Did I mention I am saving for a couple of things? sm
Posted By: Lyndia on 2008-08-14
In Reply to: (Goodness gracious, Lyndia. If you're SM - MsIndigo
I have some divorce debt yet, not of my making, which I am paying on. I am a little concerned about taxes, though I think that is a nonissue. My credit isn't good and I need a new vehicle, so I am saving to pay cash for a used car.
For work, I am an employee with a split shift. I work as an IC to deduct my business expenses somewhere. My IC work is transcribing and doing QA being paid hourly. I don't work at a frantic pace, I can't. I am sick again right now (I have an AID). Sometimes I can hardly move, but I still work. Not good for anything high pressure.
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Should also mention a few other things.
As an IC, you can deduct so many things that you can't deduct if you're an employee. I would say best advice is to check with a tax professional because I think you'll come out on the short end if you become an employee. I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure that if they're paying some taxes for you, you're an employee, but the IRS is the one who makes that final determination.
You mention that things have changed b/c of VR, but
VR is putting out some of the sloppiest work I've ever seen. In fact, we've actually been told not to over-edit. In other words, not to "pretty it up", just make sure it's correct. So if we come across Down's syndrome, like you mentioned, we're supposed to leave it because it doesn't change the meaning. We were told if we come across something like "a 3.5 centimeter p u s s y wound", the only change we make is to insert the comma between centimeter and p u s s y (purulent), because if you don't it definitely does change the meaning. Now if that doesn't look absolutely unprofessional I don't know what does. Yet if this was straight typing instead of VR, it would be the fault of the MT for not changing it.
You're right when you say that compared to 30 years ago language and quality are changing, but it doesn't mean it's changing for the better. It's changing to accommodate a financial benefit instead of quality.
You mention some things you are not good at doing, but
try to think of something you may be good at. Not everyone on the outside is cruel and backstabbing. It sounds like you need to get out more and mingle. It is not healthy to spend hours in front of your computer and not interact with others except online. Do you have friends you socialize with? Sounds like the MT work at home is not going well for you. Don't give up on yourself. I hear your pain. Been there myself. It may be time for a new beginning. You are never too old for anything. Change your thoughts, and you will change your life.
Just a couple of things I can think of...sm
You poor dear - we all remember being in your shoes. You will get your break. Keep up your confidence. Here's a couple of thoughts:
First, go through your resume and cover letter with a fine tooth comb (you definitely should send/e-mail a cover letter with your resume). Make sure there are no typos. Also, give to someone else to check for typos and look at format.
I think I have seen a few companies that say satellite is OK, but yeah, expensive! Keep looking for a company that will still allow dial-up. And, never fear! DSL came to me in the country, and I never would have dreamed that! You might call and tell them you need it for a job. If there are others near you requesting DSL, it helps alot.
Have you asked for any feedback on your online tests?
I hope these suggestions help. I'm sure other MTs will have good suggestions to give you too! Good luck to you. Keep us posted!
A couple things... sm
You mention being depressed, so I'm wondering if you really might benefit from an antidepressant? (I know mine works wonders for me.)
Another thing, I love to watch Oprah when she does shows about inspirational weight loss stories. You can read some of them at: http://www2.oprah.com/tows/pastshows/tows_2000/tows_past_20001109.jhtml
Oprah's website has a lot of info, and message boards for support. Apparently, her trainer, Bob Greene, has some great books out about weight loss and emotional eating.
For me, it helps a lot to keep a "food journal." My weight is okay, but I feel flabby. My challenge is eating healthy and exercising. I hate to exercise and I don't know why because I always feel better when I do.
Good luck to you. Hang in there, and keep looking for what works for you. 
There are a couple of things you can do - sm
1) Did you know the TAT going in? Obviously you did and you've been doing this for 3 years now. As an IC, you have the right to accept or deny these terms. If you dont accept these terms, then you need to either walk away or try and renegotiate with the idea that you risk losing the account. 2) They will not give you a raise. Again, as an IC you need to be the one to set your rates. Basically you renegotiate your contract with your MTSO again with the idea that you may or may not have this account any longer.
