I've used both. Prefer Shorthand for being able to hold entire reports in an abbrvn. nm
Posted By: wanderer on 2006-01-03
In Reply to: Which do you prefer, Shortcut or Shorthand (sm) - opinions please
s
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I have entire reports in SC, though not many. Is it limited? nm
x
Do they think you will hold reports for
lol
Do you relisten to your entire reports after you finish each one or how do you
edit your work before you send it in. Do you reread each one. Sometimes I think you can miss a word if you dont but not sure how to edit before sending without making minimum wage.
Which do you prefer, Shortcut or Shorthand (sm)
I've always used Expanders already built in to program, but making a change and need to purchase an Expander (Word-based platform). So I don't know much. Please enlighten me. Which do you prefer?
Thanks, guys :-)
I prefer short reports. With the exception of a couple of
the most wonderful dictators (who really should give lessons on dictating) I find that long reports make me sleepy and looking for any excuse to get up. I type in batches and don't have to save each report individually so having a bunch of reports doesn't add a lot of time. I have found too that most of the short reports (I do Ops/procedures) are things that I have lots of normals/macros for so it goes really fast.
I've always had to hold it down
And I've been transcribing since 1974. I think you'll get used to it pretty quickly. I once had to work with a machine where it wouldn't back up a word or two every time I stopped the dictation - It made me nuts at first, but I soon didn't even notice it.
I've never been fired by anyone in my entire life.
I hate MQ and I'm happy to tell everyone why. However, every MT is different and every MTSO is different. What works for me may not work for someone else. I found my fit elsewhere.
You've missed the entire point!
Duh! It's the docs who don't want to pay my dear. You're really expecting to get blood out of a turnip, aren't you? Quit blaming the MTSOs and look at the entity who's calling the shots - The doctors/clinics who hire the MTSO.
I've tried Dell, which is what I prefer. sm
The reps have told me that all home desktop models now come with Vista. Period. I even asked if I could purchase one with XP if I paid extra and received a negative response. :(
Get samples of the doc's work, if you can, and make each doc's op into a shortcut/abbrvn. The
s
In 12 years of MT'ing I've never re-read an entire chart. Edit/read as I type. nm
x
I think I've seen some of your reports...
 Just kidding you. I don't see a problem with a glass. Now a bottle would be another story.
if you've seen some VR reports
it's not just a matter of adding some punctuation and a wrong word or two. Many times what comes through is a largely bunch of nonsense, with many completely wrong terms. Someone who is not an MT could not correct/edit these reports.
I've typed such reports
Well not celebrities so to speak, but I've typed reports where they state the patient is being seen under an alias name right at the beginning of their dictation and the alias name is the one in the ADT screens. They deserve some privacy and still abide by HIPAA like the rest of us.
I've never used Shorthand (sm)
but normally ST is on the tool bar. Someone from another MT board was kind enough to list the command functions so I can add words, so maybe that will help.
I've tried most, and my favorite is Shorthand. nm
x
I've typed LOTS of reports on trampoline injuries
Some of them VERY severe, including head injuries when the person bounced off the trampoline and landed on his/her head.
ANYTHING can be dangerous if you aren't careful. Way back in the disco era, I typed a report on a guy who had fractures of ALL FIVE metatarsals - from dancing!! 
ShortHand gets my vote. I've been using it for years...sm
And you can add canned text into your expander, which really boosts production.
I've only been on it a short time but love it - I use Shorthand, though with it.
nm
Ask the ShortHand techs. They've always responded back very promptly to my
s
The MR reports were being filed. Referring physicians/medical care providers reports were not.
This is a hospital radiology department with in-house MTs and a clerk who is in charge of the report distribution.
The two sentence normal reports will balance out the 3 page reports.
I am Wendy too
SpeedType and Shorthand are the exact same program. Shorthand is lots cheaper and also has a trial.
.
{@KEY BkSp}-pack-per-year is for Shorthand. Using the semicolon works with both Shorthand and
;yo = -year-old
;py= -pack-year
etc...
Shorthand and SpeedType are exact same program. Shorthand will cost you lots less.
you can import your autocorrect into Shorthand.
I took shorthand too. But it sure comes in helpful for my expanders. I view words in shorthand for
i did use shorthand once in a job but i was so nervous the "boss" took pity and dictated the report on dictaphone.
