If you can't get it, leave a blank. You always have that option. sm
Posted By: It is up to us to understand it on 2006-12-03
In Reply to: ESL's a liability? - blahblahblahblahblah
If the MT cannot understand the dictator, they always have the option of sending it upward for clarification. They are doctors, not English language specialists. I know you would like them to be, but that is not the way it is. We listen, we transcribe, and if we don't get it, we send it upward for clarification.
It isn't easy, no one said it was. But I hate to see people complaining about foreign doctors all the time. They give excellent care, and a lot of us can understand them. It is a knack. If you don't have it, then send it to your QA.
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What about when you leave a blank
and then QA goes in and "guesses" and fills in the blank? I have relistened after QA, and it absolutely sometimes is not what was said, it's just what the dictator "usually says" so QA puts that in. That makes me look dumb for putting so many blanks, and QA look good for knowing the answers.
Leave a blank
Definitely an error on the MD's part
Example: If I leave a blank or want to hear something again
is there a faster way to get back to the point I want without using the arrow buttons and waiting for it to go back and forth? There must be, I appreciate your help.
I leave a blank and finish the report. - (sm)
Sometimes (if I'm lucky), the doctor will say the same word again later in the report, only clearer.
Even if they don't say the word again, often once I've finished the whole report and am proofreading, if I listen to the word a while later, I can then understand it.
The post below that talks about reading the sentence out loud in that accent is also a good idea that sometimes works for me, too.
If the sentence is a fairly common one you might encounter in other similar reports (like in a physical exam, or a hernia operation, etc.), sometimes finding a few samples of those types of reports online can provide an answer, even if it's a different doctor.
If you have the capability to put that report on 'hold', and go on to the next one, that's also helpful, because you might get the same word again in the next report (especially if it's the same doctor), and you might be able to hear it, then. Even if you don't, setting it aside for a while and then going back to re-listen to it is often the most effective way to unravel some of the 'mystery-words'.
SBC has an option ...
called Call Trace. You pay for it only when you activate it. When an offending call comes in, you hang up and then dial a keycode. That runs a trace. It is a legal trace and you can obtain the information from SBC who will send it to the authorities. You have to acknowledge that you will press charges if there is enough evidence.
At the least, I would drop that cell phone number immediately and notify your carrier of the harassment.
P.S. We all would probably say neither, but it isn't an option. ;-)
nm
possible other option
I live in Michigan and also live in the sticks. I thought I had exhausted all possibilities until someone told me you can get a (sorry I do not know the technical name) card for your lap top that has an internal antena. You get them through Sprint, Cigular, and I think a couple of others have it. I have Nextel cell phone but cannot get good service unless I go down my driveway to the road (then it is not that great either). Sprint (nextel and sprint are not merged completely yet) is running a deal where you can get this card for free for 14 days to see if it works. The sales person told me you would still have high speed internet even if you could not get good phone service. You then would pay a monthly fee for unlimited access no matter where you go with your lap top. I am ordering today, and if it works, I will try a home net work to get my other PC on board (which I am also told you can get an external card like above for a PC also). If anyone out there already has this or knows more about it-PLEASE tell me. Dial-up jobs are getting fewer and farther between.
first option b, then if still not
happy go higher up than manager, if that's an option, and if it's not, go the the bbb
There may be another option
All I have ever had available to me is dial-up where I have lived over the years. However, I personally have no problem working on Emdat's InScribe platform. It may take a minute or two for the first job to download but then I always have two waiting and when I upload one job another one downloads, so there is always dictation waiting for me. However, I have a laptop now and I have noted with having more RAM (double what my PC has), everything works faster!
Also, my laptop came with the new ExpressCard slot and I plan to get that. It works basically like a cell phone and in my area unlimited Internet for it will be $79.99/month but well worth it to me if things are a little faster AND I can use my laptop in a lot of places that I travel (particularly in the summer camping), IF a signal/connection is available to me. I hope to be trying this out within the next month or so, as soon as the ExpressCards arrive at Verizon or Sprint.
If a laptop is a possibility for you, then that may be your way around dial-up. My satellite is not reliable enough and plus too costly I feel for Internet. Of course, you have to make sure that the laptop card will work with the platform the company uses that you work for/plan to work for. Emdat told me it would with their platform.
Of course, I first have to see what type of signal I get at home with the ExpressCard! :) We get "all the bars" on our personal cell phones (and actually have a tower within walking distance of our house out in the boonies-lol) so I don't think it should be a problem.
