Anyone with experience using ShortKeys expander and
Posted By: Christina RTMT on 2008-08-25
In Reply to:
does anyone know if FlashType is compatible with ChartMatrix?
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ShortKeys
I don't understand - you would rather type "xcn-enhanced" instead of "xcne"? That's a lot more keystrokes. And for "Both kidneys are visualized normally" I personally would put "bkvn", which is half the Keystrokes of "bothkids". Not criticizing, just trying to understand why you didn't like Shorthand....
I don't know if it is the best, but I use ShortKeys
It has a few glitches, but on the whole I'm satisfied. It is the closest to AutoCorrect that I have found. You can import your AutoCorrect entries into it. And they have a 30-day free trial.
I use shortkeys 2
and you can pretty much get a whole surgery note done in on swoop. I put the doc's name in the code i.e. Katz1 will give me a kidney transplant. Then I put in blanks for variables that will change from patient to patient (right versus left).
With shortkeys, if you put something in like rrr for regular rate and rhythm, and the dr dictates rrr, you can just hit the ctrl key when you use the code, and it then will ignore the replacement text that normally comes with the code.
If a doc has a habit of repeating a word or phrase, (typically a diagnosis name (ex: hepatocellular carcinoma), or patient name (ex: Ms. Dollaganger)), you can put in something like 1x each time the phrase is repeated, and at the end of the document, you use ctrl F, with the find word window, plug in 1x and the replacement text you want it to stand for, hit "replace all".
Have a normal (or macro) for the signature line with your initials already in place, or have a template set up (macro) with the name of each doctor individually for the file name of the template, which can further be specified to document type (clinic note, procedure note, surgery note...) in the name of the file for the template.
FastFox and Shortkeys
are the 2 that I'm considering. You can download trials and try them out before buying. FastFox is $29.99 and Shortkeys is $19.99. They both work on all the same platforms as the more expensive ones do as well. These are both regular licenses (not just for 1 year). Also, FlashType is around $50, but I have no experience with that myself. I was ready to purchase Shortkeys, but when my work computer arrived, I was pleasantly surprised to see that Instant Text Pro V was installed on it.
Does anybody use ShortKeys? How does it compare with ShortHand?
I tried ShortHand but I never could get it to work like AutoCorrect, which is what I prefer. I don't like to take my fingers off the home keys to hit "Alt" or "Ctrl" or whatever.
ShortKeys is okay, but it has some limitations. I just wondered if anyone had tried both and how they compare.
TIA.
POLL: Productivity gain using your expander and what expander you use.
Guess I need to make it work harder.
The shortcuts expander works with the Bayscribe expander as well.
All at the same time.
Experience on top, current experience first. Education second. Leave out ALL fluff.
Recruiters don't need your life story. They need to know if you can do the job. If you want, put your current employer, then state "I have 20 years in the profession doing....." Keep it simple; keep it clean. If you want to go into more detail, do it during the interview. A HUGE red flag is to see that you've worked for 10 different companies, for months at a time. I know that someone who has worked for the same company for 2 years or more is going to have some degree of loyalty and will work through issues rather than cut and run.
Word Expander Programs - Are there any expander programs that are easy to use and learn
that are similar to the MS Word expander? I prefer something very simple. I like MS Word expander; however I have gone over my limits and cannot add any more shortcuts so I need a program that will hold a larger amount of shortcuts. Many thanks.
How is one going to get experience, when no one will hire without experience????
 I constantly see all these job openings asking for experience. How can I get experience, when no one will hire me without experience???
Do you need to have 2 years full time experience or just 2 years' experience? nm
..
expander
I have been transcribing for 10 years, 4 at home. I have never used expanders, do they really help, how hard are they to learn and use?
oh yes! must have an expander! I really
like shorthand and they have a free trial period. I've gotten so that I can't type without it. I abbreviate everthing from phases to everyday words. on average it saves me 3-4 hours of typing a day (according to the stats it gives you).
shorthand and speedtype are the same except shorthand is cheaper because it only has email support rather than phone support. very, very easy to start and learn....highly recommend 
expander
Shorthand and ABCZ by Jon Knowles. Together they rock.