If it is Shorthand, save the SPF file to a disk, then if you buy Shorthand yourself....
you can just drop the SPF file into it. That is not dishonest since you are the one who put the macros in. I am sure is it is another Expander there is a way to save the macro file and then drop it in the expander you buy on your own.
I use EXText with my current job and I've used at a couple of other jobs I've had. I've ne
used DocQscribe, but I have used Meditech, Cerner, Vianeta, the Precyse platform (I can't remember the name), Dolbey, and Lanier platform I think was called Cequence (?).
Out of all the different platforms I have typed on, I have liked EXText the best. In my opinion, it's very user friendly, easy to learn, and I really like ESP which is the built in abbreviation expander. Plus it is very easy to create your own normals which I love. My fingers literally never leave the keyboard because there are macro keys for everything. You can use your mouse if you prefer or learn the function macros. I love it. I think I'm more productive on EXText than with any other platform.
here's the entire MQ article
Press Release Source: Medquist Inc.
MedQuist Announces Preliminary, Partial and Unaudited Financial Results
Friday August 19, 5:14 pm ET
MT. LAUREL, N.J., Aug. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- MedQuist Inc. (Pink Sheets: MEDQ - News) announced today certain preliminary, partial and unaudited financial results. Once the Company completes the financial assessment and review of its billing practices disclosed in the Company's previous filings with the SEC, the Company expects that an independent registered public accounting firm will review and/or audit the Company's financial statements, as appropriate. While, at this time, the Company cannot estimate the total costs of (i) the billing review, (ii) defense of the class action matters, (iii) the SEC investigation, and (iv) compliance with the Department of Justice investigation, all of which have been previously disclosed in either the Company's filings with the SEC or the Company's press releases, the costs incurred to date by the Company in connection with the foregoing have been included in the results set forth below. Because the completion of the billing review and resolution of the litigation and governmental investigatory matters are pending, the Company is not certain whether any changes to the accounting treatment of any component of its consolidated financial statements will be required and, if any changes are necessary, whether any such changes would have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements. Accordingly, the financial information set forth below is preliminary, unaudited, and subject to change based on the completion of the financial assessment and review of the Company's billing practices and the completion of the review and/or audit of its financial statements, as appropriate.
ADVERTISEMENT
The information set forth below is derived from the Company's internal books and records. The Company cautions investors not to place undue reliance on the information presented below. As a result of the developments described above and in the Company's previous SEC filings, the Company's financial statements have not been audited or reviewed by an independent registered accounting firm. The information contained in this press release also has not been audited or reviewed by an independent registered accounting firm. Such information is not a substitute for the information required to be reported in the Company's Forms 10-K and Forms 10-Q that have not yet been filed. There can be no assurance that the results of the billing review, and resolution of the litigation and governmental investigatory matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company's revenue, results of operations and financial condition.
MedQuist Inc. - Preliminary and Unaudited Financial Information (in
millions)
Years Ended
12/31/2002 12/31/2003 12/31/2004
Revenue (1) $486 $490 $456
Operating income (1) 71 61 23
Cash (3) 103 162 196
Debt (3) <0.1 <0.1 <0.1
Quarters Ended
12/31/03 3/31/04 6/30/04 9/30/04 12/31/04 3/31/05 6/30/05
Revenue (2) $121 $118 $114 $113 $112 $108 $106
Operating
income (2) 13 13 7 6 (3) (2) (6)
Cash (3) 162 180 183 192 196 199 198
Debt (3) <0.1 <0.1 <0.1 <0.1 <0.1 <0.1 -
Notes:
(1) Information presented for the twelve months ended
(2) Information presented for the three months ended
(3) Information presented as of the date
Twelve months ended December 31, 2003
Revenues:
Preliminary, unaudited results indicate that the Company's revenue increased from approximately $486 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2002 to approximately $490 million for the comparable 2003 period. The increase was largely the result of twelve months of Lanier operations being reflected in 2003 results as compared to six months of Lanier operations being reflected in 2002 results, as the acquisition of Lanier Healthcare LLC took place on July 1, 2002, largely offset by transcription service volume declines as well as declining pricing from both new and existing transcription clients.
Operating Income:
Preliminary, unaudited results indicate that operating income declined from approximately $71 million, for the twelve months ended December 31, 2002 to approximately $61 million for the comparable 2003 period. The decline in operating income is largely the result of transcription service volume and rate declines, partially offset by the result of twelve months of Lanier operations being reflected in 2003 results as compared to six months of Lanier operations being reflected in 2002 results, as the acquisition of Lanier Healthcare LLC took place on July 1, 2002.
