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Need advice please re: formatting transcription test

Posted By: reports. sm on 2009-02-24
In Reply to:

It's been a long time since I had to do this.  I've been given a couple of report types to do.  The first appears to be a discharge summary.  Should I just type in the headings the way I "think" they should be based on how I was taught in the past?? 


Also, is it best to transcribe verbatim or try to make the test report look as professional as possible (like we would be expected to when on the job)?  As far as listed items are concerned, i.e. medications.....The old MT in me wants to number them.  Is that acceptable?   I'm really concerned with trying to format the report based on how I "think" they would want me to. 


I would appreciate any helpful advice anyone is willing to share!!




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I agree 100%. Test questions on formatting or
anything else should not be asked on a forum of any kind. You need to research and find the answers for yourself on a test and not rely on people here to do the work for you.
Thank you. Thank you. I was able to test last night because of your advice. nm
/
Arrange for her to take a transcription test. NM
x
medical transcription test
If I am taking a transcription test from an employer and the dictator dictates physician names in the report, do I phonetically spell the name out or put a line for a blank?
I'd be happy with just a transcription test
How 'bout a test just on your transcribing skills that can also test your knowledge on spelling, abbreviations, punctuations, etc.?  What I don't like are those MTTest.com things that are pages and pages of definitions, abbreviations, punctuation and all that, and THEN the transcription part comes.  Can't we roll this all into one??
She is wanting to take a transcription test without
having to log into a company site (in which case she will be graded).  She just wants practice. 
Just did that kind of test for a transcription position about a month ago.
Interesting how they can tell whether you are qualified for a transcription position that requires you to listen to someone talking from a timed typing test where you type from a piece of paper. Urgh. Needless to say . . . I didn't get the job :(
At-home transcription advice
Hi! I'm a fulltime, working Transcriptionist with a Certificate in Medical Transcription from a local, accredited schoool and nearly 4 years of Clinic experience. I want to keep my fulltime clinic job but I would also like to start up my own at-home transcription part-time for extra income. I was hoping somebody could give me a little advice about start-up equipment and supplies/cost if any. I'm not looking for my own accounts, just working for/contracting with a company on here PT for right now.
Need some advice please on best way to learn new types of transcription
Hi everyone! I have been transcribing for 8 years, mostly radiology, some gross pathology, and noninvasive cardiac studies. I would love to learn a new type of transcription, maybe Acute Care? Can anyone please point me in a good direction? I've almost completed my AA and have taken medical terminology, a&p I and II and labs, and am very familiar with the medical language. Does anyone know of a company that will train me and pay me (a lower rate of course) to learn something new? Thank you so much for your advice in advance!!
Advice on contacting a doctor regarding doing their transcription -sm
I used to work for a small MTSO that did his transcription.  I no longer work there because of not being paid for the work that I have done.  I am still owed over $400.  I never signed any contract with her so there is no noncompete clause.  I would like to do his work as I have done it in the past and I would like him to call me before he goes with another company.  Any advice on how I should handle this would be appreciated.  I have never been here before.  Thanks. 
Internet based transcription - need advice on how to go internet
Can anyone offer any help/advice on how go about becoming internet based from a call in system, or how to keep the call in system for the docs and put transcriptionists on the internet?  Not sure where to start to get information on how to go about doing this. Any help will be appreciated.  Thanks.
It's a test in progress to measure what MTs know and what type of test to give for the SM
different levels of MTs.  It's over $90.  That's a lot of money to pay to someone who is giving these tests for research as to what type of testing should be done for the different levels of MT.  The AAMT will probably take the results and make a test that they can give in India or the Phillipines or some other foreign country. 
tuning fork test: Is it about a hearing test? .See inside
A whisper is about 20 dB
Loud music (some concerts) is around 80 to 120 dB
A jet engine is about 140 to 180 dB

Hope I could help
XML formatting - does anyone know how....sm
to create a double space after punctuation that holds and doesn't get stripped in XML?   Thanks!
formatting
Generally, if you don't have to identify the speakers by name or if there are several speakers -- just start a new paragraph with each change of speaker.  Or, if it is a question/answer type of interview, you can put Question and Response as headings on each new paragraph.  I've even done them with Male and Female headings to identify speakers when the company didn't want them identified by their names.  Good luck.  
Formatting

I have a few questions about formatting:


If more than 1 presciption is dictated should it be seperated with a period or a comma? For example: Prozac 100 mg. , Provigil 200 mg.


