A couple things I would recommend...
Posted By: At Home MT on 2006-06-16
In Reply to: Any ideas for sore fingers and hands? - sm
I had a lot of problems with my fingers/hands and once I bought the softest touch ergo keyboard I could find it made a world of difference, My hands and fingers never hurt anymore. I found the Kinesis Classic to work the best for me but it sure took some getting use to! I can't type on a regular keyboard now at all.
It might help to consider some of the gloves they have out there as well. I have tried a couple different ones and found some at Staples, the drug store, as well as on line.
Another thing is I use is the Evoluent Mouse which has been the only mouse that stopped my wrist and forearm pain. It is not cheap but I have had mine for quite awhile so it seems to last. As soon as I use my touch-pad on my laptop for any length of time, I note pain in my forearm in particular.
Another very inexpensive thing for ankle discomfort - I bought a rectangular-shaped gardening knee pad (a small one) and I place that in front of my foot pedal and rest my feet on it while working. You won't need to flex your ankle much at all. I have not had ankle pain in years! :D Sounds odd but who cares as long as it works, right? :D
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Just a couple of things I can think of...sm
You poor dear - we all remember being in your shoes. You will get your break. Keep up your confidence. Here's a couple of thoughts:
First, go through your resume and cover letter with a fine tooth comb (you definitely should send/e-mail a cover letter with your resume). Make sure there are no typos. Also, give to someone else to check for typos and look at format.
I think I have seen a few companies that say satellite is OK, but yeah, expensive! Keep looking for a company that will still allow dial-up. And, never fear! DSL came to me in the country, and I never would have dreamed that! You might call and tell them you need it for a job. If there are others near you requesting DSL, it helps alot.
Have you asked for any feedback on your online tests?
I hope these suggestions help. I'm sure other MTs will have good suggestions to give you too! Good luck to you. Keep us posted!
A couple things... sm
You mention being depressed, so I'm wondering if you really might benefit from an antidepressant? (I know mine works wonders for me.)
Another thing, I love to watch Oprah when she does shows about inspirational weight loss stories. You can read some of them at: http://www2.oprah.com/tows/pastshows/tows_2000/tows_past_20001109.jhtml
Oprah's website has a lot of info, and message boards for support. Apparently, her trainer, Bob Greene, has some great books out about weight loss and emotional eating.
For me, it helps a lot to keep a "food journal." My weight is okay, but I feel flabby. My challenge is eating healthy and exercising. I hate to exercise and I don't know why because I always feel better when I do.
Good luck to you. Hang in there, and keep looking for what works for you. 
There are a couple of things you can do - sm
1) Did you know the TAT going in? Obviously you did and you've been doing this for 3 years now. As an IC, you have the right to accept or deny these terms. If you dont accept these terms, then you need to either walk away or try and renegotiate with the idea that you risk losing the account. 2) They will not give you a raise. Again, as an IC you need to be the one to set your rates. Basically you renegotiate your contract with your MTSO again with the idea that you may or may not have this account any longer.
Realize that as an IC, you are basically an MTSO who contracts with other MTSOs rather than directly with a client. Begin thinking like a business rather than someone who is lucky to be able to work from home. Figure out what you need to to make and then adjust your rates. Also, feel free to start obtaining more work from other MTSOs/clinics.
Good luck to you.
a couple of things
I can *de-stress* by taking a break and sitting down on the floor and playing with my kids. Or maybe eat some chocolate. Or lay on the couch for a few minutes and turn on my fav radio station that plays 80s music (drives my older daughter NUTS, LOL).
Takes me back in time........ LOL.
Basically, if I am in the middle of a bad dictation (as long as it is not a STAT) I just take a few minute break. It always helps me.
I hope things get better for you!
A couple things you could try
I am able to use my F10 for normal speed/100% and F12 for 200% for proofing purposes. In settings, there is a place where you can edit hot keys too. :)
HTH.
Couple of things
First, she should realize that it doesn't matter whether or not you deliver the work - if you transcribe it, it's billable. I would just tell them you don't want it sitting in your office when it's already done, and take it in. LET THEM DEAL WITH IT! If they can't handle the volume all at once, they can let it sit there. You've met your turnaround and they can't say you didn't deliver on time and use that as an excuse.
Second, you don't have a contract? I would get one.
