Home Contact Us

Serving Over 20,000 US Medical Transcriptionists

Guide for HIPAA PRivacy Rule

Posted By: by Stedman's on 2005-07-10
In Reply to: Who designed the cover for Guide to HIPAA Privacy Rule published by Stedman's? - Annie Rhue

Covers for Stedman's books are designed by the graphic artist who works with them.

Complete Discussion Below:

marks the location of current message within thread

Who designed the cover for Guide to HIPAA Privacy Rule published by Stedman's? - Annie Rhue
- Guide for HIPAA PRivacy Rule - by Stedman's

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

Stedman's Guide to the HIPAA Privacy Rule has one.
nm

Who designed the cover for Guide to HIPAA Privacy Rule published by Stedman's?

The HIPAA Privacy Rule...(sm)

...requires a covered entity to make "reasonable efforts to limit use, disclosure of, and requests for PHI to the minimum necessary to accomplish the intended purpose." The only AHA-approved HIPAA training program, HIPAA Academy, specifically states in its training materials that HIPAA intends that personal information be limited to document headers unless absolutely required I will quote page 4-56:

"In practice, we expect the minimum-necessary requirement to lead to compartmentalization of the medical record so that one portion of the record (the body of the report) may be readily disclosed for one purpose without compromising the privacy of the entire record."

By limiting PHI to headers, reports can easily be redacted of personal information; when the PHI is scattered throughout the reports, this information cannot be redacted.

HIPAA Privacy Rule
http://www.aafp.org/fpm/20021100/35theh.html

Get Steadman's Guid to the HIPAA Privacy Rule
:)

Please cite the HIPAA rule. Thanks
x

all has to do with everyone's right to privacy--sm
and possible identity theft. We are not living *back before politically correct* any long and we need to protect ourselves in ALL areas of our lives, including the privacy of our medical records. Your grandparents' medical records and information are not yours to give away. That is up to them. Perhaps they do not want your child's school knowing all of their information. What if someone at that school happened to know those grandparents, found out about their medical history, and started blabbing it all over the place. This is what medical record privacy is for..to protect those that do not want it divulged to just anyone who asks for it. It may not bother you, but it bothers others, and that should be a protected right. This is just my take on privacy.

Enough with invasion of privacy

Its is all getting so frightening, the invasion by companies into peoples lives. I have worked at nine hospitals, two trans companies on-site, three trans companies at home and never have I had a background check OR drug screen. The policy for drug screening at the hospitals was if you seemed like you were under the influence your boss could request a drug screen but never happened to ME or any of my coworkers. Physical exam, sure I got those when I worked at the hospitals but they paid for the physical exam and they also covered me for insurance. The trans company I work for now does not provide medical coverage or life insurance coverage for statutory employees, so I dont see why they would be concerned about my health status. Lets face it, they are concerned with how much we can pound away each day and that is it. We get paid for what we produce. So under these circumstances, they dont need to be poking their nose IN my background, my urine or my physical body. If it is checking on my experience, well they already did that by talking to previous employers and coworkers and guess I passed the test, as I was hired.

I think they are violating your privacy
I'd check it out on the ALCU web site if you don't find anything regarding that there email them and ask about it... or Google in workplace privacy. I think they are way out of line when it is your personal computer and not theirs. If it's theirs they are within their rights

when privacy direct first came out.....sm

it only cost $2/month extra - today I think it costs $19.95 but to me it's worth it because #1 it cuts all telemarketer calls (and I have been on the Do Not Call list since that began) and I can also take my phone charges off my MTSO business at tax time......

call your phone company and ask them if they offer anything like Privacy Director. *S*

Privacy question.

I do occasional IC work for a provider that I have known a while now. Today i did some work for her and found something that really bothers me. The physician dictates the patient's full name, street address and home phone number in addition to her DOB. Is that HIPPA compliant? I'm sorry folks but I really don't want my street address and phone number available across the internet even if it is "so called" secure. I would like your thoughts.

Privacy standards?
Who actually do you contact to report a breech of privacy standards in this business? I probably should know this by now, but I don't.

