testing, I think they are all a sham. I didn't to to MTEC or the other one, I went to community college then online education for MT and MC with Brighton College and still cannot get a glimmer of hope here in this field. When I think of all the money I spent trying to achieve this goal only to wind up here in limbo like an educated idiot! I want to sue someone for it, just don't know where to start!
MP Count
I have to invoice my doctors and I use MP Count. It is a free download at www.mpword.com. It really works well.
Darn the Luck! Thought I nailed test!

I'm fairly new, fairly old. Ha!  Old should count as a little more experience! Ha!


I took a test with Medquist and could have sworn that I nailed it! I crossed my "t's", dotted my "i's". BUT they said I didn't pass the test. They didn't have the details of the test. Does anyone know if they count time? I spent a lot of time BECAUSE everytime I lifted my foot, the dictation went back to the beginning! I couldn't get the file onto Express Scribe, just onto the MP3 player. 


Soooo... I have looked on eBay, Amazon and HPI websites and have ordered textbooks, new and used, to continue study. These should also give me a head start if and when I get a chance to study with one of the BIG schools! Also picked up ideas from some of the posts here. 


Some books are H&P A Nonphysician's Guide to the Medical History, The Language of Medicine by Chaboer, and an anatomy & physiology book - Memmier's The Structure & Function of the Human Body, 8th ed. So newbies, don't stop studying!


 


line count

Can someone please help me with the whole line count, WPM, total dollars concept. I'm trying to figure out my potential income doing MT. I know there are a range of answers but there must be some averages. I would be brand new at MT. What's your best guess of amount of work in say a 6 hour/day schedule? After 6 months experience? Thanks in advance for your help!


I was too lazy to count them but saw them!
being the effort and quality skill set that takes a newbie to a quality, seasoned MT is something one is born with. Some things can't be taught even at the best schools.
I can't count how many times (sm)
I've seen insurance companies request notes on a patient just to get an MRI authorized, for a patient to get a nonformulary med, etc. The canned templates in the EMRs I've seen create sloppy notes and most look like they've been pasted together like a ransom note, not a clean, concise document. One doc told me he would never use his EMR system to document a visit because it was rude not to make eye contact while a patient was talking to you! There has already been one EMR company that threatened clinics with "freezing" their software if they don't hand over their wallets! EMRs have a long way to go before I ever feel threatened by them.
PT line count
How many lines would you type to be considered PT?  300-500? more?  Thank you 
Line count
I've seen PT listed for as little as 2500 lines a week, minium 500 lines a day.
line count

Where I work the line count is 6000 lines a week, 40 hours.  I do not think it matters how much experience you have as to what your line count is.  Company's have a set amount no matter what your experience.


line count

Where I work the line count is 6000 lines a week, 40 hours.  I do not think it matters how much experience you have as to what your line count is.  Company's have a set amount no matter what your experience.


Line count

I am in need of a new line count program.  My (old) original is on a floppy disk and I no longer have floppy access.  What is a good/reliable program to use?



There are line count programs
available. If you use Word, you can go up to Tools, Word Count and take the characters w/spaces and divide by 65. That, of course, is assuming that you are paid for spaces - which some places do not do.
paying by line count
The company that I work for pays by the actual line in the document, no matter if it is one word or a full line. I would like some feedback as to whether this is a good way to get paid or am I getting screwed?

Any opinions??
THanks
Line count quota
I have never heard of a company that requires only 2500 lines a week for full-time positions. Most full time positions are between 1200 and 1500 lines a day (6000 to 7500 lines per week). Most part-time positions require at least 120 lines per hour with total requirements dependent on how many hours you work.

Your figure of 2500 lines a week is very, very low.
Sorry I misspoke. Character count divided by 65.
nm
65 character count is standard across the board
i think i would prefer 65, and take a lower per line pay to get my feet in the door. However, recognizing how hard it is for new MT's to be hired, if the training is good, I'd take it just for the experience.
part time line count
I heard that part-time is 500 lines a day, or 2500 lines a week; and that full-time is about a thousand lines a day or 5000 lines a week. But I would welcome other responses. Any other comments? I would like to know this also, so it's a good question.
Are you getting your line count from your program or can you use the line counting software to do
s
Microsoft Word/Microsoft Word 2003 are the same
MS Word 2007 is an upgrade.  Are you sure that you don't have it installed on your PC?  I don't know if that helps...good luck, and please don't pull your hair out, it comes out with age (lol)
Word

When I have to copy and paste admission notes, for example, and then have to reformat the whole page, all the BOLD  HEADINGS become BOLD HEADINGS.  Then I have to go back and re-bold them all.  Is there a fast way to jump between headings, besides just scrolling?


Just go to the Word help
section of this website.  It's wonderful!!  I've been in the business five years and still use it quite, quite often.
word help
How do I use word help? Do I have to pay any money? Do I have to  be signed up with anything? How long does it take for me to get an answer. Thanks everyone.
Need help with a word.
the word is in regard to a type of incison for laparoscopic hernia surgery.  No mesh was necessary.   Sounds like lachsimen incision was made and there was no tension.
One word...E-bay.
You can find most of the books you would need on E-bay. If not, Amazon.com has a used book section that will save you some money. Also, you can buy directly from Stedman's and sometimes find discounts of their word books.
Pay by the word
I work for a company that pays me .02 cents per word. It is for a research company and it brings me in a nice sized paycheck. It's definitely a fair price I feel. Hope this helps.
I am sure she will take your word for that.

word help

I need some help with this transcription.  It reads  Patient was on a cruise recently and she traveled in an airplane about 10 days ago and ear pressure persists and the patient denies any hearing loss.  No ________, fever, chills, nausea, vomiting. 


Can anyone help???