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I just bought & installed WP X3.  My office requires that all documents are password protected.  As I save my documents, I can 'see' the password protect box, but the program does not allow me to check the box & give a password.

Is there something in X3 that I need to go to that will allow me to use passwords?  I can't find it anywhere in the program & I've used Help, etc.

Thanks!

I'll want to use my A/C in my car plus do a little extra driving in the summertime.

Right now it's costing me about $44 to $46 to fill my tank up.  It HURTS! 

Thinking about buying  a bicycle to get around town on!  lol

I have worn the keys off my keyboard searching every way I can think of to find a MTSO to apply for work with, other than those commonly named here.  If anyone knows of a "list" or can suggest a way to search, I would be grateful. 

I just bought one on Amazon.com (it should be here on Friday).  Just wondering what you all think of it?  I really liked my MS ergo elite keyboard, so I wonder if I'll be disappointed by trying to save a few bucks.

Thanks for your feedback! :)

Chickadee

Does anyone have this through AAMT?  If so, how much did you pay for it?  If not,  are there other options out there?   I'm looking into errors and omissions and I read about this, and think it would probably be just what I am looking for, but I am curious about the price before I pay for an AAMT membership! Thanks.

Everyone has to know about this. I posted this on the tax board, too.

How desperate are the governors getting? PA sent out tax forms to everyone that bought cigarettes from a Native American reservation and they want their tax money. One woman in PA was hit up for over $4,800 and last week, they slapped a Sheriff's Sale sign on her property.

Now, my DH received a letter today. They want anyone in business who bought anything from out-of-state companies (office supplies, equipment, tools, etc.) that don't reciprocate taxes to PA, to pay up. This doesn't just apply to last year. This goes all the way back to 1981!!! Since when, since records do not have to be kept after a certain amount of years, how can they do this?  DH doesn't have to worry about it that much. He usually always buys in PA.

I certainly do not have any receipts back to 1981 when I was an IC!

It's bad enough the governor is "threatening" to raise property taxes if he can't pass the higher income tax, but now this. I think our state government should stop the spending like he's always done. We're broke, yet he keeps handing out money.

Hi all,

I have been offered a MT job with another company that requires me to call into the hospital's Meditech system.  I have never worked on Meditech so I don't have the slightest idea how to use it.  I am used to signing onto my computer and getting right into the system, not having to dial in anywhere.  I'm sure I would get used to it but my phone may be the problem.  I have my phone bundled in with my cable/high speed internet through Time Warner and the MTSO thinks this won't work, that I need something like Fair Point as a dedicated phone line.  Does anyone out there in MT land know anything about this?  The MTSO is anxious to hire and I'm anxious to start a job where I can finally make $ again and I don't want to miss out on this all because of the wrong phone!

I am about to start a job as an IC for the first time.  I thought the company provided a macro program, but now it seems they don't.  I can't be productive without one, but I have never had to purchase one on my own, having used company-supplied programs for the previous 12 years.  Does anyone know a program that will work in Microsoft Works that has macros that will expand with the spacebar?  I need something easy to understand and as inexpensive as possible but that will hold maybe 2,000-3,000 shortcuts!   Thanks!

Thanks.

I have always just filed at the end of the year.  Does everyone else (IC) file quarterly?

Also, if I want to pay into my social secirty on my own, can anyone tell me how to do that?

Thanks!!

Hi all, I am wanting to get some advice here.  I work at home for a 270 bed acute care hospital and have a minimum of 5000 lines per two week pay period requirement to maintain insurance.  I also work as an IC for a psychiatrist doing progress notes on tapes that they aren't in any real hurry about (usually pick up tapes twice a week) and then work part-time for a national company.  I just was called to do transcription for a neurological group that has three physicians.  They have basically told me to set my price as they are unhappy with the person doing it right now and are looking for someone else.  When do you know you have reached your limit or do you just try it for a while?  Also, I have a friend who is wanting to do some work on the side, but I am not sure how to go about doing this (paying, taxes, etc).  Any help here would be appreciated.  What do others in this situation do?  Thanks

Tami

I need a USB foot pedal. I already have a serial adaptor. Is there such thing as an adaptor or do I have to buy a new one?

Thanks!