I would let this play out without rocking the boat too much but I would advise also that when and where the doc and his wife take a vacation and how much they make versus your vacations and what you make are completely irrelevant and shouldn't even be part of the conversation. Your financial commitments and obligations are your problem, not theirs. They have no obligation to make their travel plans with you in mind, or budget for the business based on whether or not they know you have kids who require expensive tutoring.
A couple of things
For really obscure muscles, ligaments, tendons, etc., I use Gray's Anatomy online: http://www.bartleby.com/107/ . I do a search in the search box, then when it gives me a page, I do a search of the page for the term I'm looking for. The text is much too dense to try to read through it when you're working on a deadline.
If your Stedman's Radiology Word Book is current, it should have most of the information you need. For MRIs, there are a few acronyms commonly used in the technique like FLAIR, STIR, FIESTA, etc. If they use BI-RADS for the mammograms, you will want to get a list or sample of exactly how they want you to do it. For CTs, they generally use the same contrast material for most of the exams - Omnipaque, Visipaque, etc. Your Stedman's should have most of those.
For those three types of exams, you shouldn't have too much trouble. CTs and MRIs can be pretty anatomy-intensive, but if you have good reference books, you'll be okay. Mammograms are generally not too difficult. Here is a site that gives a good overview and also gives the BI-RADS classifications: http://www.radiologyassistant.nl/en/4349108442109 .
A couple of things for you to consider.
First, you will still need to use the software that came with the Olympus recorder to get dictation off the machine and onto the doc's computer. That's the only way those recorders will work.
Next, you can look at several options for transmitting work (both ways if you're interested). One is to use an FTP site and/or free FTP software to communicate between the server and the computer. Sites like http://www.ibackup.com or http://www.zftp.com/ are pretty reasonably priced and sound like they may be what you're looking for.
If you or your doc are FTP-phobic, try something like www.filestogo.com. It's a little more expensive mostly because they expect that it will be used harder (more than one account) but there is no software to download as all transfer are done through a web browser. They do have an FTP side as well, www.ftptogo.com.
Good luck.
A couple of things to consider.
Have you tried turning off the computer and restarting? You should see a message that the computer has detected new hardware. Also, if you plugged it into a USB port and then pulled it out without properly ejecting it, the USB port will be unusable until a restart.
A couple of things... sm
A local agent where you can deal with and develop a relationship with one person or office is good to have, but if you can just take 5 minutes to check ehealth, they only want your zip code, weight, height, and birthdate to generate quotes, no personally identifiable information. They will give you several prices based on whatever you have in mind, and you can print out and compare in detail what is covered and not for each individual quote. You can choose a policy and then tell your agent exactly what you want and the price you are quoted, and they can give you an idea if that's really how it will be based on medical history, current scripts, and past diagnoses.
The other thing is that if you want copays on office visits, that's gonna be a high dollar policy. We started with BCBS (the best co., I believe) with a $10,000 deductible. We had no insurance previously but had bought our house, and my husband griped endlessly, because it covers basically nothing day to day, but if one of us were in an accident or something, we could likely pay off the deductible without losing the house. Also, someone finally enlightened me that even though a visit or script isn't actually covered, I still need to give them my ID card because I am eligible to be charged the rate that has been negotiated between the provider and the insurer, so there are discounts rather than the cash price, which is the highest price charged to anyone.
I did just get DH switched over to an Aetna policy where he gets copays for office visits and specialists and some drugs, and it's $145/mo with a 2500 ded. For men is cheaper than women, I think because women are much more likely to actually GO to the doc and seek treatment. But anyway, shop around and make sure you know what you're getting. Another thing to be aware of is that if your BMI is over 25 (I think that's the magic number), you should add 25% to the ehealth quote. So you might want to do the math, and if you're within a couple of pounds of the limit, I don't see any real harm in fudging just a bit. As a rule, you weigh less in the morning after you pee and before you eat or drink than you do at night after dinner, so it is pretty easily to rationalize a couple of pounds; I wish I had been aware of this because DH and I are both just slightly above the limit.
A couple things.
Years ago I was a foreign language student in the military and later in college. One thing I learned is that learning to SPEAK a foreign language is typically the last and most difficult part of language learning. Reading and writing may not be so bad and one can do a lot of that on their own. To learn to speak well, though, one really needs a tutor or teacher on hand to correct pronunciation mistakes on the spot as they happen. That involves someone else's time and somebody's money to pay for that time.
