Answers to questions.
Posted By: Needing Support Ladies on 2005-09-27
In Reply to: ok I went back and re-read your post. - You have child support for (1)
1. Can the BF come up with his probable court-ordered child support of at least $1000 a month? We are going to try to do as much 50/50 as possible. He works days, I work nights. I work all from home. I will have kids on my insurance so will be getting some extra from him, not sure how much yet.
2. Do you make car payments? No car payment.
3. How much is your student loan payment - and for how much longer? $75, at 5% interest, roughly 2 years left
4. Do you have a degree in something? Should you stay in transcription? Medical Secretary Degree. Transcription is where I have made money.
5. Can you make the house payments if the BF finks out on the child support in 2 years if your 16 yo moves out and gets married and doesn't attend college? If I am full-time....yes.
6. You will be at an expensive time in your life with the 1 and 2 YO/ who will then be 3 and 4 years old by then and still needing day care. Kids do not need daycare. I work nights, he works days.
7. A house is expensive upkeep. And much energy. Yes, you are right. But rentals around here for equal house to what I am buying are about 300 more per month.
I agree with the others. Don't jump the gun here. Take care of one thing at a time. Get yourself into a situation where you won't be stressed if there comes a blip in the road - like you break your arm - or the car tears up - or you need an emergency root canal - one of the kids breaks a leg and you need to stay home. There are a million things. Yes, you are right, there are a million things. There would still be a million things if I rent as well. I do have health ins. I do have short-term disability. And, I work all from home if kid, God forbid, breaks a leg.
I would rent, move BF out, get childsupport started from him to see how that goes, re-look at the budget. Boyfriend owns this house where I live. I have to do the moving. I have no financial ties to it. I have improved it with my landscaping and my money and sweat equity only has given him more value for his house.
when the FT job comes around, and if you feel it is the one for you and they are good for the money, then look at the house. You must live for you, not the 16 YO.
By then you will have your FT monies coming in, the child support coming in, you will know what your extra income is, you will have all your insurances in place and leave time built up, and a house may be good by then. Also, the market is overvalued right now. They are saying people buying right now may be buying things that won't be worth what they paid for them in a year. My purchase offer is accepted at 10,000 below what appraised value is on the home.
Do you have any family you could stay with at all for 6 months. You need some breathing space, girl.
No, none. The rest of my family is in more dire financial straights than I am.
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Answers to questions.
1) Certainly lose the BF. He's doing you no favors nor the children. He is teaching that behavior and the 2 youngest (his, correct?) already are predisposed by nature. You need nuture to go along with it. He is destroying everything you are working for.
Yes, two youngest are his. You are correct with the above.
2) I would say pay off your CC debt first.
In a perfect world, this would be great, however. How do I rent and pay this off when rent is the same as house payment would be?
3) Get 6 months emergency savings.
See answer to #2.
4) Then save for 1-2 years for a down payment by reducing your budgeted expenses to 70% of your net.
I have a downpayment, using my IRA.
You are in a precarious situation financially. You will lose child support shortly; you are $9500 in debt; you are wanting to take on a house payment $200 than you want to spend; you are wanting to rely on a $350 rent income that could fall through...??? This doesn't include the BF situation who is destroying your belongings and environment.
By saying 200 more than I want to spend, I am not saying $200 more than what I have. I could do it without the 350 rent, but it will be tighter. Just want the 350 as a cushion.
I'd make sure I was out of a bad relationship, out of CC debt, can make it without the child support and the brother renting, and have a good downpayment and the ability to live on LESS than I bring home and still save. Yes, that would be ideal, I agree, however, I would have to stay with BF while this is done. Maybe I should just invest in a more comfier couch as that is where I have been sleeping for the past 2 months and rubberize the house so he can't break anything else. Sorry, I'm just so flustered with "perfect world" scenarios as well.
Thanks and some answers to some of your questions....
Well first, I know the person holds the work for several days, so no it is not my fault that the MTSO is always so rushed to get it back to the doctors office. The TAT is because I have to share the time on the call in machine with other people. My opinion is that the MTSO needs to upgrade the equipment that I work from. I don't see any reason I should be so rushed all of the time. I like to be an IC and work on my own pace. I hate being treated like an employee when I am clearly an IC.
I have asked for a raise and was turned down. Yes, I think 6.5 cpl is quite less than average only because I have been with this company so long and I know the owner makes on most of her work about double what I make, so if I make 6.5 cpl, she is making 13-14 cpl. I know it is more of a responsibility for this person being the MTSO though. I just don't know if it is fair on my part.
I have another part-time job too. I was told by this company just recently that I won't ever get a raise. I guess that is standard these days or something.
Oh, and I already have MPcount. I guess I need to do a comparison to see how many cpl on a 65 character line I make on average.
Thanks again.
