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Recently Viewed Messages: (An archive of over 1 million messages related to medical transcription industry)
Can we talk about headphones/keyboards/chairs -
Posted By: SDGal
and other ergonomic products that help you all do your job more productively and comfortably?
I still use the basic headset MQ supplies; however, I'm wondering if there is something better, not too expensive, that produces a bit better sound and a bit more comfort. I'm thinking it might help out with some of the not-so-great sounding dictation and/or ESL dictators. What type of headset do you use and why?
What keyboards do you all use and how do you like them? I have a Microsoft Natural Ergo and I use a slight reverse tilt. I find that angle feels a bit better on the wrists.
Does anyone have one of those desks that you can raise/lower? Sometimes the ol' bum goes to sleep and I'm thinking standing up at times would help.
What about foot pedals/foot rests? I actually have 2 foot pedals so I can switch legs quick w/o reaching down and dragging the foot pedal back and forth.
Thanks for any and all of your opinions! 
Laptops and Satellite/Wireless Internet -
Posted By: Stephanie
Does anybody work off a laptop and have a wireless or satellite internet connection? Just wondering because we'd like to do some traveling and it would be nice to be able to work also and not have to use so much PTO time, etc?
Has anyone tried using OpenOffice.org with EditScript? -
Posted By: Wondering
Just wondering if it will work.
Suggestions for chairs?? sm -
Posted By: Just me
I'm trying to find a chair that is comfortable all day (and sometimes part of the night) long. I know some of you here have had the same problem. Suggestions, please???
Thanks!
What in the heck is EHR and what does this mean -
Posted By: GloLow
to us as transcriptionists? I have worked in VR and know about this but am told here lately still a demand for MTs as healthcare is steadily moving towards EHR. Where exactly does this leave MTs - out of a job or like VR, some sort of editing? TIA
off today and bored... -
Posted By: anyone wanna chat? nm
Catchy newsletter title. -
Posted By: A. Munro
Any suggestions for a "catchy" MT newletter title?? Thanks!
CONGRATULATIONS! Laura F. of NY on winning a $10.00 gift cert. to TVPS! -
Posted By: Administrator (nm)
/
Old-Tymer, are you still around? -
Posted By: cowgirl
You used to be with MQ a long time ago and quit. I think you went to a smaller company and were very happy. That is what I am looking for. Have been with MQ/ddi, for 9 years and want to go to a small company. I have been researching. Any advice?
I guess it is time to make a stand... -
Posted By: AngryMT
I just received my first subscription via E-mail to Advance Health Magazine.
CAN YOU BELIEVE THEY ACTUALLY HAD TWO ADVERTISEMENTS IN IT FOR HIRING INDIA MTs?
These are about 1/4 of a page size. One is from CBAY, which is Spheris, which is their 100% India company. Bragging a 30% decrease in costs to hospitals.
This not only threatens American MTs with losing jobs outright, but it also UNDERCUTS us. This is why we are making less money, less benefits, and needing to work harder.
I sent an E and cancelled immediately. Actually, I had been considering it for a while because of a bit percentage of their Medical Transcription articles are pro- undercutting American MTs, anyway, just like AAMT.
In my opinion, WE ARE BEING SOLD-OUT, AND BEING SOLD-OUT BY AAMT as they push harder and harder to make money any way they can, even by supporting Indian MTs, who are probably being told they "have" to join their organization...
They have been trying to force American MTs to become certified to fill their pockets and position themselves for the future as a monopoly. However, it seems American MTs are not as easily led as in India, so they flip-flopped. If you can't beat them, join them, right?
I am so disgusted. Last month they had an article from someone encouraging companies to hire American MTs and I was so hopeful, but this made me sick, to get it in my E-mail.
Time for me to make a stand. My job is worth fighting for and I need it...
hearing loss -
Posted By: tired hands
Has anyone noticed a loss of hearing over years of MT work? A new report on the news says that continuous use of head sets can cause hearing loss. I have noticed it (and tinnitus) among me and my MT friends. Anyone else?
Northeast Transcription -
Posted By: Ld
I am interested in any information about Northeast Transcription.. How are they to work for?
Thanks
Converting a "tape" client to digital (sm) -
Posted By: midwestMT
Can someone point me in the direction to find information on purchasing equipment for a doctor to try digital dictation for the first time? He's currently using tapes and is interested in digital dictation.
I have express scribe and a wav pedal, I realize I'll need to get FTP set up on my webspace but I'll need to purchase him the handheld, etc. and I'm really not sure what the best setup is. Being only one person, I can't afford thousands of $ but would like to be able to offer that type of service.