What expander do you have...most can be ...
recovered. You just need to know what the files are named and find the right folder...
expander
I type directly into a hospital system. I use S/H and Jon Knowle's word program. About a $120.00 investment has increased my productivity by about 32% last time I check. I type rad reports - get paid by report. Words you type all the time - group together
Ti=there is
tin=there is no
tine=there is no evidence
tineo=there is no evidence of
I used to jot this down and input later but now I do it as I type.
I also browse www.productivitytalk.com very helpful in shortcuts. Give you good ideas.
expander
http://www.pcshorthand.com
That's the webside to check out. It's Shorthand. And my supplement word Expander is ABCZ Typing (i.e. osab=osseous abnormality)
mamm=mammogram
sugg=suggesting
website http://home.earthlink.net/agjon/abczrule.htm or
www.productivitytalk.com
DQS has its own expander, which is okay. SM
You'll get instructions on how to change your expansions over to the DQS program. Good luck on your line count. It will plunge wildly. Mine did. Best wishes to you.
No; expander, expander, expander.
I start out at a higher lph rate and then dwindle down, so the last couple of hours of my sessions are at much lower lph.
I have good and bad dictators, ESLs, and mainly Op Notes. Probably average around 7 to 9 minutes per report.
I cannot stress the Expander enough. I rarely type out anything - have it in my expander.
Mainly, stick to it for 2 hours, take a break; 2 hours, take a break, 2 hours, break, 1 hour. Then I take off 2-3 hours and hit another session of 6 hours which are SLOWER than my first session. I start out doing pretty good and break every 2 hours and am pretty slow (for me) by the time it is over.
DQS has an expander and then
CTS (Spheris software that I use) has Shorthand.
What expander do you use, and
how do you remember them all?
Expander most like DQS
When I worked for MQ, I liked their expansion program - it was simple and I added them as I thought of them. What expansion program is the most like it? I'm finding Instant Text to be too cumbersome.
Expander
Instant Text is my all time favorite. It's not cheap but it is well worth the price.
expander
It is WELL worth the price. I wouldn't be without it. I have tried others and this one does the most.
expander
It only takes a couple of days to get used to it. In my opinion, it is much easier than the other expanders. But like I said, that's my opinion.
WP expander
I use Instant Text with WP and it works great. Hope this helps.
expander
I do have a word expander, and familiar accounts, but it seems like I just can't get past $600 or $700 a week, no matter how hard I try. I do have small school-age children, which takes up a lot of time (which is my first priority), but it just seems like I'm always at my computer, when I'm not doing "mom" things, and still can't make the good money that I know is out there.
expander
Thanks I will check it out!
Expander
I use ShortHand have for about 10 years, I like the flexibility, ease of use, unlimited size. I have different directories for different facilities that have different job specifications. Right now I have version 9.0.
Expander
I agree, Instant Text is great!
Expander
Have you used this program, the Instant Text. Someone had mentioned "Shorthand" Program to me. Any idea which is better? Thanks for the feedback.
It would help us to know the name of your expander.
x
Which expander are you using??
For some of the Expanders you can find lists that you can just download and add to your dictionary. Productivitytalk.com is one that has some for ShortHand and some others. Use Google to try and find lists to download that are already set up for the Expander you use. This will save you the time of trying to set up the lists yourself. Good luck and welcom to the fun....
Boy, me, too -- why pay for an expander - sm
just remember to back them up! I've got years of stuff in mine--I back it up at least once a week.
expander
SpeedType works like that.
http://www.speedtype.com/
expander
No, it's actually Smartype, which is a different product. The others I know are Instant Text and ShortHand, but I know there are a few more out there. I use Smartype, and I think that they have a pretty good dictionary loaded into it. I know a lot of people prefer Instant Text, but it takes a little longer to learn to use, from my experience. I've never used Short Hand. Not sure of the costs, because we got them some time ago. Instant text also lists suggestions, but I don't believe you can float the bar near the cursor like on Smart Type. I've never used ShortHand, so maybe someone else can answer that.