My answers to your 10 questions! :)
1. How long have you worked as a medical transcriptionist? - 32 years.
2. What certification have you received? - None, as when I started there was no certification.
3. What attracted you to pursuing a career in medical transcription? - I've always liked to type, am good with words, not so good with people (hence no desire to ever become a nurse!), and I liked the flexibility it offered.
4. What type of environment do you work in (i.e. from home, physician’s office, hospital, other). - I work at home, though that is fairly recent. I worked about 31 years in various office settings.
5. What do you think are the most important skills a medical Transcriptionist should have? - Besides the obvious typing & English skills, and the ability to hear well, I would say being able to remember how a word is spelled once you look it up (most of the time, anyway!) is important. Nowadays, since most of us work at home, being a person who can work independently and do a lot of their own problem-solving is important. The ability to research things on the Internet is now as valuable, if not more valuable, than the ability to research things in reference & word books, and it actually often speeds up your ability to find what you were looking for in a book, without wasting time looking in the wrong places. Also, an MT will be happiest if NOT the type of person who must be constantly surrounded by or in touch with other people. Lots of at-home MTs get lonely, however some (like me) enjoy the solitude.
6. Did some skills come naturally to you, while others required more practice? - Pretty much came naturally, which is why the profession (which I'd never heard of before I started) was suggested to me by someone I knew who had sort of 'fallen into' MT by first working as a secretary in a medical office. So I took a 20-week medical terminology course in night school while working other office day-jobs, and was offered my first position while still in school. Back then MTs got a lot of on-the-job training. It was slow going at first, but eventually the speed and knowledge of the various specialties grows. It just takes time and mileage.
7. In addition to transcribing medical reports, do you engage in other forms of business writing while on the job (such as memos, proposals, or progress reports, etc.) to clients, coworkers, or supervisors? Please explain. - I used to do administrative typing as part of some of my prior MT jobs, which included typing medical papers to be published, a manuscript, meeting minutes, and other business correspondence by the head of my department. I was sorry to see that go, because it was very interesting and satisfying work.
8. What do you think is the most difficult aspect of medical transcription? - Staying focused. I found it hard to concentrate in an office setting because of all the background noise, yet at home I tend to get 'visual' disruption and 'to-do-list' disruption! If I hear rain, I have to open the window and look at it for a minute. If I see something that needs to be moved, picked up, cleaned, dried, fed, petted, eaten, etc., I tend to forget I'm working. The Internet and sites like MT Stars are focus-foes, as well! But everyone adapts & adjusts in their own way, and I'm gradually finding mine.
9. What do you find to be the easiest aspect of medical transcription? - The physical act of typing.
10. As a medical transcriptionist, do you often need to collaborate with others to ensure that all the information in your reports is correct? - The more experienced you get, the less often you have to ask about what would normally be fairly routine things. But usually it depends on your account, and how accustomed you are to it. No matter how experienced you get, when a new specialty comes along that you're less familiar with, you're going to be asking questions. It's only natural, and the only way a person can learn, if they can't find the answer on their own. Everyone's 'ear' is different, too. Some docs are hard to understand for most people, and yet someone will come along that thinks they're easy! Yet they might find another doc that everyone else likes to be difficult to understand. I do hate proofreading reports, but because I can't go sending EVERYthing to QA, I'm teaching myself to be better at it. One thing that helped me improve my proofreading the most, I learned from reading MT Stars! And that was to enlarge the type when switching from typing the report to proofreading it. I don't know why, but the fact that it looks different makes me proof it more accurately. But as long as there are MTs, there will always be a need for someone to answer questions for them when they arise.
Good luck in your class! :)
Answers to your questions.....sm
No and no.
If QA makes changes, your line count is not affected.
Basically, what you see is what you get ~ meaning, your finished report is what is counted regardless of what is QA'd after you edit it.
Let me explain it this way ~ You log in, ES program loads, Word opens, a blank document is there when you start. You download your first job. That job is voice recognized, so the job loads with the dictation already transcribed. You listen to the dictation and edit the report with voice. You spell check it, proof it and upload. Whamo.....your line count for that report is at your fingertips when you hit the metrics button.
However many characters are in that report when you upload it is what is counted.
I hope this helps.
Answers to your questions. I live in Fl. It was my sister
who used my name. When you get stopped here, they ask for your license and registration but she probably said "oh, I don't have my license on me" or some story like that. They then will ask for your name, address and date of birth. She's 2 years older than me and can easily pass for me except her hair is much longer and curly whereas mine is straight now. She won't give her name because hers is suspended from a second DUI she got in May. She's a <insert sarcastic tone> "great sister."
When I got those 2 tickets for no seat belt it was when I first moved here from NY. Never heard of a seat belt law until I moved here. In NY it was not a big deal back in the 80s. Never wore my seat belt back then but the 2 tickets exactly one year to the day apart made me start wearing them. Now I'm going to start reliving the 80s in my head and remember everything has changed SOOOO much since then. Geez, I'm getting old.
You are correct in your expectations. I know the answers to these questions.
This is information a recruiter should know by heart.
