Since I didn't get any answers, I'll re-word! sm
Posted By: MTME on 2006-01-30
In Reply to: Unlimited LD Service - sm - ???
I am looking for an LD company that will cover MTs usage. Also, really want to hear from people who have had their service for a considerable period of time without problems.
Complete Discussion Below:  marks the location of current message within thread
The messages you are viewing
are archived/old.
To view latest messages and participate in discussions, select
the boards given in left menu
Other related messages found in our database
Sorry, I didn't read the question or the answers SM
well enough. An insomniac visit. It's a question worth asking in case someone has come up with some clever system for BPs.
it is attached to your version of Word. Open Word and it'll be on your tool bar. NM
.
You're welcome Tad, you will get quicker answers on the word board
Obviously, Heather didn't - but I'll take
I will always LOVE the Beatles. I LOVE YOU - YEA, YEA, YEA! 
Thanks. I'll look again, didn't see that cheap
before.
Since the poster below didn't really answer your questions, I'll try...
While I agree that things are being done to try to do away with transcription eventually, I think that hope is a long way off. Here goes:
1. A lot of work is being outsourced to places like India because they can do the work much, much cheaper than a US MT. Some hospitals won't all their work to be outsources, but the thought on this board generally seems to be that most don't care or don't know.
2. In order to work at home directly after school, it is highly recommended that you only attend one of the top schools. Two of them are Andrews and M-TEC.
3. Most companies, if you are an employee (not independent contractor) will provide you with all the equipment you need. You will have to have an internet connection and pay for that yourself most likely.
4. I believe the average you can expect to start is in the 6 to 8 cents a line range. How much you make depends on many other things, though. If you studied very hard and have a knack for MT you will do much better.
Hope that helps a little. But just remember...yes, working at home is a nice benefit for some, but there is a con for every pro to doing this.
You'll notice this person didn't sign their name --fishy??? nm
x
OK, I misunderstood. Didn't know there was another way. I'll check out Google Desktop. Thanks.
`
Sorry, I didn't word that very well...sm
How many lines per hour does the average MT type based on a 65 character line with spaces. I've seen some literature that says as low as 150 and some that say as high as 400-500.
Thanks
But one word didn't seem to be
the only thing, was it? It was a copy and paste, and the MT apparently didn't edit diagnosis to match whether it was one or more diagnosis. That's how I took it since I have never seen a heading done in that way.
Ask on the word board, you'll get more
response there. Did you Google it?
I typed the "F" word the other day and didn't think
That's our job to type what the dictator says. I don't like typing filthy words like that but if they say it, I type it. And she said it, so I typed it!!
They'll do the work by posting every other word
because medical transcription is so danged "easy" to do! We just type what we hear (who cares about the danged PATIENT?).
That's the word on the street - hijacked. We'll see. I like
x
Without having Word open to refer to, I'll see if I can help...sm
When you click on autotext to open it, it should be where you can type in a new entry. Type in the entry you want to delete, and when it is highlighted I think an option should show to delete. I hope this is right, but like I said, I don't have Word open and I may have missed a step. Hope this gets you started in the right direction anyway.
I'll try - my Word is old though, Word 97. SM
Shoot. I didn't paste your note but I'll try to remember.
I use Word 97. So my autocorrect for -year-old is yo and it types out -year-old, like I type 90yo and get 90-year-old.
CTRL+E is what it says when I hover my mouse over the "center" icon. You know there are a lot of tips you get like that, just hovering your mouse.
As for bolded headings, I use ShortCuts for Windows, but I am almost 100% sure you can use AutoText and put a bold command in there.
She put AND one who is not living with you, excuse me. She didn't word it right.
nm
It'll be the most expensive magazine subscription you'll ever get! No point in joining. nm
s
I'll go! I'll go!! I won't take hormones and will be ready to defend your honor :) n/m
.
No. It'll be the most expensive magazine subscription you'll ever get, and it's unnecessary
s
You'll get used to it. It is keeping the right leg propped up at the same time that'll be the
When I broke my ankle, I was just grateful it wasn't the hands. Without our hands we'd be totally screwed.