I've pretty much concluded that a lot of ESLs learn to read and write English largely on their own, in some cases pretty well, but may only spend minimal if any time with a tutor or teacher to correct their pronunciation. Thus they don't speak well.
I think some medical schools and/or hospitals could set up remedial classes in phonetics and pronunciation for those who need help with the spoken language. It wouldn't take up that much time and would (hopefully) only be temporary according to each student's needs. It could be part of the solution.
It also makes a big difference whether or not a dictator fully prepares the dictation in advance. It is too much for most dictators to compose and dictate their document all at once: composition detracts from dictation and vice versa. This applies particularly to anybody who does not have a strong command of the English language.
Compose, then dictate. Compose, then dictate. Compose, then dictate.
Compose, then dictate...
Bonnie, there are a couple of things that could cause this...sm
Unfortunately there is no such thing as 100% reliability when it comes to the Internet, it just does not exist. Occasionally a file could become corrupted in transit and would not open on the receiving end, but it's really rare for a file to completely disappear in transit. But in most every digital setup I know of, there is always a copy of the original voice file on the sender's computer, so that in case something happens in transit, it can always be re-sent.
Jay
PS - a couple of other things I have thought about
are Public Administration and Health Care Administration.
I can share a couple of things..sm
I was using Windows 98 SE and had WP51 loaded on my desktop, and it would load in the background DOS format in Windows and worked just fine. I also use PRD.
Another option you can try that also worked for me is acquiring ShortHand 8, which is a short-cut program that works in Windows, and you can convert all of your PRD short cuts and use them in Shorthand. When I purchased the program, the guy incorporated my PRD into the Shorthand for me.
A couple of things to keep in mind
Are you sure DSL is available in the area you are moving to? ATT advertises it all the time where I live, but it is not really available. Last I heard, they were having a difference of opinion with the Illinois Commerce Commission about how much they could charge competitors for the use of their lines and decided not to expand DSL service until they could charge what they wanted.
Is the bundle rate a long-term price (say a year or more) or just a 3-month teaser and then you get socked with a huge price increase to the regular rate?
If the phone part of the bundle is VOIP (voice over Internet protocol or phone through your computer), make sure your 911 dispatch center can find you.
It sounds like you will have DSL and cable available to you. This is good in case you find whichever service you pick is of poor quality. It would be even better if there was more than one DSL and more than one cable provider. At least you will have another option and won't lose your job. Plus, threatening to change services is sometimes the best (only) leverage you have against poor service. Does it sound like I've been there and done that?
Can you answer a couple more things for me please? sm
We have a DVR receiver, it is only 8 months old but I don't recall what it cost. Can you tell me what type receiver you have?
When you say you can select 3 different groups of channels, are these channels you can put in 3 lists of your own or are they groups Direct has designated and you cannot change? We are only allowed 1 "favorite" list to make ourselves. I would like to make a favorites list for our most watched and a list for the music we enjoy but we are just allowed 1 list. The "Channels I Get" menu on ours is actually ALL the channels Direct offers and not the "channels I get" (we have Total Choice too) so making lists of channels we watch is really important.
We are getting a new HD TV and since it will mean upgrading our receiver, I have to make a decision as to whether or not to pay to upgrade or cancel and pay a penalty (and go with Dish, so any information is truly helpful! Thanks.
A couple of things come to mind..
Years ago while doing my OB rotation as a nursing student I developed an axillary rash after shaving. It got really ugly and spread, and my theory was that it was a staph infection I must have gotten from a baby in the newborn nursery. I figured I was holding or feeding one of the babies and s/he was breathing bacteria from his/her nasopharynx into my irritated armpit, where it was nice and warm and moist. I treated it with OTC triple antibiotic ointment and it went away quickly.
The other experience with underarm rash was my husband's. He came to me with a flaming red bilateral rash extending down his sides and asked if I knew what it was. It took me about 30 seconds to figure out he was having a reaction to his deodorant.
A fungal infection is probably a good guess, so if you want to self-treat you could try clotrimazole like the other poster suggested (I would use cream). You should see an improvement pretty quickly if you're on target.
Did I mention I am saving for a couple of things? sm
I have some divorce debt yet, not of my making, which I am paying on. I am a little concerned about taxes, though I think that is a nonissue. My credit isn't good and I need a new vehicle, so I am saving to pay cash for a used car.
