Looking for conversion/comparison chart sm
Posted By: MT on 2006-12-14
In Reply to:
I'm getting paid gross lines right now and my company is going to be using new software which will use 65-char lines. I'm looking for some sort of chart that shows the difference in $.
Any help will be gratly appreciated.
Thanks 
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conversion
When I first started, it took about an hour to do 10 minutes of dictation. Now I can do 10 minutes of dictation in about 20 to 30 minutes, depending on if I had to do the demographics, research medications or words, or locate doctors addresses. I would say a good average would be 20 minutes for 10 minutes of dictation. Good luck. I also would offer to take some work, if he would agree. I could use a little extra for a month or so. thanks. KPS
Conversion of wav files - sm
I got a wav file that opens into Windows Media. I want to be able to get this into my Express Scribe. Is that possible and if so, how?
Thanks for ANY help.
Conversion of WAV files
Yes, you should be able to play the WAV file in Express Scribe. What you need to do is find where the WAV file is located (such as c:, which file folder, etc. etc.) If you don't know where the file is located, try using windows explore and search that way. You will then need to open up Express Scribe and do a MANUAL load. This will give you the opportunity to specify where the file is located. You should then be able to find the file and load it. You may, while in windows explorer want to move the file to a location that is easy for you to remember,thereby making it easier to load in Express Scribe. I've had the same thing happen to me several times...it's frustrating until you get the hang of it. HTH.
autocorrect conversion to SH
I have version 8.7, below is what I found in the HELP file. For a different version, go to your HELP file and the INDEX tab, type in AUTOCORRECT and then hit DISPLAY for the instructions. When I first started using SH 10 years ago, it worked for me. I never use the autocorrect any more.
SHCNV - ShortHand File Converter Utility
Run the SHCNV utility by choosing “Run File Converter” from Shorthand’s File menu.
SHCNV is a utility to convert MS Word (Versions 6.0, 95, 97 and 2000) AutoCorrect entries, PRD+, Abbreviate!, Smartype, formatted ASCII text files and older Shorthand (v4.x and earllier) dictionaries to the Shorthand 8.x dictionary format. Files created by Shorthand 5.x through 7.x do not need to be converted to Shorthand 8.x. This utility can also be used to merge two Shorthand 8.x dictionaries.
This would be a very inaccurate conversion.
A timed test will give you wpm for that type of skill. In truth, you probably type about 25 to 35 wpm when transcribing. Not your fault and you are not slow. You have to take time to change jobs, to spell check, look up words, listen to the pauses, go back and make changes, etc.
In a timed test, you do a straight 5 minutes of typing and its over.
When hiring people to complete forms, such as admission data, intake data, motor vehicle info, etc., the managers are much happier hiring someone who types slower but has 100% accuracy, because you cannot achieve over 25 wpm typing a form.
If you type 60 wpm (which is considered slow by those who know nothing but the wpm rate), and could maintain that for 8 hours, you would be transcribing 360 lines per hour, or 2800 lines per 8 hour shift without the use of an Expander or macros. I doubt there are many of us that can actually do that.
There are free typing tests that are timed on the internet. Take one of those and see how you do.
Thanks for the comparison..
They sound one in the same.
A little comparison.
Option A: National: Two hours of emails, faxes, unpaid headers, using expander. Total income $9.60 in two hours.
Option B: Small MTSO: One hour of straight typing with only one researched name and address. No emails, no faxes, paid headers, no expander. Total income $20.00 in one hour. I just wish they had more work!!!!
Comparison
I think there are some variables here. Our company went to VR and there are some who are making more and some less. I am one of those who is making less, but I made a good salary to begin with and am a fast transcriptionist. If you do a lot of editing when you do straight transcription and put in lots of punctuation, and edit A LOT, changes are VR is not going to work for you. I love it, but then again, it all depends on what platform of VR your company uses.
Typing speed conversion
Does anyone know the formula for converting lines per hour to words per minute?
Free audio conversion...
It might be a trial thing, and I can't remember but is works extremely well and is an easy step-by-step thing.
http://www.nch.com.au/switch/plus.html
Glossary conversion question...would appreciate ANY help! sm
I have been using Instant Text for quite a few years, but wanted to switch to Stedman's Smart Type. My co-worker uses it on the same account and is doing on average 50 lines per hour more than me. She and I type about the same speed so I'd at least like to give it a try.
Does anyone know if it is possible to convert my IT glossary into Smart Type? I guess I'm an old dog, but I just can't bring myself to start from scratch with a new glossary. Thank you!
