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I want to sell a DeBeers' diamond that will get me out of a tight financial bind.  However, an ad in the the newspaper made me think of how easy it would be to knock my over and steal my ring.   The jewelry stores said that it would sit on their shelf possibly for a few months.  My dog is requiring emergency vet care and it is going to total much money.  I know the pawn shop is a possibility.  Any ideas?  I hate this idea because I know I will not get what it is worth but it is the one thing I have that would bring me hard cold cash.  Thanks!

Just wanted to know how long it took some of you out there before you were off of QA? I am talking about when you were fresh out of school, just starting your first job. I know that everyone is different, but I am curious about how the average person does.

I am almost a month into my first job and still on QA. Most dictators I do well on (all clinic/office notes) and I have even got quite a few with 100% accuracy. A couple of them make me feel like I don't know anything.

So what's the consensus?

Hello

Do any of you use the VIS - 200 dictation station with Express Dictate?  It is a recorder that plugs into the computer.  I just bought one and it looks easy, but I want to any of the day-to-day glitches - the bad, the good, and the quirks, if any.  Any information is appreciated.  Thanks.

Lynn

as Executive Communication Systems.   I bought a foot pedal from them that was SUPPOSED to be compatible with a particular program.  Right out of the box it didn't work.  Told me to send it back and they would repair it (shipping at my expense of course).  Received the foot pedal back and it will work for a little while and then won't work and I have to reinstall it.  They say the only way to unstall it is to unplug it from the computer.  I'm sitting right in front of the computer with a job open and the *$#*$!#@)$ pedal doesn't work.  I have asked to return the pedal (again I eat the expense) and get a refund and they refuse.  I paid $75.00+ for a pedal, had to pay nearly $9.00 to send it back for repairs, and now they won't give me my money back.  I can't even sell it to try to recoup some of my money, because I don't want to shaft someone like they did me. 

I'm going to file with the BBB and also my credit card company. 

Help!!!!    Question for IC MTs who use Meditech currently. I need to get another

"Medical/Pharmacological Spellchecker.  What do some of you have and use right now?

I work PT for this hospital but and the only spellchecker they have on Meditech is called this:  Proximity Merriam-Webster Database Dictionary.  It does not have drugs on it per say. 

Bought a Stedmans but now people tell me that will not work and I have not tried it yet.   I do have PCShorthand but there are no drugs on it either.  

Does anyone know what would work?   Thanks

Hi:

I was wondering if anyone can help me with the ShortHand expander.  I lost all my shortcuts and cannot get the space out for -year-old.  any help is most appreciated!

I would love to know - I have a question.

thanks!

I am 46 and the single mother of a young son.  I worked for the last five years at one of the premier universities in Chicago as a secretary to two urologic surgeons.  I resigned from my job almost two months ago, and beginning in one week, I will start my first independent contractor MT position.  My little boy will begin first grade the day after Labor day, so this will free me up to type for about five to six hours each day.  Does anyone have any advice for me on the MT home alone experience.  This is going to be a major adjustment for me.  Phyllis

Just recently got out of the hospital with PE but need to go back to work right away.  On the usual meds that come with this condition and feeling lightheaded.  Anyone here been through same thing and how soon did you return to work as an MT?  I would prefer you e-mail me privately.  If this is too personal for you.  I understand.  I tend to be more candid than most.  Also would prefer to talk to someone who has been through it.

Thank you so much.

Hi,

Wondering if anyone wants to get together in the chat room.  LOL, that sounds a little scary.  No seriously, I am always looking to see if anyone is in the chat room and never a person there.  Anyone interested in meeting in there for some chatting?

Just wondering if anyone has used these two together.  Thanks!

Has any one every used this software? I am going on vacation for a couple of days and trying to figure how I am going to try to get my work done away from home. We are digital and tranfer files back and forth through a FTP site. 

I have got a laptop, keyboard, mouse, carrying case? Now what?

