Medical Transcription Discussion Forums:

• Main Board
• Job Seekers Board
• Company Board
• Word Help Board
• Classifieds
• Medquist
• New MTs / Students

General Discussion Forums:

• Gab Board
• Politics Board

Okay...sock it to me..when I was even newer than I am now, I wrote "drug alluding stent."  QA sent a correction saying "drug eluding stent."  NOW, I see on Google, "drug eluting stent."  SOoooo, which is it, or are they both correct?  Thanks ahead of time.

Companies that have it always seem to want people who are already trained on it.  Is it hard to learn if you have learned many different softwares?

Please help! :)

My 7-year-old son has had very occasional vomiting that is associated with no other symptoms. This started 5 weeks ago and he has gotten sick a total of 3 times. He vomits one time and he is fine. No fevers, no diarreha and nothing food - specific that I can link this to. This does not occur quickly after eating. Generally, it is an hour or two after eating. He eats and digests his food properly at all other times, so this is confusing me! He saw his doctor 2 weeks ago and was started on a trial of Zantac. I give this to him in the mornings before breakfast. Today, he got sick again (just one time) and he is perfectly normal now. I did contact the doctor and we did go to the hospital for an abdominal x-ray. I am waiting on those results right now and I guess that I am a little confused about this situation! He has never gotten sick like this before. He never even spit-up as an infant. I have never noted any food allergies or intolerances but now I am starting to wonder. Has anyone else had any similar situations like this? Thanks in advance! :)

business and just interviewed them before you applied so they could interview you?  Does that make sense.?   I may have an in-house transcription job.  They told me that everything was looking in my favor, but they are still interviewing and will let me know for sure Friday.  They offered a pretty good wage and I would take it but if I can find something closer to home even if a little less pay I would go for that too.   I have been looking into businesses that have nothing to do with transcription.  I am thinking about calling the local banks and seeing if there are any entry-level positions available for data entry, administrative assisting, clerk.  I don't have an accounting degree of business degree, just extensive computer knowledge that transcription requires. I really don't know what to ask for to tell the truth.  The local banks never advertise for help but I do see new people in there from time to time. 

I have also been looking to get my CNA certificate renewed which I may just do.  I was going to call the nursing homes here and see what the starting pay would be, what the patient/aide ratio is, what the hours would be like. 

To tell the truth, I am not making it with these home jobs.  I have already been through 3 companies.  I never had a work history like that before.  Before I came home, I stayed with 1 place for 8 years, then another place for 6 years before that.  I hate jumping around and most of all, I hate babysitting my computer for work.  I want 8 hours then be done. 

Hi all.

I have been doing this and wanted some feedback from other ICs on how they handle the same.

I currently have 10% of my check put into an account for all taxes and 5% for PTO time, which should equal about 13 days a year, maybe more depending on how much I work.  My husband gets floating days off (works at a casino) and gets 5 weeks (imagine that!) and I think I would like to work up to that per year.  Currently at the 5%, I am at about 3 weeks, so not too far off.  I am just not sure I want to have 9% taken out for vacation time.  That seems like so much hehe  Maybe I could increase by 2% each year and by 2010 be up to the 9% or 5 weeks off a year.

I do pool work, so taking time off with notice is not a problem.  What I have done in the past is if I dont have enough PTO time saved, I work on Saturdays leading up to time off and after vacation to make up for lost days.

I so much want this to be more like a normal job  I am working 8 hours and setting the $$ aside, so I think it will come together, but the PTO still throws me off!

My question is really how do the rest of you set aside for taxes and paid time off?  By percent or dollar amount?

I find my hands getting tired and shoulders hurt from typing so much.  What keyboards do you use and how do you have it positioned?  I type with my keyboard in my lap, just a straight keyboard, but still am not as productive as I would like to be and find my fingers not responding as quickly as I'd like.  Also noticed I have a lot of pain in my ankle some time from the foot pedal and my knee hurts too.  I have my seat positioned low so my monitor is directly ahead.  Any advice would be appreciated.  I'm going to buy a new keyboard on ebay because I work 2 accounts, one on a desktop and one on my laptop, keep having to unplug my keyboard from my desktop to place on my keyboard, is getting to be a hassle.

Is there any such thing as health insurance for "home workers" that is a good plan?  Thanks for any information you might have!

