But the help file is so long and boring to read.
Posted By: teach me, oh, wise one! on 2005-12-23
In Reply to: I'm always stunned when people are surprised about this (sm) - MT
I know about linking and hiding the suggestion window. Other than that, I don't know many semicolon or Ctrl functions. I put hospitalization in as hosn. I wish somebody would teach a Shorthand Expander class or come up with an in-depth book going over specific SH features. The other expander books I bought were lame.
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Read a boring book or watch something boring on TV.
Sometimes I go to bed so tired, but by the time I get in bed I'm not sleepy. I do one of the above and 15 minutes later I'm asleep. My DH works third shift so he isn't there for me to bother him, may not be an option for you.
Have you read your HELP FILE. It's in there.
:
Read the Word help file.
Your auto correct file has an .acl file extension. Your auto text are connected to the template you use (probably normal) but you'll have to transfer that template to the new computer as well in order for those entries to be retained.
You need to read the help file on bolding/unbolding NM
:
A bit long, but please read, at least, the end if you are up for an experiement
I have used Expanders from the start, and I would say they help overall. However, as time has gone by I have discovered better ways of putting them together, so I have ended up changing many I had already created along with the endless making of new ones. (Some of this due to discovering which key combos are easier for me in regard to finger dexterity and some due to overlapping use of the Expander pattern I started with.)
I think you might actually be better off since you have learned more about transcribing before creating any.
I did read a funny and interesting thing on here a few months ago though. Someone said they stopped using their expanders and were getting a higher line count by straight typing. I was really tempted to try it for a day to see what would happen but never did. It would be kind of fun if we all tried it for a day (or even half a shift) to see the range of results.
Anyone game for that?
I can't read for long in the car or do crafts because I get
motion sickness, but I've worked from coast to coast without having any issues. My issue is my DH and the radio. My DH thinks he is going to die if he doesn't have his music and I'm turning the volume down and 2 minutes later he's turning it up again.
I work for both ... my comparison (LONG READ):
HOURS/CLASSIFICATION:
MQ: You have a choice of FT with full benefits -- 39-40 hours producing average of 150 lines/hour minimum; FT with limited benefits -- 39-40 hours with less than 150 lines/hour average but more than 100 lines/hour; PT with limited benefits for 8-16-24 hour schedules all averaging 100 lines/hour.
Spheris: FT is 37 to 40 hours a week, with 10,200 lines required by payperiod's end. PT is 20 to 36 hours a week, production is 5100 lines/payperiod minimum.
OVERTIME:
Both companies structure overtime the same way; averaged in the same manner; requires approval, must be in addition to 40 hours WORKED (PTO, DT do not count).
SCHEDULES:
Both require a schedule with the offer of "flexibility".
TIME:
MQ: Time sheets are used; MTs fill them in manually and submit.
SPHERIS: Galaxy is used -- you clock in and the system punches your time for you. Day's end, you see how much you've worked and allocate your time accordingly (productive time, PTO, meeting with mgrs, etc.).
BENEFITS:
MQ: You see the benefits in the Harmonization booklet. The employee's cost of insurance benefits is assigned by the state you live in (as well as which/if coverages are available to you).
SPHERIS: Med/Den/Vision are offered. Employees all pay the same amount for amount of coverages (EX: All employees wanting EMPLOYEE ONLY coverage pay the same; all wanting EMPLOYEE+ONE CHILD pay the same). It is available to all employees. Cost is not region-specific.
EQUIPMENT:
MQ: Use your own or they will provide. The current rental charges will no longer be effective in January; as well, the internet reimbursements will not either. I don't know if there will be a deposit for those just coming into the company after Jan 1.
SPHERIS: Must use their computers. No rental fee but there is a refundable deposit. You can pay it at once or have it taken out in 6 paychecks. Refunds to you when equipment is returned in good working order.
PTO:
MQ: You see the new PTO offered in the plan and can read online the PTO calculation formula.
SPHERIS: Same type of calculation formula; averaged quarterly and you receive a notice of what your new downtime/PTO rate is and what period it covers. Limit is $20 an hour tops for PTO. Lowest is $7.50. Amount of PTO depends on status and length of service and ranges for FT from 11 days to 21 days a year and PT 2.5 to 7.5 days a year.
HOLIDAYS:
MQ: You can read in the Harmonization booklet.
SPHERIS: Thanksgiving and Christmas are designated holidays. If you are scheduled to work on it, you can take PTO instead. If you work it you will earn double lines those days.
QUALITY:
Both require 98%.
PAY CYCLES:
MQ: Pay WEEK is Su-Sat; pay PERIOD is bimonthly 1-15th and 16th-end of month with paydates on 10th and 25th. Direct deposit available.
SPHERIS: Pay weeks are same as pay periods and are Su-Sat with every other Fridya as paydates. Direct deposit available.
