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Please do not post job wanted ads. (NM) - Posted By: Goldbird (Moderator)

Goldbird

Brochures - Posted By: Fasttype

Are there any places on these boards that give samples of brochures for marketing for medical transcription? Thanks so much!

Question about insurance - Posted By: needalternatives

Has anyone tried to get health insurance privately instead of with the company they work for? Was it cheaper or even close? Do you have to have a physical, answer questions, etc.? Do you just call the major insurers up? Not sure where to start but they just raised my rates so I need a plan b.

Screen Resolution/Font/Screen Percentage - Posted By: Bonnie

My eyes are tired all the time. I usually have my monitor set at 800 x 600 pixels and use Bookman at 10 font in Word at 111% in the normal layout. What might be a better viewing screen setting to use?

A good laugh - life is still precious! - Posted By: Tli

If this doesn't make you laugh - nothing will.

Shorthand question...Help - Posted By: tbpmt

I'm trying out ShortHand with Meditech. There are a few times when I do not want to use the shortcut and I am having to stop to use the mouse to click on the pop-up word. Is there a key board function to use instead? Thanks

Doing 60 lph this morning so far. : ( - Posted By: Frustrated Beyond Belief

I get up every day with a positive attitude, and start typing away. Same BAD dictators, skipping all around in reports, and some areas garbled beyond recognition. I'm just venting, but it is so hard to keep going on day after day like this, making no money and being frustrated beyond belief. It takes so many hours just to make 1000 lines like this. ARGH~!!!!!!

How many of you that use computers know how to do updates, repairs, clean up viruses, etc? - Posted By: Not so inclined

Just because I work every day using a computer, my husband has said tonight he thinks I should go to a computer class because I spent out $150 today for a person to come and get rid of several viruses on my computer. I asked my husband if he were so interested in this, why didnt he go to computer class and learn himself. I said I was coming on MTstars and just see how many of us transcriptionists also do our own repairs. Ok, MTers, now is your time to speak up!

earnings - what can i expect from home? - Posted By: JoanneNY

Hello all ... I've been an MT for 13+ years and my current hospital has OUTSOURCED my position! I'm in a crappy job at the hospital currently, working 3-11, to keep my benefits until I decide what to do, and go on interviews. I'm considering working for the company that took over the hospital account - but I'm not sure what to expect as far as pay per line.

If its not too personal - how much do you guys earn at home per hour/week?

THanks so much! Joanne

Want to send E-card for a birthday. - Posted By: Best on-line greeting cards?

I want to sign up and pay for a birthday card and want to know if there are opinions of who carries the coolest animated greeting cards for the most reasonable price.

Ladies and gentlemen, your opinions would be appreciated!

Thanks!

anyone ever do this ? - Posted By: April

Has this happened to anyone - you're typing along and spelling medical terminology just fine and then you can't remember how to spell simple words? Ha Ha - brain goes dead ! It happens to me occasionally and it's really weird !

help on word board grip strength - Posted By: test. thanks!!!

nm

Did anyone see the news yesterday about the differences - Posted By: between CTS and repetitive strain injury?

They said that carpal tunnel syndrome was a very rare condition and it does not come from overuse such as typing, game-playing, etc. They did quite a good job with the show. I am convinced they are right. We get repetitive strain injury, not CTS. I believe them.

I think as the medical community finds out more about injuries and diseases and medications, we have to adjust our thinking.

They certainly made a believer out of me. What do you think?

POLL: Home School vs. Charter School vs. Public School vs. Priv ate School... - Posted By: Teacher's Pet

Pros and cons of each too. I have two little ones that will be starting school soon and I would like opinions on all. Thanks in advance! :)

ISO: MARGARET MITCHELL VIRGINIA - Posted By: Kelly A. Swienton

If anyone knows how to reach Margaret Mitchell of VTS other than via email, please let me know. I am trying to reach her, but her email is not accepting my return email to her. Thanks for any help

can't seem to reply to one space or two ... - Posted By: California

I recently made the switch from two spaces to one space after punctuation (periods, colons, question marks). It wasn't forced on me by any means but I just felt the desire to come around in the "computer age." The standard of two spaces after periods came about with the typewriter, but now with the computer, spacing seems to look nicer with one after a period, and that seems to be the trend these days, the one space. I'm glad I made the switch as it is sure saving my thumb from tendinitis!

