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Office in livingroom or bedroom? - Posted By: Debbie

Would like your opinions, advice, pros and cons on whether you have your office in a main part of the house or separate room.  Right now mine is in a main part of the house, but I get constantly distracted by disabled husband, TV and dogs barking etc.  If it's not my dogs barking, it is the neighbors barking (all day long!).  What do the rest of you do? 



Job Board ??? - Posted By: Sweet Pea

What happened to the Job Board that was at the top of the Job Seeker's Board?  I have not been able to find it for several days.  HELP!

Help! Can get foot pedal to work - Posted By: TinTx

I have started a new job with Landmark but cannot get my two foot pedals to work with Bayscribe.  Could someone please help me!


Thanks in advance!



Nice as can be when asking you to work - Posted By: disheveled

But if you have a question you get these very snippy responses and the feeling you are an inconvenience. Anyone else experience this?

anyone ever order from comfort keyboard or - Posted By: ergonomic resource dot com?

I'm waiting for my keyboard now for two weeks, when I was told it would take two days.  I just spent 300 hundred bucks on this thing, i've called several times, there is a tracking number and everything, but no one seems to know where my package is??  Just wondering if anyone has ordered successfully from these people and if I should just be patient.  This is why I do not order on line very much!

Something interesting I found regarding offshoring... - Posted By: suzylyn

I check the Craigslist website quite often, and on a whim I clicked on India and then jobs.  SO MANY POSTINGS FOR JOBS AVAILABLE FOR U.S. BASED COMPANIES - customer service, call centers, computer techs, and yes even MTs.  There was even one posting a few weeks ago from a "company" that would set you up with a U.S. based physical address, phone number, fax number so that you could have your business "based" in the U.S., obviously to actually be in another country and get the U.S. tax break.  Sickening



ExText Question - Posted By: Carol Johnston

I am hoping that someone can tell me if it is possible to have 2 computers networked together with one having ExText on it and the other not?  It seems as though every time I try to network my 2 home computers so they can both have access to the internet at the same time it seems that I have problems with ExText so I just don't bother.  But, if there is a way I would greatly appreciate hearing how.



If Jacy asks a question, don't respond - Posted By: She will come back and grip later, lol!

x

Chartscript and Instant Text?? - Posted By: dd

Does anyone use this combination - can you tell me how you do it - having problems linking - Thanks

setting default view in Word 2000 - Posted By: Cj

My default view has changed to 90% and I have to manually change every report. Is there a way to fix this so it pulls in on the normal view every time?

I wonder if the cherry pickers will be out of work when all the good speaking American doctors are - Posted By: swallowed up by VR?

Gee, I will still be working because I'm grasping these ESLs pretty dang good, right along with ops and cardiology reports.

So what's for dinner tonight? I need suggestions. - Posted By: Need to think on that....

I have melons cut up and an Italian pasta salad.  What to go with it?

Any idea on how to improve quality. - Posted By: 2 jobs.

This could be a spin off on another post.  I started with a national 3 weeks ago and they sent me a QA score of 95.5%.  I need 98%.  They did make a note there were no major patient care errors mostly minor errors in formatting and some omitted words.  What passes at my regular FT job won't pass at the MTSO though.  One of my errors is I forgot to put a period after q.  I wrote q 4 hours.  At my FT job that would have passed but  MTSO wants q.4 h.  It is stuff like that that brought my score down.      I like a challenge but gosh when I have already typed 1300 lines in-house then I have to come home and type some more at the MTSO.  Not as easy as I thought.



Does Medquist really pay out that sign-on bonus? - Posted By: If so, when? nm

zz

IC who works when she wants. Period! sm - Posted By: Frustrated

Yes. You read that correctly. She only works when she feels like it. Why do I keep her on? When she works she does a good job. And she is family. I've hinted, joked, and got downright bitchy about it many times. Work is to be returned in 24 to 36 hours, but it is sometimes five or six days. The only time she really seems to put her best foot forward is the two days before the pay cutoff date to be sure she has a nice check. Then she'll make all types of strange excuses for why her work wasn't returned in a timely manner. No internet service. At at a restaurant and got sick. Problems at home. - I'm being taken advantage of in a big way and I know this. I wouldn't tolerate it at all if it weren't for the fact that she's family. My other ICs don't get away with it. ---So, I need advice on the best way to handle it. If your advice is that I should never hire family please save yourself the time by not posting. I know that now, but its water under the bridge and I have to deal with this ongoing problem yet preserve peace. Thanks in advance for your input.

