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How do I clean my keyboard? - Posted By: Keyboard help please :)

My keyboard is getting nasty down under the keys. The vacuum used to do the trick, but now some dust, crumbs, and Lord knows what else remains in the bottom of the tray. If I unscrew the screws on the bottom, will that allow me to lift the top off?

I figured I would ask, because I often do things like that only to end up with the wrong part coming off or nothing at all happens. (I hate that.)

Any tips appreciated!

Ladies, what is on for din din tonight????? - Posted By: Michelle

beef tenderloin, mushroom gravy, noodles, salad and some fruit. Then, a whole pot coffee while I work.

Can anyone tell me how they like working for the NE Region of MQ as all offices in the NE are - Posted By: MQMT2

going there one by one as the local offices close down. What are the people like to work for there and the QA people as far as feedback on things. Thanks

To sandy54...any news on Boo? Thinking about you both :) - Posted By: JoH

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Jana Richmond of St. Louis, MO has won the Blissful Spa Gift Basket - Posted By: Administrator (see message inside)

Ms. Richmond, please send an email to admin@mtstars.com with your full address and we will ship your gift basket to you. Congratulations and Merry Christmas in July!

Are some VR/ASR programs easier/faster to - Posted By: use than others? What do you like so far? NM

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No check from 07/16, 08/01, and 08/16..no response to e-mails - Posted By: what do I do next?

Thankfully I haven't had this problem before..but now I don't know what to do. This is a lady who I've done work with for the past 3 years...very much in the first couple of years, and it has slacked off to only occasionally now. I never had a problem with her paying in the past and thought we had a good working relationship over the past few years. Now, I haven't been paid for these 3 invoices, and have gotten a couple of e-mail, late in August and early in September, that the check was on the way. Now for the past week plus I haven't gotten any response to my e-mails..and still no check. It's only about $350 or so, but it's the income I've always used to pay my credit card bill...and now without it, I've gotten late charges. I just wonder what my next move should be..or if there is anything I can do short of just e-mailing her again? I'm just really surprised that it's come to this...and I'm hoping she's just on vacation or something

Every day that I wake up... - Posted By: Jodi

and he's not here is ultimately a good day. I have decided this is all about prospective. I cried a bit last night, but couldn't define exactly why. I've been going about the house taking down reminders. My children now after what three days are only mentioning him in casual conversation. My 4-year-old says to me in private that he was mean and he is not coming back. I don't know how much of that she actually registers. I'm just noticing small things. I can type faster. I haven't had to yell. I smile at myself in the mirror. I'm remembering who I was intended to be. We're listening to music again. The TV was only on yesterday for about an hour total, not 14 hours. That alone is stunning. I am starting to believe that I can actually do this. I have my mom coming up this morning to help me look for a place to live. I have a self-imposed 30 days to find a place. My only significant problem is that he made a 1-year committment to the phone company/satellite provider. If anyone has a suggestion for how I can get out of that without paying an enormous fee, please offer. It is so cathardic speaking to you all. I'm already healing. Keep praying for me. Thank you, Jodi

Just downloaded Shortcut, now how to convert abbreviations to it? - Posted By: Me

If anyone knows I would really appreciate the help. I have Chartnet which has the built-in expander, so how do I get those abbreviations into shortcut?

clinic notes to acute care - Posted By: ML

Has anyone gone from doing clinic notes for different specialities to acute care in a hospital? I have been a Transcriptionist for four years and lost most of my work to India. I went back to medical billing for about 5 months and have been offered a position to work at home for a hospital. I never did hospital work. This will exclude lab and X-ray reports. I am a little scared. Any good sites to brush up on for documents or any words of wisdom?

Thanks!!

Slow pay? - Posted By: AnotherBrokeMT

I recently worked as an IC for a few weeks for a company, but it did not work out because I could not make any money with their platform, ADT, etc. Sent in an invoice 2 weeks ago, and when I emailed the owner to ask when paycheck would be sent, she replied that she has not billed client yet and when she got paid, I would get paid.

Anybody ever hear of this type of arrangement before? It is not a lot of money so it makes even less sense that I have to wait for her to get paid. I did not know this beforehand. I was just told to invoice twice a month. Stupidly I assumed I would get paid twice a month! I am just glad I quit when I did before I was owed too much money.

