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For those typing on acute care (I am only on summaries, HPs, and consults), how long does it take you to get 1000 lines?

Thanks in advance.

Got no help on word board.  Running out of time.

Thanks in advance

The company I work for uses an FTP server.  I am supposed to delete the files I pull after I upload them so another MT wont do them.  No matter what I try I cannot get the files to delete. When I right click on them, there is no option to delete in the drop-down.  I have also tried highlighting the file(s) and pressing delete on my computer.  Neither one of these works.  These are the 2 ways my QA said to do it, but it just wont work.  Any suggestions?

Thanks :)

I think, BY FAR, the guys are better this year. Of course, I thought that last year too...Bo was robbed!

Anyway, I just love Taylor...there's just something about him that is genuine and warm, I don't know, I hope he wins! 

What are your thoughts? Who's outta there tonight? I think either Kevin or Will...sorry to say, cause they're both cuties!

As for the girls,  eehh...who cares? They just aren't...as Randy says...bringing it this year...nuff about them.

Ace is hot , Chris is just plain good ...but Taylor's still my pick!

I just downloaded the EditScript (Escription) program onto my computer but I'm not getting any prompts from the Installation Wizard to install it.  This is a brand-new computer and I'm kind of a Vista imbecile since I've never used it. 

Is there some other step I need to take to get the program to actually install onto my computer so I can use it, or have I done something wrong? 

I'm SOOOO confused and can't reach my supe to ask her, so I was hoping someone here would be able to offer some advice.

Thanks ever so much!!! 

two different computers?  I have a desktop and a laptop and I would like it on both but am unsure if I would be able to download it on both. May be a silly question but I am computer challenged :) .  Thanks

I have a few things I need to get off my chest to all you seasoned transcriptionists as well as the hopeful newbies.

Let me just say this, and I'm not trying to be mean or tacky, just telling the truth. The fact that someone is a professional nurse, medical assitant, doctor's wife, husband of a doctor - or even a DOCTOR for that matter, doesn't mean that she / he can transcribe.  A person can memorize the Dorland's Medical Dictionary and still not be able to transcribe.  I've seen it over and over.  Before I started transcribing, I actually worked for quite a few different specialty doctors' offices, and thought that I knew it all.  I found out the hard way that I didn't know much at all. Acute care, radiology, etc., is another whole ballgame.  I suggest that any hopeful start out small like I did, working at a particular specialty to pick up some major lingo and at least take a course or two.  I also took a course at a local college in Physiology and Anatomy that was a tremendous help.

Good transcriptionists just aren't born in a day... I'm sorry to say. I worked in many physician's offices over the years and the first time I tried to do acute care, I actually cried and wanted to throw the typewriter (that proves how old I am) down the stairs.  And.., it's not just memorizing the words... it's knowing where and when to use them, how to understand the words that sound exactly alike and mean totally different things.  You must learn to understand doctors who don't speak good English, dictate from their cars with the windows down in traffic noise, talk into their armpits at the same time that their children are playing tennis in the living room and the TV has Playstation running.  This is not a joke.  These are the things we MTs deal with on a daily basis.  I'm seriously not looking to discourage anyone from doing this job - just trying with all my might to let you see what you are getting yourself into.

When I finally opened my own transcription service, I actually had a woman come in and tell me that her husband was a doctor and she could most certainly do this job - NOT!  A nurse from a major hospital came in and the same result - she couldn't do it.  The chances of just picking up the language and names of drugs, instruments, surgical techniques, laboratory values and the names of the lab tests... you name it... it just does not happen.

Did I fail to mention money?  We are all in the same boat... with 25 years + experience, having been a CMT for 15 years, I still make the same amount of money, .0825 cpl, but the worst thing is that after being in the business, I know how much the MTSOs are charging the hospitals and we are getting ripped off every day.  If I didn't love what I do so much, I would have to tell them all where to put their dictation machines.  I have tried ad nauseum to work for another company; however, they want to start me at the same rate or even lower. Give me a break.

Transcription services over-contract with hospitals and physician's offices with not enough MTs to the job... then, you get the MTSOs that hire too many MTs and don't have enough work to go around.  It's a constant battle no matter how you look at it.  For the most part, the management is bad....

I truly wish I had some answers to all these problems, but there are no answers. There is no glory in it.  We either love it and do it because we love it or not do it. Easy as that.  You know, do it or get off the pot.

