I, too, remember lack of reference books. I'd tug on sm
Posted By: MTx32 on 2005-12-29
In Reply to: LOL. Used those belts in 1978. sm - Donna
the doctors' sleeves to get answers to my questions, or I'd go to the OR and look at product boxes for proper names. I wouldn't trade a minute of it, would you?
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FYI I HAVE reference books, but in case you hadn't noticed, thing change a lot faster than BOOKS
I was simply asking for suggestions of other places on line that I might look for the latest info, especially considering that my work is on the internet, what the hell is wrong with trying to be more productive and efficient?!?! Good Grief!!
Reference books
I use my pharmaceutical word book most often, then Stedman GI/GU & Stedman Equipment. I have a used 2004 Pharmaceutical word book (Drake & Drake) if you would like it.
Reference Books
Good reference books (and abbreviations book!) are a must also. I Google a lot, but I really verify with my BOS and my Stedman's reference books. Agree with other posters. Stedman's Medical Speller a definite must have for me.
Reference books
I have many, many books, but use fewer and fewer of them as I find good internet sites - it is much faster for me to look up something on a website than to pull out the books all the time. I would say that I use my Dorlands and my Webster medical word books more than any others, though.
new reference books
I am in need of reference books and looking at Stedmans Medical and SUrgical equipment book. I see the fifth edition is out, that must be the newest edition?
Also looking at Stedmans Ortho word book, fifth edition but dated 2005. Is this too old to consider purchasing? How do you know when a new edition will be coming out?
Thanks
reference books
When I look up a term in a reference book I use a highlighter pen to highlight the term in the book. Like Lucy said, the act of just doing something like writing it down or highlighting the term helps me remember it.
What are the must have reference books?
I'm wondering what the must have reference books would be to start out with. What are your faves?
Best reference books to get
I am going to buy some reference books to have. Can you all help me in getting the ones I need. I will doing a variety of reports...cardiology, radiology, emergency departments ect....
I appreciate it!!!! :)
Reference books? GOOOOOOGLE. :)
Opinion on reference books.
I am a newly graduated MT and am beginning the job search. So far so good. I got a 98.2 on the first test I did and it was long! That was a real confidence booster, too bad they are not hiring immediately. I am reallizing that I will need to invest in more books.
Which books should I absolutely get the newest versions of and which would it be okay to get slightly older and cheaper used ones?
Query: How many have reference books and how many?
Wondering if I should expand my library.
Reference books and Google
Google is not always accurate either!!!! In my 7 years as an MT, I find it taking way too much time trying to find the correct spelling of referring physicians or primary care physicians online, especially if you have no clue as to which city they practice in, and when they dictate all these physicians names they want a cc to go to. I also would just like to add that maybe QALady should consider taking the word "Lady" off the end of her name. Obviously no one will ever be as "perfect" as you and I feel for the man you're married to, if you're at all married. If you complain about a few MTs, don't refer to all MTs, do your job, provide feedback, and if those same MTs continue to be sloppy, then the supervisor isn't doing his/her job at all. I'm a firm believer of shame on me once, maybe even a second time, but no more than a second time for the same mistakes. I welcome feedback and print every single report I have had a blank on for future reference. Sloppy may describe some, not all.
I seldom use the reference books...
or the software my company has provided us, and I have some nice reference books. I use Google with good results. I personally won't invest another dime in reference materials if I can help it, just not necessary.
How often do you replace your reference books, or (sm)
do you all strictly use medically acceptable internet sites for research now? I've been using the internet a lot, but I'm thinking of getting a new Surgical Word Book. Wondering if it is worth my $50 to do this. Thoughts? Thanks in advance.
use resources means to use reference books or - sm
look up things on-line to research, like google. A lot of times you can figure terms out by putting in a few of the words you can understand. Being able to reference well is key to being a good transcriptionist, especially when you are doing a new specialty. The company you are testing for should have told you how they wanted blands left, some want just _____, some *, or maybe a highlighted line. I would just go with a ___ if I were you. Type it all up, then go back over it with just your speakers on (no headphones) and sometimes that helps you pick up words you did not hear before, also change the speed, slow them down if they talk real fast, or speed up of real slow, you get the idea. Fool around with it. Tests stink, but when you are a total novice they are really rough. Good luck.
