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ppl who borrow your 'puter - Posted By: Sandy

I own my own computer for and work as an IC from home. 


 


I have a question regarding computer etiquette, I guess you'd call it.  Do you consider it rude or out of line for another family member who is visiting your home to use your computer and to do so without asking?  I am uncomfortable about this but since I didn't speak up the first time it happened, I feel like I didn't set a boundary and to do so now would be tough.


 


Personally, I would never dream of using someone else's computer.  But that's just me.


 


What do you think of this? 



WELL IT'S PUBLISHED!!!!! - Posted By: TravelinMT

I can only say be careful what you wish for.  I would say the story is on a scale of 1-10 a 5 for us.  It is just like the supervisors that have never transcribed, a reporter who doesn't have a clue...well let's just say the picture doesn't come across like we would like it to.  That being said, I guess I should not look a gift horse in the mouth.  There is one bright side, there is a COMMENTS SECTION that you can add to.  Will someone please go on and explain we do much more than doctors notes and please, please mention the confidentialy aspect and the information that the general public does not know about going overseas?  Cuz this guy missed the boat on that whole aspect of the story.  ,  ,


 



CHANGING COURSE - Posted By: OLDTIMERMT

Well, after the reading and research I have done, I think I agree with one writer that stated that at the rate things are going now in the transcription world that in 5 years 80% of us will be out of jobs!!  Either through technology and/or offshoring!!


So, instead of waiting for another axe to fall on me...I have been chopped up enough by the MTSOs...... I am hoping to decorating cakes for a living!!!


I am waiting to hear back from a local bakery where I just interviewed. 


I have taken all the Wilton cake decorating courses and have done quite a few birthday, wedding, and mother's day cakes in the past...I definitely am not Duff or anyone at Charm City Cakes, but it is something I truly enjoy doing and it was my "therapy" that got me through a divorce about 10 years ago. 


So, I will be working 8 hours a day only, get immediate feed back, paid hourly and not production, and hopefully will be able to transition into this job permanently....


So, I hope and pray that I am wrong about the future of this profession for which I have worked so long and hard....but the stress now is almost unbearable and ain't worth it no more!!!        



EditScript - Posted By: Nevada Gal

Does anyone know if you can use a game-port pedal on EditScript or if you have to have a serial pedal?

VR using EXText -- is it productive? SM - Posted By: Lu

Getting ready to start doing VR through EXText.  I watched a demonstration of the VR editing process and it looks horrible!  From what I saw, it is not as simple as listening to the report, taking your foot of the pedal, and making a change.  There is a process of alt+s and then highlight the word to correct, etc...  It just looked very VERY tedious and unproductive.  I currently transcribe using EXText and have used EXText since it was first marketed, so I'm very familiary with it.  The VR portion of it is very new to me and seems like more of a burden than anything.


Then I was told that iChart will make the VR process much simplier and I'm wondering if this is true?


I have experience with VR using Escription and with the FutureNet program and both are so simple to use.  The Dictaphone software just looks completely complicated and I can't see making any money using it.


Anybody who has experience with iChart, Dictaphone VR and EXText and would like to share their opinions and give me some more info, would be greatly appreciated!


Thanks!



Typing Family/Friend/Own Reports - Posted By: Allison

How do you handle having to type a report for a close friend, family member or for yourself?  If you have independent contractors, do you allow them to type a report on a family member or themselves?

Slow learning curve...getting a little nervous. - Posted By: Mrs Chippy

I recently left the job I had had for over a decade because I had grown to HATE the company I worked for.  Have moved to a different company, one with a very good reputation on this board.  So I'm learning a new platform, new account, new dictators including lots of new ESL docs... and I'm learning acute care after many, many years of almost entirely clinic work.  Please, somebody tell me I'm going to get up to speed someday.  Hopefully someday soon.  Back in the day I typed an average of 250 lines an hour.... My line count seems stuck for the last week or so at 140.  I've been doing this job for 2 weeks now.  The switch to acute care is really shaking my confidence... I'm realizing how much I didn't know for the many years I've been an MT.  Just hoping for a little encouragement -- as my daughter would say, "an encouraging shoulder squeeze."    TY!

I was just wondering if on-site MTs get paid more than at-home MTs? - Posted By: cw

I am just curious if MTs that work at hospitals make more since they would probably get paid per hour as opposed to cents per lines for a transcription company.  TIA!