Realize that as an IC, you are basically an MTSO who contracts with other MTSOs rather than directly with a client. Begin thinking like a business rather than someone who is lucky to be able to work from home. Figure out what you need to to make and then adjust your rates. Also, feel free to start obtaining more work from other MTSOs/clinics.
Good luck to you.
a couple of things
I can *de-stress* by taking a break and sitting down on the floor and playing with my kids. Or maybe eat some chocolate. Or lay on the couch for a few minutes and turn on my fav radio station that plays 80s music (drives my older daughter NUTS, LOL).
Takes me back in time........ LOL.
Basically, if I am in the middle of a bad dictation (as long as it is not a STAT) I just take a few minute break. It always helps me.
I hope things get better for you!
A couple things you could try
I am able to use my F10 for normal speed/100% and F12 for 200% for proofing purposes. In settings, there is a place where you can edit hot keys too. :)
HTH.
Couple of things
First, she should realize that it doesn't matter whether or not you deliver the work - if you transcribe it, it's billable. I would just tell them you don't want it sitting in your office when it's already done, and take it in. LET THEM DEAL WITH IT! If they can't handle the volume all at once, they can let it sit there. You've met your turnaround and they can't say you didn't deliver on time and use that as an excuse.
Second, you don't have a contract? I would get one.
I would let this play out without rocking the boat too much but I would advise also that when and where the doc and his wife take a vacation and how much they make versus your vacations and what you make are completely irrelevant and shouldn't even be part of the conversation. Your financial commitments and obligations are your problem, not theirs. They have no obligation to make their travel plans with you in mind, or budget for the business based on whether or not they know you have kids who require expensive tutoring.
A couple of things
For really obscure muscles, ligaments, tendons, etc., I use Gray's Anatomy online: http://www.bartleby.com/107/ . I do a search in the search box, then when it gives me a page, I do a search of the page for the term I'm looking for. The text is much too dense to try to read through it when you're working on a deadline.
If your Stedman's Radiology Word Book is current, it should have most of the information you need. For MRIs, there are a few acronyms commonly used in the technique like FLAIR, STIR, FIESTA, etc. If they use BI-RADS for the mammograms, you will want to get a list or sample of exactly how they want you to do it. For CTs, they generally use the same contrast material for most of the exams - Omnipaque, Visipaque, etc. Your Stedman's should have most of those.
For those three types of exams, you shouldn't have too much trouble. CTs and MRIs can be pretty anatomy-intensive, but if you have good reference books, you'll be okay. Mammograms are generally not too difficult. Here is a site that gives a good overview and also gives the BI-RADS classifications: http://www.radiologyassistant.nl/en/4349108442109 .
A couple of things for you to consider.
First, you will still need to use the software that came with the Olympus recorder to get dictation off the machine and onto the doc's computer. That's the only way those recorders will work.
Next, you can look at several options for transmitting work (both ways if you're interested). One is to use an FTP site and/or free FTP software to communicate between the server and the computer. Sites like http://www.ibackup.com or http://www.zftp.com/ are pretty reasonably priced and sound like they may be what you're looking for.
If you or your doc are FTP-phobic, try something like www.filestogo.com. It's a little more expensive mostly because they expect that it will be used harder (more than one account) but there is no software to download as all transfer are done through a web browser. They do have an FTP side as well, www.ftptogo.com.
Good luck.
A couple of things to consider.
Have you tried turning off the computer and restarting? You should see a message that the computer has detected new hardware. Also, if you plugged it into a USB port and then pulled it out without properly ejecting it, the USB port will be unusable until a restart.
A couple of things... sm
A local agent where you can deal with and develop a relationship with one person or office is good to have, but if you can just take 5 minutes to check ehealth, they only want your zip code, weight, height, and birthdate to generate quotes, no personally identifiable information. They will give you several prices based on whatever you have in mind, and you can print out and compare in detail what is covered and not for each individual quote. You can choose a policy and then tell your agent exactly what you want and the price you are quoted, and they can give you an idea if that's really how it will be based on medical history, current scripts, and past diagnoses.