No you should not tell. I do believe it is a violation of privacy since you are doing the report.
The guy has to do what he has to do obviously to exist with his sorry self.

the problem is that this is a violation of privacy
Hope you don't think it is okay to have your family members looking in on your computer while you are working!!

Not to make light of pt privacy, but
I type on a 14 inch laptop screen that I must keep about 2 feet away from my face in order to see it. In the course of seeing my laptop, my less than petite frame obscures probably the middle 50% of the screen. On the screen, there are endless lines of text that would be rather meaningless to the average barrista/customer. The patient demographics are obtained via a link on the toolbar. A 'hotkey' is entered throughout the report where the patient name appears and in the preparing-to-send process, these are all replaced with the patient's name. The hospital I type for is 3000 miles away.

I can see where this might be problematic should someone with better vision than I manage to see around my hulking slumped body and see 25% of the text on the left and 25% of the text on the right and know enough about transcription to be able to fill in those rather large blanks on each line (and that doesn't even take into account that most laptops are made to be viewed head-on; side viewing, viewing from above, etc., distort the picture to make it all but illegible). I suppose this could still be problematic if this eagle-eyed contortionist with an intuitive knowledge of medical terminology and knowledge of random software programs to find that demographic button can psychically detect which hospital of the thousands in the country I am working on and happens to have a relative who lives in that very town ready, willing, and eager to spill the beans about Madame X's bunion. Yes, I can see where this is a danger. I guess I should thank my lucky stars that I have not run into either this fellow or chupicabra at my local coffee house.

It does violate privacy or employment laws.
I've posted about it before because there were MTSOs trashing MTs by name on some of the boards. My mother is an HR director, so she's told me what companies legally can and can't divulge about employees or former employees. Companies are not allowed to prevent people from securing employment, or slander/libel them. Personal opinions cannot cloud the reference. They can only confirm or deny the accuracy of certain items, such as employment dates, etc. I think the most judgmental question they can answer is, "Would you rehire this person?" Yes or no.

Correct about breach of privacy and its NOT too late
As others have stressed on this board, both here and under the politics board, you have a voice and have the opportunity to make it heard. I personally have been e-mailing my US and state elected officials at least once a week. At the Women for Democrats website one of their goals is to bring American jobs back to America. http://democrats.senate.gov/checklistforchange/checklist.cfm The credit card processor for my bank, Heartland, recently had a huge breach in their security system. Per our local State Police this theft is way up due to 2 factors (1) Once our private information leaves the US, those entities are NOT governed by US law and there is little they can do about it; (2) the economy as more people are now willing to buy that information. He said the same goes for our medical information. If you do a search for "medical identify theft", there are over 70,000 hits on that, mind you I did it in quotes, so most likely more without it. This was published Jan 2009, so recent, with many links at the end including a US Government report. http://www.fiercehealthit.com/story/report-hhs-must-lead-medical-identity-theft-fight/2009-01-26?utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss&cmp-id=OTC-RSS-FHI0 In the years 2000-2004, I was one of the front runners fighting mortgage servicing fraud (very complex, see MSfraud.org) We were told then that there was "nothing to be done" - well a lot of victims of that fraud banded together and did make a BIG difference. We can too by getting our voices heard, working together as a team and following the many suggestions on this very informative forum at MT Stars.

HIPPA=Health Insurance Privacy and Portability Act
Yes, I saw the ad also and felt it was an insult to offer that line rate for what they wanted from an IC. I put the definition of what the initials HIPPA mean for your benefit.

It is not a breech of privacy to send unencrpyted email...

the healthcare provider , i.e. the doc, establishes the standards for protecting privacy of records. You (or your service) is the Business Associate who COMPLIES with whatever standards the doctor sets. Some docs send files by email, some want encryption. Hospitals, obviously, generally do more locking down on their stuff, as they are more open to lawsuits. All YOU have to do to be HIPAA compliant is to COMPLY witih the standards the doc sets. It is not up to you to set them. Also what you and everyone else forgets about HIPAA is it is a two part process. Not only does the patient's medical records have to be disclosed BUT the patient must also suffer a loss because of the disclosure. So even if your doc stands out on the street and tells passers-by about Mrs. So and So and her athlete's foot, unless she incurs a loss from that, it's not a HIPAA violation. Remember this whole thing came about because a pharmacy tech went home and told her high school son that another classmate's father was coming in for HIV drugs...get the picture? Something private was disclosed inappropriately and that's how the girl found out her father was HIV positive.

