Is there a Shorthand for dummies type of book?
Posted By: SH challenged on 2007-11-08
In Reply to:
I have ShortHand 10.0 through my company. I'm reading the instruction file on the computer and it makes no sense at all to me and I find reading it on the computer is hard because I can't see the full page. My company will not allow me to install a printer and I guess I could transfer the file to another computer using my flash drive, but it is 136 pages and I really would rather buy a book if there is such a thing.
I've spent about 2 hours browing Productivity Talk and there wasn't much information that was helpful and no mention of a book.
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Better than Word for Dummies is Cheryl Flanders' book.
www.cherylflanders.com
And no, I don't get anything for recommending it. It's just a great book for MTs that use MS Word.
Shorthand users: Is there a way to type a word, use a slash and then type another word..sm
immediately following the slash and have it expand. For example if I needed to transcribe mass/sebaceous cyst, is there a way to use my expanded sebaceous cyst without having to back space after I type the slash mark? TIA
Shorthand ? When I type the word I the
first letter in the next word is capped. There is no period so don't know why it caps. Anyone know how to fix it. I'm new to ShortHand and I really HATE it. My company offers a short class in it, but they want me to have more experience with it before I take the class.
If Smart Type is the same as Shorthand, I think it is, there should.....
not be a problem using it with any program, it works outside programs, meaning it should not interfere. I have used ShortHand for years and it has never interfered with any and I mean any program I have ever used. Hope this helps.
I think Speed type is the same as Shorthand, if so......
I have to use this formula for each heading. Example:
This is your text: {@KEY ctrl+b}CHEST{@KEY ctrl+b} the keyword is chestbx. Then it types out bolded.
What I do is save this formula for the next one, say chief complaint (you can always pull up an already done bolded text, like chestbx, my personal use, and copy it if you are typing along and want to put another one in) .
{@KEY ctrl+b}CHEST{@KEY ctrl+b} take out chest and put CHIEF COMPLAINT, then save. I use the as the keyword chestbx, the b is for bold and the x is just for protection.
if you need to bold and underline:
{@KEY ctrl+b}{@KEY ctrl+u}CHIEF COMPLAINT{@KEY ctrl+b}{@KEY ctrl+u} you have to COPY this, put it in text to type like this and save. Your keyword (as I said, mine is chestbx for just bold and I use chestbux, bold for bold, u for underline and x).
then when I type it out with the ccbx it types CHIEF COMPLAINT bolded or bolded and underlined.
Hope this helps.
Shorthand types 62%, I type 38%. nm
nm
aneurysm... love shorthand - just type anu and there it is...(NM)
xx
for Shorthand use a semi-colon with yo... ;yo so when you type 50;yo it will become
/
Paste this into your Shorthand "text to type" box
x{@KEY Shift+Ctrl+-}ray
This code will give you a nonbreaking hyphen. You can give it whatever keyword you want (I just use xr).
You can copy and paste the code between the {} into any shortcut where you want a nonbreaking hyphen. HTH! :)
It is an older DOS-type environment - works well with Shorthand. sm
Lots of menus, especially in radiology, but ShortHand helps you get through them very quickly is you write macros to just stop where you need to.
It can be very productive with good line counts if you are paid by the line.
Personally, I loved it, but that was because I did very well with our incentive program on it.
Smart Type, versus InstanText and ShortHand, etc.
I have used all of these. I hated ShortHand. Shortcut was not much of a short cut. Smart Type allowed me to type the most in the shortest length of time, end of the story. HOWEVER, Smart Type will limit your career since you can't use it in Windows and all these strange platforms that are out there.
InstanText versus Smart Type with the same library...only very slightly less production and I am not proficient with IT at all, not yet. I almost like IT better than ST because the order of expansions is static. ST for Word will rearrange it all for you each and every time you open it. I liked the DOS program a lot better and I can never have that back. As I am learning IT I am again becoming familiar with my shortcuts. I had gotten "sloppy" about typing my actual abbreviations because ST will let you type a couple of letters and you see the word in the line, space bar and it drops in. I am working more than one job so I have enough work and I use ST for one and IT for the other. The more I use IT the faster I am getting in both IT and ST. I am thinking that once I have adjusted the IT to the best possible fit for my needs I'll switch completely to IT.
Ladies, it is not really about the expander, it is about the library/glossary. If you only have a few hundred entries you are working way too hard. You need thousands of entries to maximize your efforts (I have about 22,000 of them). This is one of those times when it is different strokes for different folks.
There are many libraries/glossaries out there, some you can put into more than one program, some are program specific. Some are free and some you have to pay for (I give mine away). Get a good one, learn to use it, "think" in it and stick with it. That is how about any of them will pay off.
IT for Dummies??
I need advice from all you kind knowledgable ITers out there.
Do you substitue letters for numbers on glossary entries?
When I am typing and say I would like line 3, but line 10 has a 3 in it (example: oriented x3) line 10 will come automatically. Does anyone know of any way to avoid this.
I am new to IT but am afraid as I more entries it will create a problem. 
Thanks for your help and may God hold you in the palm of His hands!
Thanks so much! I see a Word for Dummies
Expanders for Dummies
Over the last several days I have been reading about Expanders on this board. A few names mentioned have been Mary Morten, Barb Grow etc. I do have IT but am still learning to use it. Many advised to Google ABCZ.
I am sure this is all good advice (always is), but I always wonder what in the world are people talking about.I am not new to transcription but I am new to production. My mother is seriously ill and I chose to work at home to avoid placing her in a nursing home. My pay is still VERY LOW and I look at these boards for help. I must admit, though, that most times the posts (not medically) are way over my head.