1099 tax forms - Posted By: es

Does anyone out there who is an IC know of the deadline date for the 1099 forms to be sent out via "employer"?  As a special input, I did some research on what deciphers an employer-employee versus employer-independent contractor.  In summay there were 20 points made and I fit all criteria of being an "employee" instead of classified as "independent contractor" per the IRS.  I am considering filing the "SS-8" form with the IRS, which is a form for the IRS to give their input on the employer-independent contractor issue to determine how I really should be classified.  The way I see it, my employer refers to me as an IC because it simply benefits her, and on the otherhand, it does nothing for me except harm.  I am making 9 cents a line, cut back from 10 cents a line a few couple months ago, and have am offered no benefits whatsoever.  This happens to be one main point that the IRS displays as I would really be classifed an employee as my employer has control of my pay.  Just thought this was an interesting fact to point out to all as it is something I was not aware of until today upon doing self investigation into it.



Is this job posting real?! - Posted By: mt

Did yall see the one posted, asking for 5000 lines per day?!  Most places are per week, and I haven't even hit that yet?!

OF INTEREST TO ALL TIME WARNER CUSTOMERS...THEY ARE GOING TO START CHARGING FOR USAGE AND NOT A FLAT - Posted By: Charlene

This really sucks as the article said it would impact heavy users only.  My cable bill is already high but to be charged for actual using will skyrocket my bill.  I think I could spit nails right now.  I can post the article if anyone is interested.  They said it will be a trial period.  Anyone else use Time Warner?



About outsourcing... - Posted By: Amanda

It's not just us - but darnit, I'm still mad!!!


http://www.comcast.net/data/fan/html/popup.html?v=928157451&pl=newestFinance.xml&config=&launchpoint=Link&cid=fanlink&attr=featured_sidebar&tab=featured&attr=finance_sidebar



Dr. Zhivago, Silence of the Lambs, To Kill a - Posted By: Mockingbird. nm

nm

Non-compete agreements - Posted By: frustrated and searching

Who has had to sign one with their company? Are they enforced? How long was your non-compete arrangement for? Thanks!



What does q.a.c. stand for? - Posted By: Don't know

x

Discharge Summaries - Posted By: Amber

Hello, can anyone help me?  I have done medical transcription for three years at an acute care clinic.  The doctor I worked for bought me text books and tested me until I had sufficient knowledge in the subject, and I became his medical transcriptionist. 


I am now trying to find a job doing MT work at home, and I am currently taking an online test for a company.  My question is, if a specific format is not indicated, which format do I use as a default, for


discharge summaries, acute care, operative, and radiology.


any help would be appreciated.


amber


 



Blue Cross/Blue Shield or Mutual of Omaha - Which company pays off claims the best w/o hassle? - Posted By: Southernrose

nm

What are your thoughts on electronic - Posted By: medical records (EMR)?

When I go to the doctor, he types my visit into the electronic medical record himself as he is speaking with me.  I guess it saves them time on dictating the report .


I always say I will train for something else but it costs to go to school.  I have been in school forever, off a semester, on a semester.  I just hope I can get re-trained before everyone switches to EMR.


anon



Just e-mailed the Oprah! show - Posted By: AnotherOldTimerMT

I just finished posting a comment to the Oprah! Show.  If/when (I'm an optimist!) I get a response, I'll be letting y'all know.  Happy Wednesday!  

How does the footpedal work??? - Posted By: footloose

OK. This may be strange. But, I listen to a lot of audio programming online through iTunes. My son is doing research for school and asked if I could transcribe a news report for him. I can do it the old fashioned slow way, without a foot pedal, but I have a footpedal. I've never before used it for anything other than work, so I just don't question how it's set up. Can I "point" it to work with something like iTunes, as well?

Moderator...what happened to the Cheney posts? - Posted By: can't find them anywhere...nm



Does anyone use DocShuttle and WavPlayer together for their digital transcription? Has it worked out - Posted By: ? Theresa

xx



Direct hit on cherrypickers! - Posted By: MQGuy

Here's some good news - my branch just eliminated cherrypicking by disabling the Dictaphone button that sends reports back into the pool, thereby rending cherrypickers impotent! Yea!!!


Now they have to do the same frickin' lousy docs as meeee!



OSI - Posted By: Pam

My son-in-law left the marines and was classified a deserter and picked up. He is being sent to OSi at Pendleton can anyone tell me what this is and what happens there?  Thaank you

coding - Posted By: moonlight

what is the best way to get into coding?  I have thought about an online course. 



Need help on the word board - Posted By: please (no message).

nm

HELP! I need your opinions... - Posted By: ch

I currently type for a wonderful company, which I really enjoy working with...the account is great, and the editors are wonderful, but I am only making 0.65 CPL.  Their line rate consists of 11 words, not by 65 characters.  So, my question to you is this:  I was offered a job paying me .08 cpl per 65 characters including spaces.  Is this a big enough increase to make it worth while leaving a company that I am essentially very happy with other than the low pay?    Thanks very much for your help!  