I broke my right ankle slipping on ice and was lucky to have gloves on because the palm of the glove was totally torn up and my hand was okay.
Good luck and be sure to do your exercises when it is time.
Well of course we know that now. Back then we didn't because he didn't allow unfettered access.
c
right we children didn't tattle to the administrator did we. BTW, didn't you think we were &#
because some half-witted idiot said everyone was jealous because some other anonymous poster said they were going to be a doctor. Didn't they call it doctor envy. Oh yeah, that was all about you wasn't it busy-body MT. You with your degree and premed but yet you still post here and acuse others of jealously. I dunno but you and dano seem so close, I can't put my finger on it but I would say you could be computer clones. Jealous indeed. Children indeed. I think you are blowing your covers) dano and busy body MT. This whole "jealously" thing makes me think that you may be one and the same poster.
I didn't go into labor until 2.5 weeks later, so it didn't work. Sorry!...nm
x
It'll happen. You'll find your fit.
You might have to kiss a few frogs first, though.
Oh she'll spice it up alright, she'll be
placing hidden cameras in the other ladies' dressing rooms! LOL!
continue your goal; he'll/they'll get used to it/over it
nm
I'll vent and I'll sign my name sm
I have two IC contracts right now. I recently went back to a job I had quit earlier in the year to work for the other company I am still working for.
The newer job has 80% ESLs. I transcribe OP notes primarily and I can fill in other work types as the opportunity arises. I am frustrated with this particular situation. After 6 months, I am making less money and working longer hours. I am past the learning curve and I should be doing better, at least in the number of hours I am spending doing the job. We have run out of work for 24 hrs at a time at least 5 or 6 times since December 1, and in November it was more than that. I have a friend who worked for this company as well and she was having similar difficulties. The only thing that we can figure is that they are shorting us line count some way, because after 6 months at it, it should be easier/faster/more money, but it is less and less every single pay period. It is not a nice thing to accuse a company of doing, but it SEEMS that way to us. I am fed up with being expected to type every single OP note that comes in 24/7 and meeting the 6 hr TAT for them on weekends, evenings, holidays, wee hours of the morning...
I took back a job I held for 2-1/2 yrs. The team leader has changed and this gal thinks that I should be on call 24/7 for whenever she has work. I might have some at 7 a.m., or perhaps not until 6 p.m. or later. I can't plan my personal life and between these two IC situations, I find that I am not eating on a daily basis, not showering on a daily basis and not sleeping more than 3 or 4 hours at a time. I have lost weight and I don't feel very well. I woke up today with a rip roaring head cold (my first in nearly 8 yrs) and it has already moved to bronchitis and I am expecting pneumonia by the weekend because I develop it very easily. I already have deep pain in my back.
Yes, I should call in sick tomorrow, but I really can't take the fallout. The job I took back I am covering for another gal who wanted vacation over the holidays and if I have to call in sick, the team leader will call me and pitch a fit about how this is my responsibility. It IS my responsibility, I did say I would do it, and I will do it, despite being quite ill. In the past, when I worked for this company, they would not allow me to call in sick for a "cold" without a doctor's note. I worked through many illnesses with them and only called in sick when I developed West Nile Fever and while I was sick for over a month, I only called for my last 12 reports one day when I could no longer see the computer screen because my head hurt.
The problem is that yes, many MTs lack work ethic. They don't take their responsibility seriously. This is not a work as you please career, not even for an IC. I can see the MTSO's point of view, I truly can. Like finding experienced, reliable and capable MTs, for the MTs who are these things, finding a company will treat you like a human being is equally difficult. I sit here, feeling lousy and like I am an utter slave labor with no consideration whatsoever. I know that my work needs to be done, but when I am this sick it is better that someone else do it for the sake of the work, for accuracy and for speed of getting it out. I know that I am needed, but to be the MT these companies need me to be, I also need to look after my own health.
I will also mention that when I have asked for vacation, I have been approved for the time, but the MTSO queues up my work and calls me then I am not on the system getting it done. I have told them I had been approved for time off, but the MTSO didn't schedule anyone to cover for me and I am told to get on work, vacation or no, if I want to keep my job.