Balance Sheet Highlights:
At December 31, 2003 the Company had $162 million in cash and cash equivalents. At December 31, 2003, the Company had less than $100 thousand in total debt. Other than minimal exercises of stock options, there were no additional issuances of capital stock or other securities for the twelve month period ended December 31, 2003.
Twelve months ended December 31, 2004
Revenues:
Preliminary, unaudited results indicate that the Company's revenue decreased from approximately $490 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2003 to approximately $456 million for the comparable 2004 period. The decline in revenues includes the impact of decreasing transcription service volume from existing and lost clients, partially offset by new clients, as well as the impact of pricing declines attributable to a competitive pricing environment. Additionally, the Company has recognized declines in revenue from its front-end speech recognition products as it transitioned from TalkStation to SpeechQ for Radiology.
Operating Income:
Preliminary, unaudited results indicate that operating income declined from approximately $61 million, for the twelve months ended December 31, 2003 to approximately $23 million for the comparable 2004 period. The decline in operating income includes: 1) the impact of approximately $11 million in costs incurred in 2004 related to the ongoing billing investigation and associated litigation, 2) approximately $4 million in costs associated with separation and replacement of the Company's management team, including members at the executive level and 3) approximately $3 million associated with the write-off of intangible assets associated with products no longer being offered. In addition, the base business, as described above in the Revenues section, experienced a decline in transcription service volume from existing and lost clients and a decline in transcription service rates charged to customers. The impact of the revenue decline was partially offset by several cost saving initiatives including reductions in telecommunications costs, office consolidations and associated staff reductions.
Balance Sheet Highlights:
At December 31, 2004 the Company had $196 million in cash and cash equivalents. At December 31, 2004, the Company had less than $100 thousand in total debt. Other than minimal exercises of stock options, there were no additional issuances of capital stock or other securities for the twelve month period ended December 31, 2004.
Six Months ended June 30, 2005
Revenues:
Preliminary, unaudited results indicate that the Company's revenue decreased from approximately $232 million for the six months ended June 30, 2004 to approximately $213 million for the comparable 2005 period. The decline in revenues includes the impact of the result of reductions in contracted transcription service rates from existing clients, further affected by new transcription business service volume replacing lost transcription service volume at a lower average price. Management expects these pricing pressures to continue and for revenue in the second half of 2005 to decline from first half levels.
Operating Income:
Preliminary, unaudited results indicate that operating income declined from approximately $20 million for the six months ended June 30, 2004 to an operating loss of approximately $8 million for the comparable 2005 period. Operating income includes 1) approximately $16 million in costs incurred in 2005 related to the ongoing billing investigation and associated litigation, which represents an increase of approximately $11 million over similar costs incurred for the comparable time period in 2004 and 2) approximately $3 million in costs associated with separation and replacement of the Company's management team, including members at the executive level, which represents and increase of approximately $2 million over similar costs incurred for the comparable time period in 2004. In addition, the base business, as described above in the Revenues section experienced a decline in transcription service rates charged to customers. The impact of the revenue decline was partially offset by several cost saving initiatives including reductions in telecommunications costs, office consolidations and associated staff reductions. The Company continues to strive for improved profitability through service and technology enhancement initiatives, along with other cost reductions.
Three months ended June 30, 2005
Revenues:
Preliminary, unaudited results indicate that the Company's revenue decreased from approximately $114 million for the three months ended June 30, 2004 to approximately $106 million for the comparable 2005 period. The decline in revenues includes the impact of the result of reductions in contracted transcription service rates from existing clients, further affected by new transcription business service volume replacing lost transcription service volume at a lower average price. As noted above, management expects these pricing pressures to continue and for revenue in the second half of 2005 to decline from first half levels.
Operating Income:
Preliminary results indicate that operating income declined from approximately $7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2004 to an operating loss of approximately $6 million for the comparable 2005 period. Operating income includes 1) approximately $9.5 million in costs incurred in 2005 related to the ongoing billing investigation and associated litigation, which represents an increase of approximately $5.5 million over similar costs incurred for the comparable time period in 2004 and 2) $1 million in costs associated with separation and replacement of the Company's management team, including members at the executive level. In addition, the base business, as described above in the Revenues section experienced a decline in transcription service rates charged to customers. The impact of the revenue decline was partially offset by several cost saving initiatives including reductions in telecommunications costs, office consolidations and associated staff reductions. The Company continues to strive for improved profitability through service and technology enhancement initiatives, along with other cost reductions.