Help?
in-laws -
Posted By: TDE
Do any of you married people have trouble with your in-laws, particularly your mother-in-law? Mine is quite domineering and manipulate, though my husband doesn't see it one bit. She has really created a lot of problems between him and I because I don't think she ever really liked me.  However, he sides with HER all the time !
Laptop and foot pedals? -
Posted By: Bella
OK, DH ordered a laptop for me as a surprise. For our current situation it will work best because we have a very small house (800 sq feet) and right now my dining room table has become my office/desk. With the laptop we can use a smaller/compact computer desk in the corner of the living room and move the big computer back to the basement office. (That office doesn't work for me on a daily basis cause there is not enough room for our 2 year old and 4 month old to play)
It is an Acer, not sure of the model as I haven't seen it and didn't order it. Our computer guy is switching it from Vista to windows and will have it set so I can switch to Vista when/if Escription is compatible. Anyway, my concern now is with the foot pedal. I type on Escription so have the 9-pin pedal. How do I get that to work with the laptop? Do I need to have a 9-pin port put into the laptop?
Good News -
Posted By: Chavera
My mammogram came back normal! I am so relieved. I want to thank those of you who responded and provided caring and encouragement to me. I really appreciate it and I also appreciate having this place to come to that is full of people who understand all about being an at home medical transcriptionist.
Want to see my new pet? -
Posted By: ?????
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Are you paid by the line, word, hour? -
Posted By: nm
Does anyone use mineral makeup and if so, any opinions on the best brand? nm -
Posted By: fresh face
nm
New Doctor, some patients already typed -
Posted By: Lisa
I got a new doctor. They girl who had been working for him left him in a big mess, undone dictations, etc. The office gave me a flashdrive to do with about 30 patients on it over the holiday weekend. Today they've told me ten patients had already been typed, how did I want to handle that? It seems they don't want to pay me for these. My husband says to bite the bullet and not charge them, since this is a new account and I'd like to keep it, is possible. What do you think? I know it's a land of confusion there from what is done to what is not done. Thanks!
VR 2 more cents -
Posted By: VR-not
Companies should have given us at least a year to see how well it works before offering pitiful pay of 3 and 4 cpl, looking at whether their specific program can actually *learn* and look at all the stats on typed versus SR reports. My former company actually sent an email saying that their stats were showing that Dr Doe's reports could be done just as fast on SR/VR as typed manually so he/she was being switched to VR. Where I work now, some docs are still *banned* from VR, but not necessarily the ones who should be! I think all companies have such stats--they just don't want to look at them. I do about 50% VR but I have to just buckle down and do it and not let myself think about how much I hate it while I'm in a report, and it's super hard to do.
ASR set up -
Posted By: mc5
ASR is NOT more production than when we were just doing MT work before. I like ASR because it is a variation in muscles used, NOT because of productivity. I have gone DOWN 10% in overall production since the induction of DEP/ASR. They say I have gone up 50%. It is not short to explain but I will try to brief it- They are taking a 1 week period from this summer and comparing the production of your MT against your ME work for that week. This does NOT show what your production has increased since you are an ME. An account with ASR puts all the well spoken dictators on ASR and leaves the more inaudible speakers on transcription. If they were to take production from the yearly quarter before DEP/ASR started and compare it to the most current quarter completed - That would be more accurate. This is another set up for failure or a carefully concocted tactic for MQ to make us think our production is going up!
My husband is in withdrawal. We were on vacation last week and he missed the final 2 episodes!! sm -
Posted By: Jack Bauer wanna be
Is there any kind soul out there who recorded it on either VHS or DVD who could send me a copy???? I would pay shipping! He wants to go on ebay and "buy" it, but I told him that one of these kind ladies from mtstars will help him out!
I personally have never seen the show. We were in another state visiting MY family and bless my husband's heart - I remember where we were last Monday night - sitting in my aunt's living room in the middle of no where in Oklahoma. Poor guy. He was so kind and nice, but I bet the whole night he was really upset because he knew he was missing THE SHOW of the decade! I had no clue this was going on....LOL
Any takers????? 
I just put my cat of 12 years to sleep today...sm -
Posted By: Georgia gal
I know it was the best thing to do but it sure is hard to do things like this, isn't it?