Thus, I work 24/7/365 and have for years. I work sick, I work when I am in pain (I have an AI disorder), I work exhausted from staying up all night covering for others who are allowed to call in sick and have vacations when I can't have either. I work having no health insurance and not being able to afford the $125 a month to buy some with a high copay so I can see a doctor. I work without breaks for breakfast, lunch or dinner and I sometimes come close to having an accident because if I leave my desk to go to the little girls' room I get nasty calls about where I am at and what I am doing.
Many MTs are mistreated, and I am one of them.
sorry I didn't have time to thank you, but I didn't forget!!
Didn't you tell me?!?!? No, Liza, you didn't tell me. Hooray for you! lol
x
Microsoft Word.. The oold Word used to do this and I'm new to 2003 Word..nm
/
Answers
ESLs -- English second language dictators (foreigners who have difficult accents)
Cherry picker -- Someone who choose only the best reports, best dictators, easiest work and refuses to do other work - therefore, leaving everyone else to do all the difficult dictators and bad reports. NOT FAIR. Cheats, jerks, lots of more names come to mind. LOL
Answers ...
First...to the one who posted that I did not answer...I HAVE BEEN WORKING!!! WORKING. Do you do that? Or do you just sit on these boards and whine?
As to everyone else:
I said I work PT for each of 2 companies. YOU are ASSUMING that what I type is what the PT requirements are. NOT!!!! What I'm typing in production is NOT the minimum requirements. I go WAY beyond. Those are averages. Some payperiods I don't hit those but 4 out of 5 payperiods I do.
I work my 20 hours as an employee with Spheris and usually get my 7000 lines in that time...that is per week.
With MQ, the payperiod is different. It is the 1st through the 15th and the 16th through the end of the month so I have slightly more days to get my work in.
I'm an IC with MQ...I work whatever hours I want. My stipulation is that I produce 6000 lines per payperiod or more. I happen to do more. Great tiered incentive plan so I take advantage.
For all you who are busy doing your math instead of typing, I average around 350-375 lines per hour. All-in-all, I'm typing about 45 hours a week, sometimes 50.
I didn't start out that way with these 2 companies...I was already extremely fast but I had to work up on my accounts and learn my dictators, etc. I use word expanders, AutoCorrect, Shorthand, etc.
YES, I have a life. My youngest son still lives at home (17 years old) and I'm a full-time student at the local university. I have a very full plate. Yes, I do other things as well ... I teach a free music class weekly at a local church (anyone who wants to learn to read music and/or play keyboard) and I teach a small literacy class every other week. I go out of town 1 weekend every month alone to help recouperate and get some extra studying done.
I'm also a very ambitious person, don't like grass growing under my feet, and have a VERY specific goal in mind financially and I'm almost there.
I could not have done this well when my children were small. I tried working at home then and I sacrificed both my children's time with me and my work so I went back inhouse until they grew up. I also got rid of my husband. He was more a child than my 2 boys and since he did not want to grow up and be a responsible adult, I moved him right out.
I know a handful of MTs who are faster and better than I am at this -- they blow me away and I respect them deeply. Amazed by them. HOWEVER, JUST AS MUCH -- I am respectful of those who don't do as well but hang in there; I believe you can earn what you want out of this profession and you can be happy in it if you want to, but it IS up to you to find it. I happen to be very good at this. Believe me, there are plenty of things I couldn't do to save my life.
When I work - I work hard. When I play - I play hard.
Does that answer everyone's curiosity? LOL
Answers
I work for 2 companies, not one, and only one time can I remember running out of work at S; I don't remember running out at MQ. My accounts are very large hospital complexes. I do have secondary accounts and have trained on tertiary accounts though never worked on them. We are always asked, especially every weekend, to do overtime. Always. I just committed to overtime this weekend for both. ???
I hate difficult reports. Mainly, it is a mindset to get through them. I try to think of it as a learning experience and a challenge that I am determined to learn so it won't slow me down as much next time. I look up old reports, I copy text for some really difficult reports as reference (no patient info, just selected text that is difficult). I have a few references, The Surgical Word Book by Tessier, a really nice Dorland's Medical Dictionary. I also have lots of websites I reference. I've done this 25 years though and have learned a great deal. Virtually anytime I leave a blank, it is because I cannot understand the dictator - not because of terminology I could not find.
