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refresher course - Posted By: jean

Does anyone know of a refresher course for MT's. I have at least 18 years experience as either an MT transcribing the acute fours, but for the past four years I have been working as a nurse. I would like to get back into medical transcription. My terminology is great, but my speed needs polishing up! Any suggestions?

Foot Pedal Help - Posted By: WannabeMT

I have the Start/Stop Universal Transcription System and am trying to transcribe a sound file -- all I'm getting is static! What's going on??

can I please just take a second to... - Posted By: ahhhh!!!

ok that's better. Having a particularly trying day today! Thanks for listening!

My experience with new co...sm - Posted By: can you believe it?!

I started with a new company this week. It is doing general practice clinic notes. It is editscript VR. I have only been an MT for a year. My year of exp has been with general surgery clinic notes. So I am doing general practice now part time too. Well I have a new specialty, new platform, new dictators. Everything. I got a dictator that was not a good dictator. Well I didn't do so good on the report I sent to QA which was the owner. The other reports she said were very good. OK so I do this one not so good and she sends me an email and says if I don't do better then we will have to consider other options, ie get rid of me basically. Ok is it just me or is that a little harsh? One of the things I missed was "ov." Not the letters o-v but the word ov. I didn't know what ov meant. I looked in books but I didn't know so I left a blank well I got crawled for that. It was office visit. I didn't know. Isn't that why they call it training? Because you are learning the account.

MT Poll... - Posted By: mtr

How many years have you been an MT, and what's your longest run at the same company....

I've been an MT for 11 years....the past 8 with the same company.

Acute care vs. oncology - Posted By: Lucy

I am an experienced hem/onc Transcriptionist and would like to ask all the acute care people out there if transitioning from a hem/onc account to acute care would be very difficult?l. I have been offered a job in acute care...just not sure if I could handle it or not. TIA

Anyone heard anything more about USMTA -sm - Posted By: Just wondering

(the new website an MT had recently put up for "United States Medical Transcription Association"). Just checked it and it appears to be down.

Any more news, poster-who-created-that-website? You had some great ideas.

do the Bose QC2 require batteries? - Posted By: sm

If so, how often do you find you need to replace them - and/or do you think there is any health hazard to having batteries up next to your head? thanks.

Medinformatix - Posted By: Thanks

Does anyone type with Medinformatix. I am wondering how the pay figured and if there is a line count that can be figured. Thanks for any information.

Link for Big Box Mart from Jib Jab (see below) - Posted By: Peanuts

This is quite a chuckle. Then again, the seriousness of it all isn't that funny.

http://www.jibjab.com/Movies/MSN.aspx?contentid=122

New Contribution! Transcription Matchmaker gives two $50.00 Amazon Gift Certs. - Posted By: Click on Santa's House banner above to enter. n

C-phone - Posted By: Melissa

What all is required when using a C-phone to get your files? Do you have to pay long distance for using it? Do you call somewhere to retrieve your files? How long does it take to download/record a file?

How to politely "fire" an account - Posted By: Any suggestions?

Good evening!

I am an IC, and just started with a FP dr on 9/22. I want to lose this account! He is such a cheap AS@! OMG, he wants to know the exact character count and the way he pays it only equals out to like 5 cpl!! My name is getting around town (good rep) and I want to go about this professionally. Just cant come out and say, "you try and find someone who will work for your pathetic rate!" I was thinking of just telling them my main account has expanded or something like that.

Thanks,

Wont work for pennies

Argh. Can't. Listen. To. This. Doctor. Any. Longer. - Posted By: going bonkers

No, wait, back up. Change that. Nurse? Did you find the chart? Oh, really. Ok. Yeah. Sigh. Hang up. Scratch that. Start over.

He adds extraneous Rs and Ls throughout his pronunciation, but he's American.

Calculating errors in a typing test - Posted By: Carla

Can someone tell me how to calculate the errors in a typing test per the lines they type and how fast they type. I need to learn how to do this as I may have to give some typing tests where I work and I am not sure how to go about this. Any help would be appreciated. Or if you can tell me where on the internet I can find this information, that also would work.