BASE RATE:
MQ: With the new plan, you have your current base rate and it is the same on all work (unless you do part radiology or ASR).
SPHERIS: Your base rate depends on the level of the account you type on. If you type on a really easy account, you will get less pay; more difficult accounts, more pay. Each account level has a new-hire hourly associated with it. Levels go from level 3 to 10 with line rates 0.065 to 0.102. With Spheris, if your production earnings do not add up to at least minimum wage for the hours you worked, they will pay you minimum wage. However, you will not stay with them long if you cannot produce enough to keep you off the minimum wage payments.
INCENTIVE:
MQ: We know that incentive is achieved on a daily basis -- after you produce 1200 lines. Tiered so that you earn incentive ONLY on the lines produced AFTER 1200. It barely puts change in your pocket for mid-range producers. Only rewards high producers.
SPHERIS: Incentive is base on each week's production (Sun-Sat). So you can have a really bad week and only get your base and then next week have a great week and get incentive. Once earned, incentive applies to ALL lines typed and ranges depending on FT or PT status. FT: 5200 lines start at 0.002 and increases up to 7000+ lines getting 0.015 cpl incentive. PT: 2700 lines = 0.001 and increases up to 7000+ lines = 0.015 cpl. Whatever incentive you earn that week is applied to ALL LINES PRODUCED THAT WEEK. Spheris also has special teams that pay higher base rates.
SHIFT DIFF:
MQ: 11pm-7am = 0.01 and 3pm-11pm = 0.005
SPHERIS: 4pm-8am CST daily = 0.005.
NO WORK AVAILABLE:
MQ: This is not specifically addressed per se; however it is not listed under downtime definitions at all. I doubt MQ ever pays for no work situations.
SPHERIS: Has a policy: "MTs will not receive compensation for "No WOrk Available" situations. If an MT runs out of work, the MT should immediately notify their Supervisor or follow th eout of work situation guidelines for their team."
Hope that helps.
I didn't read your way-too-long post, but...
did you type all that out, or copy and paste from somewhere, cause if you typed it all out...you need to get a life and quick!
Long, informative read - Merck vet manual (sm)
http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/71600.htm
Help! Long shot, but if you're near Redding, CA, please read
I'm desperately in need of a Dictaphone pedal. Mine randomly quit working this morning, I need to work today and tomorrow, and I can't find one in any stores here. My employer's Fedexing me a new one that will get here Monday. If you have one that I could borrow until Monday, I'll come pick it up, and I'll bake you one of my famous apple pies.
Best post I've read in a long time.
I tend to go back and forth with my feelings about this profession. In the mornings I am glad I do not have to get up, get ready and go to an office. Many times in the evening, after I have during the day and still have work to do, I feel like stuffing it all. Many times I am disheartened when I get my paycheck, but I am glad to be getting one, while my sister worries about getting laid off from her manufacturing job. MT has advantages and disadvantages.
I work and do not have time to read such long posts, do you?..nm
nm
How long would you say it takes to get a decent grip on them. I do have samples already I have read
over and they arent hard but I havent heard the voices yet.
Oh, my. That's the funniest thing I've read in a long time.
AHDI: Solving the world's problems, one foreign MT at a time.
ROLFMAO
Rename your normal.dot file to something else then restart Word. It will create a new file.
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I think it is the same type of file, so rename it and replace your autocorrect file with your DQS us
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Help..I lost my word file. How can I retreive a file that has been changed? sm
I was working on a large file and had saved it in Word. I then went back to work on the file and hit a key that made the page go blank. When I went to close the document it asked me to save any changes on the document. I answered yes, and now when I click on that document it is all blank! Shouldnt the previous info saved be there, even if the current stuff is not? Please help me!! Thank you
Depends on the file format of the Short Cuts file.
ShortHand comes with a utility file that can import various formats. You can get that file with the trial download of SH.
Depends on the file format of the Short Cuts file.
ShortHand comes with a utility file that can import various formats. You can get that file with the trial download of SH.
...with your user.aco file. Save your autocorrect file to somewhere else. nm
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You can save the SH file in a text file and import to IT that way. sm
You may have to do some cleanup in the SH text file, but it sure would be faster than re-entering them all manually.
File taxes under the name on file w Social Security....
Name on W2 doesn't have to match, but your tax return has to match SS records. They don't want your marriage license or anything else. Did that for 13 years as instructed by IRS. Didn't have to change it with SS until state changed rules requiring drivers license to match SS records. Still use my maiden name in some limited circumstances.
BORING!!!
Sand or tan walls, okay, if you want drab and boring go with sand and tan walls
Might be boring but
I'll take boring over nasty any day. I guess to each his/her own.
They are boring -
:(
It's no more boring than anything else.
MT will always be boring....
because it is a dead end job with no future. Try studying something that will provide a better living.