SOS! Any iType iPlayer users - Posted By: In the house?...sm

I am starting a new job with this platform which I have never used before.  For reasons I don't care to get into (don't get me started) I am without a foot pedal until next week, so I am trying to use audio hot keys.  The hot keys on my laptop quick launch buttons only work with iTunes.  I tried to use the "help" button on the iPlayer but it does not display (it drives me crazy when I find out that for whatever reason, MTs are blocked from using help features!).  Does anybody know if iPlayer has audio hot keys or if there is someplace on the web I can find help with iPlayer?  I am looking at the FutureNet website at the moment, but so far, no luck. 

Did anyone hear Clark Howard today? sm - Posted By: mtmt

There was a lady on there who's an IC transcriptionist. Apparently she thinks the owner of her company is going to file bankruptcy, and she and the other ICs are afraid they're not going to get paid. I don't want to give any of the details because I might not get them right, but maybe you could listen to it on his web site. As I understood it, the bottom line was these transcriptionists don't have a chance in heck of getting their money, since they're not employees.

Questions about VR - Posted By: Cookie

I have used VR for several years now and it is the pits now. It misses a lot of words, misses the numbering, just throws in salad and I am really at a loss as to why. At 1 time 3-4 years ago it was almost perfect. I am using the same platform, Escription and it is just plain frustrating to repeat day after day the same mistakes and yet the process is never learned- totally unlike what we were told when first starting on it. I would like to hear from others who have used for some time and see if yours has stayed the same or have you noticed any changes. Thanks.

I need to store an ink jet printer and keep in case my others die-how do I - Posted By: elle

go about storing the cartriges so they don't dry out?  Can regular adhesive tape be put on the part where the ink shoots out (as they are when new?).  Thanks for any ideas.

News flash everybody!! - sm - Posted By: MTME

After a nasty argument with ex H over his lack of interest in our daughter for the past 15 years, he informs me that I won't have a job in 3 years due to voice recognition taking over.  Yikes, where do I turn now?  And, since she will be 18 then, he is done financially.  Well, jeeze, since he hasn't been there emotionally for the past 15 years, he might as well stop paying his lousy $150/month.  I'm ticked off and laughing at the same time.  Just venting over the fact that ex idiot is taking pleasure in the thought that he thinks he knows something I don't know.    Obviously he has been doing some reasearch or how would he even know what voice recognition is?  Please excuse my very angry rant! I'm going to take a deep breath and try to forget the whole ugly conversation. 

Increased speed with Expander - Posted By: Abby

How much faster would you say an Expander can make you when transcribing?


Abby



Male MTs - Posted By: me

I have been an MT for over 20 years.  My hubby is unemployed and looking for new career options.  He is checking into the MT schools and even talked to an employer today that hires ouf of a certain school.  I have known very few men in this career field over the years, maybe 5 that I knew personally and counted as friends.  I asked my boss when I first got into MT why we didn't have more men in the office doing MT.  She said she thought maybe they just didn't know about it.  Well now I am talking to my friends, and I have heard some of their husbands are checking into it.  They like the idea of staying home to work and spending more time with their children.  The few men that I have known over the  years that did MT really enjoyed it as a career.  I think it would be nice to see more.

MS Word Auto Text - Posted By: mjr

I had inputed a bunch of my own "text expantion" into MS Word Auto Text and went in to work today and they are all gone.  It is not the first time this has happened, and then you have to go and input back everything, which is a pain.


Has anyone else experienced this or know why it happens??



Mobile internet - Posted By: Lindabel

I need to go mobile with my laptop so I can work away from home.  Anybody else out there who does this?  Any suggestions.  Good carriers?  Any advice greatly appreciated.  Thanks. 

How was everyone's Christmas? Good, I hope. - Posted By: Merry Christmas!

We wound up missing the big Christmas Day family feast because one of our kids woke up from a nap with a 102.4 degree temperature.  It hit 104.9 in the middle of the night last night.  Of course, the clinic is closed today so I'll have to take him to the ER if things don't get better soon.  Poor little sprite.

what is the most difficult field to transcribe? - Posted By: whatta think?