Conversion programs (see message)
If you have an Expander program for WP5.1 (DOS?), there might be conversion macros available on line that could import your list into AutoCorrect/Text with possibly some clean up required. I still have my old DOS PRD Productivity Plus that I used a few years ago and was able to convert it into ShortHand (currently use), which I have in turn imported into AutoC/T (and vice versa) when needed.
High-speed conversion
see link.
Pricey. Maybe there's a cheaper one out there. Guess it would depend how much of this kind of work you'll be doing.
d
what a perfect comparison
If I had pictured you as anybody that would have been the perfect choice, quirky, funny and cute in the boy next door way.
that is a ridiculous comparison!
dogs, birds, cats, etc are all different animals that required different diets and have different needs. You can't even compare 1 dog breed to another b/c every breed has its different needs, so that being the case, how can you possibly compare dogs to birds?? That is just ridiculous.
I posted a comparison...
within the last week here on the Main Board (MTSO ratings) that shows how the clients of some of the top MT companies who offshore rate the quality of both onshore and offshore transcription. There really was not a big difference, according to those clients, between the quality of both.
Does anyone know where I can find a conversion table for cpl rates?
Like if you make 13 c/70 character line how to figure what that would be at a 60 character line, etc. Thanks for the the help.
You need to download the conversion pack from Microsoft
website and then you should be able to convert your documents. Not sure if it will convert from Word 2003 or 2007 to WP5.1; however, WP5.1 can be converted to Word 2003 and higher.
There are sound file conversion utilities out there
that you can download for free. I actually used to have the opposite problem; the doc sent me WMA files which uploaded fine but wouldn't play without glitches, so I used to convert them to WAV files (which worked well). The program I used was called BeeThink. I never actually tried to use it to convert in the opposite direction, so I am not sure it will work for that, but it's worth a try.
http://www.beethink.com/AudioConverter.htm
Cents pay comparison for VR editing
Non-VR (IC) at 10 cents/line x 200 lines/hr. = $20 / hr.
VR editing (IC) at 5 cents/line x 400 lines/hr. = $20/hr. (a 0% increase)*
Non-VR MTSO charge at 15 cents/line x 200 lines/hr. = $ 30/hr.
VR MTSO charge at 15 cents/line x 400 lines/hr. = $ 60/hr. (a whopping 100% increase)
If you deduct the $20 to the MT from $30, MTSO still makes $10 per hour per MT.
If you deduct the $20 to the MT from $60, MTSO now makes $40 per hour per MT.
(of course these figures do not include MTSO overhead and other costs)
*Note: VR editing requires MTs with extensive experience for detecting and correcting errors.
office lighting comparison
Everyone's talking about the compact fluorescent lighting saving hundreds of per year in energy costs. That's swell, but I have tried using these bulbs in my office, and the lighting is not at all adequate. In my experience, the CFLs do not come close to light output of incandescent (standard) bulbs. I'd have to buy extra lamps with CFLs to equal the amount of light I need and can get through standard bulbs. I have my office lights on for 10+ hours a day. I turn them off when I take a break, of course, and at the end of the day. However, my power bill is through the roof already, as Ameren has dumped another rate increase on Illinois.  So: Need the best lighting option for the lowest price possible. Any ideas?
Wow, I did a line count comparison...sm
what one of my accounts paid me for and what my other account would have paid me for with their counter and only came up with a 15% difference. A 50% difference is pretty hard to stomach. I have no ideas except for some really crooked software.
Conversion program for digital sound files - sm
A long time ago I saw a listing regarding a program that would convert sound files, ex. dss to wav; etc. I need to convert a .dvf file to .wav. Any ideas?
Great comparison! Just like dogs, we have to train our men!!
It might take years, but it does pay off in the end!  Been training mine for 30+ years now, and he's about halfway there! But I would sure boot his butt out if he cheated - and he knows it!
I work for both ... my comparison (LONG READ):
HOURS/CLASSIFICATION:
MQ: You have a choice of FT with full benefits -- 39-40 hours producing average of 150 lines/hour minimum; FT with limited benefits -- 39-40 hours with less than 150 lines/hour average but more than 100 lines/hour; PT with limited benefits for 8-16-24 hour schedules all averaging 100 lines/hour.
Spheris: FT is 37 to 40 hours a week, with 10,200 lines required by payperiod's end. PT is 20 to 36 hours a week, production is 5100 lines/payperiod minimum.
OVERTIME:
Both companies structure overtime the same way; averaged in the same manner; requires approval, must be in addition to 40 hours WORKED (PTO, DT do not count).
SCHEDULES:
Both require a schedule with the offer of "flexibility".
TIME:
MQ: Time sheets are used; MTs fill them in manually and submit.