The other thing is that if you want copays on office visits, that's gonna be a high dollar policy. We started with BCBS (the best co., I believe) with a $10,000 deductible. We had no insurance previously but had bought our house, and my husband griped endlessly, because it covers basically nothing day to day, but if one of us were in an accident or something, we could likely pay off the deductible without losing the house. Also, someone finally enlightened me that even though a visit or script isn't actually covered, I still need to give them my ID card because I am eligible to be charged the rate that has been negotiated between the provider and the insurer, so there are discounts rather than the cash price, which is the highest price charged to anyone.
I did just get DH switched over to an Aetna policy where he gets copays for office visits and specialists and some drugs, and it's $145/mo with a 2500 ded. For men is cheaper than women, I think because women are much more likely to actually GO to the doc and seek treatment. But anyway, shop around and make sure you know what you're getting. Another thing to be aware of is that if your BMI is over 25 (I think that's the magic number), you should add 25% to the ehealth quote. So you might want to do the math, and if you're within a couple of pounds of the limit, I don't see any real harm in fudging just a bit. As a rule, you weigh less in the morning after you pee and before you eat or drink than you do at night after dinner, so it is pretty easily to rationalize a couple of pounds; I wish I had been aware of this because DH and I are both just slightly above the limit.
A couple things.
Years ago I was a foreign language student in the military and later in college. One thing I learned is that learning to SPEAK a foreign language is typically the last and most difficult part of language learning. Reading and writing may not be so bad and one can do a lot of that on their own. To learn to speak well, though, one really needs a tutor or teacher on hand to correct pronunciation mistakes on the spot as they happen. That involves someone else's time and somebody's money to pay for that time.
I've pretty much concluded that a lot of ESLs learn to read and write English largely on their own, in some cases pretty well, but may only spend minimal if any time with a tutor or teacher to correct their pronunciation. Thus they don't speak well.
I think some medical schools and/or hospitals could set up remedial classes in phonetics and pronunciation for those who need help with the spoken language. It wouldn't take up that much time and would (hopefully) only be temporary according to each student's needs. It could be part of the solution.
It also makes a big difference whether or not a dictator fully prepares the dictation in advance. It is too much for most dictators to compose and dictate their document all at once: composition detracts from dictation and vice versa. This applies particularly to anybody who does not have a strong command of the English language.
Compose, then dictate. Compose, then dictate. Compose, then dictate.
Compose, then dictate...
Bonnie, there are a couple of things that could cause this...sm
Unfortunately there is no such thing as 100% reliability when it comes to the Internet, it just does not exist. Occasionally a file could become corrupted in transit and would not open on the receiving end, but it's really rare for a file to completely disappear in transit. But in most every digital setup I know of, there is always a copy of the original voice file on the sender's computer, so that in case something happens in transit, it can always be re-sent.
Jay
PS - a couple of other things I have thought about
are Public Administration and Health Care Administration.
A couple things I would recommend...
I had a lot of problems with my fingers/hands and once I bought the softest touch ergo keyboard I could find it made a world of difference, My hands and fingers never hurt anymore. I found the Kinesis Classic to work the best for me but it sure took some getting use to! I can't type on a regular keyboard now at all.
It might help to consider some of the gloves they have out there as well. I have tried a couple different ones and found some at Staples, the drug store, as well as on line.
Another thing is I use is the Evoluent Mouse which has been the only mouse that stopped my wrist and forearm pain. It is not cheap but I have had mine for quite awhile so it seems to last. As soon as I use my touch-pad on my laptop for any length of time, I note pain in my forearm in particular.
Another very inexpensive thing for ankle discomfort - I bought a rectangular-shaped gardening knee pad (a small one) and I place that in front of my foot pedal and rest my feet on it while working. You won't need to flex your ankle much at all. I have not had ankle pain in years! :D Sounds odd but who cares as long as it works, right? :D
I can share a couple of things..sm
I was using Windows 98 SE and had WP51 loaded on my desktop, and it would load in the background DOS format in Windows and worked just fine. I also use PRD.