Info about Vianeta software? - Posted By: mt

Is is user-friendly and productive.  Is the line count available for each document.  How is the spell check and abbreviation expander, or can you use your own.  Is it word-based?  Thanks

Weekend work - Posted By: weekender

I am trying to locate transcriptionists who have to work every weekend, unless the physician is out of town (for which you are not notified).  I am trying to figure out how to get a weekend off without being penalized (which some companies penalize you for missing any work unless you are dead - those are the exact words one company that I work for used).  I have not had a weekend off in two years.  How long does one have to endure this kind of treatment by employers before you know it is time to move on.  Anyone with answers on how you handled this, I welcome your advice.

How many lph do you average doing VR editing? sm - Posted By: GoColts

I am making the switch from straight transcription to VR editing.  Just curious to know how many lines you all average.


Thanks



Where were you... - Posted By: RadGuy

when you heard John Lennon was shot 25 years ago today? I was in college in my off-campus apartment when I woke up to my radio with nothing but Beatle songs playing - then the DJ saying John Lennon had been killed - I remember thinking what an awful joke, even for a morning talk DJ. But when I turned on the TV I realized it was, amazingly and senselessly, true. I walked around that day in such a haze of disbelief and sadness - my idol gone. Just like that. It STILL amazes me. RIP, John.

This is so daggone irritating!! I have been - Posted By: sm

receiving phone calls from unknown name and number for about two weeks now.  They were calling three times a day (tid-lol).  I finally answered hoping to let them know that it was NOT appreciated the amount of calls I was receiving.  No one responded to my hello.  I then told them not to call again.  They did.  Now the calls are up to 4-5 times a day.  I have contacted my phone company about finding out who this moron is, but have not heard yet.  Has anyone gone through this and, if so, what did you do that got results?  TIA.

Just starting macros... - Posted By: need someone who knows macros

Hey!  Just starting to use macros here and have a few questions.


I have a few docs that say the same thing over and over, so I recorded macros using the following, and please let me know if this is what others do:


Control+D - neatly dressed and groomed


Control+T - thought processes linear


Control+J - judgment was intact


Just to name a few.  I have been adding alt + things for others and so on...


How do you all remember what you recorded for what macro?  Is this just you use it so much you just know?  Also, how are macros helpful when your doc doesn't repeat themselves or says things slightly different each dictation?  PLEASE UNDERSTAND I AM JUST STARTING AND DON'T KNOW WHAT I AM DOING.  So, those of you that would like to write back, "what are you stoopid???", please refrain.


Thank you!!



Foxfire browser - Posted By: Georgi

I noticed someone below mentioned they use Foxfire.  Any comments on this browser?  Is it much better?  Any specifics appreciated. 

Lines required for FT - Posted By: Chimeralld

Hello.  I was wondering if anyone could give me an idea of how many lines companies are requiring at minimum per an 8-hour day. From a few of the ads and my last "in-house" job, it looks like they are asking for about 1200 lines a day equaling 6000 per week. Does anyone know if this is about the average?  I am researching this to know what to discuss with a local physician regarding transcribing his work.  Thanks to all for any information.  Have a great week.      L. Dickin 



ExpressScribe - how do I delete files? - Posted By: Ab

How do I delete old audio files from ExpressScribe?  These are the ones that I can go and recover if I've deleted from my main screen but they are still backed up.  I've got a ton and don't need to keep any of them - they are just taking up memory space.  Anyone know?

Anyone have 2 fake enthusiasm... - Posted By: RadGuy

over a particular relative's gifts? I swear my big sister gives the cheesiest, cheapest gifts every year - last year she gave me deodorant samples and the year before that some tupperware (???!!!) she was about 2 throw away. It is soooo hard to act excited and I dread the moment when I have to open her gifts every year. I always save hers for last and give an Oscar winning performance. Do U have a really cheap relative and how do U act excited?

Any suggestions on a new career after transcription? - Posted By: Kat

I've been a Transcriptionist for years and I'm considering changing careers but not sure where to go from here?  Does anyone have any ideas from experience or any of you out there thinking about going on to something else? Just thought maybe all of your creative minds could help come up with some good ideas!

Need autocorrect for cc to mL and also cc: Thanks! - Posted By: keep on learning

My mind is not working right how to do one without affecting the other!