SPHERIS: Galaxy is used -- you clock in and the system punches your time for you. Day's end, you see how much you've worked and allocate your time accordingly (productive time, PTO, meeting with mgrs, etc.).
BENEFITS:
MQ: You see the benefits in the Harmonization booklet. The employee's cost of insurance benefits is assigned by the state you live in (as well as which/if coverages are available to you).
SPHERIS: Med/Den/Vision are offered. Employees all pay the same amount for amount of coverages (EX: All employees wanting EMPLOYEE ONLY coverage pay the same; all wanting EMPLOYEE+ONE CHILD pay the same). It is available to all employees. Cost is not region-specific.
EQUIPMENT:
MQ: Use your own or they will provide. The current rental charges will no longer be effective in January; as well, the internet reimbursements will not either. I don't know if there will be a deposit for those just coming into the company after Jan 1.
SPHERIS: Must use their computers. No rental fee but there is a refundable deposit. You can pay it at once or have it taken out in 6 paychecks. Refunds to you when equipment is returned in good working order.
PTO:
MQ: You see the new PTO offered in the plan and can read online the PTO calculation formula.
SPHERIS: Same type of calculation formula; averaged quarterly and you receive a notice of what your new downtime/PTO rate is and what period it covers. Limit is $20 an hour tops for PTO. Lowest is $7.50. Amount of PTO depends on status and length of service and ranges for FT from 11 days to 21 days a year and PT 2.5 to 7.5 days a year.
HOLIDAYS:
MQ: You can read in the Harmonization booklet.
SPHERIS: Thanksgiving and Christmas are designated holidays. If you are scheduled to work on it, you can take PTO instead. If you work it you will earn double lines those days.
QUALITY:
Both require 98%.
PAY CYCLES:
MQ: Pay WEEK is Su-Sat; pay PERIOD is bimonthly 1-15th and 16th-end of month with paydates on 10th and 25th. Direct deposit available.
SPHERIS: Pay weeks are same as pay periods and are Su-Sat with every other Fridya as paydates. Direct deposit available.
BASE RATE:
MQ: With the new plan, you have your current base rate and it is the same on all work (unless you do part radiology or ASR).
SPHERIS: Your base rate depends on the level of the account you type on. If you type on a really easy account, you will get less pay; more difficult accounts, more pay. Each account level has a new-hire hourly associated with it. Levels go from level 3 to 10 with line rates 0.065 to 0.102. With Spheris, if your production earnings do not add up to at least minimum wage for the hours you worked, they will pay you minimum wage. However, you will not stay with them long if you cannot produce enough to keep you off the minimum wage payments.
INCENTIVE:
MQ: We know that incentive is achieved on a daily basis -- after you produce 1200 lines. Tiered so that you earn incentive ONLY on the lines produced AFTER 1200. It barely puts change in your pocket for mid-range producers. Only rewards high producers.
SPHERIS: Incentive is base on each week's production (Sun-Sat). So you can have a really bad week and only get your base and then next week have a great week and get incentive. Once earned, incentive applies to ALL lines typed and ranges depending on FT or PT status. FT: 5200 lines start at 0.002 and increases up to 7000+ lines getting 0.015 cpl incentive. PT: 2700 lines = 0.001 and increases up to 7000+ lines = 0.015 cpl. Whatever incentive you earn that week is applied to ALL LINES PRODUCED THAT WEEK. Spheris also has special teams that pay higher base rates.
SHIFT DIFF:
MQ: 11pm-7am = 0.01 and 3pm-11pm = 0.005
SPHERIS: 4pm-8am CST daily = 0.005.
NO WORK AVAILABLE:
MQ: This is not specifically addressed per se; however it is not listed under downtime definitions at all. I doubt MQ ever pays for no work situations.
SPHERIS: Has a policy: "MTs will not receive compensation for "No WOrk Available" situations. If an MT runs out of work, the MT should immediately notify their Supervisor or follow th eout of work situation guidelines for their team."
Hope that helps.
My comparison of homeschooling to MTing at home.
"A full-time job isn't finished in 3 hours (like the abbreviated day many homeschoolers boast about). It's about being there on time, sticking to it even though you may not feel like it, and getting along with people you may not care for, and avoiding those who are not good for you."
DANG! And that's why I got into medical transcription. LOL I didn't want to work fulltime or stick it out in an office. And that whole getting there on time thing, oh, I've never been good with that one.
What a dumb comparison - apples & oranges
Geez. A lot of people can't spell, and they sure as heck don't belong managing a QA department for medical transcription - correcting other people's mistakes!
