Steno transcription
Posted By: gdc on 2008-03-11
In Reply to: MT-steno - MIMT2
Yes, it is definitely possible to use a steno machine and do transcription. I have done so for over 10 years. I never could pass all my tests to be a court reporter, so finally decided to use that skill in medical transcription and has worked out great for me.
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Has anyone ever done steno transcription? What is involved? Is it
most importantly, are there jobs out there available? Toni
MT-steno
Well, learning machine ShortHand isn't the easiet thing in the world. I think it is what you make of your practice time. I'm returning to an online school for this in the near future.
Good luck!
steno vs ASR
Today's steno machines are electronic and computerized so they hook up to the back of the computer. Then we use a CAT program to translate steno Keystrokes into English using a dictionary of steno/English entries. The translation occurs before getting back to the computer word program that is active on the screen. The screen only sees QWERTY, not steno. It's all highly technical and I don't know it all, but I do know that steno is way faster than longhand typing for me, and way faster than ASR.
Steno
Wow! If you're already doing 250-350 lph in long hand then you don't need to steno!
Steno for MT
I have used a steno machine for 10 years and if you are already doing 250-300 lines an hour you are beating me. I get around 250 on a good day and really with the dictators and filling in ADT information I would think it would be hard to do much more than that even if you never stopped except for spell check, sending reports, et cetera. Learning the machine is no piece of cake either, took me years. I passed my 200s, but never could pass all my 225s, so never got to be a court reporter. I can keep up with most dictators, but they back up, change their minds, et cetera, so it is not like you can sit down and write without a break, so it is difficult to do a lot more than you are doing right now.
Just my opinion.
steno for mt
Hi Julie,
I'm not sure if I have emailed you before, but I saw your post about using your steno machine for medical transription. I've passed all of my 120's, and I am thinking of making the switch and going to school for medical transcription. Do you think it can be a lucrative endeavor? Did you just add medical terms to your dictionary as they came up? I use CaseCatalyst software. How did you make the transition? Anything you could tell me would be great.
Thanks
Lorraine
steno machine
What kind of steno machine did you purchase to help you?
I'm a steno writer
I went to school to learn how to use a steno machine, like in court, to "type" my medical reports. I have been doing this since 2000. I trained at 225 words per minute back in the day, so now I have a reservoir of speed to draw from when dictation speeds up. I rarely need to lift my foot off the pedal with steno.
I think steno is the fastest way to produce a report, but now that MQ is forcing us to do ASR work, I am not using my machine as much. To me, this is unacceptable since they only pay 70% of our base line rate for ASR. I have hung in there so far, but I'm fast approaching the need to get out of MQ since I used to produce 2000 lines a day easily with steno, way less now on ASR reports.
They say ASR is 30% faster than non-ASR thus they justify knocking off 30% of our base rate. Not true. ASR has slowed me way down, can barely make the minimum each day. Last I heard, they will not take us off ASR if we request it. I'm getting madder by the week and losing tons of money in the process.
learning steno, et al.
Hi mt,
I looked into closed captioning many years ago here in San Diego, but it was not as good as it sounded with many problems both internally and externly, hard to explain in this forum, but I didn't want to get involved in that mess.
I started court reporting school way back in 1988 when we still had saber tooth tigers running around. I started the program at San Diego's City College. The first semester was learning theory which taught the steno language and the keyboard. We used the old manual machines, which are still available for students. The second semester and thereafter was all about the dreaded speed-building classes. We finished the first semester at 60 words a minute. Speed-building is a very personal matter. It can take years and years or less time, depending on the person. It took me 2 more years to reach 225 words per minute which qualified me to take the California state board test for licensure. I passed the academic portion the first time but not the machine portion. So I took it another 6 times, never passed that damned thing! Nerves got the best of me each and every time, so I could not go into the court reporting field (something I don't regret in hindsight). Instead I opted to enter our wonderful field of MTing.
I'm using my machine to write this message. I really like using the machine a lot. Each stroke produces either one word several words or phrases or parts of words that have many syllables. It all depends on how you have your dictionary defined.
Today's steno machines are electronic and computerized allowing us to interface with any word processing program.
I hope more people learn this skill and start using it for medical reports so we can get rid of this rotten ASR chap which has reduced my income way more than I can live with. I need a firm that will appreciate my skill and recognize its value in this field.
BTW, it would only take about 10 months to a year to become proficient enough on the machine to start using it for MTing, maybe even less time depending on the person. I didn't work during 3 years of my early training as I had financial help at the time (which I had to pay back, of course, $30,000 - it's paid back now).
Dave
Does anyone use Steno for MT work?
Could you tell me about how many lines per hour etc you type using steno. I've found a local college that offers a court reporting course and have thought it might be worth the investment if it could speed me up some more. I'm doing 250-350 lines per hour with a qwerty keyboard right now.
Thanks a bunch.
Do you use your steno machine to transcribe? nm
nm
I can't testify to the steno pads
But when I started I used tapes and a selectric typewriter with 3 carbon copies. We used to use a scapel blade to correct the carbon copies and then slide a little piece of carbon paper in to re-type the correction.
