Make sure the platform you are transcribing in supports these, many these days

• I just installed ShortHand. I need help! - shayles
  • Thanks for the replies everyone! - shayles (no msg)
  • Make sure the platform you are transcribing in supports these, many these days - kay
  • Typehow you want, c&p to shorthand & choose - what to type to have it insert in document. nm
  • Do you even have to do this? Most places just - use A1c just like it is. nm
  • Does your Word version let you make Macros? - hope this helps
  • I'm no SH expert but you can make - me

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Does anyone recommend a certain kind of wrist support to prevent carpal tunnel syndrome?  It looks like there are so many to choose from.

and with the wrist rest attached it puts my fingers/hands/wrists at an angle that isn't comfortable for me. 

use, i.e. women who do a lot of crochet work have some elastic stretch wrist supports.  I used them once when I was pretty new to typing 8 hours at a time when my hand muscles were weak and my fingers had a mind of their own.  I haven't used them for years, but I did like them.  I thought to try these out http://www.scriphessco.com/itemdetail.asp?cat=313106&MENU=313106&item=705+0002   Also note that pain in the hands can be caused by pressure on the ulnar nerve (right under the elbow at the forearm) eventually, which can be relieved by using a down-feather filled pad you can make yourself (not goose feather, but actual goose down).  I know one gal who had her ulnar surgical relocated. 

There are other things to look out for, like pain in the hips, lower back, neck, shoulders, ....

Keep track of me via E-mail if you like. 

If a MTSO advertises that the MT works in MS Word and sends dictation by FTP, does this usually mean there will be no demographic/doctor database and the demographics will not be autopopulated?

I got into a mess with a small company (got out real quickly too).  I was required to print out daily email copies of the doctors' office patient schedules (which were barely legible) and type in all information.  I spent more time hunting for the correct patient through pages and pages of these schedules.  Then I had about 25 pages worth of doctor's names that I would have to go through to find the attending, referring, etc.  A total waste of time as I didn’t get paid for that. 

I wish MTSO would give more information as to what platform they use (if any).  Proprietary software is such a generic, totally useless description.  Would they buy a new car that listed, "Car has gasoline operated motor?" 

And for Pete's sakes, why so secretive about the pay?  Give a ballpark figure.  Just say, pay is between 7-12 cpl depending on skill, testing, etc. Tell me if you pay for spaces, headers, etc.  It would save them time because I wouldn’t even apply for a 7 cpl job. 

Before I spend an hour or two testing, I need more information from a company to be sure it is compatible for my needs.  If the MTSO would spend a little time on their website detailing their platform, how they send/receive files, pay rates,  how line rate is determined (spaces/no spaces) employee/IC/SE status, minimal line count, whether work pools consist of 100s of doctors, or smaller pools with 25-50 doctors etc.   Having all this information on their website would save them time and the MTs time.   Phoenix Medcom has a really good layout describing pretty much everything an MT would want to know before testing with them.  I am just tired of testing with a company and then finding out the job wasn’t exactly suited to my needs. 

I've been working for MTSOs for years now, using their templates which sometimes cause productivity problems (macro issues, etc). I'm wondering if productivity is increased when working on a structured platform, such as one that a national company provides for its transcriptionists?  I've never used a platform, but it would seem that all one needs to do is straight type onto the screen and the platform program takes care of margins, page breaks, etc?

Any thoughts (as well as companies who are hiring who use platforms) would be appreciated.  Thanks

I will type a word out of nowhere, it's like my fingers are typing without any thought behind it. 

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Does anyone have any experience with this?  My family is involved in different activities that involve traveling two or three times a week with at least an hour's commute one way or more.  I hate to sit and twiddle my thumbs while traveling when there is work that could be done.  Is it possible?  Have to download internet files from my national.  Could I do that with a cell phone?  Any help at all would be much appreciated!

Can anyone tell me if it is possible to transcribe from a CD and use a USB foot pedal to play back?  I have been asked to transcribe a documentary and I am not very savvy when it comes to things like this (applications), so any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

your transcription skills will most certainly qualify you for an Administrative Assistant/secretary position for the Military. I started as a GS-4 in Aug 04. Got promoted to a GS-5 in Aug 05 and now am lead secretary in an office of 50 people. I get an automatic promotion to a GS-6 in Aug 06. On top of the all the benefits, they are going to pay for my degree too. I know a lot of people complain about Federal jobs, but mine has been a blessing all the way around.

Moving to Idaho soon, would like to type for doctor's office..Any idea how I can find out how to go about this.  Where would I look to find out particulars.  Working for outsource now but do NOT want to get into that situation again..Too many confusing signals.

You know how they say sometimes your dreams are your brain's way of finding solutions to problems?  I find that when I am transcribing my brain does the best thinking.  Yes, I am focused on what I am typing but I find that all sorts of ideas/solutions just pop in my head while I am transcribing--things that have absolutely nothing about what I am typing.  Can't tell you how many times I think about what to plan for dinner, etc.  I wonder if it is because I slow down enough and am still in one spot that my brain is finally able to focus.  Or maybe it is because I am so focused on my typing that my brain has room to think of other things too. Does anyone else do that? 

Whenever I am working I think of cooking and cleaning. Then when dinner time rolls around I have already cooked and done all my housework (in my mind only) and am ready for bed.  I call this mind-cooking, or mind-cleaning.  Sometimes it is only place where I can find peace.  Isthat how you feel?

Someone's life is placed in my hands when I sit down to transcribe. One letter out of the way such as an "a" could change the meaning of someone's medical diagnosis. One slip of a wrong medication or dosage and the patient could die. We all know when docs get used to us getting things right, they don't even read what they sign. One pass-over of a word that we don't want to take the time to look up could kill a patient. Don't tell me to lighten up, please. That's your excuse! I have had an anaphylactic reaction to a medication. If someone decided to skip over this or whatever  - I could die, yes, DIE! I would no more drink and transcribe than play Russian roulette with an infant. Sorry, it's probably what you don't want to hear, but I would not want you NEAR my medical history. I once had a student skip over an allergic reaction and instead of looking up the name of it she just typed "the dye". When I caught her on it, she shrugged her shoulders as if it didn't mean a thing. She just wanted to get her line count in, looking things up took away from her $$$.

Please take me seriously, it's worse than drinking and driving. It's a serious, serious thing to do. Alcohol definitely affects judgement and makes you sloppy. Slop and medical transcription do not go together. I don't want to kill anyone tonight, do you? If you want to drink, that's your business, but don't drink and type someone's medical record! Don't bother responding for me to "lighten up" because anyone with half a brain knows I'm right! If you drink constantly, then you're still "drunk" when you get up in the morning, coffee does NOT sober you up. That's BS.

 Put the plug in the jug!