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Can anyone recommend a company who has true IC status?  I work for a small company as an IC, and although I work a regular schedule 95% of the time, there are times when I cannot and yet I'm still expected to produce the same amount of work each day.  This is really stressing me out.  I have to work around my son's school schedule and my husband's work schedule and if that changes I have to make it up by working into the night when I'd just assume to forfeit the money.  Does true IC status even exist?  I got into this business thinking I would have a little more flexibility in a job.  I've been an IC now for three years and so far it all seems the same.  Thanks for any suggestions (and for letting me vent).

Does anyone have experience with CR training?  Anyone made the transition from MT to CR, or the other way around?  I am looking into this as an alternative to MT.  My chief regret is that it is rather late in life for me to invest in expensive/lengthy training.  I should have seen the writing on the wall long before this, as far as MT is concerned. 

My post on a court reporter board met with thundering disinterest...not a single reply.  Would appreciate input on this if anyone has first or even secondhand experience.

Searching Word help section I see where it is possible to email directly from Word and also encrypt the document. If anyone does this, I could use some direction in doing it.

Thank you.  bw

Are there any small companies that use Lanier?  Just looking for a couple to three hours a day to fill. 

I may sound dumb, but what is a SOAP note??

A friend of mine is moving to Italy and I am really considering going with her.  Just wanting to know if anyone has lived outside of the US (not necessarily in Italy, just anywhere).

Thanks

Does anyone have a doctor who is already using something like this:  http://www.mdtablet.com/demo.asp

I have such mixed feelings about this (EMR).  On one hand, I think the technology is awesome, and I think it makes so much of sense to have our medical info. available electronically (pretty much immediately) instead of a doctor having to request a hard copy and wait for it to be mailed or whatever (like when you change PCP doctors or go to a specialist or whatever). 

On the other hand, is every doctor going to be running around with one of these handheld devices in his/her pocket, with all this medical info. on people?  What if they lose it?  How secure and accurate is the info. really?  And of course I won't even go into the effect EMR will have on our jobs as MTs. 

BTW, I saw this "MD Tablet" thing in the background when I was watching a story on Nightline.  The story was about how the super rich in America are pretty much oblivious to the state of the economy, and still carry on with their usual lifestyle, spending money lavishly.  No cutbacks for them to worry about.  The one rich guy they were showing is involved in this MD Tablet product. Ever feel like, as MTs, we are sooo on the wrong side of things?  LOL

I am brand new to this speciality and I am actually really liking it... but I am having trouble finding certain equipment... I was wondering if any of you have any favorite books or websites that have hard to find surgical tools/equipment?

I saw that Stedman's has one out--is that any good?

Thanks for any info!!

I must've hit something, but I've no idea what.  My upper toolbar is all messed up and my font keeps going from big to small when I scroll!  Any help would be greatly appreciated.

It must be nice way up there in the clouds where you sit.  I don't check out these boards often, but in reading today's posts and your comments, I felt compelled to make a few statements.

Your replies to several posts 7/12 and 7/13/05 made me cringe.  There was a cartoon strip a few years back, Charlie Brown and friends, with a little dog named Snoopy who would sit up in a tree like a vulture and peer down on the rest of the pee-ons down below him.  You come across as Holier-than-thou as my late grandmother. 

Do you enjoy calling people lazy (or worse)?  I bet there would be several who would like to take your inventory.

I've transcribed for MQ since they were TLF and have been with them throughout all the changes that have come down the pike.  Some I have been frustrated with, but bottom line is I like what I do and it hasn't been bad enough (yet) for me to look elsewhere. 

Go ahead and flame - I've got my hose ready, too. 

that MT graduates are getting jobs and they have no grammar skills when they post on forums.

When starting out entry level at a company, what is the norm for probationary period?  I worked partime as an IC MT for a year for a friend, did inhouse TX for 7+yrs for specialty MD's office. All this and never had a problem.

Now that I am doing IC work with a national, it seems that everything I thought I knew about grammar and terminology couldn't hold a candle to the expectations of the nat'l companies.  Now I am begining to get self conscious about every little thing to the point where it takes me a rediculous amount of time to get it done.

It's not like I'm making huge mistakes or anything.  For the most part I do have my terminology and grammar down......its just the little things.  For example, I never knew that there was a difference in the way the phrase 'follow up' should be written-as two words, hyphenated or as one single word.  Didn't know that it depends on if it is used as a noun, adjetive, verb, etc.

I like the company I work for, but man do I feel inadequate. 

concerned that by doing this, you are helping yourself out of a job?  What if these companies hire nothing but Indian transcriptionists because they are so cheap.  Won't that put all of us out of jobs eventually?  or am I just being dense.  My company recently asked me if I would "edit"  (aka "train"), and I refused. 

Just wanted to let you know that I am STILL laughing over your post about BP pills even today.  I laughed all through work last night.  I thought maybe it was too funny because I was so tired.  But NOPE, I still thought it was just as funny today!!!!

Thanks for the GREAT laugh.      

In your opinion what is the most popular method in which clinic Radiologists dictate.....handheld recorder, over the phone or through PC. 

Thanks!!!

Am thinking of switching.  I currently get 400% productivity with SH8 (it types 3 characters for every 1 I type).  Can anyone out there get similar figures with InstanText? 

I am a radiology MT and worked at the hospital who did my chest x-ray and lab work after I was given a dx of breast CA on Tuesday.  I had been given Xanax which I took and was in a sheer panic because I am afraid .

The woman MT I worked with at the radiology dept and I have kept in touch.  I told her as I was being worked up (did not tell her I had CA as she has a big mouth) to let me know if she does my chest x-ray and let me know if it is abnormal.  I then went into the surgeons office where he had been a faxed of the chest x-ray with the CLINICAL DIAGNOSIS:  Breast cancer.  on the top.  When I returned home, I had an e-mail from her that was an exact cut and paste of my chest x-ray with the exception that CLINICAL DIAGNOSIS:  Breast cancer. had been cut from the copy.  She has since stopped all contact with me and now I fear that the entire MT dept and hospital I worked in for two years with know I am suffering from this without my telling them.

I feel hurt and violated because she knew before I wanted her to (she typed the report I saw but mostly because she has stopped corresponding with me after seeing that I had breast CA.  When I was being worked up, she said my bad lifestyle was the culprit.  She herself has never had a mammogram and refused to see doctors (7th Day Adventist). 

Am I wrong for feeling this way?  Have rules been broken?  Shouldn't she have asked for my wrritten authorization before placing my chest x-ray report in an e-mail. and saying "good job" with reference to teh normal chest I guess (although the words "Breast CA" definitely negated that - it was almost as if she did not want me to know she knew. 

I am so confused right now and have no family members or even close friends so I cannot tell if what I am thinking is even accurate.  The Xanax and Prozac are not helping along with major anxiety.

Any feedback from astute MTs would be appreciated.  Thank you.

I am trying to find the website for this Hippo host/client FTP site. Does anyone have the site address?

Thanks

My 20 year old daughter was just diagnosed with partial seizures.  We could not wake her up on Sunday morning and had to call the paramedics.  My question is does anyone take Trileptal and is there side effects or are you having success with it.  Are you able to drive?   My daughter says her lip goes numb when she first takes it.  I have done research but I would like to know if anyone had first hand experience with it.  THANKS IN ADVANCE.

I'm curious to see what the reactions were from those that went from IT to SH.  Were you glad or did you go back?  Please, help.  I'm seriously contemplating a  switch from IT to SH and really need some input from you well seasoned professionals! 

I truly appreciate your time and help!