 


Thanks


Angie


SH bold formatting and others
In the "Dictionary Text [Add]" dialog box, as you
are entering in the "Text to Type", when you need
to add special formatting, you simply tap Ctrl-K, and
add the keystroke commands applicable to your
word processor to change to the desired font.
For example, Microsoft Word uses Ctrl+B to
enable/disable bold face. So to simulate bold text
with ShortHand in Microsoft Word, you simply need
to simulate the Ctrl+B keystroke. When you are done
your word(s) that are bolded will look like this:

{@KEY--Ctrl+B}your text{@KEY--Ctrl+B}.

When you actually type the key (as you transcribe)
Shorthand will automatically/instantly enter all the
special function keys that you have entered, and
your text will come out formatted.

You can use the same concept to add any formatting codes to your Shorthand text, including underlining, italicizing, changing font styles and/or font sizes. You can also add tabs, change margins, etc.

Try thi out and if you have any problems with this, post another message.

ask about that and formatting b4 you start -nm
.
Not a medical typing test but this website can test you..

It's called www.typingtest.com


Atleast it will give you an idea.. Sadly, I had to take it twice before I passed it LOL


Why would they do a microalbumin test when she has the period? A lot of test s will come out wrong
Why would they do a microalbumin test when she has the period? A lot of tests will come out wrong.
Neer's test is a shoulder impingement test

Don't think that has to do with the knee.  How about "bucket handle tear" of the knee?  Never heard of Neer having anything to do with the knee. 


AAMT BOS Formatting Question

Can any MTs with the AAMT BOS 2nd Ed. tell me the recommended way of formatting headings and operative titles?  TIA


Meditech Formatting Keys
I think it was control F8 for spellcheck, but you must be at the top of the document within the text portion of the report.  I have an old cardboard that fit over my F keys.  Here is what is says:  Control: SI, Add Line, Left Justify, Conv Case, Transpose, Del BOW, Del BOW, blank, S3, Word Attr, S19.  Then for Shift:  Bold, Italic, Underline, Set Attr, Center, Join, Help, Docum, Set Search, Search, Replace, MAGIC.  Then across the bottom it says:  Begin Block, End Block, Format, Get, Recall, Prev Field, Begin, End, Lookup, Delete Line, Exit, OK.  I hope this makes sense.  I basically had this placed overtop my F keys, and then I used this as a guide.  I think the post you were asking about was for the spellcheck.  I only worked in MAGIC Meditech, not in CLIENT, which is apparently word-based, so I'm not sure if these functions work the same in CLIENT.  Good luck.        E-mail me if ya' like - I am long time Meditech user (10+ years), but it has been a few months, and I haven't had to use it.      
Need help setting up formatting in MS word - sm
Computer crashed and died and now setting up my backup computer.  I need to fix it so I don't have 2 spaces after a period.  It is doing it automatically and I cannot find where to "fix" this.  This is Word 2000 that I am using on a computer with XP Pro.  Any help with this would be appreciated, it is driving me nuts (I am ending up with 3 spaces after a period as I am so used to spacing it myself).
Needing assistance with formatting
Asked to go to word, tools autoformant and  disable autonumber but cannot locate this. Can anyone help?
Clinic Note formatting question...

If the patient has a drug allergy do I make a new heading for Allergies or just include it in the HPI as dictated?  Also do I put the medication in all caps w/in the HPI if it is left there. 


I know I should probably know this,but I can not remember tonight.


TIA!


Did you look at the margins and formatting and see how your basic template is set up? Never had this
s
I work for a hospital that is pretty liberal as far as formatting goes. SM

They have a basic template that they like us to adhere to as far as headings, font, font size, etc.  However, when it comes to more detailed formatting, they really have no set standards and leave it to our best judgment.


My question is regarding the medication heading.  Do you list the medications in a numbered list or in paragraph form?  I have a friend who is a nurse and she says the clinical staff, i.e. Nurses and Doctors like to have the medications in a numbered list because it makes finding them in a report a whole lot easier.  So would you list them even if the dictator is not saying "number 1, 2, 3,..."?


Macros are better suited to repetitive tasks like formatting.
I have a macro to create a different second page of a letter with header info., another one that will update formatting from documents created using a different Normal template so they conform with mine, another one for highlighting, etc. They really can be timesavers.
It means you have special formatting applied to those paragraphs sm
like keep lines together or keep with next. You can turn those squares off with the show/hide button on the toolbar or hit Ctrl+Shift +8 to toggle marks on or off -- that's probably what you hit to turn them on.
Basically formatting, how to type the headings, numbering, etc...sm
Are headings capitalized or followed with a colon?

ex.
HISTORY OF THE PRESENT ILLNESS:

Is it p.r.n., prn, h.s. or bedtime?