Need info ASAP -
Posted By: Alice
WordZXpressed in Georgia, are they any good, what do they pay, etc.? Any info.Alice
EMR physician -
Posted By: Sue
I need quick advise. I worked for 4 physicians, one used EMR (partially) the others still use tapes. The EMR physician does not like to read his dictation and the three mouse clicks to sign his documents is too much. The physician has a high school graduate opening up the notes, reading them, editing them at her discretion and then SIGNING them. I informed them that to the best of my knowledge this was 100% illegal but they are still doing it. I have been doing this for some time, but did not think the rules had changed.
Working 40 hrs. with lunches/breaks..how do you sm -
Posted By: as
I have to set up my schedule with my company. I have to work 35-40/week to be considered full time. When I log off the system during my workday to eat or take a quick break, I don't believe that it is considered part of my 35-40 hrs; I have to be logged in and at the computer for the hours to count. Just wondering if you schedule yourselves a lunch or always work through an 8-hr shift, or schedule yourself a 9-hr shift minus your lunch, or how you do things....I can't see how I can work 40/week (35 maybe) without scheduling myself for 9-hr days unless I don't plan to stop and refuel somehow! thanks
need some help -
Posted By: Lisa
Hi there, I'm an MT with a couple of years of hospital experience, but want to work from home now. I haven't bought a foot pedal yet and I am just wondering if I need any special software to go with the pedal in order to do pre-employment testing?
I stood up for myself and probably lost an account - oh well -
Posted By: Patti
This is only the second month that I have had this account but they thought that their bill was a little "high" as the doctor does not feel that he should pay for any lines that I have in a template or if the physical is mainly normal and so I have a normal template, etc. I told them to try to find somone else that was cheaper that gave them the service that I did, with the TAT and quality. This is a doctor that loves to rib off insurance companies and morally I have been debating about doing this account but felt someone had to do it. But I told the NP/OM that with the time I spend in delivery and pick-up, paper, etc. I need to make this much per hour and that is about what I make. This is the first time in a long time I have really stuck up for myself. She said that their last Transcriptionist had been charging $5 a page and I said fine I would compare that with my lines but it would be with 1" margins all the way around and a 12 courier font to define "a page" and low and behold it came out about the same as with my line count. Anyway I am sure that they will begin to look elsewhere and that is fine, I wasn't looking for an account when this one came my way and so somewhere else there is something else. But it made me feel good to stand up for myself and believe in my skills.
EQ 50 equalizer -
Posted By: Olive Oyl
Did anyone buy the EQ 50 equalizer from Martel? I did and cannot figure out how to hook it up. I am using it for ExText dictation on computer using speakers. I had my headphones plugged into speakers and instructions are not clear at all. Does anyone know how to do this? Please help! TIA
Torn between two jobs -
Posted By: MT 2 RN
I need some advice. I am currently an IC medical Transcriptionist with three kids ages 12, 8 and 4 and I am also on my local community college's nursing school waitlist. I have been offered a job at a hospital as a unit secretary for the 3-11:30 shift. This job will offer better benefits than I get now (currently none) and the health insurance is much better/cheaper than what my husband gets. I just don't know if I should take it or not. I'm afraid if I do take it I won't see my family very often. I will see the two oldest for about an hour in the morning before I take them to school and the youngest I will see for a few hours in the a.m. before she goes to preschool and then to a drop in child care place if I take the job. Being an IC I know that my current home job can be taken away without any notice (no reason to think that it will anytime soon, just from past experiences) so I am wondering if I should move on with a different more stable job or stay put where I am at and enjoy the time I have at home with the kids? I know the unit secretary position will be helpful in the future when I am in nursing school but should I sacrifice family time to do that? I just don't know what to do. Any advice/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
MT Referrence sites? -
Posted By: sm
I am searching for some good MT referrence sites to refer to for drugs, Expander tips, medical words, etc. Anyone know of any?
What are your thoughts on giving notice? -
Posted By: Kelly
I've only been with this particular job for less than a month, but can already tell it's not for me. Seems like a good company, but the accts and work are not my cup of tea. I'd like to cut my losses and get on with it.
Does the 'real world' etiquette of two week's notice apply to the MT world as well? I've always given 2 weeks at my outside world jobs, but am really tempted to just give a week's notice since I just started there. I don't think it would leave the company in the lurch too badly as they have many other MTs and are still hiring.
What do you think?
Yes, you can Transcribe Privately in public -
Posted By: NightOwl
1) Use your own USB wireless access card, NOT the public WiFi. They cost between $40 and $60 per month and are available from Cricket, Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, USCellular, Alltel, etc. If you can get a cell phone signal, you can transcribe. I've transcribed in my car parked at a Pilot station before. When the battery ran low, I plugged it in to my cigarette lighter adapter and kept typing. (I did have to turn the car on while recharging).