HTH some. :)
No that is not an option...sm
They told us if we fixed it up just to sell it then we would have to split it 50/50 with my husband's sister - even though she would not be putting any money or any effort into it anyhow. A few people have looked at this house when they were trying to sell it for $5k - yes just $5k - but noone would buy it. It is horrible shape. When we told his dad yesterday, before the fight between ourselves, that we were not taking it - his snide remark was "That's just more money in my pocket." You cannot win with his parents involved. I know they are his parents and I respect that and try to hold my tongue. Eventually his parents will lead to our divorce and that is what saddens me the most.
Another option...
Wristies work well, too. They're just fleece gloves with the fingers cut out, so they don't offer a lot of support, but they sure keep your hands/wrists warm. I got mine from plowandhearth.com.
there is another option
When I sold my house...I went with a flat fee company. I paid a flat fee for them to list my house on the MLS, put up a sign and give me a lock box, help me price the house right, and go over any offers.......
The flat fee was considerably less then what a commission would have been. She was a licensed agent with a lot of knowledge.
I was responsible for showing the house. Getting the inspection and some other miscellaneous paperwork and an agent usually does.
I think there is a national chain called Help-U-Sell (too expensive for me), but there are sometimes local small companies that do this as well.
Option 2
I don't want to go back to hourly.
Another option would be to
receipt to the practice getting your money back faster than writing it off at the end of the year, but I just figure that ink and paper are part of my expenses. That is a small price to pay as opposed to what you'd spend to look for a new account.
Furthermore, if this office is looking to slash, it may get worse for this IC in that she may lose the account regardless as the practice could go paperless with an online company for probably half of the cost they pay her.
Another option
You could look into Ameriplan's discount health and/or dental plans.
I'm an IC with no insurance and use the dental plus plan (which includes vision, Rx and chiropractic). I pay $14.95 a month for the plan and save $84 a month on my two monthly prescriptions.
Some people prefer insurance to discount plans, and it's up to the individual and their preferences on whether or not a discount health plan would work for them.
Depending on the plan, the monthly cost ranges from $14.95 a month to $59.95 a month. With these plans, you save up to 80% on all dental and medical fees.
You can get an idea of what providers are in your area and their fees by going to:
http://providersearch.ameriplanusa.com/
If you want more info, here's a website:
http://www.mybenefitsplus.com/mkj
Again, it's a discount plan and not insurance, and some people would prefer actual insurance, but I'm personally happy with them because the monthly cost is cheap and I get what I need. You can email me if you want more info (I'm an MT but also a rep for Ameriplan on the side) :)
Well she has been given that option...sm
but has heard that they run out of work a lot at Spheris and offshore most of the good work. Someone she knows works there and is going broke. This person who works at Spheris said one day she only got to work 2 hours and she is supposed to be full time. My friend has the problem that she makes $46,000 a year, and her budget is set to that amount. If she doesn't make that she said she can't pay her bills. She doesn't think she can make close to $50,000 at Spheris. There aren't many places you can make that kind of money.
to blank or not blank
I've taken tests like that before, and, yes, they seem impossible but point is to stick it out and put all the blanks that are needed because that is the point, to see if you will blank it or guess something st*pid. They know what the dictation is like. I recently took a test where one voice file was horrendous. I had a ton of blanks but I got the job. The other 3 files I still had blanks too. Then again, on the flip side, I've tested for places that had tests like that too and were indicative of their regular dictation, so you had to just test it out and see for yourself because you might be pleasantly surprised that it's not so bad.
Thanks. Vonage may be my only option around
nm
You have provided that option already. (SM)
When you posted, you filled in your e-mail address in the e-mail field. It activates a Reply By E-Mail option for those who want to e-mail you. Your e-mail address will not be revealed even when they e-mail you. If you reply to the e-mails you receive, then your e-mail address will be revealed by your own reply.
Onesuite is an option with MDI? - sm
I used it when I started working for them, but didn't know I would continue using it?
DNS gives you the option of attaching it to the
word processor you are using; however, in your case, if you are working through a network (I'm assuming it is a stripped version of Word?), it may not attach due to restrictions placed on it by your company. I may be wrong, you could try it. I would plan on spending 16 hours of training per physician to get it up to a point that would benefit you. Yes, that is a huge investment on your part. I'm not trying to be negative but if you are a slow typist, how computer saavy are you? Unless you really know how operating systems work, you could end up being very frustrated. Also you would need to train DNS to recognize all the medical terminology in your spell check unless you buy their terminology module (which is very limited).