Need to type 1200 lines on new - Posted By: job. sm

I just started new job about a week ago. I need to type 1200 lines/ day to reach my income goal. How long does it usually take to reach this amount of lines? I can't seem to find a comfortable routine. I want to work nights but no luck with that. I am straining too much to see the work because the eyes are just too tired by the end of the day and day time is full of interruptions. Thought about splitting it up with 4 hours in the day and 4 hours at night. Anyone heard of doing this? Any other suggestions? I have an Expander but I haven't put all of the shortcuts in yet.

thanks for input.

Happy yet depressing, too! - Posted By: clhmt

Man, sometimes life just stinks! My current job has not had much work for me lately, so I've been testing around to see if I can scare up more work. I've been really down on myself, it seems like no one hires newbies. I've got just 10 months part-time experience, some clinic, some acute care.

I just got results back from the first company I tested with. I just scored a 98.8%! YAY!! The company doesn't have any openings right now though. I've never been so happy to NOT get work in my whole life. ACCCKKK!!

How do y'all handle this emotional rollercoaster?

How to get ExpressScribe to pick up FTP files??? - Posted By: MT mom of 3

Everytime I click on the file to play it pulls up window media player and it gives me an error. How do I get Express Scribe to play the files?

May want to hold off on cashing it - Posted By: Message to MQ, MT

One of the attorneys handling the lawsuit or an associate of, suggested I hold off on cashing the check that came to me from MQ. This is the one that came with a letter saying basically the reason they robbed us of so much money over time was a system error. Yeah, right. The attorneys want to check into the true purpose of the checks. So listen to your gut on this one If this has already been said on the boards, sorry, I haven't read them lately.

Anyone have a med phrase index book for sale? - Posted By: tired of waiting

I'm signed up with Andrews and am quite a ways into it but they still haven't sent the Lorenzini Medical Phrase Index, and I'm tired of waiting. Tired of them not sending back tests, too. Wish I had gone to M-Tec now.

How long do you normally cooked a precooked ham and at what oven temperature do you do this. Thanks. - Posted By: MQ2

:

I currently type for a doctor who dictates with a digital handheld and sends the files via e-mail fo - Posted By: Wilson

and wanted to be able to call me with his dictations. What would be the best and cheapest way for me to go so that he can do his dictations without the handheld unit?? I don't want to invest in a lot because he does not forget very often. This is the first time in three months. Thanks for any suggestions you may have.

Why are so many podiatrists bad dictators? - Posted By: Frustated with feet

Is it because they have to look at ugly feet all day? They talk too fast. They use obscure abbreviations. Do they have inferiority complexes because they work at the bottom of a person? What is it?

Is anyone else having problems running out of work at Wordzxpressed besides me? - Posted By: Wav-less :(

Taxes - Posted By: Pat

I'm going to take the big jump and try Turbo Tax. Hopefully, it will be correct. I had figured I would get back some $$ but Turbo Tax figured MUCH more! I'm leery about the minus amount from my total gross because I didn't figure my business expenses that way. Their so-called summary page doesn't show all the figures to I can determine exactly how they came up with the final figures. Anyone else have good luck with Turbo Tax? Should I go ahead and take the plunge and hopefully IRS won't audit me

does anyone know any natural way to replace estrogen? - Posted By: old and dried up

fingers not working today - Posted By: is it just me

I have had my days with horrible dictors, and today I have a dream dictor, could no thave been happier to get her and my fingers do not work. I can't seem to type anything correctly. lol. Thank goodness I proof my work before sending - thank goodness for spellcheckers and grammar checkers - cause I suck today lol

Does anybody else have that kind of day - or is it just me? Now be nice lol

Former Synthescribe Employees - Posted By: Heda

Has anyone received a W2 from Tammy Johnson/Synthescribe owner? I am afraid that she is not just waiting until the last minute, and that she just doesn't plan to send them. Therefore, making it an issue with the IRS finding her to make her do something or fine her. She only has tomorrow and Saturday. Any help out there would be greatly appreciated, as I cannot find a listing for her anywhere.

Pathology transcription jobs - Posted By: Udlood

Hi. Anyone know of a company that employs transcriptionists for at-home position, who specialize in pathology? If so, please reply. Thanks

Can one make money at etransplus? - Posted By: anon

Hi,

I am pleased with the benefit package and the line rate for insurance, but I was astounded by style they prefer. It is just so much. Can one make money there?