Lab tests - Posted By: :)

Does anyone know of a good website that lists lab test reference ranges.  The one I have has in depth information about the test, but not reference ranges.  Thanks!

VR editing - Posted By: TravelinMT

Sorry it's getting late.  I meant to say based on the fact that you are actually doing a higher level of work.  Pay should be commensurate with the job you are doing and we need to learn to present this to companies instead of taking the crumbs they want to throw our way.  If we are responsible for editing someone else's work and confirming (QA) the dictation is correct then we should be paid more than whomever is transcribing the report.  When the report comes back with an error in it and they look in the computer (and they always can) and it shows you are the one who edited/corrected it guess who it is going to come back on.  With that responsibility should come a higher salary.

Satellite users for MTing - it your connection fairly reliable- I cannot get DSL and about to give u - Posted By: dialupper

nm

iTran medical transcription suite?? - Posted By: mt50

Does anyone type in this program for a company called DRC, Digital Records Corporation.  If so, can you tell me some about it, and possibly give me a web site so I can check it out to see what it is like?



 



Lightweight over-the-ear headphones? sm - Posted By: MT3

I really need to improve my audio situation, all voice files not being equal these days, so after reading numerous comments here have decided to go with standard earmuff style headphones (without noise canceling feature)...but I sure would like something as lightweight as possible, as I see the weight as being the major drawback.

Anyone have any lightweight headphones they really like? If so would you share the brand and model number so I could check them out? Thanks much!

12 FOUND ALIVE - THE MIRACLE DID HAPPEN. - Posted By: THANK GOD

 

I just had an ESL doc who - Posted By: ugh

talked 100 miles an hour, whispered, mumbled, and had the phone entirely close to their mouth so I go that "lispy" sound the entire time.  I need a vacation after that.

Resources for new job - Posted By: Beth

I've accepted a job as a inhouse transcriptionist/front office person for a smallish physical medicine and rehabilitation practice (one doctor and five other office staff). I've been looking for good fit for my skills, experience and personality for over a year.  It's been especially hard as I've had personal, family and finanacial problems as well during this time.  In other words, this is almost too perfect to believe--I'd given up hoping that anything good would happen for me, so I do want desperately to make this work.  The doctor is a D.O. and, from the interview, she treats fibromyalgia, musculoskeletal diseases, traumatic brain injury, as well as provides comprehensive rehabilitation.  I have had six years of physical therapy dictation and probably 1-1/2 years of family medicine-type dictation all told in three other jobs. 


My questions are:  what are some references to have?  I've been told I can load any software that would help me, after it's checked out by the office manager.  Also, any hints, do's and don't's about working inhouse?  The clerical part will be answering phones and scheduling as needed and filing.  Many thanks for your suggestions!


 



working directly for rad office - Posted By: rad transcription

If you took a position working from home directly for a small doctors' office (5 docs) with no ESL and you supplied your own computer and internet, what is the lowest line rate you would accept?   There is a good chance they may provide benefits too, including medical insurance.  This would be for radiology only with mammos, x-rays, CTs, diagnostics, ultrasounds and no MRIs. 


Thanks in advance for comments. 


 



Can you use Instant Text with Inscribe? - Posted By: Tracy

I've been using the Expander build into Inscribe, but wondered if this program would work and increase my speed.  Thoughts? I'm open to any other programs too if there are any other suggestions.  It's hard to remember all my shortcuts!

Question about templates - Posted By: WS

I am wondering how you make a template so that you can hit F12 to skip to each section.  Thanks!

Wanting psych work - Posted By: gwe

Looking for psych work.  Will work any hours or days.

anyone working for JLG - Posted By: freeflyer

Anyone working for JLG?  Could you please Email me?  Thanks.



If you are complaining of low pay, why?? - Posted By: Pattie

do you stay in this business?? I have just read loads of posts below and I lady talking about just paying the bills and housing and to me that is sad because sounds like basically just surviving. Tell me, if so many are fed up with the low pay (and I would like to make more myself) but what are the reasons you continue to work at MTing? I would probably be truthful in saying most of your fast food places and maybe some of your box stores now pay what a Transcriptionist makes. Why complain if you continue to work for these wages- I really would like to know.

Dumb things-word of advice - Posted By: freebie

I'm tired and I just did the dumbeest thing and have to share it -   I did a global search and replace to turn ER into emergency room and CAT into computed tomography  - there are just tons of words with "er" in the middle and who would think about "cat" being in the middle of the word medications among others!