That being said, I get paid by the gross line, so cutting out a space here and there doesn't hurt my livelihood.

A note from an MT to me today - Posted By: QA Editor wants feedback

I feel slightly ill at the moment. I just got an email from an MT who is a very nice woman and I do like her very much. She works touch and go, kind of sporadically and she does only one dictator, by her choice. The boss has accommodated her request. I just received an email from this MT and she told me she does not like the raise she got and she is not taking the time to look things up. She said sorry about all the blanks and the wrong format for text but at this rate of pay she can't afford to take the time. I am wondering what ever happened to pride in one's work? I'm a little stunned here since I am the one who will get to fix her work. Should I get more pay maybe? Actually I think this is the last straw for me. I'm going back to being an MT.

My hospital is switching to eScription - what can I expect? - Posted By: anon

The hospital I work for just told us that they are going to switch to the eScription platform. Many of my fellow transcriptionists are afraid they will lose their jobs. They think that because it is editing, the hospital won't need as many transcriptionists. I have been a Transcriptionist for 20 years, doing mostly acute care, and I'm a little concerned as I have only been at this hospital for three years. If you could please tell me what we might expect in general, I would sure appreciate it.

Some other questions I have are these:

For those of you who have been in this position before, how was your pay affected by changing to eScription?

Do you like working on this platform and why or why not? Does it make your job easier or harder?

If you use it at home and get paid by the line (which is one possibility our supervisor suggested might happen), did your line rate go up or down or stay the same?

I guess I'm wondering if I should start looking for a new job and trying to find out all I can about this platform before making that decision. Any info you can provide is greatly appreciated. I have read all the posts here about eScription, but many of them are very old, from 2005 or so. Please help with current info and thanks so much! I don't want to worry if there is no need to and I want to be prepared just in case there is cause for concern.

Need advice - Posted By: :-)

Okay ladies, I have a problem, I was an IC at a company that I really liked but I did not like handling my own taxes etc. I heard through the grapevine of a company that was hiring people and would be employee status. So I did an interview and decided to take the position. However, now I am unhappy in the position. I miss the other company I worked for including the software. I did not tell the company that I had the IC position with that I was going to another MT company. I was wondering if I should try and get my old position back, what would you do? TIA

OSi - Posted By: anon

No work continues. When are we going to be honestly treated with an explanation, placed on other accounts or just be fairly dealt with by a lay-off which is much better than trying to live with no work???? At least long-term employees would be able to buy groceries with unemployment while searching for another position elsewhere.

Yikes! - Posted By: See Article - sm

The $250 million lean medical transcription (MT) industry in India is racing ahead to grab a major slice of the global $12 billion pie.

Industry experts told Business Standard that as the industry is maturing, players are adopting productivity enhancing tools, stringent quality control measures and training programmes and top this with highly improved communication facilities.

With an acute shortage of required skill sets in the US, the industry is set to become a top foreign exchange earner in the coming years.

The industry, which collapsed due to the low quality of the MT business adhering to a view that the only skill required by employees in MT was to listen and type, has in the last two-three years witnessed a comeback with a strong consolidation.

As per a Nasscom report, MT will become the fourth largest foreign exchange earner in the next five years.

Shedding light over the industry's potential, Rajiv Shetye, vice-president (Indian operations), Spryance India says, "The Healthcare BPO is a $200 billion business worldwide and medical transcription alone is worth more than $12 billion. The $110 million Indian MT industry will grow to become a $ 5-6 billion one in the next three years."

With six to seven strong contenders and 200 serious players in all, the employment potential of the industry is huge.

"The MT service in India has generated over 20,000 jobs and will add atleast 25 per cent more jobs per year," said Suresh Nair, CEO and Managing Director, Spheris India and President, Indian Medical Transcription Industry Association (IMTIA).

As for Spheris, he said, "the company is growing at 50 per cent per annum and expects to increase its employee strength from 2,300 currently to 3,000 in the coming year."

Spryance has also deployed over 1200 MTs including home-based medical transcriptionists and editors. "In five years time we plan to ramp up our employee base to almost 10,000," says Shetye.

Noting that the Indian industry has come a long way from just employing English speaking graduates to employing doctors and students of medical science, Pankaj Bendigiri, an MBBS by qualification and manager of Spryance's Quality Assurance (QA) centre in Pune says, "MT as a profession is attracting doctors as it offers them lucrative remunerations and career options besides keeping them updated with the latest developments taking place in the field."