BORING...
v
Not boring!
I have to say that it's not boring! I learn something new every day, even after doing this for 20 years. I think if you look at other professions other folks are griping too. It's all a matter of attitude! Make it work for you! It does pay the bills!
Not a big fan, went there twice & boring.
board might be boring that way though
But the work is boring . . . (sm)
Easy but boring clinic notes. Seems most of the accounts are clinics instead of "real" acute care transcription. Pay is low, too. Seems like really nice people, though -- they did everything they said they would when they said they would. That's rare!
by boring I mean very repetitive...
but easy to normalize. They use these tables for different degrees of muscle movement and stuff. Maybe you could get a sample from one of the other MT websites.
I agree that PT is boring. sm
When I worked in-house, we had to rotate days of doing PT notes, one day a week. Those days of doing PT notes seemed to never end. You may end up enjoying it, but I get bored easily and PT is very repetitive.
When they have bad/boring shows
it seems like there are new bottom 3 people chosen. I thought Mandisa had a good voice, but country was not her best (as the case for many of them). Also, poor song choice. Next week they sing Queen songs. I've been recording the shows because they're just not as good as they have been. I think Paula needs to cut down on her medication. She's beginning to slurrrrrr her words again.
Boring account
I've just been taken off my favorite work type and put on an extremely boring account. Lots of work but it is so dull. How can I keep my productivity up when I am yawning through these reports? I am quickly losing my incentive to stay at the keyboardj! Help! Any ideas? TIA
Boring reports
I did a 45-minute dictation the other day, which mostly consisted of the doctor saying, "Uh, um." LOL He was doing a review of records halfway through, reading them to himself as he went. I had to sit there listening to the silence! It really stinks too, because those pauses translate to less typing, which means a lower check for my aggravation.
Boring Account
When I get a boring account, I try to make as many abbreviations as I can and that helps the account go faster and keeps your mind on what new abbreviations you can make up (for your short cuts)
yawn - your tit-for-tat is more boring than your
<<<<>>>>>> got coffee?
But don't you think editing is boring? I would -- (nm)
.
I find myself doing it if a particularly boring
long report or when I'm tired. I frequently nod off because I'm so tired and then end up having to relisten to the port at least once more, sometimes up to 4 times because I keep nodding off. My QA score is very high so I'm catching the errors, but my line count sucks. If I'm not tired I'm okay. I've worked 7 days/week the last 5 months and it is just hard to sit day after day and type/transcribe.
If your mind wonders go back and relisten to the entire dictation. If you find lots of errors, even minor ones, maybe that will help you focus more. If you need a nap, get a power nap. If you need to do some physical activity get up and do it. I work split shift as there is no way I could sit for 8 hours straight. I get up every 1-1/2 to 2 hours and do something to break the monotony.
I think clinic notes are boring, you have the same
number of doctors usually and for the most part there isn't a lot of medical terminology and they have lots of normals, which is good because they you can have lots of macros/expanders to help, but I like learning from my dictation. With clinic notes I did know when viruses/illnesses were going around and what the standard treatment was, so I could try some of the same treatments if we got sick without a doctor visit, just after a while they were just boring. I much prefer acute care. I have lots of dictators so I don't get sick of hearing one doctor all day, although occasionally I do get a slew of the same dictator, the terminology is constantly changing, new drugs, new equipment, new procedures, etc.
Rehab is good. Might get a little boring to some
Rehab i
Easy but boring. Only thing I will ask sm
not to do. Also, there is the ---- factor with the doctor wannabes.
I wouldn't care if the job were boring, if
doctors would learn to dictate and give a flying flip in the wind how hard they are to transcribe day after day. If they had to transcribe their own dictations (or another physician's dictation) they might do better. So, it's not so much the boring part, it's the goof ball dictators who make my job miserable.
I feel the same and I find them truly boring.
And nowadays you are lucky to get the same MDs twice at most large nationals and most are ESL, so the money maker thing is becoming a thing of the past. I get mostly OPs but would take a good challenging consultation over a boring OP anytime! I don't know how anyone could like doing OPs long term. For me that would get old real fast.
Let me see, VR versus straight, which is boring?
Hmmmmm, I don’t think so. I have had majority straight today and really do not like anymore- can fly when I have VR and make $$$$- straight only slows me down and like the bumper sticker I saw the other day- I am not speeding, I am qualifying! Loved that.
Ugh - 42 minutes of that boring junk.
Do they really think anybody is going to read all of that? Didn't any English teacher ever tell him the secret to good writing is LESS IS MORE??
How lazy not to be able to shorten it up to something brief yet complete. Shame on him. You poor thing.
meh, you're boring me now {{yawwwnn}}.
x
Chris is a boring one-trick pony. (nt)
They are boring but easy, and you can make a lot of money. nm
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