I hope you all don't think badly of me, but I'm just telling you the absolute truth.  I could tell you stories that would curl your hair. 

I have someone who wants me to retype a book for them.  Does anyone have any idea how much I should charge for this?  by the page?  line?  TIA!

Looking at all of those thousands of displaced, hardworking, honest people and families you have to know that their homes and jobs are simply gone.  They will need to start over elsewhere.

Can someone create an information bank of those of us willing to offer housing availablity (such as an extra bedroom) on a short-term basis.  Sort of a temporary arrangement for the family to have shelter and food while looking for a new job/home etc?

Is there an agency for this?

 a black vanity sink?  Any tips on how to keep it looking good? DH had to have it when we redid the bathroom, and it looks great, as long as no one uses it!!!  Any advice appreciated. TIA

Just curious... what is the preference of an MTSO when it comes to references..... would you prefer to have them listed in the resume or is it acceptable to have "Available upon request" on a resume. 

Thank you

Does anyone know if there is any other transcription out there such as legal transcription that can be done from home.  I am trying to help a friend find some work that she can do at home.  She has no medical experience, but is looking for something she can do to earn a little extra money a month, such as data entry, legal transcription.  There are so many ads out there and she is looking for a reputable company.  Anyone out there had any experience or know of any legit companies for data entry/legal transcription, etc. that can be done at home? Thanks for any input. 

1.  While eye candy is nice, the default Vista Aero interface does slow many computers down.  You can disable Aero in Control Panel.  Go to the Control Panel and activate the "Personalize" applet by double-clicking that icon (or single-clicking if you've already set that option up).  Click the link labeled "Theme"; a box will pop up with a drop-down menu.  Select Windows Classic.  Click "Apply", then "OK" to get back to the main "Personalize" window.  Don't close it just yet.   

2.   In the "Personalize" applet, you can also change your mouse pointers.  While we don't realize it, we can spend a lot of time hunting around on the screen for our pointers.  Click on the link for "Mouse Pointers" and you'll see a fairly long list of "default" mouse pointers.  By selecting one (like Normal Select), then clicking on "Browse", you'll see an even longer list of alternative pointers. 

I changed my normal mouse to black instead of white, and I never wonder where it is now.  Since it has a white outline when the background is black, it doesn't "disappear" on dark backgrounds, either

I changed the skinny "I-beam" default Text Select pointer to a heavy solid black one also, and now that no longer disappears from view when I'm mousing through some text.

And, just for fun, I changed my Link Select pointer to a little animated dragon.

3.  Counterintuitively, you have to change the skinny default blinking typing cursor's thickness a different way.  If you're still in the "Personalize" applet, from the main window click the Back arrow button to get back to the Control Panel.  Now, select and double-click the "Ease of Access Center" applet.  In this main window, select "Make the computer easier to see".  On this page, scroll down until you see "Set the thickness of the blinking cursor".  You'll see that the default thickness is "1".  Click the arrow in that little box to drop down a list of bigger sizes.  As you select different values, you'll see a preview of what it will look like.  I set mine to "3", and now I never wonder where that little puppy is, either.  When you have the setting you like, click "Apply", then "OK". 

There are a lot of other things you can set for the way things look and behave.  Oh, and incidentally, when I was selecting mouse pointers, I clicked on the box to turn the mouse shadow on.  It doesn't really have much effect except on certain backgrounds, but since it isn't annoying either I left that turned on.

You can't break anything by trying different appearance settings, themes, pointers, etc.  You might find that just a few tweaks like these here and there make the hours in front of the screen easier, but you just have to try them to see..

I have been at this for about 15 years and have thought off and on about becoming an AAMT member and about getting my CMT, but always stop short because of the cost and basically the inconvenience of having to find the testing center that seems to be located in some obscure office building I've never even heard of.

However, I have recently started working for a facility that actually encourage their MTs to further their education, to network with one another and share information, and offer pay raises for the CMT credentials.  So, once again I am considering the pros and cons of membership and taking the CMT exam.

Thanks.

I had switched keyboards and after a few months decided I thought I liked my old one better.  I switched back and do, indeed, like it better; however, I have noticed that my old one is slower when I need to delete several words from a template.  If I shift-end (to highlight the whole sentence) it is just as fast, but if I shift-arrow to do four or five words it is slower.  Back spacing is slower too, which I try to avoid but do use.

I guess I never really thought about keyboards being different in that way.  Does anyone know of a plain old straight keyboard that is fast in this way? 