Read her post above this. It answers your questions. sm
However, it is HER board and she makes the rules. If you want respect, you have to give it first, and that would include not offending others by shortening up Jesus Christ to JC. As a Christian myself, I don't leave out the CHRIST in Christmas with an X. You know what they say....when in Rome....
Meditech questions and Cerner questions. Any input is appreciated. SM
I just recently went back to work in the office at a local hospital. We type in both Meditech and Cerner, depending on what you are typing, i.e. Medical Records reports versus Radiology. We are currently typing blindly in Meditech, meaning we do not have access to our line counts and must depend on management to give us our totals. In Cerner, we are able to run a line count report and print out a hard copy of our line counts at the end of the day.
We are finding that 800 lines in Cerner equals about 500 lines in Meditech. We are not paid per line nor do we have an incentive plan, but we have a new HIM Director who would like to institute an incentive plan and the administrator over our department has laid down the law and decreed that all transcriptionists not making minimum in the department will be written up. Problem is according to Meditech line totals that we have been given, that would be about half the department.
The transcription supervisor has taken our concerns to the new director who told the MT Supervisor to hold off on writing people and has taken home all the line counts from the last month and she is going over them with a fine tooth comb this weekend.
I am not a very trusting soul by nature, so I am doing a little research on my own. I've been in this business for about 15 years. I started out in a hospital and have worked for a few services at home and am now back in the hospital setting. So I know a few things about line count and I consider myself to be pretty well informed on trends and technology in the industry. I would like to walk into our next department meeting armed with as much knowledge as possible. So I have come up with some questions that I would like some fellow MTs to answer, give opinions, and maybe even direct me to websites or individuals who could give me a better understanding of Meditech and Cerner. Here are my questions:
- Is it possible for an MT to have access to her line count in Meditech or is strictly a management function? Any MTs that work in Meditech on this board, do you currently have access to your line counts and if so, how do you check them? Is it an option on the main menu after you log into Meditech?
- How is a line defined in Meditech? (i.e. 65 cpl, with spaces, without spaces)
- How is a line defined in Cerner?
- What abbreviation Expanders work with both Meditech and Cerner?
- Examples of incentive plans (if anyone would like to share that with me that would be great, if not I completely understand).
- Measuring productivity by minutes of dictation versus typed lines.
- What would be the minimum minutes required for an 8-hour day?
- How would one structure an incentive program based on minutes?
I was thinking of presenting the idea that we keep track of productivity using minutes instead of lines since there is such a discrepancy in Meditech. I also worry that if an incentive plan is put into place and we are still typing blind into Meditech, what's to keep management from shaving off a few lines here and there?
Feel free to email me or post here any responses. Either is fine. I really appreciate any input, comments, or just plain old supportive posts would be nice too! 
Answers
ESLs -- English second language dictators (foreigners who have difficult accents)
Cherry picker -- Someone who choose only the best reports, best dictators, easiest work and refuses to do other work - therefore, leaving everyone else to do all the difficult dictators and bad reports. NOT FAIR. Cheats, jerks, lots of more names come to mind. LOL
Answers ...
First...to the one who posted that I did not answer...I HAVE BEEN WORKING!!! WORKING. Do you do that? Or do you just sit on these boards and whine?
As to everyone else:
I said I work PT for each of 2 companies. YOU are ASSUMING that what I type is what the PT requirements are. NOT!!!! What I'm typing in production is NOT the minimum requirements. I go WAY beyond. Those are averages. Some payperiods I don't hit those but 4 out of 5 payperiods I do.
I work my 20 hours as an employee with Spheris and usually get my 7000 lines in that time...that is per week.
With MQ, the payperiod is different. It is the 1st through the 15th and the 16th through the end of the month so I have slightly more days to get my work in.
I'm an IC with MQ...I work whatever hours I want. My stipulation is that I produce 6000 lines per payperiod or more. I happen to do more. Great tiered incentive plan so I take advantage.
For all you who are busy doing your math instead of typing, I average around 350-375 lines per hour. All-in-all, I'm typing about 45 hours a week, sometimes 50.
I didn't start out that way with these 2 companies...I was already extremely fast but I had to work up on my accounts and learn my dictators, etc. I use word expanders, AutoCorrect, Shorthand, etc.
YES, I have a life. My youngest son still lives at home (17 years old) and I'm a full-time student at the local university. I have a very full plate. Yes, I do other things as well ... I teach a free music class weekly at a local church (anyone who wants to learn to read music and/or play keyboard) and I teach a small literacy class every other week. I go out of town 1 weekend every month alone to help recouperate and get some extra studying done.
I'm also a very ambitious person, don't like grass growing under my feet, and have a VERY specific goal in mind financially and I'm almost there.
I could not have done this well when my children were small. I tried working at home then and I sacrificed both my children's time with me and my work so I went back inhouse until they grew up. I also got rid of my husband. He was more a child than my 2 boys and since he did not want to grow up and be a responsible adult, I moved him right out.