Do MTs bother to use their reference books or the internet? SM
I just wonder because I am so sick of correcting reports where the MT has obviously just guessed at what is being dictated or what she heard rather than taking a minute to crack open a freaking book or at the very least Google it.
QA is a resource not a freaking safety net for MTs who can't or won't do the job they were hired for. Part of the job description for medical transcription is to be both productive AND accurate! Nowhere does it say, if you don't know, just guess or if you don't know, just leave a blank -- don't look it up or use the internet -- just leave a blank.
While I'm at it, let me just say to all the MTs out there who have being "doing this for years" and don't think they could ever possibly make a mistake -- YOU ARE WRONG! To the MTs who use "that's how we were told to do it at my last job" as your battle cry -- THAT IS WHY WE HAVE A STANDARDIZED REFERENCE BOOK CALLED THE AAMT BOS!
I don't care how you did it at your last job. I don't care if that is what you thought you heard. I don't care if your spell check didn't catch it. And I don't care how long you've been an MT. You should have known how to spell it, you should own a reference book, you should own a copy of the BOS, and years of experience in no way replaces a good solid education! Finally, you should take the time to educate yourself, look things up you aren't sure of, and just plain care about the content of your work -- not just how much of it you can get done.
 << Getting off my soapbox now.
Reference Books versus software
I am running a poll here. How many prefer to use reference books over software programs and vice versa. Does using one or the other assist in your production? I am just getting back into at-home transcription and am wondering which, and what, to purchase. TIA
I'd send you my hardcopy books, but here's an online reference.
http://www.grammarbook.com/notgrandmasgrammar.asp
The site states that it's only in recent times that the quotation marks come outside the period, essentially because people are too lazy to follow the "proper" rules. I'm no old lady, but I was taught not to be lazy just because the rest of the world refuses to follow the rules.
Reference books/sites for breast cancer (sm)
I just started with a breast cancer surgeon. I am wondering if anyone can recommend some good reference material for this. Thanks.
I prefer software as opposed to looking it up in reference books...
I like the Stedman's word books software that you download on the computer and when you want to look something up you just click a button versus getting the book out and looking for it. I seems much quicker to me.
Can anyone recommend any good acute care reference books
I am thinking of changing from clinic to acute care transcription. Can anyone recommend any good reference books that I should have? TIA
Plus, w/books you come across other things that you'll remember seeing later on when needed.
x
I prefer books. I'm kinda old school. I like to be able to write new terms in my books. I do
have Stedman's Medical Dictationary on CD and I do use it quite a bit, but that's more because the actual print dictionary is so darn heavy to pick up and look a word up! 
just got an e/m re lack of work
which we seldom have, but stating that we are all 'one team' and if we want more work we can call in and they can route us work from another CSC. So i wonder why other offices aren't doing that...
lack of work
 Are names of companies allowed on this board? I'm in the middle of applying to several transcription services, so would really like to know which one (s) don't have enough work available.
Seriously could not be any worse that the lack of (sm)
respect we get as CMTs!! Seriously, we catch all the malpractic, flag it for them, and not even a Happy Holidays! dictated to us on any dictation, I correct that one doctor did say enjoy your holidays! I agree Applebees is looking better all the time!
Lack of memorization
Is the attraction for me! I can't keep what I have straight. And when I have multiple phrases that I want to use the same short for, it's just frustrating!
Thanks for your reply.
appreciation (or lack there of)
 One thing I have learned is that not many people understand this working at home gig. I will say though that after I have let my kids listen to a few of these dictations they are totally amazed and over the years I have helped them with the words to quite a few songs they couldn't understand. One daughter is now a pharmacist and she is totally amazed at what I can understand. My son-in-law, also a pharmacist, asked if he could let me listen to the voice mail from ESL's that call in prescriptions and he cannot understand. My sister and brother-in-law are doctors, so they appreciate my talent and work ethic. However, just today my second daughter got mad at me because I told her I could not watch her boyfriend's new puppy (not housebroken) and work at the same time. I have been doing this at home for over 10 years now, so they have grown up with it, and still don't always get it. I left a hospital job after a divorce because I was never around when the kids needed me and it was difficult to leave work for emergencies. I made double the income - at first with no benefits. I miss the retirement, but I wouldn't have been able to keep my house, so everything is a trade off. Only we can understand each other
I think some of that is due to lack of training as well-
why not train Americans who are displaced workers or unable to find work for whatever reason, or just Americans who have no skills and are working 3 minimum wage jobs to get by? It would probably not cost any more than bringing in people from other countries, and it would probably save the government money, as more people would become self-sufficient and require less assistance.