My quality - yes, I've not had below 99% at either company. Does NOT mean I don't make errors; means that on the reports that are QA'd for me that the errors that were counted were noncritical and were so little in number that I scored 99% or higher.
??
thank you for the answers...
No matter what I do, every national I have worked for, I end up running out of work. As you, when the work is there and there are no difficult dictators (which is rare anymore) I can transcribe probably 1600 lines/minutes a day.
Right now today, which has been the norm the last couple of years, I am lucky to get 1000 lines/minutes in a day, only because of difficult/no work.
Also, I work on up to 5 accounts, and still run out.
Maybe it is a longevity thing, I am new so do not get the work? Have you been long at this company so that you never run out of work?
What am I doing wrong?
Answers
I'm happy to give you any helpful information I can.
Yes, I am a parent...two boys 17 and 20. Oldest is out on his own. I waited until my boys were both in their early and mid teens to go back to school. I could not have done it while they were very young. I know many young parents in school but for me, being a single parent, it was not possible.
I had to make compromises with them. I remember the first semester I went back, I told them I would cook breakfast or dinner but not both-- they chose breakfast so I got up extra early every morning and cooked breakfast. Second semester they changed their minds. Hahaha They wanted DINNER cooked. Hahahaha They were excited for me the first semester; however, their enthusiasm waxed cold the second semester when they realized that if I was bringing home the books and studying and making top grades, they had no excuse not to do the same! Hahaha When they would gripe about social studies, I griped about world civiliation; when they griped about biology, I griped about chemistry, etc. Hahaha
I attended my first semester with just 12 hours (full-time is 12+ hours) and then asked for academic clemency so that everything before my returning semester was wiped clean and I was starting over.
I have attended full-time every semester since and went 2 years in the summer terms but they were tough.
I knew I would eventually need to work from home to make it easier on myself and my boys while going to school. I started with one of my present employers (I work PT for 2 different companies) before starting school and while I was working FT as an inhouse hospital MT. After 6 months on my remote position, I quit the hospital job. I was making so much more money at home anyway that I didn't need to work FT. I signed up for my first semester of classes and have been at it ever since.
Of course, classes were easy at first and it seemed all would be a breeze. After 2 full semesters, looking down the road I realized that I did not want to incur such great expense as my younger counterparts would in medical college. I was already reviewing how to pay for med school. I decided I would apply for a program through the med school in my state that pays for your medical education and in exchange you give your first 4 years to an underserved area in the state. That will pay for my tuition, books, lab fees, miscellaneous expenses educationally. I still have to purchase my insurance and pay for my living expenses. THAT was when I really decided to buckle down on work and save. I do NOT want to be a starving student in my early 40s! Hahaha So, I picked up with a 2nd PT remote MT position and save all of that income. I also increased my pay (production) with my first employer so that a large portion of it is saved as well. I need 4 years of living expenses in cash before starting next year. My parents and sisters are very supportive. After being in school my first year, my middle sister (I am the oldest of 3 girls) quit her job and is living off her savings while she pursues her Ph.D. in psychology!! Though I am going into emergency/trauma, we make jokes about my going into orthopedics and sharing an office with her, the psychologist, and calling our clinic "Head and Shoulders, Knees, and Toes"! HAHAHAHA
I can say I have truly had prayers answered ... my family and their churches have all prayed consistently for me that I would have door of opportunity opened for me and they have been. I can see it in my job opportunities and educational opportunities. I also prayed to have the emotional capacity to handle the challenges I would face and God has seen fit to provide for me in that way. When I had first started praying about this change, I "asked" if this was the direction I was supposed to take. Then, I began praying with the mindset of "okay, I take it this is right", and then ended up being so absolutely positively sure that I said, "Okay, if this is NOT it, You are going to have to stop me because I'm doing this" and I've not found resistance yet! Trials sometimes yes, but always have found a way around it -- letting me know that I am in the right direction.