Balance Sheet Highlights:
At June 30, 2005, the Company had $198 million in cash and cash equivalents and no debt. There were no additional issuances of capital stock or other securities for the six month period ended June 30, 2005.
About MedQuist:
MedQuist, a member of the Philips Group of Companies, is a leading provider of electronic medical transcription, health information and document management products and services. MedQuist provides document workflow management, digital dictation, speech recognition, mobile dictation devices, Web-based transcription, electronic signature, medical coding products and outsourcing services.
Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:
Some of the statements in this Press Release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are not historical facts but rather are based on the Company's current expectations, estimates and projections regarding the Company's business, operations and other factors relating thereto. Words such as "may," "will," "could," "would," "should," "anticipate," "predict," "potential," "continue," "expects," "intends," "plans," "projects," "believes," "estimates" and similar expressions are used to identify these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this Press Release include, without limitation, statements about the Company's results of operations and financial condition. These statements are only predictions and as such are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions as to future events of the Company's future financial performance that may not prove to be accurate. Actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecast in these forward-looking statements. As a result, these statements speak only as of the date they were made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The Company's actual results may differ from the forward-looking statements for many reasons, including any direct or indirect impact of the matters disclosed in the Form 12b-25 filed by the Company on August 19, 2005 on the Company's operating results or financial condition; any continuation of pricing pressures and declining billing rates; difficulties relating to the implementation of management changes throughout the Company; and the outcome of pending and future legal and regulatory proceedings and investigations.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: MedQuist Inc.
Even when they deduct your entire (sm)
report if you make one error that QA doesn't catch and the hospital does?
Seems to me like QA should get dinged, not the MT.
TRS is your typical admin-heavy, treat the MT like a number company, made more offensive by their assumption that everyone in America is "Christian" and will adore prayer requests and other off-topic crap on the company email.
I think this entire season is going to be -
while he is in the hospital and how the business continues without him. We won't know if he makes it until the last episode. Gotta feelin' he won't. The show will die with him. - 
been this way my entire life ....N/M
Fox is going to show the entire
fourth season this summer. Two episodes back-to-back every Tuesday night. Maybe you can see some of the ones you missed. :-)
There is an entire section on this
You have been doing for an entire 3 years and
never made $31,000? OMG, I am so surprised (NOT). Those days when the salaries were really good (except for 1 here and there) are mostly over. Unless willing to work about 24/7, weekends, overtime, etc., etc. you do good now to just eek out a living and many on here complaining about not even doing that.
Yep, sometimes an entire dollar cheaper...
x
you want the admin. to take time out of her entire day
And to think there is an entire country above Montana! No
zz
what is the shortcut to take out an entire sentence? sm
I know ctrl backspace takes out one word at a time, what is the key to take out a sentene at a time? I have an MD is is just awful about changing his mind. Thanks in advance!!!!
Article? As in one? This is an entire industry, and
has been going on for decades - I believe it was the 1960s when the food processors and dog food conglomerates figured out their partnership would profit them both. Its not an article, and to think so is honestly just ignorant. Also most huge dog food producers are actually other companies that have no interest in dogs at all - Del Monte and Heinz are in the dog food biz. Have you seen labels lately of the name brands that now claim to have some tomato enzyme in them? I can't recall the name, but it is literally a tomato enzyme that they claim is a new discovery for being great for dog joints. Its literally the tomato swill that Heinz and Del Monte use to have to throw out as its the slop that lands on the floor after Ketchup production, etc. Now, they just hose it into vats and throw it in the kibble ooze with a fancy label that most consumers fall for- tomato enzyme. I only wish I was making this up!! And its not a scam industry nor are we extremists. Most of us don't promote any brand at all - best thing for Spot and Fido is boring old meat, marrow bones and a few veggies steamed, and brown rice. The leftovers that our parents and grandparents and great-grandparents used to feed their dogs - table scraps - were fine! Again, do the research. Decades ago, dogs used to have an average life span of 20 to 25 years - now its 10. Cats used to live longer - 30 years - now its 15. And our parents and their parents would have laughed hysterically at the thought of spending good $ on Gravy Train or Alpo. We have been "had" as American consumers, and you are actually gonna argue about it! Your vets - bet they support Pedigree, too, which is absolutely garbage - dead animals and loads of corn filler, which, by the way, most dogs are intolerant of. They don't digest corn well. But its cheap for the manufacturers! Pedigree is well known for keeping lots of vets on its payroll to praise its products - gee, ya think they might like the $$. There are thousands more vets who know Pedigree and the like is garbage and are finally getting the courage to speak up about it. They are getting sick and tired of treating the animals who are NOT benefitting from this dog food. Nope, sorry, but way more than 1 article - its knowledge, and knowledge is wisdom, and wisdom is priceless.