Thanks  

Trying to get out from under these excessive charges. I would like to know what I really need. Was told needed land phone in order to use internet. I have fast DSL and want to keep that, have router, land phone, wireless. I was using the internet for transcription but now am going to Word platform, still want to have the internet fast enough so will not feel like treading molasses. Thanks

Thanks for your reply and your time in replying, but I totally disagree.  (I don't reply back in email, as I never know WHO it is replying back to me... could be my MTSO!)

Just because I'm an IC for an MTSO does not mean they own me.  If they want to own me, I had better be getting a hefty salary, insurance, 401K, paid vacation, sick leave, personal days, season tickets to the Cowboys games, and a company car like my husband gets from his job. (And they do own him sometimes, up to 80 hours a week and more, but he sure doesn't get paid per line! Not hardly.)  It was all IN MY CONTRACT. 

You are right, she does not care that I have children. I DO. Which is why it was IN MY CONTRACT that I do a 24-hour turnaround, no less without prearrangement.  I am not asking her to care about my family, but I am asking her to care about the contract.  Sorry, but I refuse to do what you did and have someone else take care of my children.  That is why I do MT rather than make a lot more using my college education.  This is why it was, I repeat, in my contract. 

It does not just come back to what the boss wants.  She's not my "boss". I am my own boss, working within the bounds of our contract.  She is the one who keeps wanting me to go beyond my contract with no consideration for it, and it's not going to happen. 

If, like you seem to indicate, that's just how MT is... then yes, I will end up leaving the business.  However, judging by the other responses, this MTSO needs to learn the difference between IC and an employee/slave combo.

I have finally convinced my docs to go digital!  I am looking at using the DocShuttle program.  Has/is anyone using this and if so, how do you like it? 

I also need to find an FTP server.  Does anyone know if this is included with DocShuttle or do I need to find my own?  There are so many out there - could really use some suggestions in this aspect as well.

Thanks for your help!

Shell 

This should end all "3 Bears Stories"

Hello everyone.. I don't know where to start and I'm just taking a quick break from my work
sorry if this is long, i want to get the best answer and help so i'm gonna give some background (and i dont bother usually with capitalization in my friendly emails, but i assure you it is not how i type my work).. .LOL

Anyways, I am 25 years old, have been doing transcription for seven years (my mom taught me when I was in high school). I love my job and work for two places. One is a hospital so I don't know how negotiable that pay rate is. The other one is a doctor's office.

Urology. I started with them September 11, 2001. (crazy, sad, i know)... I started at 12 cents a line.(the hospital pays me 10 cents) They are located in California, where I used to live. Two years ago, they got a new office manager (i was pretty close with the first one). Well this office manager happened to be someone I had previously worked with, who had screwed over my mom and I because they sent their work to India without EVER telling us until two days before hand (even though we told her to just tell us when it was going to happen). Well that practice eventually broke up... and what luck I had, she is now AGAIN my office manager. Well a year ago I decided I was going to move away and I bought everything for the office that they needed to go digital (we were doing tapes before). Now I live in Nevada and do their work over the internet, returning their work within 24 hours.

My question is, I think I deserve a raise, and I have no idea how to go about it. I have been with them for five years, obviously the cost of living has risen, including health care. By the way, I receive no benefits from either the hospital or the office.

Is this reasonable, and does anyone have any suggestions or pointers? I still feel pretty young and vulnerable because I have never been in a position to ask for a raise. Since I am an independent contractor, I suppose it wouldn't be asking, rather than just telling... but I want it to be more appropriate than that.

And I'm basically wondering what others are making as independent contractors, i know companies don't pay as much, but they also offer benefits...

Thanks for taking the time... back to work for me.

Emily

...I work at home yet I've had to buy my own equipment (computers, references, supplies), and now they want me to start making long-distance phone calls (to clients, the office) and state they will not reimburse me for those any long distance calls I make.

I'm not an IC, I'm an employee.  This can't be right can it?