Work privacy - discussing one employee in hearing of another
I posted a question on the legal board because it is a legal question about workplace privacy and I thought somebody there might know, but please check it if you know anything about laws or agencies that protect worker privacy.

Don't think the worker privacy acts cover discussions such as this...
more likely they cover things like credit reports, evaluations, etc. It's rude to discuss in front of others, but not illegal...of course, in the US you can sue for anything.

It is against California Privacy Laws, and the patient can sue from what I read.
They (companies that outsource) are probably lining the pockets of the politicians!

Hospital fined for breach of octuplet mom's privacy

http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/05/15/octuplet.mom.hospital/index.html

LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- The hospital where a California woman gave birth to octuplets in January has been fined $250,000 by the state because nearly two dozen medical workers, including doctors, illegally viewed her medical records, according to state health officials.

Nadya Suleman was the subject of controversy after giving birth to octuplets in January.

Kaiser Permanente's Bellflower hospital, where Nadya Suleman's eight babies were born, revealed in March that 15 employees lost their jobs and eight others were disciplined for improperly accessing her computerized medical records.

There was no evidence that information from the medical files was leaked to the news media, which has intensely covered Suleman's story, according to Kathleen Billingsley, deputy director of the California Public Health Department's Center for Health Care Quality.

Six of the privacy breaches happened at other Kaiser Permanente facilities, which are linked into the same computer system housing medical records.

Suleman -- already a single mother with six children -- gave birth to octuplets conceived through in vitro fertilization, fueling controversy. News of her collecting public assistance for some of her children outraged many taxpayers.

Rod is a guide, not a weapon.

Please read the following if you think spanking is okay.

Spanking can cause a sensitive child grave psychological damage. You probably won't even see it, and the child may never tell anyone or even recognize what it is. Please, please, if you insist on spanking your child, at least give that child an outlet for the anger that follows. When I child is forced to feel anger/shame directed at the person(s) they depend on above all others, and then to suppress that anger, it can cause significant, lifelong problems in his/her ability to have healthy relationships.

Another reason to reconsider spanking is the prevalence in today's society of spanking being related to sex - it's all over the place, and unless your kids watch no TV, no movies, read no magazines, and have no access to computers, they are eventually going to come across this. It can be very confusing, very upsetting.

From: http://www.stophitting.com/religion/faithMaterial.php

All of the biblical quotations advocating corporal punishment of children are taken from the book of Proverbs in the King James Version of the Bible. They were written by King Solomon, and presumably reflected his parenting beliefs with respect to his own son.

Proverbs 13:24
"He that spareth his rod hateth his son; but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes (diligently)."

Proverbs 19:18
"Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying."

Proverbs 22:15
"Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him."

Proverbs 23:13
"Withhold no correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die."

Proverbs 23:14
"Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell (Shoel)."

Proverbs 29:15
"The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame."

The Bible itself records the negative effect of Solomon's parenting style on his son, Rehoboam. He became a widely hated ruler after his father's death and had to leave to avoid assassination by his own people.

What would Jesus do?

If you take the Bible seriously, you have to notice Jesus' attitude toward children. It was wise, loving, and filled with compassion. Even when anxious adults wanted to shoo the children away, Jesus rebuked the adults. "Of such," he said, "is the kingdom of heaven." Given this attitude, it's hard to conceive of Jesus hitting a child on any occasion or for any reason. It's simply not consistent with what he taught. If Jesus wouldn't hit a child, why would we? SpankOut Day is dedicated to exploring alternate means of discipline. We believe that Jesus would approve. A simple slogan for Christians to consider might be this: the next time you are tempted to hit a child, ask yourself "What would Jesus do?" Then go and do likewise.
Reverend Dr. Thomas E. Sagendorf, Senior Pastor
Bexley United Methodist Church, Bexley, Ohio