What's the funniest thing you have had to transcribe - here are my personal top two favorites - one was from an ER doc who had been working 72 hours - he dictated that the patient had a ball in the 9th hole on the green and he was going to try to miss the sand pit - I called the hospital and let the head ER doc know - they let the poor sleep-deprived doctor go home and someone else finished his dictation. - the other - I had a doctor who dictated all of his reports to the tune of Mack the Knife - no kidding - I think about him everytime I hear that song.  He was quite creative and talented.

To all transcriptionists:

I am new to MTStars.  I am so glad to see a place where transcriptionists of every kind can blow off steam.   I am a well seasoned profession medical transcriptionist and like so many of you, take pride in my work and profession.  The rash of recent sweeping changes and concerns in our industry have me very concerne as with all of you.   We can no longer afford to sit back and say nothing.  For too long the personality profile of the medical transcriptionist was that of a meek, never-talk-back mouse in the corner who did what she was told.   After all, and I may be dating myself here,  many transcription departments began in the basement of hospitals - you gals remember that?  We were stuffed in corners where storage boxes made their homes!!!

For too long this industry has gone largely unregulated and for too long we did not unionize or gather forces to protect ourselves and our profession as other allied health fields have done.  Because we are a nonrevenue-producing department in the chain of  our healthcare system we are always the first to get cut in budgets.  Yet that medical record is most vital to reimbursements and to the patient.   We now find ourselves wondering if the powers that be care at all.  We are concerned about offshore outsourcing, the shady practices of national transcription companies, and an array of legitimate concerns.    

The medical transcription industry is a multi-billion dollar business.  You bet competition is stiff.  Is it any wonder there are so many scandals right now?

Here's mine concern, for now.  LINE COUNTS!!!!  WE MUST UNIFY OUR EFFORTS FOR ACCURATE LINE COUNTS THAT REFLECT WHAT A MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTIONIST ACTUALLY PRODUCES AND WHAT A MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTION COMPANY COUNTS.   For too long, way too long, I hear (and have experienced it myself) so many transcriptionists complain and voice their concerns and doubts on what their actual line count may be when they work for a national transcription company.   SOMETHING MUST BE DONE TO CLEAR THIS ISSUE AND BRING IT INTO COMPLIANCE FOR ALL INVOLVED - TRANSCRIPTIONIST, TRANSCRIPTION COMPANY AND CLIENT.   We are the only industry I know of that puts blinders on its workers when it comes to piecemeal work.  The cable man, the UPS guy, the plumber,  salesman - all know up front what the client gets charged, what their cut is, and what the company charges - Hell, even the farmer workers know up front what they get per basket of strawberries they pick!!!  - CLEAR, UP FRONT.  WHY ARE WE NOT ALLOWED TO SEE THE LINE COUNT UTILITY PROGRAM THAT CHARGES THE CLIENT?  

If we are losing our work to overseas sweat shops, let's address the sweat shops here in the UNITED STATES making  the money.   I believe a forum like this is valuable and long over due - we should list companies that are shady and treat their employees with unfair practices.   There must be a way to address the line count issue on a national level so that it changes, changes to the benefit of all - the transcriptionist, the transcription company and the client.   I say we start by dialogue among ourselves at this site and take it to all transcription companies in a format that engages the dialogue among all concerned.    I'm willing to  invest some time on this issue of importance to all. 

By the way, I don't currently work for a national company - I have been an independent contractor who has just lost 2 hospital accounts to, yeah, you guessed it - INDIA!!!  Hospitals CFO's got a boner when they heard this company can do the work for $2.00 an hour. 

ughhh

Most of it went well.  They pay the same cpl as most the other companies I have looked into.  They pay for headers if you have to type them in yourself, which is better than what I got elsewhere.  The scary part is that all they pay for is the training phone call and then straight production, they really don't give you time to lean the account to build up speed and make money.  I asked the interviewer if the account they were putting me on was busy all the time.   She said yes.  I asked her if it was saturated with ESLs.  She said, "it is out of Texas, What do you think?" 

Those were the only 2 red flags I saw was the straight production after the 2-hour phone call and I might be stuck on an account that is saturated with ESLs. I did like the fact though that I will be using eScription instead of ExText.  I never used eScription before, I have always used ExText so I am excited about learning something new.   I do need health insurance and theirs was pretty inexpensive.  I am not sure what to think.  Am I going to be in over my head?