What expander do you use? NM
What Expander do you use? NM
What expander do you use and
is it compatible with word? Sorry, but I do not know anything about them yet. How much do they run? Thx.
expander
how and where do i get an expander. is it something i have to buy online. Thanks
expander?
What is SH8 ? I am trying to decide on an Expander to start using, just starting to work at home again after 5 years in office. Things are so different.
Why would you not use an expander? If you only
have to do a certain number of lines and not work an 8 hour shift and you can do 1200 lines in 6 hours, you could easily do it in 5 hours with an Expander and then you could work an extra hour to stockpile some money or if you have a family have an extra hour to spend with them.
VR expander
The odds of VR making a mistake on one of your expansions are slim to none.
Expander sm
There are several types out there. If you are using autocorrect or autotext you are aware of the principle of an expander, but you are still working too hard.
With all your time in as an MT (I have half of what you do) you and I both are aware of the fact that the pay has, in no way, kept pace even with the cost of living. Expanders are an answer to this problem and make it so that one can make over $25 an hour, which is almost a living wage if you ask me.
To give you an idea, my Expander has something close to 20,000 entries in it. They are put in on the basis of system of coding for how entries are entered and typed out. I don't honestly have my expansion codes memorized and I certainly have never made at an attempt to do so. What I know well is the coding framework and I think in those codes rather than memorizing the individual expansions.
What I would tell you is that with what you are using, you are probably able to transcribe more lines, more quickly and better than I am with all my expansions! It is a matter of experience on your part. I will freely admit to being a rather poor typist, fast, but not smooth and highly accurate for sure and it is only the expander that allows me to do well with this. You might not actually benefit from an expander at this stage, so using one is up to you.
Expander
If you don't have an Expander you are cheating yourself! Most companies provide an expander but if your company doesn't I would say you should buy one asap. You can get one for as little as $20.00 or as much as $200.00. This will pay for itself over and over, either way you go.
Put them in your expander
as you come to them. If you have a correct list from some source, which you probably do, just copy and paste them and spellcheck all of them and add them to your dictionary. I like InstantText for keeping medication names and frequent dosages because they are "one-letter" entries and if you isolate to just your drug glossary they are all so easy to see. There is a nursing drug book put out from time to time (can't rememner the name of it right now) that is a total listing of drugs (just the drugs, no other information) and the front part of the book is all generics and the last half is all trade names. You could scan that in with a scanner to your computer and there they are for you. Some of the nursing drug books come with a CD rom too and updates via the internet and those are good sources of generic versus trade names.
Use your expander
As you look up each one put it in the ShortHand program you use. This will cut down on you having to look them up in the long run. I have Quick Look Drug Book to look them up. You will invest the time in the beginning looking them up but by putting them in you will save time in the long run.
Hmm...don't know. Do you have an expander?
Those are much more practical than AC or autotext, not to mention they have more features and are made for shortcuts and such, unlike what comes with word programs.
Expander
Shorthand is a good Expander system and if you don't purchase it outright (I think it's around $99) you can buy a temporary license for a month, 3 months or 6 months. I think the month is $5.99.
Expander
Is there anyone who would be willing to share some of their Expanders with the rest of us? I just read on another post where someone even expands words such as however, although, etc. I never thought of this. I have my regular set formats that I use that have the standard things each of my docs say. Then, I have expanders for things such as history (hx), symptoms (sx), The patient (Tp), -year-old (yo). I would really like to learn more to increase my production. It would be greatly appreciated by myself as well as others I am sure. TIA!
If I am not sure I have an expander in there (I have
over 2000) I just type what I think it might be. If it doesn't some up, then I put it in that way and later on if I find it is in there as something else, apparently it was a "good" abbreviation and I just delete it. For several things I have put a 1 or 2 behind the abbreviation if they are the same and after using it a few times the wrong way I tend to remember it.
Expander
We use an Expander called ShortCut at the hospital where I work and it has worked well Meditech since we switched over to it almost 2 years ago.
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