For work, I am an employee with a split shift. I work as an IC to deduct my business expenses somewhere. My IC work is transcribing and doing QA being paid hourly. I don't work at a frantic pace, I can't. I am sick again right now (I have an AID). Sometimes I can hardly move, but I still work. Not good for anything high pressure.
Hmmm I'm none of those things and I am on a couple of dating sites. SM
I'm not sure why you'd say all those things are true, when you have no possible way of knowing that.
Okay - I AM weird. :D I am an MT and I work at home. But I'm no misfit.
Wish Escription would mention that when they recommend the adapters or just recommend the one. nm
I have 2 middle age couple friends. One couple became pregnant from condom failure.
This is not just "irresponsible" behavior! Both couples are "fixed" now, because for them, reliable birth control was NOT. But it's an error to assume this stuff happens to people who are unmarried or irresponsible. Both these couples are raising 2nd families, now, but it wasn't "irresponsibility" that did them in!
Bad things? what bad things? people's being petty and small?
x
I would recommend this sm
Call and ask how many characters define a line. They should be able to tell you how many characters they consider a line. Most companies usually pay a gross line and characterize it as no more than 72 characters to a line. I hope I explained this correctly, but you really do need to call and ask the company who made you the offer. Then you will have your answer.
I would not recommend...
Breitner. They do not pay for headers/footers, you do not have any way of keeping your line count, etc., etc.
Recommend
I love my Dyson!! Absolutely love it. Have had it for a year and it is great at picking up cat hair, etc.
if you are new, I recommend
The Medical Phrase Index by Lorenzini & Lorenzini Ley. Try to get the latest edition. It is worth it if you are new as you can look up part of a phrase and ideas of what the rest of the phrase could be.
Also, if you are into CD versions, I like the Dorlands Medical Dictionary. It is cheap, too.
The Surgical Word Book is a must, I think, if you do op notes.
Good luck to you!
May I recommend
a STEDMANS reference book on pathology and virology, allergies, immunology?
Why does nobody recommend sm
that the MT get concrete examples of contradictory QA to present to her supervisor? Continuing to work until July 18 without at least doing that seems like a waste of time.
I would recommend
getting your own wav player (or knowing how to use something like ExpressScribe). Also, it might be a good idea to have your own line counting software. Other than that, it really does depend on the account and what they use. Good luck!
Although you state you would never recommend
a company you work for, you are indirectly recommending them when you question a particular MTs experience with that company and go on to state your positive take on it. I believe that MTs' loyalties should to be one another and not the MTSOs, and that we should do everything we can to support and encourage one another. It's not easy these days being an at-home MT, so let's pull together.
I have no experience with MD, but I would recommend a
genetics consultation for your daughter. My SIL went through a similar situation with a condition that runs in her family. The males go blind and pass away early. I can't remember what it was, but they had to see a geneticist to see if she passed it on to her kids.
It's awful. I'd never recommend it.
x
I would also like to know what others would recommend on this same question sm.
I work for three physicians right now and use the small microcassettes which I pick up twice a week. I live about 30 miles away. They asked me to research and give them a price on how we could set up a digital system. I am just starting to investigate this and I am thoroughly confused. Thanks.
I recommend Etrans too
Very good dictators on the account I was on and where they need the most help. I only left because I wanted an editing job with less typing. Good luck! 
I wouldn't recommend it...
I started out in court reporting school and switched to MT when I got pregnant. VR is also playing a big factor in the court reporting field right now. They have stenomask reporters who wear a mask and repeat into the mask everything that is said during the court proceeding, and VR translates it. Court reporters currently make anywhere from 40K to 80K per year, but stenomask reporters only make about 20K per year. The military has switched to using stenomask reporters and many courts are also leaning in that direction because of the cost savings.
The steno machine is also very difficult to learn. Most court reporting schools say you can learn it in 2 years, but the average court reporting student takes 4 to 5 years to master it.
Whatever you find, I would recommend sm
staying away from Hartz Mountain products. Lots of cats allegedly have had bad side-effects or worse from HM. One of my cats could not tolerate their flea collars years ago.
Absolutely recommend this
Tips n Techniques
http://www.cherylflanders.com/
Highly recommend M-TEC!!
