Expanders and Lotus Notes
Posted By: anon on 2007-09-27
In Reply to: Is the platform compatible with an expansion - program now - sm
Axolotl uses a great Expander called SpeedType. It is a great program. It will hold reports as long as 8 pages. The platform is one of the best I have used. Very little, if any, demographics to input.
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Lotus Notes
Notes is basically a computer program. We type in Word, through Lotus Notes. Notes has several functions. It is where you sign on and receive your work, check your line counts, edited reports, etc.
You also have your account specs there, account address books with doc names, PA names, etc. Your E-mail is also on Notes.
It is a great program. Everything is right there for you. Very user friendly!!!
Yes, it is Lotus Notes and
They supply the computer.
I only know that they use Lotus Notes. Don't
s
Do you know Lotus Notes? I think that's the software they use. nm
s
Lotus Notes Platform
Lotus Notes is a Word-based program. Everything you need is on the desktop within Lotus notes. It is where you sign on to receive your work, check your line counts, find account specifics and samples, etc. It is very easy to use.
You do receive 6 reports in your queue. The system replicates every 5 minutes and you will receive jobs to keep you with 6 at all times.
The system is not set up to spy on anyone. However, managers/QA can tell who is signed on and what reports that are in all queues. This is very important in case there are any problems such as the MTs internet goes down or if there are any issues with signing off any particular report.
Axolotl management does ask that if we are going to be away from our desk for more than 15 minutes to please sign out of the system. They do not want the work sitting in the queues when other MTs can be typing them.
One reason why Axolotl is such a great place to work is we always have plenty of work and they do not over hire. They base the number of MTs needed for any specific account by each MT producing 1200 lines per day. They do not treat us like little kids and watch every move we make.
I have been here over 2 years and it is the best place I have worked. They just ask you stick to your schedule and produce your minimum line counts.
Axolotl uses Lotus Notes, but you
type in Word, use SpeedTyple (the same as ShortHand) for an expander, and Stedman's Spellchecker. They provide all equipment/software. FT only, employee. Great benefits, better than average pay. I had never seen a pay range, they just asked me what I wanted.
Pretty strict QA, but not nitpicky about punctuation and are helpful. You don't deal with 1 QA person and for the most part all are on the same page. Daily feedback, monthly QA report. Very reasonable insurance and cheaper than anything I've seen yet. Tons of work, paid downtime (which is rare), good tech support.
They just hired a bunch of MTs and don't know if they are still hiring, but you can apply through their website and they will contact you within a couple of days if they are hiring. Testing down through a third party. Written part was challenging but the transcription part very easy.
A couple of challenging accounts, but overall not excessive ESLs. Not able to view past reports, though lots of samples available.
You are allowed to set your schedule, but has to include a weekend day, and you are expected to adhere to your schedule, very little flexibility, though no issues with getting off for doctor's appointments, etc.
Best company I've worked for in a long time.
Do they still supply the puter with Lotus Notes on it? nm
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Do they still use Lotus Notes? Is program on your computer
s
I haven't started yet but they use Lotus Notes.
It is Windows based. Everyone I have talked to says it is user friendly, easy to make lines. Use Stedman's Spellcheck and SpeedType. You download 6 reports initially. I'm not sure if you complete the 6 and then get 6 more, or for every one you complete another one replaces it. They supply equipment. Employee manual makes it s/l they can spy on you.
I don't have experience with accounts, but told the accounts that I will work on are very low ESL. That doesn't mean there won't be bad dictators though.
Supposed to be someone available 24/7 if you need help, including QA.
I don't know any more than that since I haven't actually started work yet, still waiting on computer.
Anyone recently with Axolotl? How difficult is Lotus Notes to use? nm
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Load DQS first, then expanders. DQS will disable expanders otherwise. sm
Not sure about the compatibility of DQS and WebCorrect files.
OSI and expanders
Can you use Shorthand with the program that they use? Do they have a line count utility with their program? Thanks.
expanders, etc
I am not sure what you mean by an Expander for an FTP program since an FTP program is one that you use to send and receive files, not type in. If you are working in Word, you have AutoCorrect and AutoText. There is also PC ShortHand and As-U-Type. I think both of these have 30-day free trials. There are others, but I am not familiar with them. I did try InstantText once and found it very user-unfriendly. Please E-mail me if you have questions.
Are you able to put your own expanders in?
Then you will know them. A good book to pick up on Amazon is When the Name of the Game is Saving Keystrokes by Diana Rolland. At least, I am that is right. It is a very good book and has amazing hints at making macros.