Everyone is playing the blame game.  It doesn't matter who did what or did not do now.  What matters now is to go on with life and reach in our hearts (Although some of you do not seem to have one) and give to the less fortunate.  This disaster will not only effect those in the coastal areas.  This will effect the whole United States and the world in some form or another.  Louisiana had a population estimated at 4 million.  More than a 1/4 of that population is without homes.  Can you imagine the indignity they indure living in shelters?  As a Louisiana resident, I would like to point out that the victims in the media are not the only victims.  They are the poorest of poor.  They do have many families and individuals that are displaced, living with relative, hotel rooms, no jobs.  Other states have taken in many of the victims but there are small rural communities and cities all over Louisiana itself that have taken in these people.  In the small high school in my community, enrollment went up by 200 students almost doubling the student body.  The small Catholic school my son attends took in over 40 students. Grocery stores running out of food because the extra people and trucks being delayed.  The list of changes and difficulties go on. 

Like 9/11, this disaster will forever change America.  Not all of the changes will be bad although it seems that way now.  This is the time people should stick together and focus on the good things that are happening, not the few people that take advantage of the situation or the people who have no souls and think of themselves.  Take an active roll in helping these people, you are not only helping them, you are also helping yourself and the whole country.  I have visited the shelters and I have close friends who have actually gone to help with the rescue.  Again, this did not just happen to the gulf coast. 

I will continue to say an extra prayer for all victims, and especially those of you who seem not to have a heart or soul where others are concerned.

65 character B&W line + ICP

What does ICP stand for and can you explain "black and white line" to me?

THANKS!

Hi Everyone,

Looking for assistance with setting up a digital dictation transcription service.  What is the appropriate software to use for the digital dictation, transcription, downloading voice files, typing reports, uploading reports to facility, HIPAA compliance, etc.  Would like to do this without spending a huge amount of money, but at the same time want to be secure and compliant.  Any and all assistance would be appreciated!

Thanks in advance.  

Anyone currently or ever work for Documed?  If so, would like to know what you think of the company, platform, etc.  Any info would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks

Why do I always end up with such complicated computer problems?  Okay - you know how your little icons gradually freeze one at a time and you realize it is going to freeze all the way shortly?  That is what happened so I stopped and saved everything that I was working in and saved it.  I was working in WordPerfect.  I restarted the computer.  The document that I was working in is fine.  BUT.... I have lost all my QuickWords.  QuickCorrect is still all there and works just fine.  It would take a lot of time and work but I thought I'll just have to reenter everything as I come to it.  Here is the glitch.  Everytime I go to add something to QuickWords it says "The templet is read only" and won't let me add anything in QuickWords.  I have uninstalled WordPerfect and reinstalled WordPerfect and the problem is still there.  I have been told two things - one is that somewhere the program is saying a document is open - and two, that it would appear that it is not in WordPerfect since uninstalling and reinstalling did not take care of the problem.  Any thoughts!!!!  I'm stumped!

Thanks so much in advance for any help!!!!

I just got off the phone with my employer and they are tossing around the idea of having a spaz like me do QA, which is paid hourly, instead of transcription.  I've always avoided any type of management-ish position because I just don't do well in situations like that.  However, they told me I just help to solve the 'blank line mysteries' and won't be dealing directly with people, so that's appealing to me.

What is really floating my boat here is the fact that it's paid hourly as opposed to a per-line rate, which lately has been a real pain in the patootie due to the usual ebb and flow of work available.  I think it's a very decent hourly rate they are offering and could really work out for me, as I think I'd like the challenge of playing QA.

However, this is all new to me.  I've only done transcription for 5 years now and certainly have never ventured into QA, so I was hoping for objective opinions as to what I could be in for. 

I honestly have no idea why they would even approach me for something like this...maybe beause I score high on the spot QA they have done on me?  I guess I shoulda asked that but I didn't.  What else should I be asking?  Thanks for reading and I look forward to your responses! 

I'm working my first MT job and the docs are all Indian ESL's.  One doc is fine when dictating stuff like height and weight, but as soon as he comes to drug names or procedures (he's an anesthesiologist) he talks rapid fire and his accent is incomprehensible.  I'm afraid I will lose this job because I cannot get his accent.  He says inviolabile for available. Oxnin for Oxycontin.  Menfarm for Metformin.  I almost cry when I get muy corrected copy back see the mistakes I've made. 

I've spent hours on two or three words and figure that I am averaging about $1.50 an hour at this point. My son makes more working at Arby's.  Is there any hope?  Should I plow my way through it or ask the MT company for a different doctor?