Is it only me or has veterinary medicine changed quite a bit over the years to resemble care of humans?  I have cats and absolutely love them but I'm becoming torn between necessary care, preventive care, and just down-right UN-necessary care.  I remember back when animals went to the vet for shots and only when they got sick.  If they were sick, diagnosis and prognosis dictated the next level of care.  And in most cases back then there were no options other than to let nature take its course if something serious/chronic was found. 

I'm now noticing that every time I take one of the cats to the vet's, the doc wants to do "baseline" blood work at least once a year and now wants to see my ten-year-old cat on a twice-yearly basis.  My kitty is healthy as a horse and has had no health problems for ten years.  Why all of a sudden does he need expensive BASELINE lab work and xrays as well as needing to be seen twice a year and have his teeth cleaned twice a year (not cheap)?  It sounds like I'm complaining about the money end versus taking care of my kitty, and I suppose in a sense I am, because this adds up to a whole lot over the course of time.  The doc mentioned the reasons for the lab work (diabetes, thyroid problems, anemia, cancer, etc.)  I'm torn between having the work done and what I would do if anything chronic showed up on the tests.  I love my kitty but don't know if spending lots of money on chronic meds/therapy would be an option when I would have to weigh other expenses against them. 

About 180 EarthLink employees in Atlanta will lose their jobs as the Internet provider completes a move to outsource customer service and technical support telephone lines.

EarthLink cut 1,300 call center employees in 2003 and another 1,300 in 2004 as it began farming out the work to call centers in India and the Philippines.

EMAIL THIS PRINT THIS MOST POPULAR

The latest cuts eliminate the use of EarthLink employees to handle customer calls, said spokesman Dan Greenfield.

The job cuts will take place between August and September. Greenfield said EarthLink would provide severance pay based on seniority as well as assistance in finding new jobs.

EarthLink will be left with 1,020 employees in Atlanta and 1,800 nationally.

Using overseas call centers instead of American employees saves money, the company said.

When the plan to use outside vendors was first announced, Garry Betty, EarthLink's chief executive, said the company was "making hard decisions that are necessary to ensure the ongoing viability of our company."

On Monday, Greenfield said that the latest cuts were needed "to allow us to compete in a very dynamic marketplace."

The overseas call centers handle both customer service and technical support questions.

I have been invited to my 2nd cousins wedding.  I really don't want to go because I do not know him or the bride.  However, that side of the family is apparently having a get-together of the first cousins around the same time and I had planned on going to that.  Now I feel I "should" go to both or neither one.  What would you do?  Thanks for the help.

See, this is what **** me off - they consider MT a [quote]good way to earn extra income in your spare time[endquote]

http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2009/03/30/7-great-side-jobs-for-extra-cash/?ncid=AOLCOMMjobsDYNLprim0001&icid=webmail|wbml-aol|dl4|link3|http%3A%2F%2Fjobs.aol.com%2Farticles%2F2009%2F03%2F30%2F7-great-side-jobs-for-extra-cash%2F%3Fncid%3DAOLCOMMjobsDYNLprim0001

Thanks to all who responded to my question about C-phones. It was most helpful! Not sure if I want to go that route or not; the long distance phone charges seem excessive to me and since I am only on a contingent basis and have already invested in a wav pedal, etc. not sure if I want to invest any more dollars.

Hello!

Does anyone know how to calculate words per minute from lines per hour? I'm curious to know how many words per minute I'm actually typing (even though it is with a word expander). Currently, I'm only averaging 140 lines per hour--is that good?

Would appreciate your help!

I have 13 years of experience in a variety of specialties, including about 3 years working for a transcription company (multiclinic work mostly) and a few years doing freelance work along with my full-time position. 

I quit being a Transcriptionist because I completed a graduate degree and became a high school English teacher.  I have taught for several years but now am staying home with my children and would like to get back into the transcription field.  I always found the reports to be fascinating, and after being a teacher, the idea of solitary work appeals to me.  

The big problem is that it has been about 10 years since I worked as a transcriptionist.  I have been refreshing my skills by completely re-reading the Book of Style, purchasing a USB foot pedal, and practicing sample transcriptions.  The service where I previously worked was purchased by one of the large nationals, so I don't have anyone there for a contact. 