I know a handful of MTs who are faster and better than I am at this -- they blow me away and I respect them deeply. Amazed by them. HOWEVER, JUST AS MUCH -- I am respectful of those who don't do as well but hang in there; I believe you can earn what you want out of this profession and you can be happy in it if you want to, but it IS up to you to find it. I happen to be very good at this. Believe me, there are plenty of things I couldn't do to save my life.
When I work - I work hard. When I play - I play hard.
Does that answer everyone's curiosity? LOL
Answers
I work for 2 companies, not one, and only one time can I remember running out of work at S; I don't remember running out at MQ. My accounts are very large hospital complexes. I do have secondary accounts and have trained on tertiary accounts though never worked on them. We are always asked, especially every weekend, to do overtime. Always. I just committed to overtime this weekend for both. ???
I hate difficult reports. Mainly, it is a mindset to get through them. I try to think of it as a learning experience and a challenge that I am determined to learn so it won't slow me down as much next time. I look up old reports, I copy text for some really difficult reports as reference (no patient info, just selected text that is difficult). I have a few references, The Surgical Word Book by Tessier, a really nice Dorland's Medical Dictionary. I also have lots of websites I reference. I've done this 25 years though and have learned a great deal. Virtually anytime I leave a blank, it is because I cannot understand the dictator - not because of terminology I could not find.
My quality - yes, I've not had below 99% at either company. Does NOT mean I don't make errors; means that on the reports that are QA'd for me that the errors that were counted were noncritical and were so little in number that I scored 99% or higher.
??
thank you for the answers...
No matter what I do, every national I have worked for, I end up running out of work. As you, when the work is there and there are no difficult dictators (which is rare anymore) I can transcribe probably 1600 lines/minutes a day.
Right now today, which has been the norm the last couple of years, I am lucky to get 1000 lines/minutes in a day, only because of difficult/no work.
Also, I work on up to 5 accounts, and still run out.
Maybe it is a longevity thing, I am new so do not get the work? Have you been long at this company so that you never run out of work?
What am I doing wrong?
Answers
I'm happy to give you any helpful information I can.
Yes, I am a parent...two boys 17 and 20. Oldest is out on his own. I waited until my boys were both in their early and mid teens to go back to school. I could not have done it while they were very young. I know many young parents in school but for me, being a single parent, it was not possible.
I had to make compromises with them. I remember the first semester I went back, I told them I would cook breakfast or dinner but not both-- they chose breakfast so I got up extra early every morning and cooked breakfast. Second semester they changed their minds. Hahaha They wanted DINNER cooked. Hahahaha They were excited for me the first semester; however, their enthusiasm waxed cold the second semester when they realized that if I was bringing home the books and studying and making top grades, they had no excuse not to do the same! Hahaha When they would gripe about social studies, I griped about world civiliation; when they griped about biology, I griped about chemistry, etc. Hahaha
I attended my first semester with just 12 hours (full-time is 12+ hours) and then asked for academic clemency so that everything before my returning semester was wiped clean and I was starting over.
I have attended full-time every semester since and went 2 years in the summer terms but they were tough.
I knew I would eventually need to work from home to make it easier on myself and my boys while going to school. I started with one of my present employers (I work PT for 2 different companies) before starting school and while I was working FT as an inhouse hospital MT. After 6 months on my remote position, I quit the hospital job. I was making so much more money at home anyway that I didn't need to work FT. I signed up for my first semester of classes and have been at it ever since.
Of course, classes were easy at first and it seemed all would be a breeze. After 2 full semesters, looking down the road I realized that I did not want to incur such great expense as my younger counterparts would in medical college. I was already reviewing how to pay for med school. I decided I would apply for a program through the med school in my state that pays for your medical education and in exchange you give your first 4 years to an underserved area in the state. That will pay for my tuition, books, lab fees, miscellaneous expenses educationally. I still have to purchase my insurance and pay for my living expenses. THAT was when I really decided to buckle down on work and save. I do NOT want to be a starving student in my early 40s! Hahaha So, I picked up with a 2nd PT remote MT position and save all of that income. I also increased my pay (production) with my first employer so that a large portion of it is saved as well. I need 4 years of living expenses in cash before starting next year. My parents and sisters are very supportive. After being in school my first year, my middle sister (I am the oldest of 3 girls) quit her job and is living off her savings while she pursues her Ph.D. in psychology!! Though I am going into emergency/trauma, we make jokes about my going into orthopedics and sharing an office with her, the psychologist, and calling our clinic "Head and Shoulders, Knees, and Toes"! HAHAHAHA
I can say I have truly had prayers answered ... my family and their churches have all prayed consistently for me that I would have door of opportunity opened for me and they have been. I can see it in my job opportunities and educational opportunities. I also prayed to have the emotional capacity to handle the challenges I would face and God has seen fit to provide for me in that way. When I had first started praying about this change, I "asked" if this was the direction I was supposed to take. Then, I began praying with the mindset of "okay, I take it this is right", and then ended up being so absolutely positively sure that I said, "Okay, if this is NOT it, You are going to have to stop me because I'm doing this" and I've not found resistance yet! Trials sometimes yes, but always have found a way around it -- letting me know that I am in the right direction.