 


Thanks for the help



Which is the best Stedman's electronic dictionary? - Posted By: memt

Which is the latest and best Stedman's electronic dictionary to get?


There's one on Amazon for 44.98 that includes a book and a CD-ROM.


http://www.amazon.com/Stedmans-Medical-Dictionary/dp/0781733901/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-2847481-2148145?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1180728177&sr=8-1


Then, there's one on the Stedman site for 99.95, but it's only a CD-ROM.


http://stedmans.com/product.cfm/528/210


 


Which of these (or another?) is the best one to get?


 



Made it through the week - sm - Posted By: painpatient

I made it through the week - and weaned off one pill per day - so now I am taking two pills per day and attempting at home to wean off another one before my next doctor's appointment.  It was easier being away for this first week.  My nerves are steadier today than they were when I left.  By my next appointment I hope to be able to wean to a lower dose pill and then wean off of those - but I do see that you must do it slowly.  The lower dosage played around with my blood pressure a bit - and the anti-anxiety medicine and phenergan got me through the withdrawals without too much problem.  My goal is to be completely off of this medication by the end of August when I have a wedding to attend.  I am using that as my goal date.  Thank you to all who supported me through prayer this last week.  I ended up calling my husband late on the night I left - he thought I was at his mother's house.  He completely understood and was busy with work.  He took care of the dogs and was very supportive of me getting off the medication.  We had a long talk when I got home.  He is just concerned that I will go back to being in so much pain from the fibro - but we will cross that bridge when we get there.  Thank you again to all who posted information and support for me.

dictaphone question - Posted By: sharon

Hello all.  I've just come home from 4 months of hospitalization and find my memory to be foggy as to my equipment.  Perhaps you could help.  I have a Superstation and it is operating as a dictaphone.  I know I used to be able to slow/fast the dictator but I just can't remember how.  If anybody out there has just a plain dictaphone could you tell me what keys make this happen for me.

Failure to pay and your options - Posted By: concerned MT - long message

If you are currently an Independent contractor, you are a business. You are hired as a business to conduct work for a MTSO. I strongly urge everyone to be sure that any contract they sign with a company includes a date of expected pay. Also, when hired, note that late payment of services, after a reasonable amount of time for posting, will be cause for a late fee or interest. Be sure to save e-mail or correspondence. The fact that a company notes when payment of your invoice will be ill give them a set time with a reasonable amount of time for postage to get to you.

If, payment is not made, within that reasonable amount of time, and conversations give you the assumption that they will not be paid (especially if it is said we did not get money etc) then it is theft of services. Contact your DA, and the DA of the MTSO. Think of it this way, if you were any other professional, late fees get tacked on if YOU DO NOT PAY, so pass it on. Put it in your correspondence and stick to it. You are an independent contractor supporting your business.

Now, for all of those who think they are an independent contractor but have any of the following terms, you may be considered an employee through the US Labor Board - including scheduled hours of work.

These factors are used to determine if an individual is classified as an Independent Contractor:

* Is the worker required to follow INSTRUCTIONS?
* Does the firm provide training to accomplish the work?
* Is the worker REGULARLY employed at the firm?
* Is the work performed personally by the worker?
* Does the firm DIRECTLY pay the worker's assistants?
* Is there a continuing ongoing work relationship?
* Are there a set number of work HOURS?
* Is the worker engaged full time by the firm?
* Does the worker work on the firm's premises?
* Does the worker work according to a SCHEDULE set by the firm?
* Is the worker required to submit regular reports to the firm?
* Is the worker paid based on time rather than by project?
* Is the worker REIMBURSED for his/her expenses?
* Does the firm furnish the tools and/or materials?
* Does the worker have a vested INTEREST in performing the services?
* Can the worker realize a profit or suffer a loss?
* Does the worker work for more than one firm at a time?
* Does the worker make his services available to the general public?
* Does the firm have the right to DISCHARGE the worker without incurring a legal liability for non-performance under the contract?
* Does the worker have the right to TERMINATE the relationship without incurring a legal liability for non-performance under the contract?


Depending on your responses, you could be an employee or IC - check with your Labor Board BEFORE a problem pops up.
As a professional, we all must protect ourselves and information is key.

I hope those who have problems get them cleared up sooner rather than later.


