I do tapes too for 5 surgeons Mon-Thurs.
Posted By: and work for nat'l Fri-Sat-Sun...sm on 2007-11-17
In Reply to: Sounds like tape delivery sm - Survivor
tapes I really do Monday thru Wednesday, Thursday my day off but if there are tapes here, I do them and pass on the day off.....
Yep, there will always be the smaller office or the MDs who like the personal touch of us doing personal deliveries, having just ONE MT do their work.....and these guys are all in their 30-40s.....they will not change because I have had them for YEARS..... and they are all within 8 miles of my home....I'm lucky 
Complete Discussion Below:  marks the location of current message within thread
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
Thurs day off, Fri-Sat-Sun for nat'l....nm
x
I work Sun.-Thurs. nm
s
Do we work M-F, Sun-Thurs, Tues-Sat, or every day? nm
s
Sun. through Thurs. here. Like Fridays off for errands, etc. nm
s
I sometimes do that with one of my surgeons
She has a very monotone way of speaking and never pauses between sentences. Rarely dictates a period or any other punctuation. Most of the time I can figure out what she is saying, but she also has a sort of stream-of-conscious way of dictating that strings things all along together. If I can't figure out clearly what it is that she's saying I leave it all as she dictates it. Like you, haven't had any fall out from that tactic, either.
Yup. Sun-Thurs. I do the Monday holidays. It's fine with me.
dd
After hearing some surgeons
mangle their reports, I vow to never let hm near me with a sharp object in his hand. And when they say "informed consent" I wonder who did the informing and whether the patient could understand it any better than I do.
most surgeons dictate very well sm
That is one of the best things about ops. When I say "dictate well" I mean that they normally know exactly what they are going to say and use the same phrases over and over, which means a better line count for you. Plus, you are much more likely to get normals doing ops than you are consults and H&Ps (especially in acute care). Instead of doing one of these docs who repeat everything, or change everything, or a resident who is all over the report back and forth. That is what slows you down. I absolutely love op notes; they keep you up-to-date on equipment, etc., and the line count is great, but most of them get farmed out to Spheris (gee, I wonder why?) However, if you never type OP notes, they can be difficult at first.
Because surgeons tend to be
fast, succinct dictators. Because there are very few drugs to dictate, and the surgeon is familiar with all of them (as opposed to trying to dictate lists of meds as the patient wrote them in a history). Because surgeons tend to do the same sorts of procedures over and over, and the smart, efficient ones learn to dictate the same reports over and over so they won't leave anything out. That means an MT who gets him frequently can make normals to use over and over and save time. If an MT is fortunate and the software is very, very good, she can put jump codes in so she can jump from one particular spot to the next to fill in details that change. An example would be doing cataract surgery, where the main thing that changes is the IOL specific information. Because surgeons usually hate to dictate, so the reports are often as short and efficient as possible. Because it's not psych (or whatever the MT hates most, lol).
I type for three hand surgeons
I type for three hand surgeons and I have yet to see a WC claim go through without a big, big fight to pay for carpal tunnel surgery. Yet if you use any pneumonic tools, or drive and clinch a steering wheel -- truck driver, they will pay. But they seriously say that it is not the typing that causes it and will find some underlying cause to be the primary cause of it. All three docs agree. I got CT when I was working in the hospital answering phones a lot and clinching the phone and had the surgery -- 20 years ago. Now with typing sometimes 10 hours a day, never have a problem but guess I am lucky. Anyway you can try but it is a long, slow battle for you to climb and you will definitely need an attorney. Watch out if you are more than 15 to 20% overweight also, they will blame it on that.
Patti
Oh yeah, I did 2800 lines last Thurs and I had 10,500 for week to my usual 8K sheesh I'm a
nm
I have never had a hernia repair either, but I have done transcription for general surgeons for 14 y
They usually tell people to plan on 4-6 weeks depending on the lifting requirements of their job. Have you asked your surgeon yet? They should be able to give you a good estimate.
Brain surgeons and the U.S. President take vacations; so can you. The world won't stop if you do!
Makes sense, I understand that surgeons will dictate the same report over and over, but....
none of my surgeons do them the same way each time. I have let's say an appendectomy from Dr. Smith, I pull up the appy report that I have saved from him....he will change all the words like and, the, or change the subject and verb, and it seems I change most of it anyway. I have tried to enjoy them, but you are right, hardly any drugs, I will keep that in mind. BTW, I love lengthy, detailed psych reports, they are my fave! Thanks for you reply!
French, especially the surgeons. Easiest: Middle Eastern, Korean, Chinese, Indian. nm
x
I work Sun.-Thurs. normally and will work on Fridays to get Sunday off if I need it. Works
s
Tapes
Can you reuse the same tapes (standard size) over and over? I have been for a while and I was wondering if they eventually get bad.