Anyone using DirectTV- what are the pros and cons in comparison to cableTV? nm
nm
I have the most recent version of Corel WP, but it pales in comparison to (sm)
Microsoft Office Small Business 2000 (MSWord, Excel, Outlook, IE5.0. ) This software works as flawlessly as the day I purchased it. Patches never required. No hang-ups or crashes. The only alteration I have made to it, is that I am running the most current version of IE. However, most of the time I use a tabbed browser for my web experience.
.
Editing at home is tough. No comparison to the office, and much, much harder
than transcribing at home, especially with kids. Wish I could help, but I can totally sympathize with you!
I Chart
 Is anyone familiar with I chart dictaphone platform? If so, I would love feedback - negative or positive! Thanks!
chart
Thanks a million. The chart was there just way down on the page.
Fast Chart
Any info about Fast Chart?
Chart Notes
Was wondering if anyone could help me out. I need to see some example of different ways to set up chart notes. If anyone knows of a place on the net i can view these of would send me some blanked out that would be great!!!!!
Thanks,
Jackie
Can someone tell me Chart Script is? It is a
nm
Re: Chart Script
It's okay, we use it currently. But it crashes alot.
cut apart chart notes
Told you I was an old timer. I print on sticky paper so that they can stick the chart note into the chart one after another on a piece of paper. It is an 8.5 x 11 label. I print sometimes up to 3 to 4 patients on one sheet as I can and I cut apart the different patient chart notes so the gals in the office don't have to do them and they can be filed right onto the charts. Just an extra service I provide. Takes me 5 minutes to do about 20 pages for all my accounts.
Fast Chart, Inc.
Anyone work for Fast Chart or know anything about them?
why not? it's just key points of the chart ---
or chart condensed. anyone needing to know anything will go into the chart itself, including the courts.
Fast Chart
Does anyone have any information about Fast Chart? I applied for a position there and am curious to know if it is a good company.
Fast Chart
It could be better, but could be worse. Pay is low, but there seems to be plenty of work and pay is on time. They seem very friendly and tend to leave you alone to do your job.
QA may or may not be "friendly" but do not tell the QA anything that you don't want repeated to the owner. Pay attention to details and always confirm, in writing by email or otherwise, your understanding of anything important that is discussed in a phone call, especially with regards to the account assignment, pay and contract. For instance, you may be told that an account with XXX specialty is not available and then find them advertising within just a few days for that same specialty.
They seem to be a bit disorganized, with account specs being rather vague and incomplete.
They are very flexible and allow you to determine your own schedule monthly; however, they do require weekend work.
IMHO, Fast Chart is a pretty good company compared to some of the other choices in the industry right now.
Fast Chart
I have been at Fast Chart for a little over 2 years. I did start off at 6 cent typing 3 cent editing and worked my way up quickly. They pay headers, footers and spaces. The accounts are easy and the people are always available to answer questions. I know they do not send anything to india. The owner is adamant about keeping work in the US. The edit script platform I am on is so user friendly. I am so glad to have a job with consistent work and receive my money on time. I say go for it.
Fast Chart
Actually, I understood it a little differently. Fast Chart seems to have two fees. The $7.50 per pay period is if you do not commit to at least 13,000 lines per pay period. There's another larger fee if you do not reach your promised line count, based on the percent of your promised lines that you DO produce.
As an IC, wouldn't these fees be somehow tax deductible?
Fast Chart
Yep. And a friend of mine told me that she was chastised by the company President for communicating too much with the QA and other administrators by email. She asked too many questions. I guess they prefer her to figure it all out by herself and not bother them.
Power Chart
Is anyone familiar with this platform? Is it compatible with MS Word and Instant Text?
Thanks.
According to the line count chart - sm
at http://www.medicalese.org/line_count.html
.09 cents for a 65-character line = $138.46 per 100,000 characters typed, and .10 for a 75-character line = $133.33 per 100,000 characters.
So .09 and 65 characters is the better deal, benefits are icing on the cake.
Does I-chart have a good expander?
Anyone familiar with Dictaphone I-chart. I'm thinking of working for a company that uses this. Is it good for productivity. I have Word 2000. Is it compatible? Thanks in advance!
Here's a great chart at this link that should help - sm
http://www.medicalese.org/line_count.php
cut apart chart notes & I also emailed you
Hi Patti. when you say you cut chart notes what exactly are you referring to? Thanks.
Like Elaine, maybe you have a note in your chart about
2
Question on transcription by chart...
I have a doc I have been typing for for years. He HATES dictating lol Rt now he has stacks of patients on his desk and I am getting ready to go on vacation, but there is no way he will dictate before I leave. These would just be short orthopedic FUs, Im wondering if any of you have gone by the chart or the diagnosis and the prior note and typed a note for the patient. Does this make sense? lol Anyway any suggestions would be great.
Thanks!
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