TV commercials - Posted By: Aunt Lou

For a Friday laugh (we've earned it)   has anybody seen the commercial where 2 people are in a rowboat, spring a leak, and she plugs the hole up with a Tampax?!!  OMG

Anyone who was in VT MTEC, HITEC program - Posted By: Fellow Vermonter

Wondering if anyone that was in the VT MTEC, HITEC program ever follow up the program with additional training such as Andrews or M-TEC?  I went throug the VT MTEC, HITEC program and am wondering if additional training would help me feel more confident in my work with a decrease in reports going to editing. 


Would like feedback from anyone who went through the program.


Thank You,


Fellow Vermonter



Question about ExpressScribe & Vista - Posted By: swilson

My mother uses ExpressScribe and she has recently upgraded to Vista.   She is still able to get ExpressScribe to work but her serial foot pedal no longer works.  We purchased an adapter, but haven't had any success getting it to work with Vista.


Any suggestions or comments would be greatly appreciated.


Thanks,


Shona



Word Perfect - Posted By: AH

Does anybody on here use word perfect? I am a new grad, and a company says they will hire a new grad if I have word perfect and and a wave player. Any input would be good.

Need advice on contact lenses for astigmatism. I have tried different soft contacts but - Posted By: IC

I can't seem to find a soft contact lens that works for my astigmatism that I can wear all day without going blurry on me all the time. I have worn gas permeables in the past, but they are not comfortable anymore either. Any contact lens wearers out there with astigmatism that have found something that works? Even Accuvue Advantage for Astigmatism did not work. Help!

Secrets of Highly Successful MTs? Please share! - Posted By: RSG

I'd really be interested to learn if there are any tips you 40k&up folks could share with those of us who are... more financially challenged.  What is your schedule like?  Do you log off every time you get up to get a cup of coffee, etc?  Obviously you don't spend your work days on message boards; do you have any tips for how to Stay Focused? 


Sorry if I sound ignorant; I have been doing this for many many years and still struggle with the same self-discipline issues I had way back when.  I'd love to hear from those who have actually made good money at this how they did it.  Thanks!



maybe...(beautiful thoughts) SM - Posted By: RJ

Maybe... we are supposed to meet the wrong people before meeting the right one so when we finally meet the right person, we will know how to be grateful for that gift.

Maybe... when the door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we don't see the new one which opened for us.

Maybe... It is true that we don't know what we have until we lose it, but it is also true that we don't know what we have been missing until it arrives.

Maybe... The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything they have.

Maybe... You should dream what you want to dream; go where you want to go; be what you want to be, because you have only one life and one chance to do all the things you dream of and want to do.

Maybe... There are moments in life when you miss someone – a parent, a spouse, a friend, a child – so much that you just want to pick them from your dreams and hug them for real.

Maybe... The best kind of friend is one you can sit on a porch and swing with, never say a word...but when they walk away you feel as if it was the best conversation you've ever had.
< br> Maybe... You should always try to put yourself in others' shoes. If you feel that something could hurt you, it probably will hurt the other person, too.

Maybe... You should do something nice for someone every single day, even if it is simply to leave them alone.

Maybe… Giving someone all your love is never an assurance that they will love you back. Don't expect love in return; just wait for it to grow in their heart; but, if it doesn't, be content that it grew in yours.

Maybe.. You shouldn't go for looks; they can deceive; Don't go for wealth; even that fades. Go for someone who makes you smile, because it takes only a smile to make a dark day seem bright. Find the one that makes your heart smile.






Going back on the market -- any advice? - Posted By: equineluvr

Hi y'all,


Three weeks ago I began a new job doing acute care at a local hospital (part of CHS). On Friday they told us that our work would be outsourced beginning in April.... Previously I worked at another local hospital for 9 years transcribing Rad and ER notes, echos, etc. I left there because I need expensive orthognathic surgery and their insurance plan has a blanket exclusion against it. Plus I wanted to brush up on my "big four" skills.


Now I am looking for work. Boy have things changed!  I really prefer to work for a hospital or start up my own company again but would work for a service as a last resort. After reading the informative posts here, I have begun compiling a list of "good" and "bad" services so I can avoid certain ones.


Does anyone here have any advice for me? Not general advice about job hunting, but more specific advice about the services -- what to watch out for, etc. I have never done editing/VRT, but apparently that pays less anyway so I don't think I will be doing that.


Thanks.