Can someone steer me in the right directon?
Thank you and may God hold you in the Palm of His Hand!! (green for Irish)
Check out "Transcription For Dummies"
Just saw this site today -- yet another scam. If you didn't know any better wouldn't that be a great way to work! Too sad.
http://transcriptionfordummies.com
Need help ASAP - websites that are similar to WordPerfect for dummies.
Went from working soley in Word for last 8 years to WordPerfect 8. Last time I worked in WP it was dos. I need quick tips, time savers, keyboard commands, that sort of thing. Need to get my speed up. Thanks.
Amen! A great IQ score is wonderful, but there are some dummies in the MT world!
x
Updating surgical references - new Stedmans Word Book, Tessier Surgery Book or others - best one in
nm
Just make a note in your book and go on. Every book I read you can find an error
or 2. Nobody is perfect. Lucky you only paid $60. New it is $80 or more.
I would buy book by Dog Whisperer. His TV shows covers things like this and would think his book mi
//
Quick Look Drug Book (book & CD/ROM)..sm..
Does anyone use both. I'm definitely getting the CD/ROM and am debating about buying both. I don't see any reason to have both but there could be something I don't know.
I noticed CD/ROMs are on backorder but they're selling downloadable versions. I can handle that.
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.
The Sted's Ortho & Rehab Words is probably my most used book and then the Lab Words book. GL! nm
s
Medical Word Book by Sloan, Surgical Word Book by sm
Tessier, Dorland's dictionary, BOS, and my very fave I think is now out of print but called Spellright by Rice.
don't type double spaces. Type single. Then no one will be cheated.
x
I can type with wine, can't type with coffee, though...too jittery.
x
That is, type the code above before and after what you want bolded in the text-to-type box. nm
nm
For me it isn't an account type but a dictator type ...
and that would be oriental. An oriental dictator (hahaha, that kind of sounds funny...hahaha) is the most challenging for me.
No, you don't type directly into ES. You type in Word -
or whatever their platform is, just like you did with your tapes.
Then you do your line count in Word or the platform.
You should type them. I usually type them in parentheses following the diagnosis.
x
remind me, type what they say, type what they say, type....
"He indicated that at the beginning of the year he complained of health problems recently but has gotten better." C'mon doc, which one is it?????
That would be a lab value, so I'd use a lab book. sm
I realize you're doing practice tapes so you're not going to have all the reference books. I personally rely on the internet as little as possible because there's a lot of false info out there....just because it's on the internet doesn't mean it's true! It's really impossible to do this job without your own set of reference books....MANY of them. For what you're doing today there is no one site that will answer all of your word questions.
book
Some of the websites are good, but the Stedman's book is the best.
Got that book
that's a big scam too. Don't waste your time or money.If you really want to see it, email me and I would be glad to share it. Sorry about the extra money thing...I have no ideas either but i would be interested in finding out more myself if anyones knows!
M-TEC is #1 in my book, followed by . . .
Andrews. Both programs are comprehensive, and many companies wave the standard 2-year experience requirement for grads of these schools. 
That IS the book!!! Thank you!
Too late though, I ordered the other one just in case too. LOL! Oooh I'm so excited! That book ROCKS!
Believe it or not, the book says (sm)
do not use Windex, but I doubt that made "chips". I bet what you are seeing are raised marks, not indented, if you know what I mean. Use the glass top cleaner, and book says a razor blade - yes, a razor blade. I use a sharp, straight little paring knife while the cleaner is on, and the stuff comes off. Good luck.
NEW MT - book for
I would have to say that anything for the new MT would be outdated before it ever goes to print. I think that "new MTs" are a thing of the past. With VR and editing, as well as outsourcing - this business is not anything like it was 18 years ago - or even 10 years ago - and I don't know that a book would be helpful to someone wanting to get into this business, because every year there are fewer MTs going to work - I believe that our days are numbered and could encourage anyone looking into MT to look into coding or some other aspect of hospital work - if they are dead set on working in the everychanging medical field. The days of the Prima Donna MT are gone forever.
MT book sm
I hate to agree but I must. The profession has changed greatly. I had a wonderful experience as an MT starting out and then as my own professional business in a business office. I was on the speaker's bureau for a community college. I told them I no longer wanted to encourage people to spend 2 years of their life getting a degree to do this work. Times have changed. Everyone is supposed to have a book in them though, so I hope you do well. I have thought of it myself many times, but now it would be more of a warning to probably stay away. Hate to be negative but things are changing and not necessarily for the better!
Log book
I am not required either to keep one but I am very thankful I do. I have had doctors looking for a job and I can refer to it on the date of service and tell him whether or not he dictated on that patient. Plus I keep track of my money to see if my pacheck matches the payroll. 
Name of Book
Is there a particular book by Stedmans for just "physical therapy?" Also, how do you like typing Physical Therapy?
Are you looking at the CD or the book?
I have not loaded the CD that came with it. My hard copy states "copyright 1995 and 2002", and is the second edition, which I assumed was the newest. It was the version my employer insisted I buy. If you have the same version as me, its very interesting (and scary) that some copies would be correct and some not!
OMG so its only MY book!?
I'm looking right at it as I type this, and its wrong in mine! This is really, really weird.
I'm looking at the book, not the CD!! nm
IMT book.
The Independent Medical Transcriptionist book is being updated, and the IMT5 version if due to be released in the Fall. FYI.
My Most Used Ref Book
Stedman's Ortho & Rehab Third Edition
SecondTessier Surgical Word Book Second Edition
Only using the book, so I don't know. Sorry. nm
s
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