I was an excellent transcriptionist and know I would be again, given the opportunity.  How would you advise me to go about my job search? 

Thanks, and sorry for making this so long.

A rant letter to a couple of doctors:

What has happened to the medical profession in this country?  Why is it that doctors forget their Hippocratic Oath?  Why is it they forget the purpose of their career choice?  I've transcribed this week on numerous elderly patients who have been with their doctors for five, ten or even fifteen years, but they have to seek care elsewhere because so many doctors are refusing to accept Medicare.  How would you feel were if it were your own mother or father being refused care with their established physician just because they became classified as "elderly" and qualified for Medicare?  If it weren't for your "connections," your parents would face the same dilemma that other elderly people face.

Why is it that when a patient comes into your office complaining of feeling fatigued and achy that you automatically assume they're depressed and pop out a prescription for them to pop a pill?  Why not LISTEN to what the patient is saying and realize that while some MAY be depressed, others have a legitimate medical problem going on?  Why not do some labs on them to check for anemia, hypothyroidism, etc.?  Oh, I get it -- let them wait two hours to see you after their appointment time and then spend two minutes with them... after all, time is money.  By the way, I guess that kid who came several times a couple of weeks ago complaining of abdominal pain wasn't just trying to get out of school since I saw his obituary in the paper this week.  Even when his mom and dad brought him in a second and third time, you brushed them off.  I hope seeing his obituary hurts your heart at least half as much as it hurt mine.  I can't imagine the pain those parents are enduring right now, but I doubt you've stopped earning money long enough to let it bother you.  And, no, I won't cover your butt if I get a subpoena when his parents sue you for medical negligence.

Why is it that you cringe when I tell you I need to raise my rates when I've not had a rate increase in three years or longer when in the mean time you've raised your rates at least three times a year every year?  Oh - ok - your expenses have gone up?  Do you think they've discounted my electric bill, gasoline, supplies and everything else?

Remember that last check before Christmas that I asked about when you were late paying me?  You know, the one where you said you didn't have the money to pay me until after the 1st of January - although my contract with you explicitly explains payment arrangements?  That was hard to swallow when your wife was standing there while I was waiting to talk to you and making out a check for $8200 to have your home decorated for Christmas?  Yes, it ticked me off that you had the money for that in your budget but not the money to pay me my measly little $702.  It also ticked me off when you took your three-week vacation to France and left me waiting for payment.

I do understand - its all about the money.  Of course, that is why I work.  But, if I ever get to the point that I'm so cold-hearted or money-oriented that I cannot try and give the best of my abilities in my transcription for every patient I type on, I have common sense enough to know its time to get out of my profession.  Yes, to you I'm just a "typist", but how many times have you picked up the phone and called me asking, "Do you remember the names of the tests that I need to order for Lyme disease?" Or, what about when you can't dictate a proper letter and you say, "This is what I want to say - can you fix it for me?"  What about those times when I've flagged a lab result and said, "This patient would be dead with a potassium of 988."  Regardless, I remain just a "typist" in your mind.

In spite of all your faults, I do my best for you.  I give you accurate work every day of every week because I know one typo (on the transcription work you don't review) with a drug dosage could mean the difference between life and death of your patients.  But in the end, does it really matter to you? 

I work in IT for a medoum sized MTSO. We are looking to rerecord dictation from RTAS/Lanier/DVI but can only find transcription ASPs who support rerecording from DVI, not RTAS/Lanier. We currently have our own solution, but are looking to move awy from it.

If any of you know of any transcription ASPs that alow you to record from RTAS/Lanier/DVI , please post

Thanks

Why would you give someone a written warning after a few weeks... I'm new and I do not understand the dictators on some of the accounts, oh and lets add those are the ones they seem to audit...

Anyway I have an IC job with Accustat who is a nice company and I've been off QA for 3 months without any problems

I know this has been asked numerous times, but I just updated computers and had Stedmans medical spellcheck 2005.  When I called them to activate it on my new computer (I figured they wouldn't do it, it being so old) they told me it doesn't support MS Word 2007 anyway, and it will cost $99 to upgrade to that version.  My question is, what medicl spellcheck does anyone recommend for me that isn't so expensive but is a very good medical spellcheck. Since that is what you all do for a living I wanted to get some opinions.  Thanks very much.