I had job offers right out of school with a number of companies. Their training was right on. The support you get from them is terrific. I have also personally met both Kathy and Susan who, in addition to being great instructors, are also very nice ladies! Go for it and be prepared to work hard! :-)
I recommend the SUM program
from Health Professions Inst. www.hpisum.com - it's a bit pricey but you get actual dictation to practice on and I think you can get it in modules to spread the cost out a bit.
PS I have no connection with this company, just like their products.
I'd recommend getting CMP and other blood
tests and going from there. If you get a physical and they do the blood work, should be covered under insurance.
I highly recommend
you quit leaching and GET YOUR OWN ACCOUNTS, this way you'll get what you feel you're worth, okay? I know you expect this and expect that, and there are posters here who think what you're asking for is totally within line and shame on ANY MTSOs who won't accommodate YOU! To that end I say, E-MAIL THEM and fill out a job application, and have THEM pay you the executive wages you expect. Yeah, like they're really going to. Gheesh! And don't worry, I wouldn't hire you on a bet. I'm looking to and intend to make money, not lose it on a SC who's got delusions of grandeur!
from thebigday.com...they recommend...sm
Never mention wedding gifts in the wording of your wedding invitations. Nowadays, the inclusion of a card or two letting guests know where you're registered is generally considered just fine-but never print a request for "Cash Gifts" or "No Gifts."
Having said that, here's what we recommend: create a wedding website, and tell your guests about that, not your registry. Telling people about your registry directly is essentially telling them to buy you a gift, and that's a little too pushy. Tell them about your wedding website instead--they'll find the registry link there.
You can gracefully tell people about your wedding website through e-postcards (with a link to your wedding website), or printed announcement cards (that announce your wedding website...we offer them for free).
Even if you really don't want any gifts, it's inappropriate to mention it. People want to give you a token of their affection & they'll do just that, no matter how much you protest. If you really don't want anything for yourselves, create registry items for small donations to a charity that means something special to the two of you.
You might find our article on registry realities helpful as well.
I highly recommend WW
I do WW on line and love it. However, some people really need the meeting support to stay on track. I lost all my weight on line, about 40 pounds, with the last 10 by joining local meetings for three months just so I could achieve "Lifetime Status", which I did. You never have to pay for any meetings after reaching your goal/Lifetime unless you go over your goal by 2# and you must weigh-in at least once a month. By achieving lifetime, you get a discount for your on-line subscription/E-tools. E-tools and the support of the forums keeps me on track and accountable so far. I have maintained for a couple months now after achieving my goal.
I don't see it as a "diet" either. It a change of lifestyle. I eat differently and do not plan to go back to my unhealthy eating style. You can eat anything you want too as long as you plan for it and/or account for it in your weekly points. Believe me, I feel if you have the desire and stick to the program, WW can work! :) My cholesterol levels are all WNL for the first time in many, many years too. :D
Best wishes.
Can anyone recommend a TASP out there?
I am trying to decide which company to use. I am looking for reasonable cost and good quality. Thanks in advance!
What MT schools can you recommend?
I am about to see my voc rehab counselor. I have some information about schools for MT, but would like some input.
What schools would you recommend? I would like to hear from people who have worked as MT's for more than 5 years and are successful and satisfied with their work.
I would not recommend berber. (sm)
Berber has loops that can catch on animals nails. Not only could it hurt your pet, but it could also cause a serious run in the carpet. Berber is also harder to clean because of the loops. I remember that the textured kind where some strings are more wound and others are straighter is not a good idea either. The sales people report it doesn't wear well. I'd get something durable (twisted fibers) in some medium tone of a brown or taupe so it will show as little dirt as possible.
Does any one use a VR program they would recommend?
Thanks!
I wouldn't recommend it,
pay is lower than ever. You would never make what you probably expect. Its like sweatshop work. I would say $16/hr is about the median.
When I first started out this was a very respected career, not anymore.
could someone recommend keyboard
need ergonomic and inexpensive one preferably a quiet one. TIA
Recommend HIPPO through sm
vancedigital.com
SPi is but they recommend against upgrading
Several different tech support people with SPi have told me NOT to upgrade to Vista as it has a LOT of bugs and issues; they all said that our software (ChartNet) is compatible but that they recommend NOT upgrading to it as it will cause all sorts of problems.
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