I think a lot of these people would love the opportunity for the training if it didn't cost an arm and a leg, and I don't think they would be picky about what it paid- I'm sure it would beat minimum wage!
Lack of communication?
I recently was hired for a national MTSO and was wondering if this was typical for most companies who hire you as an employee. They train you, tell you who your supervisor is, turn you loose on your account, and after that you are hard pressed to get in contact with your supervisor, or anyone for that matter, for questions. I had questions about:
1) how to fill out my timesheet, a) when to submit it, b) how the pay period runs - all I got was a sample copy and told to submit it on such-and-such day.
2) questions on formatting that were not in the AI sheet - no response either by E-mail, IM and lack of contact phone number other than the 1-800 office number.
3) Two days into the job - ran out of work on both primary and back-up account. Response - "sorry, we're just slow." and not by my supervisor, by another company associate as my supervisor was nowhere to be found. Never heard from the supervisor again. Haven't bothered to log back in to work.
Just wondering if anyone else has experienced this and is it typical. Do not want to mention the MTSO, but it is a well-known national.
frustrated.
lack of work
Has anyone had a lack of work in the company they work for. I have been without work for two weeks and keep getting the run around from my company. I was wondering if anyone had to collect unemployment benefits or if there was something else I could do. thanks
Lack of work
I also did not have any work due to President's Day.
I am very frustated, No work due to Thanksgiving initially, then Christmas, New Years, and now President's Day? (Not to mention lack of work due to blizzards etc.)
I like the company I am with, supervisors etc. but am wondering if it is going to improve. I was promised paid health insurance, but have not yet reached the line count. How is it possible with any work?
Any feedback appreciated. Thank you.
I don't think it is a lack of funds
I really think they are just ticked off that I quit so quickly. But after many years of doing this, 70 lph just doesn't work for me. Account was great, it was the administrative stuff required that killed the job.
My lack of experience...
I was told today by a national transcription company that "due to my lack of experience in the last eight years...." that I was unqualified to work for them as they need people with recent acute care status. I have worked for a group of orthopaedic surgeons for eight years and went to work for them because my job at the hospital was phased out due to outsourcing. I have 36 years of experience as a Transcriptionist and all but the last eight were in a hospital setting. I am shocked to find out that I do not qualify for their company. The work at our clinic is dwindling and even though they are hiring three new docs this coming year, none of them are going to be allowed to dictate as they will be required to use the EMR only. All of us sit by our desks waiting for that next job to show up and hopefully if you are lucky enough, you are the one who grabs it first. I used to work every evening and weekend. That has happened in the last five months. Sorry for the venting. It has been a tough struggle with a laid off husband, one income, and 10 grandkids to shop for, for the holidays.
Heartland - lack of work
Heartland never has any work for the US team, know why? They have to keep the Indian MTs overseas busy! Management (former MQ drop outs) try to paint a pretty picture for MTs that the software will get better or the clients are okay. Well the system is horrible and the clients are 110% ESLs!
OT: do you lack moisture or protein?
Your hair, that is.
Got this neat little trick at the hairdresser yesterday. Cut one strand of hair and put it in a small bowl filled with water. Wait about a minute or two. If the strand continues to float at the surface, you're lacking moisture. If it sinks to the bottom, you need protein.
Kind of helps you decide the right shampoo and/or conditioner to buy. 
lack common sense, one's I have met..nm
and your lack of expectations for yourself is showing.
x
Lack of work advice.............
Hi all
I wanted to see if I can get some opinions on my situation.