There are so many advancing opportunities in medicine today; tomorrow will only hold more. Therapists, med techs, APNs, any of those fields are on the rise and will continue to be in high demand.
Get an undergraduate bulletin from your local university. Even if you don't start full-time, like I did, try a course or two. Make a plan...make a study schedule..hahaha. Trust me, the real-life-don't-kid-yourself study schedule will help you more than anything! Fill out a FASFA and see what opportunities your U can offer you for financial aid.
You'll NEVER feel like you wasted your time, energy, intellect, money on an education. Never.
Let me know if I can help you in anyway. You can do this!!
Where is ALS when we need answers
Just wondering where your info comes from (since you seem so confident and say AAMT BOS is incorrect)?!?!
thanks for all your answers
I went with crepitance. I guess if it's not acceptable, they will let me know.
Some answers.
Demographics: It's a field where, if the MD puts in the correct number, is wonderful. Everything autopopulates by itself. You just have to check it to be sure it's correct (correct admission, patient, etc.). Then you just get out of it in one keystroke.
If it does not autopopulate, you have to do a search, either by patient name or number (if dictated). If you have high-speed connection, this just takes a second. BUT, you run into problems if the patient's name is unclear, not spelled, or other things that come up. Also, some patients have multiple admissions and you have to decipher which is correct. Like everything else in MT world, this can slow you down at first, but it gets better later. But I must admit... there are days...
Change: I was a basket case for months before switching over. They kept pushing back my start date, so that made it worse. It was not worth the worry, though. It is pretty easy to learn, but again, takes a little time to become second nature.
I've always used the built-in expander, so I can't really compare it to Smartype. I did use PRD way back, and loved it. But this is just your basic expander. The expander is also where you save your "normals" and no, unfortunately you cannot transfer them into DQS. But IMO, the expander is just fine, but I'm sure that's because it's all I've ever used and probably you'll get some different opinions here. But be sure you can't transfer it. I thought I read somewhere that you can.
The text field is easy to maneuver and has some pretty nifty features.
I am also the sole supporter of my family and I did have to work longer at first to make my personal quota. I'm basically up to what I was doing on the old platform, but I did not exceed my previous production. I'm assuming it's because of the demo field and the fact I used to get paid for those characters.
I think the majority of MTs who switch to this platform like it and find is easy to learn. However, it is also true that we all stress like mad beforehand!!
Good luck! :o)
a few answers
No, you don't need a regular modem/phone line if you have wireless internet and are only going to be working on DQS. No, you don't have to rent their computer. Just tell tell them you don't feel comfortable using or renting their computer and that you will be sending it back. You don't need to explain working for other clients, etc. Tech support will help you get DQS installed on your computer through the internet. DQS looks intimidating by the manual, but the manual is extremely detailed and there mostly to help you in case you forget something later on. DQS is fairly easy to learn and use, so don't worry.
Looking for answers
Can someone with a Lanier LX230 help me out? I have the quick reference card to program the machine but I need the instruction manual. Does anyone have this? Is it small enough to fax me a copy? I would like to see if this thing is working or not but I don't know how to hook it up.
Thank you so much
Tabatha in Charleston, SC
Answers.
I am 52. I have been a Transcriptionist for 10 years. I actually was an RN and decided that I pretty much just wanted to be at home. I got tired of being an RN. The hours got to me. Now I can make my own schedule and do things when I would like to do them. It just worked out great for me.
Answers
First thing - DON'T MOVE, let him move. Can't he owns this house I live in. I have to do the moving. That is why I want to buy. Sick of putting time, energy and money into something and having it taken, so to speak.
Second thing - WAIT FOR THE FT JOB. One parttime I work for now is with the hospital. They are 1 1/2 hours away from me. I go in once a month for meetings. I work from home with them. I do not need daycare. They just opened a specialty clinic and this full time position is not promised of course, but I have a good chance.
Third thing - Be getting that child support coming in.
Going to court over child support or placement of the kids is not additional stress I need right now. If we can work it out ..out of court we will. If he starts having fits, I told him I will be in that courthouse so fast his head will spin.
And, a 2 bedroom is not an option. Must be a 3 bedroom. I would need to have my own room to do my typing if anything. With a 1 and 2 year old, typing in the living room will not work and I will not even try it. Thank you for your post.
Answers for you....sm
1. Usually yes they can, but there wouldn't be any real reason to do this unless you're one of the people that downloads work and sits on it for several hours without returning it, and don't answer the phone if someone calls looking for the reports you have.