They are not YOUR expanders!
They are not YOUR expanders. The expansion program belongs to MQ. They are your expansions created in a MQ owned system, proprietary stuff. Start fresh, why don't ya? Bad karma to drag MQ around with you. Also, if you go around asking potential employers if you can copy MQ's expansions, it makes you look bad - willing to steal from your employer, and stealing it is. Also puts tech support at your new company in a bad spot. Some will help you, but most hate it. It is theft. It will be a good refresher for you to remember what the expansions are, and its a snap to set them up in ExText.
Expanders
I am going to be buying one for my home computer and wonder which ones are considered the 'best.'
Expanders
I saw someone just today on ebay selling that program and I put a bid on it, and took the bid down. My husband said that there was a good chance that it wouldn't work on my computer as the gal selling it said she tried it a few hours and decided against it. The price was right - $75.00, but not if I couldn't load it and she couldn't guarantee that I could.
Expanders and IC
How will they know you are using Expanders as long as your work is accurate? As a contractor they cannot tell you not to use expanders. They *CAN* tell you they expect accurate work.
I personally have an issue with a blanket stop screwing up email when not everyone is screwing up.
I've come across MTs in the last couple of weeks answering questions for other MTs with 100% wrong answers!! And the company does still put out mass emails re errors. It's frustrating for those of us who DO do a good job to constantly be berated for the majority (it seems) who are unable to do what's required.
There's an MT who works for the company I work for who plows through reports and gets high line counts and 50% of her reports have to go to QA to be completed first. This ticks me off!
So IC MT- Do you work the way YOU need to do it and be proud that you are able to what so many seem unable to!
Keystroke expanders
Can anyone recommend a keystroke Expander software program? I have heard Instant Text and Shorthand are good.
word expanders
Shorthand is really good. Go to PCshorthand.com
Spheris expanders
I work for Spheris in radiology and I use IT. They sent it to me. Works well. 
I use a lot of expanders AND the best part of the KS
ortho accounts, IMHO, is that I have one doctor that I am responsible for in 24 hours. He is busy and predictable. It is the best way to run an account that I have ever been on, and Cheryl is tops in any book!
Word expanders
Does anyone know if most of the companies will permit you to use your own expander? I have used the same product since around 2000 and love it. I have tried others and just do not like them.
For those in the KNOW: If a company provides software/computer, are most willing to permit use of this type of software in lieu of theirs? I would wish it to be negotiable.
Expanders/Normals sm
As the poster below states, the way this is possible is by working an account that uses many normals and that you can utilize your Expanders with.
Chances are whatever national MTSO you work for will begin to use VR technology sooner rather than later.
After all, if you can use your normals/expanders to make astronomical line counts due to the repetitous nature of the accounts, it will be much easier for those accounts to go to VR.
text expanders
anything you have saved in MS word version 2003 is completely compatible. Instant Text version 3 and 5 are compatible. i believe that smart type version 4 is compatible as well. any version of pc ShortHand also works well.
Especially if you use a lot of expanders and templates.
Then, VR is definitely NOT WORTH YOUR TIME. If you type 5 lines an hour or something, yeah, I could see it working out for you. However, if you are a good MT, not so much.
you type 100 wpm without expanders?
Typos deducted?
For how long?
This I will only believe if I see it with my very own 2 eyes!
does Transolutions allow word expanders and if so,sm..
which one..SmartType?
word expanders. Shorthand.
x
Templates and word expanders
Figure out which abbreviations trigger an easy memory response. For instance, I've seen people put pn for pneumonia, but that just seemed to trip up my brain and so I put pne. Do you have doctors that use the same phrase over and over? For instance, nothing to indicate; that's nti. intrinsically and extrinsically is iae. no acute disease noted is nadn. You get more lines by typing (in the above example) 4 letters and getting paid for 22 (with spaces). I organized my templates by first 4 letters of last name and first 2 letters of first name - i.e., John Brown is browjo. (This habit started when I had a large hospital with 2000 doctors and this was the only way to keep them straight.) Then, if it's an H&P, it's browjohp; or discharge is browjods, etc. Seems complicated and you may find an easier way to catogorize, but once it's set in your brain, huge masses of data can easily be sorted through, accessed, appear on your screen, and half your typing is done for you.
Deventure and word expanders
I was just hired by Deventure and was wondering what, if any, the MTs at Deventure use? I currently don't have one and before I buy one I want to make sure it will work with the platforms at Deventure. Thanks in advance for any replys!