Thanks

off shoring tests for health care professionals - Posted By: now this is scary

Below is an ad I found were they are offshoring the devlopement of questions now this is scary Title: Healthcare Exam Question Writing

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The client is based in the United States that is providing training and education to health care professionals.
The client is looking to outsource the process to outsource agents who can write exam questions from the source material (source material can come from journal articles, books, etc.)
1. The client will provide the source material either by email or by providing the web address.
2. The outsource agent will write multiple choice questions from the source material provided. Each question will only have 4 possible answers, with only one answer being correct.
3. The client will designate the number of questions required per course.
4. The outsource agent will format the questions in a format that will be provided.
5. The outsource agent will email the questions to the client for review and editing.
6. The client will email the edited questions back to the outsource agent.
7. The outsource agent will upload the edited questions to the client website.

The client will pay one dollar US ($1) for each question written.

We believe that for a typical set of question will require 15 questions and will most likely take about 3 hours to complete. This equals about $5 US per hour. We anticipate rejecting some of the questions that are developed, though the client will consider paying for the development. The client will work with the selected agents in the future to assist with question development.

No Project Files

Post below about transcribing at Starbucks is why - Posted By: no one respects MTs

A few think it is funny and it is most definitely not.

When a dictator says Metzenbaums in reference to Metzenbaum scissors do you transcribe it..sm - Posted By: stumped

Metzenbaums or Metzenbaum's. For instance is it "Using Metzenbaum's we opened the peritoneum." or "Using Metzenbaums we opened the peritoneum." TIA

testing - Posted By: justcurious

I am trying to test (not medical) and they had me download something called DSS Lite, so I could transcribe what they e-mailed me. Does anyone have any experience with this? I cannot get my foot pedal to work with it. Thank you in advance.

Olympus 2300 - Posted By: Merry

Please someone give me some info on the Olympus 2300. I am going to work from home for a doctor who uses this to dictate. Do I need special software to be able to transcribe the voice files? The doctor doesn't know because his previous service set him up. I truly appreciate any help I can get on this board!

How Much Can One Transcriptionist Do.... - Posted By: Zajicek

Hi all, I am wanting to get some advice here. I work at home for a 270 bed acute care hospital and have a minimum of 5000 lines per two week pay period requirement to maintain insurance. I also work as an IC for a psychiatrist doing progress notes on tapes that they aren't in any real hurry about (usually pick up tapes twice a week) and then work part-time for a national company. I just was called to do transcription for a neurological group that has three physicians. They have basically told me to set my price as they are unhappy with the person doing it right now and are looking for someone else. When do you know you have reached your limit or do you just try it for a while? Also, I have a friend who is wanting to do some work on the side, but I am not sure how to go about doing this (paying, taxes, etc). Any help here would be appreciated. What do others in this situation do? Thanks

Tami

Ever had one of those days when - Posted By: l

all you get are sloppy dictators who can not make up their minds on exactly what they want to say. Light editing only, which makes you wonder what would really happened if you followed that rule? Every dictator I have had is new. I have spent more time downloading samples and looking up meds pronounced incorrectly. The horror of it all!!! And I am a newbie, too!!!. Please let this day be over..

Do any Med-Quist employees - Posted By: curious

know whatever happened to Mark Forstein? He used to be the president of Transcriptions, Ltd. before it was bought out by MedQuist. He was Dave Cohen's cousin, I believe.

VR Questions - Posted By: Just wondering

I have an office going to EMR with voice recognition software. The OM tells me I will still have this account because there is no way the VR will work for their Indian doctor and another doctor that mumbles horribly. Is there anyone that has experienced this? Also, will editing of the VR be needed? The OM mentioned that if it does work, she will need me to edit reports. How much does one make per line for editing VR?

I know I have lots of questions, but this is my largest account and with a disabled hubby and three kids, I'm a panicked breadwinner right now.

Thanks!

Information on Medware - Posted By: Medware

Thinking about working for them. Any input. Thanks.

You know what? It's been too doggone long since... - Posted By: OP - Starting over.

