We DO get paid for expanders & normals
Posted By: Just not preexisting headers NM on 2008-02-09
In Reply to: So if we use an expander and don't actually "type" word, then - Transtech line count issues
nm
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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.
Why do MTs who are paid by the hour cherrypick the normals off accounts.
Line counts shouldn't be that important to them.
Employee. 0.09 cpl, 100s of normals, and downtime paid.
x
I get paid per gross line. I utilize normals and macros
as much as possible, though I could do more than I do. I also type 100+ wpm. I don' t have demographics to fill in, just patient's name and I type in straight WP5.1, so no cumbersome formats. I download via FTP and I batch my work insteading of having save each individual report. I make 8 cpl per gross line.
Disagree with this. Every company I've worked for paid for normals.
x
Load DQS first, then expanders. DQS will disable expanders otherwise. sm
Not sure about the compatibility of DQS and WebCorrect files.
Normals
I have a lot of normals for my primary account but not as many for my secondary as it is a large teaching hospital with more dictators rotating in and out.
Normals
All accounts are verbatim. What I mean is I have many, many macros set up for PEs, operative reports, etc where the dictators basically say the same thing every time and then I will edit as needed. Both of my accounts do have a few normals set up in BayScribe by administration for some doctors. Those are usually operative reports.
There are normals? Never saw one. nm)
can you still use normals?
thanks for your honest feedback. i appreciate it. More positions open on your side according to email this morning. Guess you guys have a lot more work - I have gotten NSA 5 times already this morning!
Normals/templates
I let my IC's use them especially in my psych accounts. However there was a time that one of the gals forgot to change the name on the header and I was gone and it went to the doctor directly with the incorrect name on the Header and big, big HIPAA violation and the doctor almost pulled the account since he did not catch it either. So I understand where your MTSO is coming from but again, I would not keep the help that made these mistakes rather than make the other MT's pay for the incompetent ones and be unable to use their autorcorrect, ShortHand or whatever normals/expanders that they use. The account stayed with me but we do watch the names closely now. Why make all suffer for the mistakes of a few.
are they paying you for the normals?
I wish Normals had what I needed.
Most the time, what I am looking for can't be found in Normals, Alt G, or even Echart. I have enough experience on my primary that I know the usual sayings, it is just that I struggle with the not normal sayings that a dictator rambles off so fast, while chewing, yawning, etc. These things can't be found in normals (trust me I look every time before I submit a blank) and so far consist of way more than just 7% of my monthly dictations.
Whatever. I should just quit complaining. I do really like it there other than this part. I know you are trying to help, but I just wanted to point out that I use ALL the resources I can and still send over 7% to QA.
One job I worked for did not pay for normals at all.
They had loads and loads of normals and the docs used them consistently. When I would check my line count it was not where I thought it should be. When I asked I was told they did not pay for normals. That was something they did not tell me before I was hired. It was a company in Florida.
I bet they billed the client for normals
You can make alot of reports nothing but normals if the patient has a normal exam. I bet that company bills for those normals too. That is like asking a waitress to work for low wages, and she can't keep the tip!!!!! What will they think of next?
Yes, their normals, not yours. Not all places are like this apparently. nm
xxx
Do you get enough repetition so that one could create/utilize normals? Nm
nm
All accounts are VERBATIM, so there couldn't be any normals.
x
My MTSO sends us normals for those few doctors
that you them. They are usually a fill in the blank type thing with the doctors only giving the blanks, so there isn't much to mess up. We do have a few normals that need to be modified and there are only a few MTs that get these dictators, because of the same issue your MTSO, that changes are not made, etc. I am allowed to create my own normals and do. If I have a doctor that needs to have the same normal, but occasionally does change things, I only have my normal including what is ALWAYS the same and then I have macros for statements that are frequently dictated that I can use to piece together the rest of the document.
I can't imagine my company forbiding us to use normals. My company wants the MTs to be productive, because if they are producing they are making money and if they are making good money they are happy and the MTSO will have good retention of MTs, which they have had. It also benefits the MTSO to have high producing MTs, so that they can have fewer MTs and less costs/hassle.
I used to be a supervisor and we allowed all MTs to make their own normals, BUT...
it was the responsibility of the MT to listen to the dictation and make sure that the normal reflected exactly what the physician dictated. And any QA issues specifically attributed to an MT's personal normal resulted in a three-phase disciplinary action, i.e. written up for the first offense, written up and forced to come in-house to work for a determined period of time for the second, and finally termination for the third. Also any incentive money the MT may have earned for the day of the infraction was forfeited. It seems extreme, but we had such a problem with QA issues and many complaints from physicians especially with radiology normals that we really had no choice. We needed to make it clear how vital quality was over quantity.
Now that I work as an IC MT, I create and use my own normals, but I listen to every single dictation and if there is even one tiny, seemingly insignificant change such as the physician says the instead of a, I change it in the report.
I think a company forbidding their MTs from using personal normals will end up costing themselves money in the end. The solution is to institute very strict policies regarding the use of personal normals and enforce them. Let the client know that these policies are now being enforced and if they see any mistakes whatsoever, to please let the MTSO know. It's hard being an MTSO, I'm sure. Assuring the client that their concerns are your concerns and making the MT's feel respected and appreciated for their hard work is like walking a tightrope sometimes. The sad fact is that you can't make everyone happy all of the time and in the business world, you have to schmooze the one who writes your paycheck - that goes for MTSO's and MT's alike.
Keystrokes makes you count out for normals.
nm
Co I work for, large national, allows normals. Of course, you must listen
zz
I have normals, lots and a huge expander glossary sm
I also have 20 years in this business, which helps. I am not a fast typist really and I can't type at all without the expander, not anymore. I have a photographic memory for terms and how they are spelled...see it once, know it forever.
There are exceptional MTs and there are very good MTs, there are good ones and ones who can just about pass muster. Don't beat yourself up trying to be exceptional. I think exceptional MTs are born, but very good ones can be built from scratch. There are MANY MANY facets to success as an MT. You have to have quite an ear for voices and even the very best of us can't do every accent. You have to either be a great typist and/or Expander user, and you have to know it well (I have used my same one most of my career). You have to know your terminology inside and out. You need to know how to properly organize your normals so that they are consistent and easy to use. You have to have an excellent platform to work on, preferrably a Word client. You also have to have a company who stands behind you and makes sure you have enough work with QA people who can and will take the time to teach you what you don't know. My favorite QA gal is a font of knowledge, a BOS2 expert and she even corrects my emails for grammar. I have learned a lot from her. It helps to have someone on an IM who can answer questions on the fly for you. I have had those in the past and now I am one of those who does the answering.
Most importantly, do your very best at whatever mode of work you are doing. Show up every day, give it your all. Don't worry about what the rest of us are doing, be the best you, you can be. Things fall into place when you do that, I know because this is how I had to approach the early stages of my career. Persistance pays off.
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!
Sorry to hear that because that was a good account with great normals. Hope
you find a new home where you will be appreciated and with good line counts!
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.
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
Expanders and Lotus Notes
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.
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.
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