There are so many advancing opportunities in medicine today; tomorrow will only hold more. Therapists, med techs, APNs, any of those fields are on the rise and will continue to be in high demand.
Get an undergraduate bulletin from your local university. Even if you don't start full-time, like I did, try a course or two. Make a plan...make a study schedule..hahaha. Trust me, the real-life-don't-kid-yourself study schedule will help you more than anything! Fill out a FASFA and see what opportunities your U can offer you for financial aid.
You'll NEVER feel like you wasted your time, energy, intellect, money on an education. Never.
Let me know if I can help you in anyway. You can do this!!
Where is ALS when we need answers
Just wondering where your info comes from (since you seem so confident and say AAMT BOS is incorrect)?!?!
thanks for all your answers
I went with crepitance. I guess if it's not acceptable, they will let me know.
Some answers.
Demographics: It's a field where, if the MD puts in the correct number, is wonderful. Everything autopopulates by itself. You just have to check it to be sure it's correct (correct admission, patient, etc.). Then you just get out of it in one keystroke.
If it does not autopopulate, you have to do a search, either by patient name or number (if dictated). If you have high-speed connection, this just takes a second. BUT, you run into problems if the patient's name is unclear, not spelled, or other things that come up. Also, some patients have multiple admissions and you have to decipher which is correct. Like everything else in MT world, this can slow you down at first, but it gets better later. But I must admit... there are days...
Change: I was a basket case for months before switching over. They kept pushing back my start date, so that made it worse. It was not worth the worry, though. It is pretty easy to learn, but again, takes a little time to become second nature.
I've always used the built-in expander, so I can't really compare it to Smartype. I did use PRD way back, and loved it. But this is just your basic expander. The expander is also where you save your "normals" and no, unfortunately you cannot transfer them into DQS. But IMO, the expander is just fine, but I'm sure that's because it's all I've ever used and probably you'll get some different opinions here. But be sure you can't transfer it. I thought I read somewhere that you can.
The text field is easy to maneuver and has some pretty nifty features.
I am also the sole supporter of my family and I did have to work longer at first to make my personal quota. I'm basically up to what I was doing on the old platform, but I did not exceed my previous production. I'm assuming it's because of the demo field and the fact I used to get paid for those characters.
I think the majority of MTs who switch to this platform like it and find is easy to learn. However, it is also true that we all stress like mad beforehand!!
Good luck! :o)
a few answers
No, you don't need a regular modem/phone line if you have wireless internet and are only going to be working on DQS. No, you don't have to rent their computer. Just tell tell them you don't feel comfortable using or renting their computer and that you will be sending it back. You don't need to explain working for other clients, etc. Tech support will help you get DQS installed on your computer through the internet. DQS looks intimidating by the manual, but the manual is extremely detailed and there mostly to help you in case you forget something later on. DQS is fairly easy to learn and use, so don't worry.
Looking for answers
Can someone with a Lanier LX230 help me out? I have the quick reference card to program the machine but I need the instruction manual. Does anyone have this? Is it small enough to fax me a copy? I would like to see if this thing is working or not but I don't know how to hook it up.
Thank you so much
Tabatha in Charleston, SC
Answers.
I am 52. I have been a Transcriptionist for 10 years. I actually was an RN and decided that I pretty much just wanted to be at home. I got tired of being an RN. The hours got to me. Now I can make my own schedule and do things when I would like to do them. It just worked out great for me.
Answers
First thing - DON'T MOVE, let him move. Can't he owns this house I live in. I have to do the moving. That is why I want to buy. Sick of putting time, energy and money into something and having it taken, so to speak.
Second thing - WAIT FOR THE FT JOB. One parttime I work for now is with the hospital. They are 1 1/2 hours away from me. I go in once a month for meetings. I work from home with them. I do not need daycare. They just opened a specialty clinic and this full time position is not promised of course, but I have a good chance.
Third thing - Be getting that child support coming in.
Going to court over child support or placement of the kids is not additional stress I need right now. If we can work it out ..out of court we will. If he starts having fits, I told him I will be in that courthouse so fast his head will spin.
And, a 2 bedroom is not an option. Must be a 3 bedroom. I would need to have my own room to do my typing if anything. With a 1 and 2 year old, typing in the living room will not work and I will not even try it. Thank you for your post.