I started with this company in September and the workload was good for a while. I promised to do 30 minutes per day. I do this part-time after 4p EST every day as I have a full-time job out of the house. Since the holidays, the workload has dropped off and by the time I get home after 4p, many times there is next to nothing for me to do and some days absolutely nothing.
I was thinking of asking the supervisor if there is some other fairer way to divide up the work that does come in so that I can have some too when I get home. Would this be a reasonable thing to do, or would it be asking too much of her?
Thanks for your opinions. In the meantime, I am looking for something else too.
Most people with hi IQ have problems getting along with others and lack
social skills, for this is probably an ideal job for them.
Personally, I like the lack of stress and no (sm)
flippin' academic politics, or driving to 5 different colleges each week, teaching one course at each as a part-time lecturer. I've preferred spending my time homeschooling my equally gifted children, writing for a couple of feminist pubs, and working on local grassroots politics. Working at home as an MT allows me to break up my day and do all those things, while being the sole breadwinner. Works for me.
motivation or lack thereof....
Do i totally understand! I have been doing this for 10+ years and keeping the production up lately has been a real struggle, not only financially but emotionally. Hence, I am returning to school. It is giving me something else to focus on - a goal. Otherwise, I feel like I will be typing the rest of my life. Take some time off??? I would love that !!
When MTSO say they offshore because lack of
x
Could be the acct and/or lack of specs.
I also think it is important to start off with people who know the account, follow the specs for the VR to learn the specs correctly. In time with everybody on the same page it should improve, but if you are using all the shortcuts and have experience in the account I can't help but wonder if it may be worth looking into another account. My line count is actually down now from the account that made me really start like the Escription platform. I had a mostly ER account with other basic 4 reports in it that would allow me up to almost consistently 800 lines edited lines per hour. The work was very inconsistent and the company was not reliable so I moved on making less money but much less stress. The accounts do make a difference but until you try another account you may not know what your potential really is.
In answering the other question regarding hot keys, I learned just like mentioned above. Learn them one at a time. Start with Alt k, then Alt Shift K, Alt ., Alt ,, Alt :, etc. Use you jump keys, which are very easy to learn and you'll use them all the time, ctrl arrows, ctrl shift arrow, ctrl backspace, etc. All of them used together really are a time saver. Get in the habit of using alt 2 and alt 1 too to adjust speed of playback. For the nice easy ones go ahead and alt 2 to your content and get the report knocked out, for the tougher ones alt 1 and slow down. I do this throughout the reports as I find it easier to listen quickly to some parts, and slower with others that need more changes. Any bit of time saved makes a difference.
Also, in my first report I mentioned working with kids, etc. This is a biggy for me. Working 3rd allows me to actually work without distractions. Small distractions make big difference.
QA's lack of knowledge really irks me.
Most of the time, they say the exact opposite the next day, anyway.
Isn't it amazing the freedom, lack of stress, zip, gone.
congratulations!
Most companies won't have the patience for your lack of doing your own work. nm
x
Sign on Bonus (or lack thereof)
I was promised a sign on bonus when I was hired 6 months ago and I am still waiting on it! I call every week and email every week and never get a reply. Even my super always says she will check on it, but never gets back to me. It pisses me off! If they don't want to give it to me, eventhough I have kept track and have met every qualification for it, I think they owe me an explanation as to why. I wish someone would get back to me. I wish I would have found this site before I applied with them, I found their ad on another site and left an inhouse job that I held for many years to venture on to working from home, which the at home part I love, it is the the lack of communication part I hate. Has anyone gotten their promised sign on bonus from MedQuist, and if so, after how long and what did you have to do to finally get it? Threaten a lawsuit? Thanks.
they get booted due to lack of caller votes..nm
She fears because of her own lack of transcription skills, sm
not because the ESL doctors do not give good patient care. If you are not up to the job of transcribing the reports, then you should not try to do it. But do not blame poor patient care on the ESL doctors.
Have you talked to mgmt. about the lack of consistency?
Seems like mgmt would want to get all the QA on the same page, anyway b/c that is way too frustrating for the MTs to get conflicting requests all the time. Where I do QA we get mgmt emails all the time reiterating client requests and info to keep us all in the loop.
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