I think it started going downhill when the MTSO's started showing up more and more. Only because, they cut the wages because after all, you got to stay at home, didn't have to pay for work clothes, transportation, meals, etc. And you could write off part of your house mortgate, utilities, etc. as long as you had a room that used only as an office. Everyone bought into it saying they wanted to work at home and thus they bought into the little less in wages that they offered. I still think there is a distinct advantage to knowing the doc's you are transcribing for. Working in a clinic or a hospital and getting to know the doc's make it alot easier to look at them and tell them they sound like they are gargling with peanut butter, they acutally laugh, and listen and I found they would make a bigger effort to be a better dictator because of it. Better dictators = easier to type = faster TAT = less errors = less need for as much editing. We used to transcribe all day and our work never went to QA (what was QA) QA was the doc complaining about our work which = counseling from your supervisor = getting written up = out the door if you didn't fix the problem. That was what it was like when I first started 30 years ago. I didn't have google, I had little notes taped all over my workstation for those words I had never heard before until they came naturally to me, then that piece of paper was replaced by another one. I had what I called my "bible" of phrases, etc. certain doctor's always said, no short cuts or expanders, we typed it all out. That was real transcription.
Question for the steno machine user
I keep remembering how much faster you said it is than typing and I am wondering how one would go about learning how to use one? Is it something that can be self-taught with a book? Would I likely be able to find a good used machine? Also, will they work with any transcribing software?
I am a slow MT and need all the help I can get!  Thanks for any further information you can give me.
Agree, verbatim transcription equals poor quality transcription.
x
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.
Transcription/QA pay
What is the average hourly pay for such a combo position? Southeast and Northern regions. TIA
how do you know who does their transcription? nm
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Actually, transcription should go away
The electronic forms make a lot more sense. Who wades through those piles of records anyway? I'm not sure the whole narrative serves any purpose but perhaps in the courtroom. I'd like to think that dictating about the patient and his/her history helps clarify everything in the treating physician's mind, but I don't think anyone gives more than a cursory glance to the record later. And perhaps when looking for mechanism of injury, a brief narrative helps out... But I'm not sure we are really necessary. All that said, what are we going to do for a living now? Not all of us are 10 years or less from retirement.
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C&C Transcription
Do anybody know anything about this company? I am really interested in applying, but I am a little confused about their test. Does anyone know how many tests to do to apply? Do you pick one category and do all the tests within or several tests within several categories? If someone has applied before I would really appreciate some info on how many I need to do. Thanks.
anyone know much about C&C transcription TIA
/
Transcription
Anyone read the article in Advance Magazine stating that transcription will be virtually obsolete as we know it in 3-5 years with take over of the back and front ends of speech recognition. Was curious as to opinions. Seems like this message has been repeated over and over.
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US Transcription
I actually worked for this company for two years and w/out trying to bash, I would simply say to watch yourself. They have a very high turnover, and make a lot of promises they do not keep. They also play dirty with pay. If you work for them for a while you will very likely find out they are hiring new people at more than you make! Keep yourself informed and in close contact with their other transcriptionists if you decide to work for them! They also have a very nasty QA person who can be short and rude. She really wants things done "her way" whether it meets AAMT standards or not!
Why transcription?
Curious to know. What is the main appeal to you?
Why transcription?
I can work from home, set my own hours, be my own boss. I don't have to worry about what I'm going to do if my son is sick and has to stay home from school. I don't have to work in an office anymore and deal with the high school mentality and backstabbing that goes on. I save money on gas, can work in my comfy clothes, and save money on food from not having to eat out every day. I also enjoy getting to work in the healthcare field, and I love to type!
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Thanks
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I'm looking for a company called USA Transcription or something like that. Can anyone help with some possibilities? I have spent an hour on the archives and could spend hours more....lol
Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!
Took a job outside of transcription-bye all gl
Other Transcription
Does anyone know if there is any other transcription out there such as legal transcription that can be done from home. I am trying to help a friend find some work that she can do at home. She has no medical experience, but is looking for something she can do to earn a little extra money a month, such as data entry, legal transcription. There are so many ads out there and she is looking for a reputable company. Anyone out there had any experience or know of any legit companies for data entry/legal transcription, etc. that can be done at home? Thanks for any input.
EMR and transcription
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pay for new transcription
The lowest I have seen paid for transcription is 0.05 cents per 65 charcter line. The highest is over 0.10 cents. If I were you, I would charge somewhere in the middle around 0.07 or 0.08 cents which is the normal pay for many companies.
Transcription RPL
I am an IC working of my home for a physical therapy office. The office is quite demanding and because of the gas prices I am going to increase my rate from .12 to .14. Is there an average? I have to drive 15 minutes each way from my house to pick/up drop off everyday. When I went to school for this 12 years ago, the average rate then per line was .12. Any thoughts would be appreciated. I am typing on microcassettes.
OSI Transcription
Your sure sound sour grapes about them.
Where do you work now if you don't mind my asking. Are you happy?
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TIA!
will you use it for transcription?
x
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ok, thank you so much for your input. have a great night!
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