Wisdom from the Talmud

Many people who strike their children do so not because they are evil or mean, but because they believe they are doing God's will. They often cite the phrase in Proverbs: "He who spares the rod hates his son." The problem is that pulling one line out of the Bible ignores the rest of the text. Much of the Book of Proverbs is filled with good counsel on how to be a better person. In Chapter 22 we are taught, "Train a child in the way he should behave, and even when he is old, he will not depart from it." Isn't it possible that the rod Proverbs refers to is to be used to point to lessons on the wall? When we fail to properly educate our children, we not only spoil them, we show them the opposite of love. We must use the rod to point out right from wrong, not to beat our children into submission the way slaves have been beaten throughout history. Even the Talmud says, "If you must strike a child, do so only with a shoelace." When taken in its entirety, Judaism can hardly sanction the use of violence against children. Even the famous sentence in Deuteronomy to stone to death the stubborn and rebellious son, was, according to the Talmud, never carried out. Instead, while discipline was and still is crucial for raising healthy children, striking a child need never occur. The mix of discipline and love is the recipe for a good future for our sons and daughters. The Talmud suggests: "A child should be pushed aside with the left hand, and drawn closer with the right hand."
Rabbi Larry Kaplan
Temple Israel, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania

The Law or the Spirit?

In the book Spare the Child, Philip Greven suggests that our readiness as fathers to strike our sons explains why we men grow up so ready not only to tolerate but to perpetrate violence in our culture. A boy picks up his moral cues from Dad: "Dad hits me when he doesn't like what I have done. Therefore, men resolve differences by violence. If Dad did it, it's OK. I can hit people myself, especially when I think they've done wrong and therefore deserve it." Often a boy who has been spanked won't respond later to love, but only to more spanking. The Law, that is, has supplanted the Spirit within him. God's story of Israel says clearly that a son lost in the Law can be restored to appreciate and respond to a relationship with the Father only though crucifixion. In this case, that might mean the father's dying to his pride and asking the child's forgiveness, then begging Jesus to show him whatever brokenness in himself has led him to resort to the Law and how to become hospitable again to his Spirit's rule.
Reverend Gordon Dalbey, Santa Barbara, CA
Author of Fight Like a Man and leader in the Christian men's movement
Quoted with permission from Fight Like a Man

Also see: http://www.nospank.net/toc.htm

Review guide...sm
It was my experience that the dictation portion was exceedingly easy, not nearly like the "snippets" on the CD that comes with the book. Pay more attention to the rest of the book.

This is actually according to the AMA style guide
AHDI and JCAHO are just following the AMA.

Itype guide
Try Alt-L for voice control -- I have the manual but since it is in PDF format, cannot get it to copy to email or as an attachment. But if you are starting with FN, you should be able to call one of the techs as well to help you :)

Does anyone know? I am using the CMT Review Guide...
to study for the CMT exam. There are practice tests on the CD. What is considered a passing grade for the CMT? I can't find this info anywhere online, or in the guide. Thanks!

Actually, there is another style guide for MTs (sm)
Medical Transcription Guide: Do's and Don'ts by Marcy O. Diehl ... it differs regarding some style advice so one wouldn't be 100% BOS compliant, but it's a good guide, nonetheless.

maybe it's just a pure and simple invasion of privacy the poster feels they want to protect.
if you do your job, who cares if poster was released from prison. weren't companies hiring prisoners to do MT anyway and weren't they doing credit card customer service?

OpEd on Medical Records Privacy - Front Page of Yahoo
Thought this was interesting, as it pertains to us. On one hand, it could affect our ability to do our jobs at home. On the other, it could really crack down on medical information being sent to India.

--

http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/yblevins

By Sue A. Blevins Tue Aug 26, 4:00 AM ET

Washington - How would you feel about your personal health information flowing freely over the Internet between public health officials, healthcare providers, insurance and data clearinghouse companies, and others � without your permission?
ADVERTISEMENT

If this doesn't sound like a good idea, it's time to become informed about federal health privacy law.