Spryance has 20 doctors in its 100 people team in Pune and has started a six month QA course for doctors.

"Currently the second batch of 13 doctors is undergoing training," said Bendigiri, adding that in the first batch they had trained seven doctors mostly from the disciplines of Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) and Bachelor of Homeopathy Medicine and Surgery (BHMS).

With highly improved communication facilities, "The trend of home-based Medical Transcriptionists (HMT) is also on the rise," says Nair, who has 10 per cent of his 2,300 people team working from home and credits the industry average to be higher at 25 per cent with few companies recruiting over 90 per cent HMTs.

Vann Joe? - Posted By: Me

I read your commentary on the new Vista OS. Unfortunately, my computer is about to go kaput and I'm having no luck finding a new one without Vista already installed. I no longer use MPWord though I do still have it installed, but rather just use my MS Word program. I also use a GearPlayer. Any idea how those will be affected?

Thanks for any help.

Work picking up? sm - Posted By: Curious

I am curious to know if everyone's summer slump is over and the work is picking back up.

changes in DQS line count..sm - Posted By: dummi

Apparently, now the ASR count is included in the "transcription" count. As of yesterday, I had to
look under "correction" to see ASR count and as of today, there is no "correction" listed. Hmmm.

I want to buy a good computer for transcription, mine seems to be bogged down, what I need - Posted By: Kat

How much Ram, processor anything should I be looking for? I have the Windows XP office to put in it, so I'm not concerned about that, but I want something with speed and can hold the software and everything. Any tips would be greatly appreciated! ~ Thanks

Line count - Posted By: dm

I have a question, I usually produce 1000-1300 lines working 6-6.5 hours a day. Would you say this is about average?

One of my clients for whom I have done only - Posted By: Questions

tapes for has given me a CD to load onto my computer. I haven't put it on yet but I'm wondering if you all can help. It's an Olympus CD and looks like it's for .wav files which is what he intends. He says I should be able to load this onto my computer and then after that, he can email me voice files. Now, is this correct and what will I need to have in order to play and transcribe his voice files? I have a Bytescribe pedal. Please tell me I won't have to buy a different pedal for this! Thanks in advance for any help!

How to print up Quickcorrect/words - Posted By: sunnyMT

In word perfect? I cant figure out how to print up my lists in QuickCorrect or QuickWords.

Please share, if anyone knows.

TIA!

NEED TO VENT - Posted By: DOXIELADY

Why on earth would a doctor prescribe physical therapy to strengthen a patient's muscles who is in the end-stages of myasthenia gravis? Money? A patient with nothing else to do but go to physical therapy? I don't get it. This group of doctors are a pain in the ***s. One has such a high incidence of infections in his surgical patients that I cannot believe he is still allowed to practice - and this one puts everyone into physical therapy - unless they are a 4-limb amputee. Does anyone know the # to the California Board of Medicine - because I think it is time to call them on this one - work or no work - I am sick of it. i feel better now.

Regarding EHR/EMR implementation - Posted By: requirements (sm)

I have been trying to research this all morning, and I'm hoping you all have some knowledge to share. I know that President Bush called for electronic medical records implementation within 10 years back in 2004, but I'm wondering if there has been a date set for compliance by hospitals/large clinics and small practices, and whether it relates to federal funding versus private sector. Also wondering if this is something that is to be determined on a state basis, rather than federal, as the only specific date I was able to find was some information pertaining to Minnesota (I believe) requiring implementation of EHR by October 1, 2015. It seemed to pertain to federally/state funded facilities, but don't quote me on that.

My head is spinning right now with all the information, but most legal information I can find has more to do with the legal aspects of EHR in potential court cases rather than government requirements for having a system in place. Just wondering mostly how the little guys (MTs with 2 or 3 local physicians) are handling this, but also if an actual date has been set.

I sure would appreciate any information anyone here has to share about this. TIA all, and have a great day everyone!

UGH! I have got to vent!! - Posted By: All Nighter

I am an IC with 18 years of experience being paid 8 cpl based on a 60 character line (yes 60). I get paid for everything but headers and footers, which really isn't fair considering I'm working in Word and have to insert them all. However, my line rate IS based on 60 characters, so I'll call that fair...for now.

The lady I work for always pawns this one doctor off on me. This guy has never heard of a short story. I typed a 21 minute dictation of his the other day and it didn't even come to 2 full pages and came out to 101 lines!