Another option you can try that also worked for me is acquiring ShortHand 8, which is a short-cut program that works in Windows, and you can convert all of your PRD short cuts and use them in Shorthand. When I purchased the program, the guy incorporated my PRD into the Shorthand for me.
A couple of things to keep in mind
Are you sure DSL is available in the area you are moving to? ATT advertises it all the time where I live, but it is not really available. Last I heard, they were having a difference of opinion with the Illinois Commerce Commission about how much they could charge competitors for the use of their lines and decided not to expand DSL service until they could charge what they wanted.
Is the bundle rate a long-term price (say a year or more) or just a 3-month teaser and then you get socked with a huge price increase to the regular rate?
If the phone part of the bundle is VOIP (voice over Internet protocol or phone through your computer), make sure your 911 dispatch center can find you.
It sounds like you will have DSL and cable available to you. This is good in case you find whichever service you pick is of poor quality. It would be even better if there was more than one DSL and more than one cable provider. At least you will have another option and won't lose your job. Plus, threatening to change services is sometimes the best (only) leverage you have against poor service. Does it sound like I've been there and done that?
Can you answer a couple more things for me please? sm
We have a DVR receiver, it is only 8 months old but I don't recall what it cost. Can you tell me what type receiver you have?
When you say you can select 3 different groups of channels, are these channels you can put in 3 lists of your own or are they groups Direct has designated and you cannot change? We are only allowed 1 "favorite" list to make ourselves. I would like to make a favorites list for our most watched and a list for the music we enjoy but we are just allowed 1 list. The "Channels I Get" menu on ours is actually ALL the channels Direct offers and not the "channels I get" (we have Total Choice too) so making lists of channels we watch is really important.
We are getting a new HD TV and since it will mean upgrading our receiver, I have to make a decision as to whether or not to pay to upgrade or cancel and pay a penalty (and go with Dish, so any information is truly helpful! Thanks.
A couple of things come to mind..
Years ago while doing my OB rotation as a nursing student I developed an axillary rash after shaving. It got really ugly and spread, and my theory was that it was a staph infection I must have gotten from a baby in the newborn nursery. I figured I was holding or feeding one of the babies and s/he was breathing bacteria from his/her nasopharynx into my irritated armpit, where it was nice and warm and moist. I treated it with OTC triple antibiotic ointment and it went away quickly.
The other experience with underarm rash was my husband's. He came to me with a flaming red bilateral rash extending down his sides and asked if I knew what it was. It took me about 30 seconds to figure out he was having a reaction to his deodorant.
A fungal infection is probably a good guess, so if you want to self-treat you could try clotrimazole like the other poster suggested (I would use cream). You should see an improvement pretty quickly if you're on target.
Hmmm I'm none of those things and I am on a couple of dating sites. SM
I'm not sure why you'd say all those things are true, when you have no possible way of knowing that.
Okay - I AM weird. :D I am an MT and I work at home. But I'm no misfit.
I have 2 middle age couple friends. One couple became pregnant from condom failure.
This is not just "irresponsible" behavior! Both couples are "fixed" now, because for them, reliable birth control was NOT. But it's an error to assume this stuff happens to people who are unmarried or irresponsible. Both these couples are raising 2nd families, now, but it wasn't "irresponsibility" that did them in!
Bad things? what bad things? people's being petty and small?
x
saving money
I, too, am vegetarian and yes not buying meat sure saves a lot of money. Buying fruits and vegetables in season saves money also. I also buy at the local 99 cent store. The cat and dog food and cat litter are inexpensive there and also the canned goods. The breads are still fresh, they have beverages, they even have wine. The 99 cent store near me is as stocked as a grocery store and drug store. We have a full service WalMart about 20 blocks away. So I can do my grocery shopping, department store shopping, plus get my car worked on at the same time.
Isn't MQ saving a kazillion$$$ by not
anymore?
Think of the $$$$$ they have just seen in profit reaped by not having to pay for the 1-800 lines used to get the dictation and modem it back in.
Will any employees see that benefit?
Will they raise our rate?