Are you saying you left the entire report sm
blank because you could not understand the dictator? If so, no company will put up with that. Even if you can only understand every third or fourth word, you are expected to transcribe those, and put in blanks as you need.
No one will put up with you leaving an entire report blank and sending to QA. They are not supposed to transcribe, just try to fill in the blanks.
How do you know you missed 2 on the entire exam?nm
nm
how hold
married at 18....wouldn't change a thing even if I could go back in time. Our marriage grows stronger each year...
Hold up a sec.
You dictate your own VR as an IC? I don't think that's what the original poster was asking about. I think what the OP was talking about was a company that has VR and only pays 55% to 70% of regular line rate. Most companies' platforms aren't technically enabled to allow the MT to redictate the VR. In fact I've never heard of that before.
If you make money doing VR you're way, more power to ya. But I don't think that's what the OP was talking about.
Hold out for more.....7 cpl is way too low...sm
I just had the same experience, was offered that amount by one company. I held out and got something part time with a good company at 9 cpl on weekdays and 10 cpl on weekends.
Hold on........think about this. sm
First, you need to make up a pay rate to compensate you for your hard work. Re-negotiate your contract if you have one. If you do not have one, I suggest getting one.
You need to set your pay date/pay period in writing and the ramifications to the client if pay is late. Either charge 15% as a late fee, etc.
Next, you can either charge piecemeal for STAT work, faxes, etc or you can include everything in one line rate. That is up to you.
After everything is in writing, have the client/doctor/office manage, whoever it may be, meet with you and go over all of the details. If they agree, than continue on doing the acocunt. If they do not agree, and it is a well-paying account, when you get paid, try to work a few things out. If all fails, then move on.
But, don't just get frustrated and let the account go. The office just may not be aware of all the extra things you are doing and may think it is included in your line rate.
You need to either spell it out to them in writing or just raise your line rate to include everything.
Believe me, in my younger years, I was where you are now. On looking back, I would have done some things differently. Now, I can say I know things from experience that you can not learn in a textbook or college classroom.
Good luck to you.
I'd put it on hold it too. You are being
very smart right now. Hang tight. If it goes well-WONDERFUL. If it turns bad, you won't have to kick yourself in the a$$ because of buying a new house.
okay hold on I think we are...
talking about two different certifications!
I mean certification as in going to school. I mean we should have to have a CERTIFICATE from a school saying that we took the courses and have passed. To heck with AAMT, I've heard plenty about them promoting overseas transcription!
I just mean that there needs to be a standard for MTs. That way it isn't so easy to get into the profession. Besides outsourcing overseas, our next biggest problem is that there are people who are getting MT positions just by the luck of passing a test or are taking jobs at 4-5 cpl which is why someone like me who has spent a year going to an actual college, actually going to campus each night, now has to start off at 6 cpl. That type of pay is ridiculous for a professional. I can make more working at Burger King.
That's why I was saying that for those that are already proven MTs who have experience there should be some type of quick certification for them. Maybe a test, or three verifiable references that they have been MTs for such a time, or something. I don't know.
But that is what I meant by certification. CMT/RMT has just become a way for AAMT to make money off of us. There needs to be a mandatory, BY LAW requirement to be an MT. Just like a doctor absolutely has to go to and graduate from med school or a police officer has to graduate from the police academy, etc.
i would hold
off until about 3 (her time). then you could call her or if you have her email address just send her an email and just say you were wondering if they had made a decision yet. I would not worry about the ad being gone.
Actually, I lived in California my ENTIRE life...
until moving to Utah for the past several years. Utah state tax is ldefinitely lower, but I NEVER paid 40% while living in CA. We're moving back after the first of the year, and our biggest worry is the cost of houses, not the taxes. 
It depends on where you work. I have always, my entire career, been SM
in the 2000+ range. I now do that in much less time than it took me as an in-house employee with no shortcuts or anything.
However, when I went with EDiX my highest day ever was 1900 something and I had to kill myself to get that.
Those company platforms are the devil's work where MTs are concerned.
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