Today, when Americans visit a healthcare provider for services (including dental and eye exams), they receive a form with a title such as "Notification of Privacy Rights." Many assume that signing the form guarantees that personal information won't be shared with third parties. But the form offers no such guarantees. And neither does federal law.

In fact, the privacy rule established under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) legally permits healthcare providers to share patients' information with more than 600,000 health- and data-related entities � without a patient's consent. Yet the notification form doesn't clearly explain this.

Individuals control their information when they give consent; they don't with notification. When you sign a notification form, all you are doing is acknowledging its receipt. The HIPAA notification form offers no control over who sees your information and instead just tells you about some of the entities that can access your information, rather than asking for your permission.

Consequently, many physicians and other healthcare providers are urging Congress to strengthen privacy rights. They know firsthand that the HIPAA rule fails to ensure true confidentiality.

"...[T]he regulations under [HIPAA], which were intended to extend patient privacy as we moved from a paper-based system of medical records to a digital system, are a sham. HIPAA allows the routine release of personal health information without patient consent or knowledge, and even over a patient's objection�" stresses Dr. Janis G. Chester, president of the American Association of Practicing Psychiatrists.

As the ACLU put it, "HIPAA has so many medical privacy loopholes, it makes Swiss cheese look solid." The organization also points out that under existing federal regulations, the term "privacy" hasn't been well defined. The ACLU is urging Congress to define medical privacy as "patient control of electronic medical records."

Moreover, these organizations and others are lobbying for privacy amendments to key health Internet-technology (HIT) bills currently being considered in Congress.

Lack of privacy has serious consequences. It fosters making personal health information a commodity that businesses sell and trade in the marketplace, notes ACLU. Weak privacy rights also interfere with doctor-patient relationships. When drafting the HIPAA privacy rule, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) noted that "Privacy violations reduce consumers' trust in the healthcare system and institutions that serve them." The ACLU noted recently that at least one third of Americans are not sharing their complete personal medical histories because they feel their privacy will be weakened in the name of efficiency. Additionally, without strong privacy rights, individuals can't take steps to adequately protect themselves from bad, lost, stolen, or misused data.

Meanwhile, more and more personal data is being collected during routine healthcare visits, including information about marital and sexual matters. A married woman (wedded for over 30 years) and mother of two adult children, said she was appalled when asked during a routine visit if she preferred men or women. She stressed that while she "has nothing to hide," she doesn't think it's anyone's business what her sexual preference is or when her first sexual encounter was (which is often asked during exams).

What's more, it is becoming easier to share healthcare information with just a click of a mouse. As HHS has noted, "Until recently, health information was recorded and maintained on paper and stored in the offices of community-based physicians, nurses, hospitals, and other healthcare professionals and institutions.... Today, however, more and more health care providers, plans, and others are utilizing electronic means of storing and transmitting health information�. In a matter of seconds, a person's most profoundly private information can be shared with hundreds, thousands, even millions of individuals and organizations at a time."

Do Americans really want the intimate details of their lives and families shared so easily without their consent? If not, they need to urge Congress to establish stronger privacy rights. Tinkering with HIPAA won't do it. That would just keep a lot of people busy rewriting regulations that don't guarantee privacy. Rather, Congress needs to pass a new law that defines "privacy" and upholds the precious ethic of consent. The new law should guarantee individuals' freedom to decide whether to be part of electronic medical-record and genetic databases for years to come.

� Sue A. Blevins is president of the Institute for Health Freedom in Washington.

The rod should be a guide, a staff, not a weapon.

Please reaad the following if you think spanking is okay.

From: http://www.stophitting.com/religion/faithMaterial.php

Proverbs 13:24
"He that spareth his rod hateth his son; but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes (diligently)."

Proverbs 19:18
"Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying."

Proverbs 22:15
"Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him."

Proverbs 23:13
"Withhold no correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die."

Proverbs 23:14
"Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell (Shoel)."

Proverbs 29:15
"The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame."

What would Jesus do?

Wisdom from the Talmud

The Law or the Spirit?

Also see: http://www.nospank.net/toc.htm

The guide is one of the things I would miss.