Has anyone bought special mattress like Tempurpedic or the air mattress that let's you select - Posted By: Just curious

comfort level.  I'm in the market and can't make up my mind.  Definitely want something a little better than box springs and regular mattress.  Do they make water beds anymore?  I had one in the past and that was really ugly but comfortable.

editing vs. QA vs. transcribing - Posted By: burned out

Wondering what you guys in editing and/or QA can tell me about the stress level of your jobs?  I love transcribing; have done it for 25+ years, but this year I've been extremely burned out.  Some days, I can barely make my quota.  I'm easily distracted, I get sleepy, my back hurts, and my wrists seem to lock up.  I have to stretch my 8-hour day out to about 15 hours just to get my minimum line count.  I wouldn't say it's "stressful," just monotonous and boring.  Tried editing at one point, but found it to be even more boring; just MY opinion.  What's the stress level for you guys who are strictly editors and strictly QA?  Is QA worth the extra money, or are you stressed to the max?

Thought I'd heard/done it all. This is nuts!! sm - Posted By: Sending this doc an iPOD!!

Doc comes on and I thought he had a poor connection or something because his voice is shaking... he says, "Sorry, I'm jogging and I'm a little out of breath..." 


JOGGING WHILE DICTATING!!!???


Needless to say, I'm not enjoying this dictation.


Long report too... he's a cardiologist... lol... maybe explains the jogging...


Okay, just had to vent.  Back to work.



Need suggestions regarding spell check on my PC. - Posted By: RockinMT

Okay, here's my situation.  I have a PC given to me by the hospital that I work for.  Last week, it went haywire on me and so I took into the techies to work on.  Long story short, they had to build me a whole new PC.  So now I've got my new PC and it's working great except they forgot to load me the Stedman's medical spellchecker (we use EXText). 


Sooooooo, rather than call the help desk and go through all the hoops just so they can load it on for me, I want to just build my own spellchecker.  They only slow down is those darn drugs!  I have to look those up every single time because I'm never 100% sure if I've spelled them right.  Is there a drug word list somewhere out there on the net that I can copy and paste into my dictionary file?  That would be oh so wonderful. 


I just cannot face the techie people again.  I couldn't work for two days last week because of PC issues and today is the first day of a new pay period and I so want to make up for my lost lines without any more hiccups.


Okay, I'm done boo hooin' and beggin.  Back to work!



Scream.... - Posted By: pdqtrans

  I hate my computer.


I use Windows XP and type in MS Office Word 2003.  My voice files come through VoiceWave Player by Digital Voice, Inc.  I type for several different facilities and each uses a different font, from courier which shows up thin letters to arial which shows up bolder and larger so it drives my eyes crazy to swap back and forth between accounts.  That said, when I am typing my screen shakes. The words literally shift on the screen, not the screen shaking on the desk (which it also does).  The letters also change while typine from regular to a bolder type and back.  Screen otherwise works fine, it is only about 2 years old.  If I shut down the voice wave it works fine, so it seems to be bewteen word and the waveplayer.


Anyone had this problem or have any solutions.



How long do you wait... - Posted By: to contact the person that gave you a job offer?

I'm pretty sure I've been offered a position at a company via email.  They told me what I would be paid and the fact that my rate would go up after I'm off QA, etc.  I emailed the person back 3 days ago accepting and have not heard anything more.  How long should I wait before sending another email asking what's up?

Can anyone help??? - Posted By: waitingwaitingwaiting

Does anyone know of a company that is hiring newbies or entry level transciptionists????  I am currently working for a Dermatologist.  I am the only Transcriptionist for the clinic.  I have been there a year.  I have completed two medical transcriptionist positions already.  Any help would be appreciated.....Thanks again!!!!!!

FileZilla HELP! - Posted By: MT is Wisconsin

Hello!


I am trying to configure FileZilla and wow...it is not easy!  I have a dynamic IP address.  I am also using a router and I have a firewall.  Apparently passive mode is the recommended mode (as opposed to active mode). 


At this point I have three options: 


-- Ask your OS for the external IP address (but it says this only works if you are NOT behind a rounter...so this one is out).


--I can insert an IP address (but this only works if you have a static IP address...so this one is out).


--Get external IP address from the following URL: http://ip.filezilla-project.org/ip.php.  It says to use this option if you have a dynamic IP address (which I do).  "FileZilla will contact the above server once each session as soon as you use ACTIVE mode for the first time".  SO.... if I am using a dynamic IP address my only option is to use active mode, not passive mode??  How do I tell FileZilla to use active mode? 


I am trying to connect using FileZilla to my webspace (webpages) provided by my ISP, Charter, so I can FTP files for my clients.  Does anyone happen to have ANY suggestions for me?  I much appreciate any help!


Thanks!