Are you using an expander? Build up
Posted By: work smarter on 2006-02-10
In Reply to: What am I doing wrong? - aprilinparis
you're macros/normals. I'm able to batch my work. I type all my reports in each batch and then I go back and relisten to each report, but I turn the speed up so they sound like the Chipmunks. I feel like it goes faster than reading each report, and I find that I'm able to catch errors that I wouldn't have caught by just reading the report.
Complete Discussion Below:  marks the location of current message within thread
The messages you are viewing
are archived/old.
To view latest messages and participate in discussions, select
the boards given in left menu
Other related messages found in our database
Here's how I've build my own expander-ese:
For multiples, I use numbers based on several criteria. For example, my related Expanders may be 'abc1, abc2, abc3'.
I may use the most-used phrase as #1, less-used as #2, least-used as #3, etc.
Or, I may base it on the length of the phrase - shortest phrase 1st, longer 2nd, longest 3rd.
Or, I sometimes use the numbers to signify tense or multiples. If ABC stood for, let's say, 'abdominal clamp', I may assign them s follows:
abc1 - abdominal clamp
abc2 - abdominal clamps
abc3 - abdominal clamping
That's just a 'fer-instance', but you get the idea.
ALSO: I use my auto-correct as my expander, so space in it isn't limitless. To make one abbreviation go further, type it in lower case. Example:
'dx' - for 'diagnosis'.
When you type in 'dx' in lower-case, you'll get 'diagnosis'. Type the first letter capitalized ('Dx'), and you'll get 'Diagnosis'. Type it in all-caps ('DX'), and you'll get 'DIAGNOSIS'! Three abbreviations in one!
Hope that helped!
:)
Build-a-pc
Get the best sound card you can. My first computer had a cheapy sound card and it caused all kinds of problems. Make a list of all you want/need to do with your computer and talk to the techies about it. They will be able to make suggestions. And be sure you have Microsoft Word and probably Word Perfect, just to cover all bases. Maybe a cd burner to easily make back-up discs of system and to make discs of info if that should ever be necessary.
you build and add yourself
It is a different style of system. You use the first letter of each word in your phrase so there is no memorizing, you can't forget the sequence of the phrase you are looking for. it is annoying having the screen at the bottom, but i just show the first 5 lines. you get used to it real quick. I love it.
I build my own also. So does my son. It's so (sm)
very nice when we build pc for customers and present them with the finished product. The smiles on their faces when they see that they received exactly what they wanted/ordered is priceless.
there is no way a new MT can build sm
a Medical Phrase Index like the one in print. That book is a great teaching tool and a lot quicker than asking questions on the Word Board and waiting for an answer! Seems to me folks don't want to do the work and research anymore to become a good MT and want everyone else to do their work for them.
if you know what you want get a geek to build you one
Cheaper and better! Not mention you'll know who to call and whether or not they speak English...;)
If you live in the Seattle area, try this link:
http://www.dresch.org/web/dcs/default.asp?c=1
I know him and his work - he'll put a 'puter together to your specifications and it'll be far superior to Dell (or anyone else, plus cost a lot less money)
what are you trying to do, build another city...
please go down about four posts and see the one titled "It never fails to amaze me" and see what happened to that train of thought and the responses to the same. You might get a clue to your answer. Have a great day. 
build your shortcuts to the max
it's ALL about your shortcuts. you have to shorten every word, phrase, not just medical ones, regular English too, assuming you transcribe for someone who SPEAKS English!! 
I have been using the same shortcut program for 10+ years and I STILL add things to it almost daily. 1st rule is if the shortcut doesn't just pop in your head, keep typing and don't think about it. it has to come to you automatically. then you have to be creative. example - I have this one doc who constantly says "once this was done" so I have that in as OTWD. "The patient tolerated the procedure well" is PATOL. I have things like ADP for adenopathy, then you have to expand that on further to be LADP for lymphadenopathy, AADP for axillary adenopathy, etc. if you have one doc who says some phrase constantly, even if it is only one doc, if you type him every day, make it a shortcut. I have typed in "codes" for so long they are drilled in my brain. I'll look at a license plate and it will say RSD456, my brain says "reflex sympathetic dystrophy." the longer you use it the bigger it will get and pretty soon you're typing all shortcuts and not much else.
He can build it. Just keep reciepts. nm
:+
Temporary dog house is easy to build.
Take a large cardboard box, cover outside of it with multiple sections of newspaper, then tape large plastic sheets (open up garbage sacks) over it. It is well insulated against cold and wet.
I try not to pressure myself so I don't get that way. I build up speed naturally. -nm
x
Get a custom build from a local place.
I don't know about the Macs compatibility though. I had my computer custom built through a local place and am so glad I need. My kids have done things to this computer that no one has ever seen or been able to quite figure out how they did it but the local placed fixed me right up and they keep companies of all my program disks in case I have a complete crash and need to reformat the beasts. They also custom built an HP laptop which I love, love, love.
I believe most of the MT software programs have a build it "cannot edit"
mechanism,so that once a document has been signed; electronically or otherwise, it cannot be altered. Regarding Addundums, if you were not the original Transcriptionist who typed the document, most companies want you to bypass it in the pool, which will then be reassigned to the original tramscriptionist. It's not good company policy reading and or making an addenda to anyone else's report other than your own.
I believe most of the MT software programs have a build it "cannot edit"
mechanism,so that once a document has been signed; electronically or otherwise, it cannot be altered. Regarding Addundums, if you were not the original Transcriptionist who typed the document, most companies want you to bypass it in the pool, which will then be reassigned to the original tramscriptionist. It's not good company policy reading and or making an addenda to anyone else's report other than your own.
Personally, I would prefer to build my own list versus
using a premade list. If you build it yourself, you know what's in there and you use a system that is comfortable for you. It takes time, but it's well worth it. Quite frankly, I think this smacks of wanting someone else to do the hard work for you, taking the easy way.
No idea...in 3+ years when we build I wil figure it out....probably a wolf theme
xx
New giveaway! $50 Build A Bear Bucks, see sticky post above.
/
Elaine Johnson of Boise, Idaho, you won the Build A Bear Bucks!
Email to admin@mtstars.com with your full mailing address and we will send you your gift.
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.
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.
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.
|