More than anything I miss "info" with cable. When watching at my mom's there is no way to pull up and see what movie/show you are watching, how long it will be on, etc. I can see where that would be confusing for an older person. Of course your FIL deserves to decide what he wants, but even with Directv you can get a simpler remote and just surf the channels, avoiding the guide and such all together. We deleted the channels that we don't have so that they just don't show up when surfing, or even in the guide. It is fairly easy to edit them out, and then put them back in later if you need or want to.

I'll never buy another car without using Consumer's Guide!

You can purchase the CMT Review Guide-sm

from Stedman's. The title is "The CMT Reveiw Guide." This book was just released last year (2005) and was developed for the current version of the CMT exam. You might also want to consider a CMT Study Group. Contact the nearest chapter of AAMT as they do have CMT Study Groups. I know that the Online Chapter of AAMT is about to start a study group that will complete in time to take the CMT in the end of July/begining of August. Oak Horizons also offers and online CMT Prep Course which I have heard is really good. You can get more info on the Oak Horizons class on www.aamt.org and do a search for CMT prep course. For more info on the OCAAMT Study Group contact certconnector@aamtonline.org.

Please tell me where you found this in the style guide. sm
I don't find anything like that in the BOS 2. Thank you.

Guide to Microsoft Word
I have this book and I think it is well worth its price!! It gives many short cuts that have helped me immensely in my production. I actually got this book because I was still using WP5.1 and everyone was using/asking for Word. I had always fought with Word even after taking a college course in Word. I ended up using this book to help transfer all my private clients to Word and I think I am back up to, maybe even surpassing, my production rate. I hope this helps you.

I found the study guide (sm)

was good with examples on the test and covered all areas. However, the dictation CD probably has caused many a heart attack. None of the dictations were as bad as that thing!

I don't really know how you can study too much for the beast besides brushing up on the ol' BOS. The first part was a stinker, though.

Thanks, by the way!

I checked my Shorthand How-To Guide & it says
that the problem may be that ShortHand is expanding text too fast for your word processor to keep up. It says to try decreasing the delay b/w key strokes. Suggestions are 10 msec every 1 Keystrokes for newer computers and if that doesn't work then try 100 msec (or higher) for every 1 keystroke. To change the speed, you will need to go into preferences and tab #1 (Operation). It also says programs running in the background (timers, automatic e-mail notifiers, etc.) can cause SH to pause.

BOS is just a style guide... do what the customer wants! sm
If my client does not have a preference I go by BOS. If they do state a preference I do what they want. If I feel the *BOS* way is better for proper interpretation of the report, I will advise that, but otherwise what they say is golden.

while in a document, help and then user guide
it'll open a whole website of indexes and instructions... what are you having trouble with?

MT Guide to Microsoft word

How many of you have used this or are using it? I never heard of it before and was wondering if it was worth the investment.

Hmm, looking at the candidate guide I see that is contradictory.
The candidate guide states:

"Two years of transcription experience in acute care-type setting or equivalent experience in a multispecialty
environment are required to take the CMT certification examination."

What I want to know is how they check? What do they consider equivalent experience? At any rate, I think the wording a bit ambiguous. An organization that deals with languages specialists should be able to do better. JMHO.

Can somewhat please guide me as to how to pay Social Security, SM

federal and state taxes as an IC? I am new to this and dont know the first thing about it. How do I get vouchers for the taxes and how do I pay the SS...thank you!

The Happy Slob's Guide to Housecleaning

I totally know what you mean! I have a free newsletter filled with cleaning ideas and tips - it's called the Happy Slob Gazette. It's for laid back (and busy) people like us. Please drop by if you have time -- I have this system I created where it only takes three steps to clean your home. You'll love it!
http://www.happyslob.com

Hugs,
Christina

Guide to Male and Femal English...
THE MANS GUIDE TO FEMALE ENGLISH

We need = I want

It's your decision = The correct decision should be obvious by now

Do what you want = You'll pay for this later

We need to talk = I need to complain

Sure... go ahead = I don't want you to

I'm not upset = Of course I'm upset, you moron!

You're ... so manly = You need a shave and you sweat a lot

You're certainly attentive tonight = Is sex all you ever think about?