There is an advertisement in my local paper for an inhouse transcriptionist, radiology experience preferred.  I have about 6 years experience with family practice, also physical therapy, but very little radiology experience.  Is this a difficult speciality to learn?  Would I be wasting my time to apply?

Thanks--

I transcribe for 42 emergeny department physicians.  Would you create one big glossary or create a glossary for each doctor.  A lot of what is said is the same?  I have one big glossary now.  Which do you think is the best way to go?

I am a newbie, have been doing this for a few months.  I work for this company, Sten-Tel.  They only send out QA'd reports every once in a while.  Their QA sucks.  One QA will say this and another will say that and all the time, it looks like you are the one making all the mistakes.  The QA supervisor does nothing but send you the corrected reports in an email and if you email her about something you are questioning, she does nothing about it.  I get an email from her today and all it states is "We need to have you out of editing by July 18.  Please review account specifics and thoroughly check your work before sending to QA."  What does that mean?  I do thoroughly check my work!  I sent her an email asking her to clarify what she is saying.  I mean, am I doing a sucky job or what?  I am confused.  I thought I was doing good.  How am I supposed to know when I don't hear anything from anybody?  Now I feel depressed.  I guess I am going to get fired.  I am not good at anything it seems like.  Are there any good companies to work for?

MPWord - helpful or not.  I am currently set up in Word with Instant Text.  Would MPWord help me any?  Can you use or import your glossaries from Instant Text into MPWord?  What about making your own templates and default settings such as font, tabs and format?

Does anyone know exactly how the fax options works?

Thanks, Mis

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WASHINGTON (AP) - The Internal Revenue Service on Friday advised taxpayers on how to file for deductions passed by Congress too late to be included in 2006 forms.

Nearly 1 million taxpayers may not have their returns processed until early February, the agency warned.

The instructions involve three deductions renewed by Congress just before it adjourned two weeks ago and signed into law by President Bush this week: for state and local sales taxes in states that don't have income taxes, for higher tuition costs and for educator expenses.

The tax agency urged taxpayers seeking the three deductions to file electronically. Software will be updated to include the three tax provisions and taxpayers "will get their refunds faster through e-file," said IRS Commissioner Mark W. Everson. "Even more importantly, e-file will greatly reduce the chances of making an error compared to claiming the deductions on the paper 1040."

The IRS said that some 6 million taxpayers in states without state income taxes who receive Form 1040 will by mid-January get a special mailing of Publication 600, which will include tables and instructions for claiming the sales tax deduction.

Publication 600 was also posted Friday to the IRS web site, http://www.irs.gov/.

Form 1040 will not be updated and the higher education and educator expense deductions cannot be claimed on Form 1040A.

The IRS said the deduction for tuition and fees can be claimed on Form 1040, line 35, "Domestic production activities deduction," by entering "T on the dotted line to the left of that line. Similarly, the educator expense adjustment can be claimed on line 23, "Archer MSA Deduction," by entering "E" on the dotted line to the left of that line entry.

The sales tax deduction was claimed on about 11.2 million tax returns filed for tax year 2005. It applies to nine states: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming.

The higher education provision, which allows deductions for up to $4,000 of tuition and fee costs, was claimed on about 4.7 million returns.

The educator expense provision, allowing teachers to deduct up to $250 for personal expenditures on school supplies, was claimed on 3.5 million returns.

The tax agency said it will not be able to process tax returns claiming these deductions until early February. It said that based on filings earlier this year, about 930,000 tax returns claimed any of the three provisions by Feb. 1. This year, the IRS expects to receive about 136 million tax returns.

The three tax breaks expired on Jan. 1 this year, and thus were no longer part of tax law when the main IRS forms went to print in early November.

files.  The lead MT at the clinic where I worked verified that it was not a technical problem and that the doctor most likely pushed the mute button.  Now, I am told to go into each file and type "***" on the page.  Over 30 files.  It is quite laborious

Download the voice file, open up MS Word, transfer voice film from one file to another, close it, type document, exit voice file, exit Word, save document.  Then, onto the next.

Well, ya know, I am paid by the line and three asterisks are going to give me about 2 cents.  What do you think of this?  The in-house lead is paid by the hour.  I think she should go into each file and do this.  If she comes upon one he miraculously managed to dictate on, she could send it to me.  I am IC.

I am seething!

Anybody who works there - have any inside info?  Thanks!