Answers for you....sm
1. Usually yes they can, but there wouldn't be any real reason to do this unless you're one of the people that downloads work and sits on it for several hours without returning it, and don't answer the phone if someone calls looking for the reports you have.
2. There are at times ISP or phone line connection disruptions (depending on how you obtain your work) so you shouldn't assume that it's the company kicking you off on purpose, especially claiming that they want the work to go to certain people without having facts to prove this. I'm not going to say that it can't happen but if you believe this to be true then keep a log of how much you lose your connections and whether or not you get any of the reports you had previously downloaded back when you reconnect, and take it to the higher powers in the company if you're confident that you smell a rat so to speak.
Answers 4-U, not OP though
Hi -
My husband is Bipolar and we've been married 15 years. The only times he gets really manicky or depressed is when his medications have been changed or when he doesn't take them regularly (not often). Once he was at a meeting for a week and by the time he got back (he was out of state and didn't pack his meds) he was in a phase of increased mania and "off". Please remember Bipolar is a real "medical" problem affecting brain chemistry and be supportive of your friend. If you are close enough friends for her to reveal her Bipolar, you should be close enough to tell her you'll help her through this. You should feel comfortable voicing your concerns to her about the safety of your children. You should also be firm and insistent (but not pushy or rude) that she should see her Psychiatrist or MD regarding her meds, as she obviously recognizes she is "not making any sense". A simple med change may be in order. Sometimes Bipolar people don't think they have a problem (especially when they are in the manic phase and are "invinceable") and will refuse to take their meds because there is nothing wrong with them. Since she obviously knows she is not making any sense, she should be open to discussion and maybe your support is what she needs. Bipolar is a terrible burden to those who carry it, because they cannot fix it and it involves medications for the rest of their lives. However, Bipolar people can be extremely successful in whatever they do, as long as their meds are working and they are taking them as prescribed. I hope this helps answer your questions.
answers
ok. I don't have to look up patient information. I do have to look up physicians if they are cc'd on report, names not addresses. work 2 main accounts. work 5 other accounts as a backup. been an MT over 15 years, at this job 6 months. was not looking for a job but got "head-hunted" and switched. employee. took 2 weeks to get to speed. not sure what you mean by platform. worktype I like best is ops, but I do H&Ps, discharges, consults, etc. etc. no radiology. acute only. line rate .09. type whatever comes.
the point I'm trying to make with this is that no matter what you type, you can use your shortcuts to the max. I think most people have never had anyone show them how to make shortcuts that will work for them.
answers
sorry, but i don't know what a proxy is. Using IE, and same on both machines -- with qvc switch to toggle between...
PLEASE I NEED ANSWERS!!
I have been offered employment by this company called Entente Health Care. They are a software company that is into transcription. Has anyone ever heard anything about them or had any experiences, good or bad with them? I am new to this forum so I am not sure if this is the right place to be asking a question like this. Please I really need feedback, because so far from what I have seen I don't think they have thier act very together, but then I could be wrong.
Many thanks for the answers (nm)
Many thanks!
answers
I cannot remember the whole story about Jill and Katherine as I do not watch it every day. My grandma could tell you. I will ask her later about it. Somehow she found it out though I just do not remember details. As far as the baby it is biologically Victor's but Brad has raised the girl. For a while there was a fight so to speak as Ashley would take her to Victor's to ride horses and such but now that I have been watching it I see they have calmed down on the fighting on that issue.
Maybe some answers?
If you type up "pled" in Merriam-Webster's, it takes you right to "plead." Pled is really not a word, but has become acceptable in America.
As far as "went missing," from what I can find, it's an acceptable phrase used in England. I got this info from: http://crofsblogs.typepad.com/english/2005/08/went_missing.html.
The one that always drove me batty was "an historic event." What's with the "an," since "H" was not a vowel the last I checked. Anyhow, I answered my own question if you would like to check it out: http://www.jimloy.com/language/historic.htm
In short, it sounds like these newscasters are trying to sound like they're from jolly old England, as this is where all these phrases originated. Have a good one!
|