Any HOW TO info?? - Posted By: JB

Looks like I may have an opportunity to do some transcription for a local doctor on the side after all, and I just wondered if there is some kind of website, book, or ?? about how to go about breaking into doing more of this on the side and what steps to follow. From reading these boards, it sounds like a lot of you have a main company/account you work for and others as backups when the work is low. Any pointers, information, would be most appreciated.

THX!!

How many lines can I plan on averaging per hr/day when first starting out? - Posted By: JL

I am getting back into transcription after taking a few years off, and I am trying to figure out financially if I can swing the 8 cpl that I was offered to me. Since it has been a few years, I'm not sure how many lines I can type, as this was an hourly position and we did not have a minimum line count. I know that there are a lot of variables, but would you mind sharing what your average line counts were when you started out? I will be typing full-time. Thanks in advance!

Prevacid/Protonix Reaction. Anyone ever had a reaction to these mediciations? (sm)) - Posted By: Southernbelle

My dad was placed on Prevacid/Protonix for chronic Coumadin anaphylaxis and it makes him very agitated or tearful. Anyone ever experience this?

newbie info - Posted By: Cher

Could someone please tell me how to get your first job as an MT? Any company out there take a chance on a newbie?

Anyone with experience using ShortKeys expander and - Posted By: Christina RTMT

does anyone know if FlashType is compatible with ChartMatrix?

Familiar with primary/secondary insurance?sm - Posted By: Clueless

My son is currently covered under my husband's (his stepfather) policy. His father and I have talked about changing him to his insurance come open enrollment time later this year because his coverage is now much better than ours. I am considering actually leaving him on my husband's insurance too though, in the hopes that primary/secondary coverage will leave less out of pocket expenses...because it costs us no more or less with him on our policy anyway (same family rate regardless of the number of children covered).

My question is this.....if our policy has a huge deductible then pays at 80/20...and if he was also covered by his father's policy that utilizes office copays...how would that pay? Would his father's policy still not kick in and pay anything until we met the deductible on the primary policy? If so that's pointless...but I don't see the secondary insurance company wanting to pick up all the expenses that the primary won't. Anyone familiar with this situation that has any suggestions? Would be greatly appreciated...very confused. LOL Thanks!

Expander question - Posted By: Sanda

Does anyone make expansions for things like 1 x 2, etc.? I wanted to make them like: 1 x, 2 x, 3 x ... etc., but we have to use hard spaces in between each and our program adds a regular space automatically so then I would end up with another extra space before whatever the 2nd number would be. (Like: 1 x 2)

I thought about making them for all combinations, but that would be endless. (I do have 1 x 1 and a few simple ones.)

Anyone else have any good ideas? Thank you!

Are the $30 lumbar supports from Office Depot - Posted By: worth it? Can't afford a new chair. nm

nm

For mom with teen girls, what type of dance classes sm - Posted By: txmwmt

are appropriate for learning moves to try out for drill team? my daughter is 14 and has never been in any dance classes. i am puzzled by the jazz, hip/hop, etc. and have no clue where she needs to start. she wants to try out for the drill team next year. TIA!

When you use a laptop & are used to split keybooard, how do you handle it? - Posted By: just me

Nm

Need help with line count and pay....sm - Posted By: AJF

I don't know how to figure this out so...which is better- .085 per line at 55 characters without spaces or .08 per line at 65 characters with spaces?

Thanks

CONGRATULATIONS! Mary Y. of Bowling Green, KY on winning the Farm Pac Smoked Turkey! - Posted By: Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at MTStars! nm

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Looking for a medication website - Posted By: karen

I used to have a link to a website that if you only knew three letters to the medication it would give you options. My computer had since crashed and I lost that website and cannot find it. A lot of times I can hear only a few syllables of the med they are saying. Does anyone know a website that you can put a partial part in and get choices?

Canadian rates, please help - Posted By: Mapleleaf

Could any of you help me in making this very important decision please? I have contacts that can help me get contracts from a small Physical therapy/chiropractic care clinic in Alberta, Canada. But, I have no clue as to how much is charged per 65 cpl with spaces in Canada. Considering that one US dollar is equivalent to Canadian $1.15, I guess I would perhaps be able to get a better rate. But how much would you say is a rate that would do justice to both parties? Anyone doing a similar work from Canada, working MTs with MT companies in Canada, please help. Any input will be welcome�Thank you�.Maple

Mean-spirited dictator... (sm) - Posted By: MT

This is probably something that shouldn't bug me, but for some reason, it really has for a few days now...