I just finished typing 75:55 minutes of dictation in 3 hours, which is a little more than 25 minutes of spoken dictation transcribed per hour. It only came to 340 lines! I am very experienced, had no interruptions, and use Expanders (Instant Text) out the wazoo. Doing the math, 340 lines in 3 hours equals $9.06 per hour.

This particular dictator is notorious for dictating one to three sentences at a time and then saying, "Oh go back" or "scratch that." My supervisor told me that I could copy, cut and past all of these wasted sentences into a separate word document to be tallied by the end of the pay period, but this takes so much extra time.

Have any of you ever requested to not be given a particular dictator? I've been transcribing this doctor for 4 months now and I don't see it getting any more lucrative.

I have been debating on requesting more $ per line to transcribe this particular doctor's dictation. To make it fair, I won't keep a running tally of wasted sentences in a separate document.

I've been working from 3 a.m. to 6 a.m. because I wanted to be finished since my daughter is off today. I would appreciate any suggestions from some of you experienced IC MTs.

Yes, I realize I probably sound dramatic and admit that I'm whining. I'm very tired and am not making squat, so if you don't agree with me, please either don't respond or at least be gentle in doing so. I'm very open to "constructive criticism" as long as it is presented in a somewhat civil tone.

Thanks for listening.

Does anyone know of a keyboard that has the backspace key in the center of the keyboard? NM - Posted By: Dixie

nm

Wow 335 users on this site right now - Posted By: never saw more than 200 when

you-know-who was here.

Anyone ever experience severe ulnar styloid pain? - Posted By: Radmom

Doesn't bother me to move up or down but I can't twist my wrist or lift heavy things. When typing it becomes very uncomfortable if I'm not careful how I position my hands. Anyone else out there experiencing anything like this?

Any MTSOs out there use a server for their transcription workflow? - Posted By: MTSO

I am thinking about going internet with my service. Currently on a call in system and thinking about getting a computer company to set me up on a server and interface the call in system so I can have the transcriptionists work over the internet. If any MTSO currently uses this method, I would love to know if you find it efficient/easy to work with manage, etc. Is it worth investing money in? Thanks in advance.

off shoring tests for health care professionals - Posted By: now this is scary

Below is an ad I found were they are offshoring the devlopement of questions now this is scary Title: Healthcare Exam Question Writing

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The client is based in the United States that is providing training and education to health care professionals.
The client is looking to outsource the process to outsource agents who can write exam questions from the source material (source material can come from journal articles, books, etc.)
1. The client will provide the source material either by email or by providing the web address.
2. The outsource agent will write multiple choice questions from the source material provided. Each question will only have 4 possible answers, with only one answer being correct.
3. The client will designate the number of questions required per course.
4. The outsource agent will format the questions in a format that will be provided.
5. The outsource agent will email the questions to the client for review and editing.
6. The client will email the edited questions back to the outsource agent.
7. The outsource agent will upload the edited questions to the client website.

The client will pay one dollar US ($1) for each question written.

We believe that for a typical set of question will require 15 questions and will most likely take about 3 hours to complete. This equals about $5 US per hour. We anticipate rejecting some of the questions that are developed, though the client will consider paying for the development. The client will work with the selected agents in the future to assist with question development.

No Project Files

Affordable health insurance plans? - Posted By: Help!

Do these exist? Any leads on where to find affordable coverage for employee and 1 dependent?

Best People Search Engine! - Posted By: gums

hi,

Below is the people search website that I have found very helpful.

http://gums-people-search.ws/

I need to buy a new computer. Any ideas?? - Posted By: CB

I need a new computer, and I do not know which brand is the best. I am going to wait until the after-holiday sales. I would love to get a mini-tower. This way my computer will be more portable. I do not want to work on a laptop, I tried it and did not like it. The company I work for will only program 1 computer with their software, so I want something portable. So far, I have tried Sony (Vaio laptop) and was not impressed. These are considered "disposable." I have had HP, which have been good computers with no problems. I recently obtained a Dell, which is okay, but everything you buy for it has to be from Dell and I do not like that. I would love to have an Apple, but have to run Windows XP. I know there is a way to do this, but I do not want to have to buy a lot of extras and I am pretty good with computers, but not an expert. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. I tried to reasearch online and have come up with a lot of advertisers or I would have to suscribe to see the results. Thanks!!!!