Thanks!
Tapes
Tapes are great, they fly. Working for a national also, 50% of the time and tapes the other 50%. Enjoy the tapes much more, make much better money (gross line count, not 65 ch). Have always set my word expansions up in Word itself. That way, no matter who I work for I use my own version of Word and my expansions are always there. Enjoy the tapes. Hope this helps. PS. They print at the site for me.
This happens a lot with tapes too.
I have noticed that with digital there are more safeguards. When the office downloads the files to their computer they usually save it on their computer. Once they send it to you, you save it to your computer too. Sometimes the doctor erases the file before all this happens, but when the doctor erased a part of a tape there was no backup then either.
From below regarding tapes
Okay, I started typing today on tapes picked up yesterday. (I deliver between 10 and noon) So I could have done then yesterday but had graduation for nephew. So I started today at 5 o'clock and it is now close to 11. I have typed, printed, showered, made deliveries and pick-ups, went to bank, know what I have to do tomorrow and made $201. No sudden files sent, no sporadic files sent, have the complete day's dictation , and can schedule the rest of the day and tomorrow morning the way that I want. So this works for me and I appreciate the input from Tikki and all, but will keep doing this if they want to continue to use tapes. All my accounts are within a 4 mile radius from each other and the majority at one of the hospital medical buildings so it takes me 35 minutes to do the deliveries from walking out my front door and coming back through. I respect everyone's opinion and hopefuly you respect mine. I get exercise as it is half a mile from my car to home round trip. -- Live on the river in a floating home. Patti
I'm still doing tapes too!
Some docs don't like to change. If you have a good relationship with the office staff, then they shouldn't have a problem using digital. Most doctors do not want voice recognition because they want their reports edited. If the doctor is a taper user, he very well may adjust to digital and just have his secretaries upload the dictation to send to you. You may have to spend some time in the office instructing them on how to do it. You may want to Google "FTP sites", and see where that leads. Good luck!!!!
sum tapes
Does anyone still use the Sum Tapes and Transcript keys for practice? If so, what is the copyright date on them? Mine are 1994. They seem to be a little out dated. Does anyone have any newer ones?
tapes
I agree, I do tape accounts, a small one, but they do treat me well. I also type straight from the doctors notes on a major account, nice people, too. We make a good living.
Tapes
I have had that happen a couple of times and I have a friend that just transfers the entire tape to a new casing and attachs that. Only rarely have we lost any dictation or have it become so distorted that we can't hear it. Perhaps a couple of sentences. Guess I have been lucky. But again, I would write to Maxwell and tell them that you got a bad batch or lot number. Good luck.
YES you can fix the tapes yourself
see entry above; OPERATE ON THE TAPES.
tapes to wav/mp3
there is a program online - inexpensive - that you hook you tape player up to your computer, play the tape and have ability to modify the tape sounds, editing etc - play it as a wav or mp3. Polderbit is the one I use - you can Google - tape to wav and many will come up
tapes
I have been with them for 10 years and they have only asked for me to reprint twice, that's not bad.
You have tapes -- how do you log in
Guess I am a little slow. You type from tapes, you deliver back on paper, how do they know when you log in???? You don't have to log in to retrieve the dictation nor send it so please explain to me. Guess my old age is catching up with me as I don't understand.
Tapes
This may be a sillyquestion, but I have always worked digital, so I don't know this. How are tapes played with a foot pedal? Thanks
Tapes.....
That sounds really HIPAA compliant.
Tapes
You're right, this isn't very common anymore. However, people do still do it. Myself included. I charge by page. I charge $5 a page. This is how it works: I type everything in Word, then get the line count from the Word statistics. I divide this by 55 (55 lines per page) and multiply by 5. This is how I bill. I just make up a bill in Word and sent it to the clinic twice a month. You will have to get a machine with a foot pedal that plays cassettes though, and those are not cheap, but you can make pretty good money if you charge this way.
GOOD LUCK!
Erased tapes
They request that I erase the tapes and I have disabled my erase on my machine, I just accidentally somehow picked up two tapes that were not yet transcribed -- I have two bins -- two different colors --but was in a hurry and picked up the wrong ones and pushed them right through the eraser. Today when I went to transcribe I found two tapes that had already been done in the "To be transcribed" bin and had been delivered and the ones that I knew had to be done were nowhere found and so I am by process of elimination assuming that is what I did. I remember erasing two tapes and it was the wrong two tapes. I am so organized and have always had this fear and so after nearly 20 years it finally came true -- one I could accept but both of them -- that is the problem. But can't fix it now. Thanks for your input.
Erased tapes
Good for you!
