I agree it depends on the co. and the platform

• Use of word expander - Bewildered
  • A basic recommendation for a basic expander use plan SM - MissIndigo
    • Forgot to also mention, SM - MsIndigo
  • Thanks to you all - Bewildered
  • As an expander DIVA sm - Lyndia
    • bring your expertise!! sm - shipaddict
  • I'm curious - Katie
  • Depends on what company you work for though. - anon
    • I agree it depends on the co. and the platform - tnmt
  • You are paid for all characters that appear on the "screen". - sm
    • No, she said - Lyla

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Right now I'm working on this ultra-crappy platform (or maybe it's an operating system, I have no idea) that takes about 30 seconds to load up the area where we do the actual typing, and then it takes another 10-15 seconds to save it, print it up, and move onto the next.  I'm spending just as much time frigging around with the 'system' (or more even!) than it takes me to type up the report!  Now I understand why the older MTs (no offense there either!) miss the Word Perfect so much! 

and the company you work for.  Ask your supervisor or the tech gurus how to turn off the yellow highlight...It can be done!  Good luck.   Cat  

I was told (also 20+ years ago) that I needed to learn how to type. Hated it, hated it, hated it.

I expand everything whenever possible. I had a doc the other day that I just fly through and found I did over 300 lines in one hour. Unfortunately, he disappeared after that. :(

Then I got a huge file with a page flipping mumbling sigher who would do the finger drumming while looking stuff up and I did 85 lines with that report and it took me a half hour. Talk about minimum wage. :)

I guess I was one of the lucky ones as far as speed was concerned. That's just something that will come with time. As far as required work for typing class, I think I ranked somewhere below an "F".

If a MTSO advertises that the MT works in MS Word and sends dictation by FTP, does this usually mean there will be no demographic/doctor database and the demographics will not be autopopulated?

I got into a mess with a small company (got out real quickly too).  I was required to print out daily email copies of the doctors' office patient schedules (which were barely legible) and type in all information.  I spent more time hunting for the correct patient through pages and pages of these schedules.  Then I had about 25 pages worth of doctor's names that I would have to go through to find the attending, referring, etc.  A total waste of time as I didn’t get paid for that. 

I wish MTSO would give more information as to what platform they use (if any).  Proprietary software is such a generic, totally useless description.  Would they buy a new car that listed, "Car has gasoline operated motor?" 

And for Pete's sakes, why so secretive about the pay?  Give a ballpark figure.  Just say, pay is between 7-12 cpl depending on skill, testing, etc. Tell me if you pay for spaces, headers, etc.  It would save them time because I wouldn’t even apply for a 7 cpl job. 

Before I spend an hour or two testing, I need more information from a company to be sure it is compatible for my needs.  If the MTSO would spend a little time on their website detailing their platform, how they send/receive files, pay rates,  how line rate is determined (spaces/no spaces) employee/IC/SE status, minimal line count, whether work pools consist of 100s of doctors, or smaller pools with 25-50 doctors etc.   Having all this information on their website would save them time and the MTs time.   Phoenix Medcom has a really good layout describing pretty much everything an MT would want to know before testing with them.  I am just tired of testing with a company and then finding out the job wasn’t exactly suited to my needs. 

I've been working for MTSOs for years now, using their templates which sometimes cause productivity problems (macro issues, etc). I'm wondering if productivity is increased when working on a structured platform, such as one that a national company provides for its transcriptionists?  I've never used a platform, but it would seem that all one needs to do is straight type onto the screen and the platform program takes care of margins, page breaks, etc?

Any thoughts (as well as companies who are hiring who use platforms) would be appreciated.  Thanks

he speaks perfect English, especially when asking for money!  Also, in my opinion, blanks should be left in the doc's dictation if not able to be transcribed, maybe then they will know that are NOT understood.  With QA fixing them, what need is there for them to care if we understand them or not? 

I am bored, and trying to get aquanited to the boards, so I am posting a little spree here. 

What platform do you use?  I use Extext by Dictaphone.  Like it so far.

I started on a new platform about two weeks ago and am finding it HORRIBLE!

I normally get between 130-170 lph, depending on dictators.  Today I worked four hours and had 200 lines

It is a word-based platform.  To put in a QA marker you put in spaces, highlight them change screens, use the mouse (no shortcut keys) click add, save, and then back to your screen.  To remove a QA marker, you have to change screens, use mouse click on QA marker number, and then click delete...  You also have to do this to look up or edit doctors, patient info...

In all honesty from anyone who has worked on such a platform, WILL I GET FAST ENOUGH TO KEEP MY CHILDREN FROM STARVING?

Thanks in advance

Is anyone familiar with a platform called Medquist Cquence?  The service I work for has a client who uses this.  I am having a particularly difficult time learning this system.  Would you care to share what you think of it.  Is it worth the time spent in learning it, and once you do learn it, do you get a decent line count?

TIA

I have used Dictaphone when I was working for a smaller company and did like it, but now I am out on my own and have an office that uses Word and a wav pedal and I email the work to them. I like this way too. I have heard that people do like Dictaphone as a platform, but I am unsure of the cost.. I use Express scribe to download the files and my wav pedal. Express scribe is free so I do like that there is no cost to me on that end.

I can't see who's working, can't see how much work there is, just keep going until I run out.