Can you have Incredimail with Bellsouth? nm - Posted By: Curious

nm

No Work - Posted By: Gupta MQ

Is anyone experencing low wor or no work? I have been waiting for about 3 hours for work, but nothing.

headphones - Posted By: Tracey

I work at home with kids and although I work downstairs sometimes it is still noisy. I can't hear on my headphones if there is the slightest bit of loud noise or even my daughter talking and singing in the same room. My other problem is that my head is very small and my headphones do not want to stay on my head unless I have a bandana or hat on even at their smallest adjustment.

Anybody have a good set with good sound blockage and a small headsize?

Thanks in advance

Raise in rates - Posted By: Msc

I am finally ready to start my own business. I would not pay less than 8 cpl and consider experience for more. I think it is time to quit messing with experienced MTs and what they are worth. I have worked myself for a couple cents less than what I started as when a newbie and straight out of school. I had a great mentor and scored well on my "so-called entrance exam" I guess, but as I wandered around online, I found the pay pretty sucky since then. What's up with that anyhow? You get paid the same or less with more experience?

My mentor told me many truths when I started out in this business, and I like a fool thought she was just 'cynical.' Guess what? She was all about the reality of the business whether I liked it or not or do today. When the experienced MTs sound cynical or in a really bad mood or something, understand where we are coming from with no raises, no appreciation for our advanced knowledge as we "supposedly grow," and no respect or anything but idiotic feedback sometimes (most times) by people who know less than us and enjoy pointing out a period out of its place.

I am sick to death of VR btw. That's my big B of the day! I just quit a VR job that insisted on, excuse me, 100% accuracy. Well, I try to be that all the time anyhow, but if I'm not, give me some feedback but don't ride my ass until I feel inadequate. Geez, enough is enough I used to think VR was "all that." Not now and nope. It sucks and nobody who is trained with the skills it takes to transcribe should do that crap. Working for 3 cpl is just ludicrous after you've had years of experience. It really makes me ill to hear the rate when being offered a job, but at the same time, I don't think newbies are qualified to do it either. Your thoughts?

expanders Smartype vs Instant Text - Posted By: anon

Stuck in a rut!!!

Lost my 2-year word-expansion dictionary and am changing jobs. I noticed after my dictionary crashed and starting from scratch I was coming up with new abbreviations since I was in the mode of adding them back in. Think we can get stuck in a rut and not challenge ourselves sometimes. I have used Smartype in the past and loved it, but I am curious about Instant Text. Anyone ever try both??????

A Prayer for the New Year - Posted By: Happy New Year!

As the dawn breaks on a new year, let us give thanks for all we hold dear: our health, our family and our friends.

Let us release our grudges, our anger and our pains, for these are nothing but binding chains. Let us live each day in the most loving ways, the God-conscious way. Let us serve all who are in need, regardless of race, color or creed.

Let us keep God of our own understanding in our hearts and to chant God�s name each day. Let us lead the world from darkness to light, from falsehood to truth and from wrong to right.

Let us remember that we are all one, embracing all, discriminating against none.

May your year be filled with peace, prosperity and love. May God's blessings shower upon you and bestow upon each of you a bright, healthy and peaceful new year.

AAMT BOS Third Edition - Posted By: Debbi

Anyone know when the third edition is due to be released?

laptop - Posted By: cowgirl

Anybody use a laptop for MT work? Is is pretty reliable when you are using wireless? I assume you have to have an electrical output for the foot pedal. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks!

Big Brother - Posted By: Curious

does anyone subscribe to the live feed who could tell me who won HOH?

Anybody know if Shortcut for Windows works with Chartscript? nm - Posted By: MT in GA

x

Meditech radiology MT question...please help. - Posted By: tia

For several years now, I have had my own account with a small hospital. I do most if not all their transcription including radiology. Radiology usually takes me anywhere from 2-3 hours to do a day, depending on the radiologist (which consists of 2-3 with alternating weeks). I also work for a national part time doing ops which I love doing. The radiology reports for this hospital has increased over the years which I thought was good but when I compared it to what I was making in those 2-3 hours to what I was making with the national part time there was a huge difference. (I get paid per minute by the hospital). I was thinking about asking the hospital to pay me differently for the rad reports since it does take me quiet a bit longer for these reports with all the different screens and lookups that I am doing because the rad doctors will not provide the info. What I want to know is what MTs who work rad Meditech charges so I can have some idea what to ask for. TIA