IMHO, you would be better off getting an abbreviation system as the learning curve is much less and it would be more portable if you changed jobs. If you are a slow typist, an abbreviation/expansion program is invaluable to improving your line count. I have used Dragon on my own computer when I did not work through someone's platform and it really worked well for me but I had help from BG and a very good computer skills knowledge base.
d~
Possible Option for Acne
I always see the commercial for Proactiv solution on television, maybe you may want to give that a try. The commercial was originally hosted by Vanessa Williams.
Offshoring is still an option
I am working in an offshore MT company and our US client is happy with the result of our transcription work. To those against offshoring, do not be greedy. Have the heart to share! ... PLEASE check your spelling, it's "REQUEST" not "REQUIST."
Dial up is my only option
Believe me, if I could get cable or DSL I would. There is a rumor that a wireless internet tower will be going up in a few months. I have also considered satelite. I will just have to see how my companies platform works with dial up and then I will probably get satelite or the wireless because it will be cheaper, but it won't be here for another few months if it is approved by the county.
Thanks
INMT
Dial-up is my only option too
I'm in the same boat but I refused to go onto DQS/DEP after a disastrous experience trying to move over in 2004 - using dial-up. Some MTs have been able to make it work, I was not. It was a production nightmare. I was told by techs very clearly that DQS/DEP is not designed for dial-up and requires broad band (high speed) to be efficient. The company is keeping some dial-up accounts for those of us who this is our only option. I posted this before not long ago - there are plenty of accounts that ARE going to DEP/DQS and that is company goal (to have all accounts on DEP) but there are accounts being kept for dial-up only MTs. Check with your supervisor. My current dial-up account is moving over to DEP next month. I will have to transfer to another office in order to go to another dial-up account (that will NOT be moving over to DEP). I don't know the office because... I have a PS who does not respond to emails and phone calls, so I'm working on that aspect... Good luck.
Save as option
I do not use Word, but is there a save as option? From there it may give you options as to what type of file to save as. I think if you choose something like a text file, it may get rid of formatting, but not sure.
Do you have an option on your computer
of restoring back to a certain date? I used to use this all the time. You choose a date back when you know the file was working and it restores your system to that point.
A very low cost option without having to
spend a lot of money on hand held units is EZ-Voice. We offer a toll free call in solution for 9 cents per minute REGARDLESS of how many or how few minutes you need per month. We also offer FTP server space. Click on the link below to learn more...
This is actually the option of the employer. Some
want the name in there and it is there responsibility to redact the report should information need to be released. It is not our responsibility as a Transcriptionist to make this determination. Always check with the "boss" for clarification on this.
Okay, thanks, really need a slider option here
nm
QA position better option?
I know this was discussed to some degree recenty, but I can't seem to find the posts now.
For someone having trouble making line counts, is a QA position a better option?
What is the pay like, and are there any quotas? What all (typically) comes with this type of position? It would seem that it might be very stressful as far as all the blanks left due to horrible dictators and such.
Due to various circumstances, my MT position is very stressful and nonlucrative right now. I really need a mental and financial break of some sort before I crack, and a QA position might be an option.
Information and advice greatly appreciated! 
A really good option...sm
if you can afford it ~ and I know it can get expensive ~ is have the massage first and then an adjustment. I used to work in a chiropractor's office and she has a massage therapist right in the office and lots of people would see the massage therapist first and then have their adjustment. I did that, too, a few times and it really makes the adjustment easier because the muscles are all relaxes.
I see my chiropractor every 2 weeks since I started working full time. I feel so much better after an adjustment. And she is a Palmer graduate as well.
Nope. We were given the option of
telling the court how we felt, but there is nothing anyone can do about it now.
On our platform, you have the option of
whether to accept the edited version or not. If you choose not to accept the recognition document and edit it, you can transcribe it from scratch and are paid the straight transcription line rate for those lines.
What platform will you be working on? Maybe it is the same way.
Thanks, but unfortunately this individual has no other option.
She uses wireless high-speed now for internet and her company has told her that their new platform won't work with that. She's "a little bit country", so has no cable or DSL service.