Just your basic formatting and styles. I may just download the ebook. Thanks!
happens quite often i would test again or go see your GYN for blood test which is more accurate
nm
Formatting of the document dictates the line count, not a different computer.
xx
If you're working in Word, if your Standard & Formatting toolbars
s
Any Stedman SmartType users? Pros & Cons? Will it retain bold formatting without using DOS command
 DOS commands like ShortHand does?
Advice to YOU..1st learn to spell before insulting poster and trying to give advice...sm

Yeah a 30 minute test---work for free, he gets enough to test, his work is done - nm
x
Sound advice from a fellow MT if you want advice or support (sm)

I have been an MT for over 10 years.  I also am getting burnt out, tired of my job, day in day.  However, I do love transcription and make excellent money at it, have grossed over $50,000 per year the last 5 years.  I decided to go back to nursing school and am very happy with my choice.  However, over these 10 years of transcription I have had my ups and downs.  My biggest issue with being at home working is lack of socialization, being home day in and day out with just the kids and the animals really gets to a person, sure hubby is home at night and thinks working from home is the easy life, thus the return to school and boy has my overall enjoyment of life changed once I realized I was the problem, not everyone else and I needed to find myself again.


Anyway, my biggest advice to you three-fold:


1.  Get into counseling for yourself, find out who you are and what your needs are, whether or not you think you need to, I sense you are feeling overwhelmed and need someone other than your family to talk to that can be nonjudgmental to your feelings and needs.


2.  If you're only making $100 after you pay preschool you can either keep doing it and be miserable, or quit because you are lucky enough to have a husband who can support the family without your income. (See how fast his mind changes just by losing the income you do have as to whether your job means anything.)  Or look for a different company or office that you like more and are more productive if you really want to do transcription (lots of fish in the sea as far as companies).


3.  Find a local "mom's" group where you can get out and socialize.  MOPS (mother's of preschoolers) is an excellent one that is nationwide, they have a website.  Also Mom2Mom is in a lot of areas.  They provide a once a week time for moms with kids the same age to get together, socialize, (some offer spirtual guidance some don't) and each week a different mom takes a turn watching everyone else's children at the facility that hosts it so the other moms can talk about things they have in common.  Every stay-at-home and work-from-home mom needs to socialize with adults, without their kids, or they will have a nervous breakdown eventually no matter how much they love their kids.


Sorry so long but it does get better but you have to take the first step at making yourself happy.


Or maybe that in itself IS the test! It's really an ethics test, LOL. nm
R
Agree, verbatim transcription equals poor quality transcription.
x
Basically, harder dictators and harder reports with a lot of formatting with tables, etc. SM

give you extra lines because of the time involved in doing those particular reports.  Not so much you get paid more per line, you just get extra line credit.  For example:


You have a 100 line report, but it is weighted because of a table that you have to input.  Then you would maybe get credit for 130 lines for that report.


Know AIM transcription system, never heard of Hull transcription. Are you sure
you are not thinking about DHull who is a recruiter for MDI-FL?  They use the AIM system. 
test
test
And a test

Wondering how many companies this is set up for....


HealthScribe, Avicis, Spheris, MQ, TRS, Medware, others?


Test
//
test

You really should not be asking for help if this is a test sm
If this is a test for school or employment, it really should be done by you. It is not a fair test if someone else does it for you.  If this is not a test, please clarify and maybe people will help, but I think it is cheating otherwise.
test, this is only a test. nm

<img scr=http://bestsmileys.com/silly/11.gif"></center>


 


If this don't work, I'll quit.


If this is just a test then (sm)
why don't you just pick something...like @@@ or ??? or *** or something like that...leave it for where you find it inaudible, and when you send back your test just tell them. You could do ___inaudible___...anything. Just let them know when you send the test back. If you were actually working, then you'd go by the account specifics for how leave a blank, but for a test, just pick something appropriate and let them know.
We have to test because there have been....sm
too many times that people claimed they were transcriptionists, or could do a certain work type, only to find out they couldn't and were bluffing.  Testing is the only way to tell if an applicant has any knowledge or not.  Resumes don't always tell what their true skill level is. 
That's the best way for a co to test you because they never know if someone sm
is having someone else take a written test for them. The best way to test and just as accurate as mega transcription tests is oral phone testing. That way, it comes from what is in the person's head of what they know