2) Invest in GOOD headphones that keep your dictation IN and external noises OUT.
3) Buy a 3M privacy screen for your laptop screen. Once installed (it's a cling-on thing) NOBODY can see your screen EXCEPT YOU.
People work on laptops in public ALL the time, and nobody cares. If you have a privacy filter on your laptop screen, nobody needs to know that you're working on confidential information but you!
Is it worth it to become CMT? -
Posted By: Lisa
Hi - I have been a Transcriptionist for 9 years and have considered testing to be a CMT but I want to know if it really matters? I'd welcome any opinions either way.
Thanks!
Anyone know if coding would pay as well as MT? Is coding being outsourced too? -
Posted By: wondering
xx
for poster below who wanted contact regarding MQMT lawsuit, this is who I talked to. -
Posted By: See message
Name: Cynthia Hill
E-mail: chill@deflaw.com
Phone: 404/885-6338
Nice to talk to and can give you info regarding MQMT lawsuit so you can decide if it is something you are interested in pursuing.
Quick Look Drug Book 2007 (sm) -
Posted By: Deb
CD version. Does anyone have this and like it? I have the 2005 version, and could not see much difference in the 2006 QLDB. Any comments appreciated.
What's your favorie CD? Mine is Fleetwood Mac -
Posted By: The Dance. Can type all night to that. nm
nm
is outsourcing being REVERSED ya think ? -
Posted By: homebodyMT
Do you guys think the trend is starting to reverse itself ? Im sort of, kind of, starting to hear about unhappy hospitals / doctors lately - who miss our on-the-spot turnaround time.
What are your thoughts on this topic ??
Janie the homebody
foot pedal w/adapter help -
Posted By: sandys
I bought a USB adapter for my foot pedal that was a 15 pin serial because that port was in use. I cannot get it configured. I used Express scribe help, installed the gameport 2 axel/4 button one. Attempted to use the foot pedal wizard with Expresscribe. The adapter did not come with drivers, but I got some off the internet. My computer says the the device is working. What am I missing here?
Who is the best company to work for? -
Posted By: GAtrans
Can someone please tell me someone you work and are happy. I have 8 years' experience in multi-specialty clinic and acute care (except op notes) and want somewhere with good pay and steady work. I'm tired of bouncing from company to company after they lose your account and don't have enough work to keep you busy. HELP! I am so frustrated with this field. When things are going good, I can do 2000 lines a day and be happy, but then every 6 months or so things go bad with that company and its a few months of transition after things fall apart. I'm about to lose my mind. Thanks in advance for the suggestions .
Snowball has been found -
Posted By: abc
I was just reading the missing persons and missing pets message board on Yahoo and someone has found Snowball..I dont know if you read where that little boy had to leave his animal behind cause that police officer would not let the dog on the bus and the little boy cried so hard he was vomiting. Well, some people have located him and have him and they are trying to locate the little boy and his family..also the ASPCA just posted that they have confirmed it really is snowball.Oh gosh, is that wonderful or what..
winscribe and sound quality question (sm) -
Posted By: SP
I presently work for a company that used to have the hospitals call into their own in-house Dictaphone system. Recently, we have switched to using Winscribe and I notice that the sound quality has deteriorated. Why would this be? I'm not familiar with Winscribe or how it works so I'm not sure if the work is being re-recorded from the original Dictaphone system or what. Any thoughts?
Brower font size -
Posted By: happymt
I'm drawing a blank and cannot remember how to change the size of print within Internet sites. Can anyone help with this? Thanks
I cant see any replies either. Blank screen ? nm -
Posted By: catzgonewild
x
Word 2007 macro help -
Posted By: Rita
I sure hope someone can help me here. I have recently started using Word 2007 and am absolutely lost! I finally figured out how to create a macro....but now cannot figure how how to call up that macro when I need it. does this make sense??? example, ddd stands for degenerative disc disease..when I type "ddd" do I hit a function key, just the tab key, CTL + function key????? can't figure this out. please help me!
thanks. Rita
What is your process for checking your work -
Posted By: just wondering
 Just wondering what everyone does to check their own work before they send it off. Do you read back over the whole thing, read after each paragraph, ....
To Moderator re Christmas gift -
Posted By: Pokey
I made a small donation to MTStars Santa's House for Christmas Angels on December 19th but never received any gift. Would you let me know the status? Thanks.
see Word forum - nm -
Posted By: discrete and discreet
nm
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