Debi
We DO get paid for expanders & normals
nm
Does anyone know if you can move DQS expanders into another platform. nm
:
Looking for info on the TRX platform, what expanders I can use, etc. sm
I appreciate anything you can tell me. So much depends on the platform and I am wanting information about the actual working for TRX. Thanks.
My last timed test was 135 wpm, no expanders
I don't think it's that uncommon amongst MTs, actually. Our fingers and brain are on autopilot and know where to go. I've worked with other MTs who have a similar speed.
Forbidden to use expanders, macros, etc! SM
We were told informed today that we are absolutely forbidden to use any type of word expanders, shortcuts, normals, macros, templates, etc. The client complained about the quality of the work. I would think QA is the one who needs to pay more attention to what is getting through. I've been doing this for 23 years with no complaints....not recently anyway. How is a person supposed to make enough to survive being when paid by production and not allowed to make use of their productivity tools? There's no way! 
Spheris radiology word expanders
Does anybody know what word Expanders Spheris uses for Meditech radiology?
Intellectual property... she thought up the expanders
now she gets to take them with her
I agree. It takes a while because you build up your expanders
and get used to the docs, but now that I am there over 5 months I am getting over 200 LPH and by keeping on myself and doing my hours, I am finally able to get the paycheck I expected. I believe the lower line counts was because I was not used to the account, and not used to starting a new job (have been in the same place forever in a past job). I bet a lot of people are just experiencing that now they are used to the work if they started 6 months or so ago. IMHO.
In defense of poster with typos...Sometimes when you use so many expanders(fortunately = fty for me
so I bet she is a high producer 'cause she has awesome expanders... don't typos happen to you on the boards sometimes? Or you hit enter too soon and your post looks like a first-grader typed it out...
Word based expanders work with Merit
Hope that helps
UST used to have software that didn't allow expanders of any kind, inc. AutoCorrect. Ask if you
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Put the extra work in to studying ESL accents, word expanders, become
more proficient as an MT and you will become more valuable and get better line count. Just IMO.
Keystrokes accounts all count the expanders as characters printed with spaces, not the abbreviation.
I have checked it, but we use Shorthand. What are you using?
Why do you think there are so many notes SM
on this board pertaining to how long it takes to get a decent line count?
They will tell you it is a 65 character line. It is not. As stated, more like 75-80. There are ways to work with it, make tons of macros, etc. But it is tough.
I only wish I had ER or OP notes, mostly
consults, discharge summaries, H&Ps and the occasional progress notes. I've been at this for almost 20 years though.
op notes
I do acute care which includes a pretty good many op notes but there are other work types too. I dont know if you are looking strictly for only op notes. I work for Alphamed solutions who is currently hiring. I have DSL. I believe it is required. There is usually plenty of work on my account. I hardly ever get on and no work. Rare. I work on the Dictaphone Extext with Transnet. But they also have other platforms. I hope I was of help.
ERS/OP NOTES
Does anyone remember seeing the job posting for someone to do ERs and op notes? What company was it? I cannot find it.
Can't you do everything but op notes?
H&P reports and consultations are similar whether acute care or clinic work. Discharge summaries aren't that difficult either for someone coming from clinic work. I agree that the op notes will take lots of time to learn. So why not ask if you could just do H&P reports for a while and then consultations, and then discharge summaries and maybe later on the op notes? I just received the opportunity to do discharge summaries after having only clinic work experience, and what I like the most is that this offers the opportunity to expand my knowledge because I get to transcribe reports in so many specialties. I understand that you are mad at the recruiter and somewhat unhappy because of computer issues, which means there are several things going on here. First you might want to figure out whether you want to stay with them or move on. If you like working for Precyse, then I would try to find a solution as mentioned above. If you do not like working for them, then it would be best to move on.
PO/OT notes
I agree. Not only are they boring, good grammar is lacking on many of them; they slur through the reports and don't seem to have any continuity of thought or format. I had one very good dictator the other day; I could have kissed her! Otherwise, I don't consider those medical reports, just a mess of words on a page. This is from my experience. You can also nix about 50% of the psych dictators. Just my take on this.
Vet notes
The trend has always been that vets handwrite their own reports in order to save on costs, but that may be changing now that they are hearing other vet groups are using transcription services? The company I work for only types veterinary ophthalmology reports, along with a few simple op reports. The ophthalmology terms and medications are pretty much the same as those for humans, but the reports can be a lot more interesting at times, since the animals don't always cooperate! Once you are comfortable with the terminology the doctors use on a regular basis and the company guidelines as to how the reports should be formatted, the work is a breeze!
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