2. There are at times ISP or phone line connection disruptions (depending on how you obtain your work) so you shouldn't assume that it's the company kicking you off on purpose, especially claiming that they want the work to go to certain people without having facts to prove this. I'm not going to say that it can't happen but if you believe this to be true then keep a log of how much you lose your connections and whether or not you get any of the reports you had previously downloaded back when you reconnect, and take it to the higher powers in the company if you're confident that you smell a rat so to speak.
Answers 4-U, not OP though
Hi -
My husband is Bipolar and we've been married 15 years. The only times he gets really manicky or depressed is when his medications have been changed or when he doesn't take them regularly (not often). Once he was at a meeting for a week and by the time he got back (he was out of state and didn't pack his meds) he was in a phase of increased mania and "off". Please remember Bipolar is a real "medical" problem affecting brain chemistry and be supportive of your friend. If you are close enough friends for her to reveal her Bipolar, you should be close enough to tell her you'll help her through this. You should feel comfortable voicing your concerns to her about the safety of your children. You should also be firm and insistent (but not pushy or rude) that she should see her Psychiatrist or MD regarding her meds, as she obviously recognizes she is "not making any sense". A simple med change may be in order. Sometimes Bipolar people don't think they have a problem (especially when they are in the manic phase and are "invinceable") and will refuse to take their meds because there is nothing wrong with them. Since she obviously knows she is not making any sense, she should be open to discussion and maybe your support is what she needs. Bipolar is a terrible burden to those who carry it, because they cannot fix it and it involves medications for the rest of their lives. However, Bipolar people can be extremely successful in whatever they do, as long as their meds are working and they are taking them as prescribed. I hope this helps answer your questions.
answers
ok. I don't have to look up patient information. I do have to look up physicians if they are cc'd on report, names not addresses. work 2 main accounts. work 5 other accounts as a backup. been an MT over 15 years, at this job 6 months. was not looking for a job but got "head-hunted" and switched. employee. took 2 weeks to get to speed. not sure what you mean by platform. worktype I like best is ops, but I do H&Ps, discharges, consults, etc. etc. no radiology. acute only. line rate .09. type whatever comes.
the point I'm trying to make with this is that no matter what you type, you can use your shortcuts to the max. I think most people have never had anyone show them how to make shortcuts that will work for them.
answers
sorry, but i don't know what a proxy is. Using IE, and same on both machines -- with qvc switch to toggle between...
PLEASE I NEED ANSWERS!!
I have been offered employment by this company called Entente Health Care. They are a software company that is into transcription. Has anyone ever heard anything about them or had any experiences, good or bad with them? I am new to this forum so I am not sure if this is the right place to be asking a question like this. Please I really need feedback, because so far from what I have seen I don't think they have thier act very together, but then I could be wrong.
Many thanks for the answers (nm)
Many thanks!
answers
I cannot remember the whole story about Jill and Katherine as I do not watch it every day. My grandma could tell you. I will ask her later about it. Somehow she found it out though I just do not remember details. As far as the baby it is biologically Victor's but Brad has raised the girl. For a while there was a fight so to speak as Ashley would take her to Victor's to ride horses and such but now that I have been watching it I see they have calmed down on the fighting on that issue.
Maybe some answers?
If you type up "pled" in Merriam-Webster's, it takes you right to "plead." Pled is really not a word, but has become acceptable in America.
As far as "went missing," from what I can find, it's an acceptable phrase used in England. I got this info from: http://crofsblogs.typepad.com/english/2005/08/went_missing.html.
The one that always drove me batty was "an historic event." What's with the "an," since "H" was not a vowel the last I checked. Anyhow, I answered my own question if you would like to check it out: http://www.jimloy.com/language/historic.htm
In short, it sounds like these newscasters are trying to sound like they're from jolly old England, as this is where all these phrases originated. Have a good one!
Thanks for all the answers!
I recently started working for some local docs. My best friend told me that she would rather me do her reports than anyone else. I was checking a patient list one day and noticed a family member name on it, so I thought I would see what everyone else thought
THANKS TO ALL ANSWERS
THANKS ALL!
Answers
1) He does not hold any taxes.
2) NO benefits.
3) Same salary regardless, but I do transcribe everday of the week except Saturday.
Thanks - It helps to get some input from you'll. I feel totally embrassed to ask for a raise.
A few answers
Most programs have a built-in spellchecker. Not all of them are the best in the world, but they suffice. It's a good idea to have a MS Word-compatible spellchecker on your own computer - that way if the spellchecker on the program you are provided isn't adequate, you can type the word into a blank MS Word document and check it on your own medical spellchecker. Saves a little time versus Googling it, especially if you keep MS Word open but minimized.
Text Expanders you have to supply, if they don't have a full version of Word (and a lot of them don't).
Some companies will supply hardware as well as software, such as C-phones, computer foot pedals, etc. Not all, but some.
I don't know if you have mentioned your age in any of your other posts. As I said in a different context, I would not advise someone who is in their 20s or 30s to go into this field, because I believe voice recognition software and other innovations will make it obsolete within the foreseeable future. I only have 11-12 years to go until retirement, so I am going to try to hang on. But if you are young, I would advise you to at least consider a different field.