I felt like myself. I must admit when with friends or family (which is rarely), I feel like my old self again. I have to get some stuff off my chest and I've been getting such good feedback here that, what the hay, here goes...my name is XXXXX. I'm originally from XXXXX. I'm 32 years old and I've been depressed for 12 years. When I was 19, the most incredible man in my world passed away. I was very weak while he was sick. He got sick when I was 9. He had emphysema and died in front of us for 10 years. He was the only man that has ever loved me unconditionally. He used to call me his "Pretty Girl". He said I had a beautiful singing voice and cried when I sang at my HS graduation. He said I looked like Valerie Bertinelli on One Day At A Time and I did. He was my best friend all through my childhood and his presence in my life made me who I was at that time. He was my Grandpa Bob. My mom's dad. He was 68 years old.

I was in my very first relationship and I was extremely naive. His name was XXXX. He was controlling and possessive, but my Grandpa was sick and my own dad hadn't grown up yet. I didn't know what I was doing. I married him in a lavish Catholic wedding 3 months after Grandpa passed. He left me for someone else SIX (6) months later. I was 20 and divorced. I felt it necessary to get the marriage annulled by my church. That proceeding took me 2 years. I was crippled. These three events destroyed me. I know that now. I was in no shape to even leave the house. I hallucinated, shook, and broke down all the time. Ladies and gentleman, I'm no better now. The real kicker is I have been on a self-destructive roller coaster for 12 years, the last 5 of which I have spent with XXXXX. Good Golly Miss Molly. What a weight off. THE FIRST STEP IS ADMITTING YOU HAVE A PROBLEM. Right? I have to press "post" now.

Nursing to MT? - Posted By: g8torgrl

Has anyone gone from being a nurse to being an MT or know someone who has? Someone asked me about it and I am not sure what to tell them.

Thanks.

Quick question or poll - What does one consider "good money" for weekly bring home income? sm - Posted By: ExpMT

Would you consider $1000 a week, IC status, working 5 hours a day, 5 days a week "great money"?

What do you make a week and how many hours do you work?

This is for informational purposes only and not to belittle or degrade anyone or boast and put anyone on a soapbox about their income.

Thanks for your help!

Windfall...sm - Posted By: Mt'ing around

Has anyone been watching this new show? If so, what do you think? So far, I kinda like it, but I'm wondering if it's just because I'm so desparate to watch anything halfway decent on TV right about now!!!

I have not strictly transcribed in about 10 yrs.sm - Posted By: Curious

I work full-time doing medical transcription but I also have other duties that do not involve transcribing so I don't keep up with lines or anything like that; I get paid by the hour. I have worked 3-4 hours in the evenings for one of the national companies for a little over a month but I can't seem to get my line count up. I've only been able to do around 100 lph. I know it will take longer than it would if I worked 8 hours just transcribing. I would like to quit the other job and just work from home transcribing but I'm afraid if I can't get my line count up I won't be able to maintain my current income. I'm not a blazing fast typist, I probably type 75-80 wpm without any kind of expanders. Any helpful advice or encouragement on whether you guys think at my typing speed it is within reason to think I can make it to 150-200 lph? I've done straight transcription in the past but I never had to keep up with lines. I have 30+ years of experience. I just need to decide whether to keep things the way they are now or take the chance on income by production only. BYW, I transcribe acute care for the national.

legacy MTS platform - Posted By: d.martins

Does anyone work on legacy MTs platform or know who uses it?

If your MTSO bounces checks or pays late - Posted By: post the name of the company here

along with facts to back up your statement. If an MTSO bounces checks or pays late, we all need to know who they are. There are no rules that say we cannot list the name of a company.

There is absolutely no excuse for MTSOs who jip us out of our hard earned money. Because we work from home it's much easier for them to do this to us. In most cases we live in an entirely different state. I'm sick of this crap. I'm sick of the run around, the delays and excuses. There is no excuse.

if they can do THIS in India there is no hope - Posted By: QA girl

for the MT biz.

http://www.cbsnews.com:80/stories/2007/12/31/health/main3658750.shtml

Patient info? - Posted By: Medtyper

Where is my post on typing in patient information???????????

Per Gross Line Pay? - Posted By: Jamie

Being relatively new to MT, I'm not quite sure what being paid by the gross line is as opposed to being paid by a 65 character line. Can someone clear me up on this. Thanks much.

Footpedal and Editscript 8 - Posted By: USMT

My company is currently upgrading our accounts to Editscript 8. Will my 9-pin Infinity pedal still work with the upgrade or do I need to look into getting a USB pedal? Thanks!