No, like one person said, pretty soon we will get to be editors and if we don't want to be editors, we can get the scum out of the bottom of the barrel like transcribing a full diet of Dr. Kweporiuasnedriur 25 times a day.
By then I will be ready for the funny farm and MQ won't have to worry about me working, I will be on Disability due to being insane.
Saving Keystrokes
I did just purchase this book and think it has substantial advice/ideas and with a little reprogramming of my brain I think it will pay off greatly in the long run. I don't see how a line count can't be increased with using the short cuts shared in the book. I'm not disappointed with the book.
Thank you for saving my sanity ;-D
I think I'll check this out - sounds interesting. I really appreciate all the information you enclosed. Thank you!
daylight ??saving??
How exactly does it save daylight? I recently moved from AZ which is one of the few places smart enough not to go along with that nonsense, and it's about the only thing I miss from AZ now that it's been californicated to death. When DS first became national an AZ legislator summed it up well - "all we need in the summer is more daylight/heat".
They don't have set rules for saving
I've never had to set rules to get them to save money. My kids generally save most of what they receive without me telling them to, and they just aren't into shopping and spending money.
I assume they've learned from my example because I'm pretty good with money myself and don't spend extravagantly.
Saving files
I have my wav files save to a folder I have named for the company I work from as a subfolder in My Documents.
Saving sent emails,,sm
saving sent emails may sound like a good idea, but that is taking up storage space in the email box. I don't know how much quota your email service provides, but mine is not that much, and I have business class. Your sent box is counted as part of your quota, as well, so it would not be advisable to store a months worth of sent emails, particularly with attached files. perhaps she should look into using an FTP site where you could store the files in My Documents and then just send via ftp, which is a whole lot faster than email and it is encrypted for transfer. suggest it to her. and then start charging her for time spent resending files. That is her job, not yours. my boss occasionally will ask for an individual file to be resent, but never a whole months worth. maybe you should also start looking for different employment. I could not work for someone who got mad at me for something she did. sorry. JMO.
Saving Keystrokes
I probably don't type as fast as most of you, but our company set a standard of 160 lph, and said that the national average is 175. Since adding shortcut keystrokes, I have gotten my production counts up to an average of 179 now. I got a lot of this information from you girls - reading your comments, and now have just gotten the book "Saving Keystrokes" as I want to keep adding more. If you add a few each week, you can build up your production. I was at about 130-150, depending upon how the doctors dictated that day - one is much more challenging!
saving grace
being in the military may be your saving grace - from what I have read previously, government jobs like VA mandate FBI checks on transcriptionists doing their accounts. Would assume especially at this time in the world all military personnel would need that protection.
saving macros
You can save onto a disk by going to tools>templates and add-ins - click Add. Browse to find Program files/microsoft office/office 11/macros folder. C Click ok twice then pick tools>macro>macros. Choose support.doc from the bos. In the macros scroll box choose backup click run.
I am saving up for a Mirra. sm
I don't think I could put an Aeron together.
saving your work
What all do you save and for how long do you keep? Do you save the actual dictation or just the transcribed work? When the doctor sends little messages back and forth, how long do you keep that kind of thing? TIA
They will be saving on all overtime, sm
benefit packages such as health insurance, pension, etc., holiday pay, as well as not having worry about vacation coverage and sick time coverage.
Is it worth it to the hospital? I don't know, some seem to do well with outsourcing and others do not. I think it depends on what the standards are of the institution and the people running the department.
In my 25 year experience as an IC and small MTSO, it is my opinion that Community Hospitals are most likely to care more about quality and retaining happy employees. Most of their money comes from endowments and wealthy individual gifts.
Those hospitals eaten up into a Huge Health System are more likely to care about the bottom line only as they are now eating up physician practices, taking them over and making the physicians employees of the health system.
It is difficult for physicians to maintain a private practice because of malpractice insurance rates. So, the health care systems are taking advantage of the situation and getting group rates while taking over the physicians.
Our entire Health System in the USA is going down hill fast. In my opinion, it is a disgrace...