Personally, I would blank it. You should
the spelling and for other reasons, i.e. privacy, I think it would be a good idea. Some tests I've taken have asked me to put in three underscores __ __ __ when items bleeped for confidentiality. Even if not asked to, I think that's the way to go IMHO ...
Since you had a bad ESL did you blank or put what it sounded like?
x
Blank emails-me, too
I have always used Spybot and Adware SE, but read they sometimes miss things, so I just bought NoAdWare. Was I surprized at the stuff it found compared to the other ones (including Norton AntiVirus, and my server software)! I had 4 "dangerous" and 92 "severe" the very first day...that have been on my system for quite a while.
Since then, I have also been receiving blank emails. I'm now up to 5 every time I receive my mail. I've been getting a lot of junk mail all of a sudden and have no idea why. My favorites are winning the lotteries. If I believed them, I would have a bankroll of well over $100,000,000,000. The other ones where I am named in someone's will. Love it. Dream on. 
Don't know what to say or what else to do about it without changing my email addess again, and I sure don't feel like doing that. I just did change it 3 months ago.
In my experience, if you don't know for sure, blank it. sm
It doesn't happen to often with my line of work as I only do clinic notes. I do know which drugs are used for what and the differences between similar sounding drugs. I have reference materials to help if I don't quite understand the pronounciation, as long as I have been given a particular diagnosis for which the drug is used.
If I am completely unsure (i.e. med list for PMH with no given symptoms or diagnosis) I ask or leave a QA note. That is much safer than putting the wrong med in the patient's record and that is the extent of what MT's should be expected to do.
As far as the doctor dictating the wrong side of the body for any reason whatsoever, there is no way an MT could possibly determine in a case of it being left rather than right. In the event of a dictator switching between left and right, that is a red flag to leave a note that simply says, "dicatator is indicating left and then right but does not clarify by end of note."
When my son had his mastoidectomy a year ago, the surgeon came in and drew a big blue circle around his left ear and looked at me and said, "This is the ear that I am operating on. This is his left ear. Are you in agreement with me that I have the correct ear that needs surgery?" Well, I kind of chuckled a little bit as my son looked rather strange at the moment and the doc said, very nicely: "In all seriousness, we are human and we do make mistakes, but I don't wish to make a mistake with your little boy."
No Blank Accounts sm
I heard about this but it sounds kinda strange. Anyone ever run into this kind of account? How do you not leave blanks if you don't know what they are saying?
blank lines also
When I started my surgical/oncology account 6 years ago, the gal that had been doing it charged for blanks, from first line to the last line on letters, consults, etc. All blanks were counted so I just continued, the OM, docs are well aware of it. Also, that is why my cpl is lower than others also, it usually averages out in the wash.
Screen blank for me too.
nm
Take out all blank lines
Go through and take out all blank lines and count or put on your line count on your file and see how many blanks there are and subtract. Remember if you have a header though on pg 2 and 3, it does not count those lines. Also I think that Sylcount will count lines only and no blanks. Also when doing your line count in MS word, it gives you the paragraphs and so if it is 20, subtract 20 lines, date to address is 4, address to RE is 2, RE to salutation is 2, etc. Usually there are ten blanks from date to Dear. Good luck.
Always flag/blank something so odd it is likely
x
Mine will go to QA if I have a blank.....sm
I do sometimes put that in though.
oh, the dreaded blank
I always do much better filling in the blanks if I don't stress too much over it, finish the report, and go back and listen again after the report is finished. So often the blank can be figured out with the context of the rest of the report available. 
oh, the dreaded blank
I always do much better filling in the blanks if I don't stress too much over it, finish the report, and go back and listen again after the report is finished. So often the blank can be figured out with the context of the rest of the report available.
oh, the dreaded blank
I always do much better filling in the blanks if I don't stress too much over it, finish the report, and go back and listen again after the report is finished. So often the blank can be figured out with the context of the rest of the report available.
Me, too, but getting pregnant is no longer an option.
I wish I'd never started up again after 8 years without smoking.
No, it means you will have the option of offering it
to the next highest bidder if the original high bidder does not pay. Usually you will just leave it there until item is paid for and shipped. It's really just in case the first deal doesn't go through.
Nicer option inside sm
Why make the cashier feel awkward for simply trying to be nice?
Mother's Day doesn't have to be about being a mom. It can also be about YOUR mom. Accept the cheer to have a nice day and HAVE a nice day!
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