Just my two cents. 
Better answers would come through if they
knew what they were doing - and there were be far fewer problems. Most of the MT company middle managers with little or no experience (yes, it shows up by your lack of understanding) are incompetent. A decent manager would look for methods to reduce the problems which would reduce the complaints, and reducing problems is not done by beating people to death.
Some answers
"What is the difference between AMD Sempron, AMD Athlon and Intel Core processors?"
AMD and Intel are competitors for the main processor chip in the computer. They have different grades, too. AMD: Athlon is a higher grade than Sempron. INTEL: Core is higher grade than Celeron. All of them should have a number associated with them that tells the speed of these chips, expressed in Gigabytes. The higher the number, the faster. AMD chips are generally cheaper than the equivalent Intel chips.
"SDRAM size at 533 MHz and 667 MHz."
Again, speed is the issue. Higher the number, the faster the memory access. Get as much memory as you can afford. System crashes and problems are USUALLY memory problems...either not enough, bad memory, or conflicts.
"Hard drive speed 5400 RPM and 7200 RPM (I have a vague idea about that)?" Hard drive speed is not capacity. I'd go with 7200, but 5400 is fine, too. Again, for the higher speed you'll pay more money.
"What is considered acceptable for doing MT work?"
MT work isn't really demanding on computers, so last year's model is probably okay. You don't need the "bleeding edge" system, those are expensive and geared more toward gamers.
"How do you tell the speed of the processor, and does this mean the surfing speed and the speed work can be uploaded and downloaded?"
Speed of the processor will be noted as above. It is NOT the surfing/upload/donwload speed. That is solely dependent on your internet connection, dial-up, DSL, or cable, etc. As long as the notebook has an ethernet port, modem, and a wireless card built-in (and most do, now), you'll be set for nearly any situation.
"I really feel lost here!!! TIA."
We all do before we learn about stuff! You're welcome! Hope it helps some.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR ANSWERS
I am new to ShortHand and appreciate learning anything I can.
Some answers for you.
Recorders name the files with letters and/or numbers. Once the file is off the recorder, it can usually be renamed manually before uploading. (My docs just hand their recorders off to the OM who takes care of all that for them.)
Having said that, if your docs are really phobic about renaming or just don't want to be bothered, depending on the recorder, you can have the dictator dock their recorder and use software to take it off the recorder and upload directly to your FTP site. Specifically, the higher-end Olympus recorders can do this.
You could set your FTP site up so that each doc has their own folder and when they upload, they can only access their specific folder. The voice file(s) would just keep the name given on the recorder but you would know which doc was which by the folder the voice file was loaded to.
Hopefully, this answers your question.
Appreciate the answers!
nm
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1. 32 yr
2. passed adult education course in anatomy and transcription.
3.Interest in medicine and not wanting to go to school a long time.
4. work at home now, but many years in hospitals and offices.
5. spelling, grammar, common sense, attention to detail, integrity, work ethic.
6. I had some trouble developing a good ear; spelling and grammar came easy.
7. no
8. difficult to keep all the rules/changes in mind, starting new accounts/doctors, concentrating, staving off carpal tunnel.
9. researching much easier now than 30+ years ago!!
10. Sometimes do need another ear/opinion, and that is where QA comes in.
Answers
1. We have to meet min quality standards to get our monthly bonus.
2. Yes, we have a performance management ordeal. They give an oral warning and keep reviewing your work. If you fail the next time, it's a written warning and then if you keep failing you can be fired.
3. I think anyone (in any industry) who does not meet quality standards should be let go.
JMHO
Some answers for you........
It will depend a great deal on your past working experiences, as well as what you have learned and retained in your MT coursework. If you have prior secretarial skills, computer skills, good grasp of the English language along with good grammar and punctuation skills, you will most likely fare better than those without such prior experiences. If, for example, your only prior experience is perhaps working in a sock factory and have little typing or computer skills, or have no prior secretarial exposure or poor reading and comprehensive abilities, it may take you a lot longer to achieve success, if any, in this field. It takes a lot of intelligence to perform MT well, and unfortunately, the field does not draw strong intellectuals into it because of the low wages.
Once you graduate from a formal MT program, your true learning experience will begin. The lucky MTs who have deep pockets and can afford to purchase multiple reference books and other equipment have an advantage over those who must pinch pennies.
As in any other job, you start out at the bottom and work your way up. If you are fortunate to land a job right out of MT school (and many do who apply themselves properly), and work a full-time position, depending on what type of MT work (it varies from chart notes from an individual physician to hospital reports from a variety of physicians), you should be able to begin transcribing at 50-100 lph. Average pay is 6-8 cpl for transcribing just starting out (and many sadly never progress beyond 8 cpl, even after years of experience). So you can expect approximately $6-8/hour initially, if all goes well. You will progress slowly but steadily each day, but it all depends on your abilities and prior experiences, listening skills, whether or not you are transcribing ESL physicians, etc. There are a lot of variable that come into play.