PC DART - Posted By: Susie

Does any one still use PC Dart? I am an MTSO who uses PC Dart. My subcontractors use a TTU and I use one when I travel. I have a problem where my foot pedal doesn't respond. The only way I can hear the dictation is if I hit the 1 on the telephone keypad to play, 2 to pause, 3 to suspend, etc. I tried going through all of the manuals I received when I purchased the system and can't find anything. Additionally, I just hired someone and gave her one of the TTU's. She connected it and the same thing is happening to her. Since BCB is out of business I don't have a clue who to call or where to find information. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

eScription ??? - Posted By: anon

What exactly is that? What features does it have that make it a better platform? Easy to use? Easy to learn? High producing? The eScription web side is advertising for an MT to to work with IT to evaluate, report and suggest changes to make it more efficient. I like that idea.

Question for you Statutory Employees about retirement? - Posted By: SM

Any of you who work as an SE, have you ever looked in to an SEP IRA or an individual 401K for funding a retirement plan? I was just wondering if this is allowed, since the income is considered self employment income, but I have searched on the Internet and can't find anything to tell how the laws specifically apply to SE's. I know if I was an IC there would be no question. I already have a Roth IRA but the limit for that or a regular IRA is $4000 a year and that is not enough IMO for retirement, would love to be able to save some of my SE income tax-deferred. I'm going to ask my accountant about it but figured out of courtesy I would wait til after the tax filing season winds down. Just curious if any of you could help out in the meantime?? TIA.

Help on Word Board. Thansks! nm - Posted By: funsize

x

? just thought of it YOG.....(EOM) - Posted By: RettaB

..

Bruised rib? Help! - Posted By: SM

I just noticed yesterday that my right rib is protruding more. When you palpate around it there is obvious swollen tissue (?) on the outside. It does not hurt, there is no bruise or tenderness. There is no bite mark or scratch. I don't have insurance until April 1 and I'm sort of scared about it. Any ideas or suggestions? Is it possible it is just bruised without any tenderness? It isn't hard, but just what I would consider inflamed.

Anybody working two full time jobs - Posted By: as a transcriptionist?

Due to the lack of work (on a regular basis) with my current full time at-home job, I'm considering taking another full time job...7am to 3pm then 3pm to 11pm. I don't know what else to do. I can't afford to go days without meeting minimum line count because there is no work.

Am I nuts to try this?

Question for Instant Text users - Posted By: siren

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?

Those w/2 jobs - Posted By: mt

How do you all do it w/o sleeping at the computer desk?! Did you just luck out and get one job to fill in when the other one is slow and the company is flexible? Or do you work 7 days, 8 +++ hours a day? Also, who knows of a good company w/o a bunch of esl's? It seems like most of the larger accounts have a lot.

What is with the low pay for IC? - Posted By: tia

The last few ads I've looked at for ICs show they pay 7-8 cpl. What is with that? Are there MTs really that desperate? Maybe I have been doing this for too long but I would rather fight office politics again and get a PAID vacation for the same or more pay than take that. Also, looking to go back to school. By the time you pay your expenses, you might as well work at Wally world and get benefits like a paid vacation. Why don't hospitals contract directly with MTs, at least the small hospitals?

Magic Jack - Posted By: Debbie

I have read previous comments about Magic Jack and was wondering if there were any more recent experiences about using Magic Jack with a C-phone. Vonage wants to up my plan to business because of the amount of time I am using it and then with all the fees tacked on, I'm looking at at least $55 a month for a business plan up from $35. I would rather use Magic Jack if I can see other transcriptionists are happy with it. Please post if you don't mind. Thank you!

Debbie

pay for inhouse position?? - Posted By: Amanda

I have an interview in the morning for a part-time inhouse position. What is the pay looking like working by the hour with no incentives? I don't know what a fair offer would be and don't want to sell myself short.

Desperately need debt consolidation help. - Posted By: Maureen

Can anyone recommend a reputable debt consolidation service that they have used to help successfully get them out of debt? I just want to break down and cry, but we have to do something as our credit card debt/medical bills are through the roof and unmanagable due to tough times findings jobs, etc. Thank you for any advice you can give.

Is 13 cpl a good rate for clinic account?...nm - Posted By: curious girl

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