I work for one of the big nationals and had one of the dictators make a pretty nasty comment at the end of one of his notes. It was nothing profane or even specific--just a really sarcastic comment about what a "great" job we do. In fact, what made the comment bad was his tone, not even the words that were said.

I know that his comment wasn't directed personally at me, and that the anonymity that we feel working from home works the same way on their end, as well and makes it easy to be rude. However, this has really stuck with me and kind of depressed me for the last few days. Anyone else have something like this happen to them? I'm trying to just have a thick skin, but it's still bothering me.

Help on word board please -- alcohol KZP? -nm - Posted By: mls

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Survey on IC's vs. Employee - Posted By: Terry

Could anyone tell me if they are an IC or an employee and who they work for? I am trying to find out if I should change all of our IC's to employees or not. Also, could you tell me which one you like better?

Thanks

interesting perspective on outsourcing tech support - Posted By: Snow Bunny

My husband was in a networking class last night and the teacher, who he says really knows his stuff, polled the class to see how everyone felt about tech support being outsourced. Well, the general concensus was pretty negative.

The teacher also voiced his opinion. He had absolutely nothing good to say about them. They don't know what they're doing. They read from a script and so forth.

He pretty much said, "The damn Indians don't know squat about computers."

The teacher ... is from India.

Interesting, huh?

MD in Touch - Posted By: Marie

Anyone familiar with this platform who would care to share pros and cons of it. Are you able to produce a good line count, is it easy to learn, can you use PC ShortHand Expander with it? Thanks for your input.

Looking for good microcassette desktop player - Posted By: Sandi

I haven't purchased and/or looked for a transcription machine in quite a few years. I did a Goggle search but I prefer the expertise from those that have the real experience using one. :)

I had a high end Sony many years ago that broke down several times in the first couple years i used it so I am a bit sour on those. I realize though by now they could be made totally different. I really didn't care for their foot pedal at that time either (way too much flexing of my ankle for my comfort).

I have had 2 Olympus Pearlcorders that I have used for at least 6 years, probably longer. I haven't seemed to be able to find just a transcription machine now (without record feature). I feel if I get 3 years out of a lower priced one like these I certainly did get my money's worth. :) However, due to aging and loosing some hearing (that can come naturally with aging), I think I may need a better quality machine.

I do want one that is a microcassette player, has an adjustable backspace on the machine, backspace and forward on the pedal & erases tapes. I would like to find one with excellent sound quality as well. I am willing to pay up to $500 for one that is highly recommended by you pros.

Thanks so much.
Sandi
(If I am talking in circles and/or am incoherent, I apologize as I just came home from having surgery today on my foot - and my latest transcription machine died this morning so I need to order one on line fast).

Looking for a cigarette smoke detector (sm) - Posted By: Me

My mother lives with us and has gotten into the habit of sneak smoking in the back bathroom. She thinks we can't smell it. Have a granddaughter with asthma and I am very particular about smoke in the house.

I thought if I had a detector that would buzz when she lit up that would encourage her to go outside like my husband does.

I have tried talking to her about smoke smells in there when I have washed down the wallpaper and cleaned rugs/shower curtains down. The smell clings to that wallpaper like glue. She simply denies that anyone smokes in there. She keeps multiple candles in there and thinks she is "covering up the smell".

Any suggestions on a device that might be useful is appreciated.

Need to hook up a USB pedal to RealPlayer. I'm sure this has been addressed before. sm - Posted By: searching

I have a test wave file I need to play. It runs fine from my desktop, but I can't get the pedal to work. I have an Infinity In-USB-1 I just plugged into the hard drive, but it will not play the file. Will this work wtih RealPlayer? TIA.

Just good news - Posted By: Lara

Just heard on the TV where a teacher got choked on a salad at school. The only person around her was an 11 year old student of hers who asked if she was alright, she told him no and he immediately got behind her to do the Heimlich maneuver and dislodged the stuck food. Now get this, he said it must have been intervention from above- he did not know the name of what he did, had never even seen it performed and basically he said just had to move and move quick to try to help her. Is that not a good story??

eTrans in Tennessee - Posted By: Trish O'Neil

How about this company? Anyone know anything about it?