SAVING AUTOCORRECT
How exactly do I save autocorrect. I have sooo many in my old computer and recently purchased a new computer. How do I put all my corrections onto my new computer. Can I use a flash drive or do i have to save it onto a disk. Also, how can i easily save all of my kodak easyshare pictures onto a new computer. Thanks, everyone is always helpful.
SAVING MY DATA
I have an external hard drive and want to save my data from my old computer to my new computer. How exactly do i do that.
saving autocorrect
could someone please explain to me exactly how to save autocorrect. I really am not too computer savy and need very explicit directions. Also, i do not know how to use auto text. Please Help
saving autocorrect
i saved my autocorrect onto my hard drive and want to add this to my laptop. i saved the program on the laptop but how do i save it to autocorrect? Any ideas
saving normal dot
Problem is with some of the proprietary software created by some MTSOs, the normal dot still will not save even when you have the prompt, all you get is a message that normal dot is open elsewhere or some such nonsense, and then you are offered the opportunity to save normal.dot by another name, and even then it still won't save.
I posted earlier an autoclose macro that may solve this problem; however, it probably would be a good idea to also use an autoexit macro as well to cover all bases and I will post both here.
If that does not work for you, I do have another work-around but it is a lot more complicated. You can solve part of the problem by attaching and add-in your own templates, and save your macros and your autotext there instead of normal dot, but autocorrect is saved in normal dot, and you have to save your normal dot to save your autocorrect:
So try these macros; cut and paste into your macro editor:
Sub AutoClose()
On Error GoTo ErrorHandler:
If NormalTemplate.Saved = False Then NormalTemplate.Save
MSGBOX "Normal template is saved
Exit Sub
ErrorHandler:
MSGBOX "Normal template is not saved
End Sub
Sub AutoExit()
On Error GoTo ErrorHandler:
If NormalTemplate.Saved = False Then NormalTemplate.Save
MSGBOX "Normal template is saved
Exit Sub
ErrorHandler:
MSGBOX "Normal template is not saved
End Sub
If everything is saving as it should, then you can just delete the line of code that has the msgbox so that word just closes without having to click okay. Write me if you need some help doing this.
Don't see that you are saving any time,
in fact you are typing more characters for 60 by using sxy and the same for tymg. That is the point of expanders, to save typing time. Using the keypad costs big time in production. Taking your hands off the keyboard is not a way to improve productivity.
school is a saving grace for me
during school I have 9 hours to type and I do it straight through after they leave. I do take some small breaks. I was up to 1600 or 1700 lines last school year at my other job. I am hoping for 2000 this school as an average. I like to be done completely by 4 when they get home and have the rest of the evening to do work around the house, cook dinner and help with homework, baths, hair, blah blah blah. Like I said, can't wait for school to start!!!!
No way! Is saving a little money on gas worth
x
Bull.... it's not about saving money?
States its not about saving money, its about providing service 24 hours. There are plenty of people in other careers who work night shifts, why not MTs? Train people at home!
are you saving your normal.doc each time?
vv
Received one also -- saving my pennies
Got my yesterday in the mail. Thought that they changed their name. And I thought it was personally addressed to me. Don't know how they got my name and my business name as I do not belong to the organization. Anyway gotta get my reservation in by December 20th or so.
Saving autocorrect and macros
I know this has been asked before and I did neglect to write down the responses, but I am wanting to reformat my hard drive, but I want to save any autocorrect and macros I have already saved. how do I do this. I am not able to locate any normal.dot file, so please don't tell me that. I have Windows XP and office 2003. Any techies out there that can help??? Thanks in advance. KS 
Escription- saving work
Hi,
I was wondering if anyone out there who uses Escription can tell me if there is a way to save a document that is not yet completed? Last night we had a planned power down to test the generator (we have one every month) and another MT and I were still in the middle of documents. We just closed down figuring that it would do the autosave but it didn't save anything. My supervisor tells me it only does the save when the computer crashes or the power goes out. When we had Chartscript we could put the document on hold, but with Escription is it either upload it unfinished or lose it? Is there any way to save an unfinshed report?
Thanks
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