There is a lot to cover on this subject, but I hope that I have been of some help to you. I LOVE MT and have been doing it a LONG time, but it is not an easy way to make a living. If I were younger and could do it all over again, I am not sure this is the field I would choose as a
Answers
Blanks do not go against your QA score. If the sound quality is poor - always put a note in the comment box or pend the report and ask for full QA review due to sound quality.
As for accuracy and QA scores. Critical errors cost the most points. Some critical errors would be incorrect medications names, dosage, incorrect diagnosis, wrong patient name, words not spelled correctly.
Verbiage = 1 point deducted most times. That would be grammar.
As for punctuation, it depends if changes the meaning of the report, but usually nothing counted against you for commas and the like; unless you do not puncuate at all and have run on sentences throughout the report.
Does this help?
Answers
Are you a CMT?
***No. I was, but chose not to renew.
All of the CMTs are AHDI lovers and the rest of us know why AHDI changed their name to include the global MT, and so what? They are entitled to do so. It's their organization.
***Actually there are quite a number of CMTs who don't know what AHDI is up to, who still think AHDI is the next best thing to having a union.
How about practice what you preach? If you don't like what AHDI is doing, then start your own organization yourself!
***The way to start that is to raise awareness on a board such as this. Next step will be a blog. But people have to know who, what, when, where & why first.
I, quite frankly, am tired of hearing the same old story.
***Then you should stop reading these threads.
It's old, get over it already.
***No.
P/S: I'm entitled to my opinion and I'm allowed to post just like you as long as I follow the rules, so why brush me aside?
*** I'm entitled to my opinion and I'm allowed to post just like you as long as I follow the rules, so why brush me aside?
If anyone wants information from AHDI, they can e-mail them just like this original poster and see the response they get.
***I have done this. See link, but only if want to know about AHDI. If you think AHDI issues are *old* and we should *get over it,* you probably shouldn't check out this link. It will make you even crabbier.
My Answers (sm)
Q: Do you think AAMT/AHDI did their best as advocates for us and our profession, yes or no? Not exactly.
Q: What do you think they should have done differently or better? I think that AAMT/AHDI should have made it's purpose more clear: It was not ever intended to be a union organization. It is a trade association. It should have done more to educate its' own trade practitioners on what to expect.
Some answers for you
I used it for a while, but too many company platforms are not compatible with it. I liked it for the most part. I could not get my Stedman's spell check to work, but my Smartype did. That was almost a year ago though so some of that may have changed.
Yes, you can have both running on the same computer without interfering, but which ever one you opened last will be the one that opens up the next time.
Answers
I had to change my hours. The main account I love working on seemed to dwindle. I had a heart-to-heart with my supervisor and asked her to look at the peak times for the account. So, I changed. I work Su-Thu evenings/nights. So, I also get some shift differential with it. But it also keeps me well stocked on my main account. I do get other accounts too and hate that part but it is all part of being an MT, in my opinion.
When I'm working, though, I am very serious and keep all distractions away. Work, get it done and then I can play, surf on the Internet, chat, go shopping, watch TV, whatever.
thanks for all your answers -
I have been doing transcription since 1993. I work at home now but I want something that is a little more stable to count on an income rather than production pay alone.
I am actually also in college so that I can just get out of this altogether and be able to maintain my lifestyle and have a more stable income - not feast or famine...
Again, thanks for your responses.
My answers...sm
1. Not living paycheck to paycheck.
2. Confident I would find another job. Not picky if it were MT'ing or not.
3. Not an emergency fund, but savings in general. Have been saving and diversifying funds since I was 16. Best advice my dad gave me.
answers
no, thankfully, not payck to payck.
yes, may be able to find a job quickly, but not necessarily a good job.
no special fund per se, but probably have enough usually to see us through 2-3 months.
my answers...
1. No. DH is the primary earner in our home. Even without my income the answer would still be no.
2. Yes, definitely.
3. Yes, several months worth.
My answers..sm
1. Missing one check would hurt, but not put us in the street.
2. Yes, as my second job would be able to give me more work to help make up the loss.
3. Should have one, but don't.
answers
1. Are you living paycheck-to-paycheck? Defined: Missing one paycheck would seriously harm your basic living (housing, food, utilities or necessary meds/medical care).
2. If you lost your job today, without warning, do you think you could be employed again within 1 payperiod?
3. Do you have an emergency fund in case a loss of job happens?
My answers:
1. Missing 1 paycheck would hurt but I would be okay as my income is "extra", though very needed.
2. Yes, most definitely. I have a fallback job and they would take me back if I asked.
3. Used to, but started putting away $50 a week 3 weeks ago and plan to keep doing so from now on, and only use as needed (i.e. propane bill, housing repairs); and will put any extra windfalls into savings from now on as well.
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