Maxell Tapes
Just thought you would find this of interest. I know we don't use tapes too much, but all these years of trying to fix broken tapes - I contacted Maxell about a tape that blew off the spool on side B. They guarantee their tapes, just mail back to them at a N.J. address - link below - via regular mail from NV to N.J., and it was returned within 3 days - not only do they fix it for free - but send it back via Federal Express, at their expense + give you a free tape. Wow! Joyce
http://www.maxell-usa.com/Content/Pages/Page.asp?Section=maxellusa&department=aboutus&Line=maxellcorp&Product=contact
How about the docs that use the tapes sm
to dictate, then use the call in system, put the phone by the recorder and re-record the whole stinking tape via the call in. To me, that is the worst. It turns out to be 30-40 minutes of dictation and they sound like they are dictating from the grave. Yuk.
practice tapes sm
As usual, your answers are so much appreciated. I love this site, helping others is so important, I do it whenever I can as well. I believe in karma. Thanks again!
I was on my way to pick up tapes. nm
nm
Practice tapes from?
I have heard practice tapes some give out that are almost perfect dictation- definitely not what you run into when you transcribe. Are you doing the "goodie" tapes or are they the real McCoy? The practice ones I have heard put in their periods, paragraph. Ha, very seldom hear that in real. What kind of work will you do, speciality or the 4s? I have my equipment as fast as it can possibly go and my salary has gone down in the past 4 years 20,000$ from the constant outsourcing the companies are doing. My speed is between 130-140 wpm and I make good only because I have my nose to the grindstone most of the day. By the way, independent as well but my company asked me for certain hours and which days. I have seen numerous posts on here saying you do not have to do it -but I wanted to work for this particular place and I accept it.
practice tapes from...
Practice tapes are real; slurring run-on sentences, gurgling muffled words, you name it. But, she gave me the printed reports to go with them, so if I really get stuck, i can look at them and find the answer. If you don't mind my asking, how long have you been in this, and what's your cpl? You work for an agency? Yes, my speed is concerning me. Thanks for your reply.
Maxell tapes
Just FYI - if they break, Maxell will repair, send back via FedEx and give you a new tape - beats Dr. having to redictate, if you are still working with tapes. Joyce
I just had to comment on the tapes...sm
I've been MTing for 10+ years and just in the last 1-2 years the tapes the docs have used are coming off the spool at the end of the tape. My doc got so mad and asked me to fix if I could. I would take these things apart and Scotch tape the tape back onto the spool. I have fixed about 10 of these now. Some were Maxell and some Sony I think. I wonder if any of you have had this happen. That's all. Just thought I'd share.
CAN'T UNSCREW SOME TAPES
Unfortunately, some of the newer tapes don't "unscrew" anymore, or at least there are no screws there. Last time I paid someone to fix one it was $85.00. I used to fix these myself, but wonder if anyone knows how open the newer tapes without screws?
copying tapes
We did that for awhile because I was trying to help a friend to start out in the business and I also gave work to other people on the internet, but it is a lot of work. Thank God, my husband did most of the work, but thanks, but no thanks.
C-phone to tapes....
I know this has probably been discussed before, but can someone explain to me the process and equipment needed to record transcription for a C-phone to cassette tapes? I have a Dictaphone C-phone and Lanier microcassette player. Thanks for any help.
copying tapes
it is a lot of work and you lose the quality of the tape, if that is possible with some of the doctors.
C-phone to tapes
I have a Dictaphone C-phone Model 0421 with connected standard cassette transcriber that you can re-record your work to. It is all one unit if interested. I am selling for $275.00. I have a picture of the unit also. It is in brand new condition.
tapes breaking sm
I would like to know how to repair a tape without sending it to someone to do it professionally. I have had this happen in the past and the owner of the dictation had it fixed. However, should I need to do it myself one day, I would not know how. Can you really splice a tape with scotch tape? I would really like to know. I know tapes are gone the way of the dinosaur but you never know! Thanks!
Maxell tapes
I did a quick Google search yesterday and came up with a review on Amazon for this particular brand of tapes, where someone wrote that the tapes becamed detached from the spool and wound up inside the casing and were unusable. It must be the brand. I guess we will try another brand for now, and hopefully this will be a push in the digital direction.
I should say that my doc fixes his own tapes!!! sm
He takes them apart, rewinds, and then tapes back up. Of course, he tells me to throw away when I am done transcribing.
OPERATE ON THE TAPES!
May sound silly but I did this a couple of times - to which was greatly appreciated by the doctor who would have had to redictate!
I just chipped hole in cassette where the tape passes through to the spool, put a tiny piece of scotch tape on the end of the tape, tapped it down onto the spool and carefully rewound the tape onto the spool. And of course threw out the tape when done transcribing it...
Since this is happening to you a lot though, a better solution would be to tell the docs NOT to dictate to the end of the spool, but of course that would REQUIRE COOPERATION on the part of the dictator, so probably nevermind. :)
My account uses tapes.
Good luck.
|