I'm not emotional! And I'm not overreacting! = I've got my period

Be romantic, turn out the lights = I have flabby thighs

This kitchen is so inconvenient = I want a new house

I want new curtains = and carpeting, and furniture, and wallpaper.....

I need wedding shoes = the other 40 pairs are the wrong shade of white

Hang the picture there = NO, I mean hang it there!

I heard a noise = I noticed you were almost asleep

Do you love me? = I'm going to ask for something expensive

How much do you love me? = I did something today you're really not going to like

I'll be ready in a minute = Kick off your shoes and find a good game on T.V.

Is my butt fat? = Tell me I'm beautiful

You have to learn to communicate = Just agree with me

Are you listening to me!? = [Too late, you're dead.]

Yes = No

No = No

Maybe = No

I'm sorry = You'll be sorry

Do you like this recipe? = It's easy to fix, so you'd better get used to it

Was that the baby?= Why don't you get out of bed and walk him until he goes to sleep

I'm not yelling! = Yes I am yelling because I think this is important

All we're going to buy is a soap dish = It goes without saying that we're stopping at the cosmetics department, the shoe department, I need to look at a few new purses, and those pink sheets would look great in the bedroom and did you bring your checkbook?

*****************************
THE ANSWER TO "WHAT'S WRONG?"
*****************************

The same old thing = Nothing

Nothing = Everything

Everything = My PMS is acting up

Nothing, really = It's just that you're such a pain the butt

I don't want to talk about it = Go away, I'm still building up steam

----------------------------------------------------------
THE WOMEN'S GUIDE TO MEN'S ENGLISH:
----------------------------------------------------------

"I'm hungry" = I'm hungry

"I'm sleepy" = I'm sleepy

"I'm tired" = I'm tired

"Do you want to go to a movie?" = I'd eventually like to have sex with you

"Can I take you out to dinner?" = I'd eventually like to have sex with you

"Can I call you sometime?" = I'd eventually like to have sex with you

"May I have this dance?" = I'd eventually like to have sex with you

"Nice dress!" = Nice cleavage!

"You look tense, let me give you a massage." = I want to fondle you

"What's wrong?" = I don't see why you are making such a big deal out of this

"What's wrong?" = What meaningless self-inflicted psychological trauma are you going through now?

"What's wrong?" = I guess sex tonight is out of the question

"I'm bored" = Do you want to have sex?

"I love you" = Let's have sex now

"I love you, too" = Okay, I said it...we'd better have sex now!

"Yes, I like the way you cut your hair" = I liked it better before

"Yes, I like the way you cut your hair" = $50 and it doesn't look that much different!

"Let's talk" = I am trying to impress you by showing that I am a deep person and maybe then you'd like to have sex with me

"Will you marry me?" = I want to make it illegal for you to have sex with other guys

"I like that one better" (while shopping) = Pick any freakin' dress and let's go home!

State abbreviations. Is there some style guide in LT or MT

where they don't use the postal code standard of two caps; i.e. CA instead of CA for California?

I immediately delete any application that comes to me if it contains gross error. I'm just blown away when I see MTs and LTs with 5+ years of experience who use the "Ca" formatting. Before I blast away this latest applicant, I thought I'd stop to check if there's something out there that I'm unaware of. Out of the 12+ resumes I'm getting a day lately, at least two will contain this error so now I'm questioning myself.

The CMT Review Guide is great and geared
toward the current CMT test. Published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, publisher of Stedman's. I believe you can buy it from them, or from AAMT. Good luck!

AAMT Style Guide!!! (Phooey)

Is there a "quick" style guide available on the net? I don't have time to pick up an AAMT Book of Style before I test. I've done this for 30+ years and have never been corrected by the physicians but this national company wants things done in the AAMT standard. Every physician I've ever transcribed for asked me NOT to change a thing and AAMT style be dam--d. But, nationals have their own way of doing things (testing!) and while I certainly know what I'm doing - I'm not sure that I'll do it the "AAMT way". So, any help you can give me is appreciated!

CMT review guide. I'm glad I read it.
Good luck!

Stedman's sells a study guide. NM
x