Suggestion - Computers

One of the things that everyone with a computer can do as part of our ownership responsibilities is to have an inventory of just what components our computers have been built with (or added afterward).  Having this information can be a big help when upgrading, maintaining and repairing your system.

Unfortunately, some manufacturers seem to treat this information like a state secret.  In other cases we might never have had or have lost our original documentation.

There's a free product called "Belarc Advisor" (see the link below) that in my experience does an excellent job of doing an inventory on your system and reporting a ton of information about not only your hardware, but also your operating system and certain software installations.  I recommend that when you have a bit of spare time you download and run this application, and print out the report it produces so you have it handy.  Then, run it again whenever you make changes to your hardware or operating system - again, keeping the report.  And, yup - it works just fine with Vista, XP, 2000, etc. 

It will make any tech support person scream for joy (and amazement) if you have this information in hand when you need to resolve technical issues.

I should also address another issue that always seems to come up whenever a free utility of any kind gets mentioned.  There's a load of excellent free software of different kinds available but some always seem to be suspicious of anything that is free.  Belarc makes their money by selling the "corporate" version of this software to large companies that need a server-based way to inventory the hundreds or thousands of computers that they own.  They've decided as a service to the individual computer owner to make this single-system version available for free.  It's that simple.   

• Suggestion - Computers - TechSupport
  • Whoops - where'd the Belarc URL go? sm - TechSupport
    • Thank yuo, techSupport, I saved the link in my 'Favorites', p.r.n. nm - Jan

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I think this is why EMR has become popular.  My daughter has been typing on the computer since she was 4-years-old.  My son is a pretty quick typist at 12 years of age. 

My PCP uses his computer, but a lot of times PCPs do not use transcriptionists at least in my state/experience.  It is mostly specialists.  I have noticed the bigger the practice/facility, the larger the transcription company.

Part of an ortho practice I transcribed for went with C-Bay because they wanted to go digital and have 24-hour TAT; however, three out of seven physicians were older and still used tapes.  It all depends on the circumstance and preference.

Just curious. I was sitting here doing my spell check and using my Expanders and remembering when I used to type the notes on sticky paper on a typewriter , using white out for errors, and then cutting out the individual notes and peeling and sticking them in the charts. UGH!

Of course the doc I worked for back then had a computer, but only for billing, and was too cheap to buy another one. So I sat in a little corner with an old IBM selectric and a dozen bottles of white out.

At the risk of really making me look old,  I'll mention I took typing in high school and in college on a MANUAL typewriter.

For all you younguns' out there, that means it had no electricity. 

i think that is an unwritten doxie law - am trying to get mine to learn to type but she just doesn't want to do it - would rather I throw a ball or something, haha

This is something I have never seen posted anywhere and I'm thinking it is not even possible but thought I'd ask just to see.  I know a lot of companies supply your computer and transcription equipment.  There are other companies that are set up where you can just load their program onto your personal computer.  Has anyone ever heard of a company that has a type of program that has computers available for purchase?  I know some places take a deposit on the one you use for them and then when you quit your deposit is returned.  How about if you want to buy it?  For instance, the company I work for has a program in place that allows you to purachase books from the company at a discounted price and then you can have it payroll deducted over several pay periods.  I was just thinking it would be awesome if I could do this with a computer purchase.  Okay, I'm pretty sure I'm dreaming with my head in the clouds but I thought it couldn't hurt to ask.  TIA. 

I have 2 separate computers connected by a router.  My primary computer has ExText.  The other one doesn't.  Both receive the Internet.  I do my work on the one with the ExText and Internet searches on the one without even though I can still get Internet on both computers at the same time. 

The modem for the Internet connects to the router.  A separate cable goes from each computer into the router.  Works great. 

Are the Dell computers advertized in Sunday circulars pretty cheap any good?  I'm happy with what I have and have always had an HP, but hubby says it's old and he's afraid it's going to give up the ghost any day and wants to get me one of the cheap Dells?  Any advice?

I need to figure out a way to hook up two computers to one monitor and one DSL connection where I can just easily switch back and forth between the two computers.  I know this has been discussed before, but I can't remember how you all do this.  If someone could explain what I need to get and what I need to do, I would be very appreciative.  Thanks for any and all info you can give me. 

I wouldn't be surprised if I've worked for the same company you work for.  I refuse to spend hours looking for something that may be near, if not impossible, to find.  The company and the dictator must have some responsibility for names and demographic information. IMHO we are paid to know what goes in between the demographics and the signature.  You have 2 choices here:  1)  Move on to another company that understands the concept of medical transcription or 2) If the problem is difficult dictators, take the time to learn them and become proficient in doing them.  Once you've mastered that, you'll be surprised that your production will actually increase as most of them have a pretty limited vocabular and they are likely to say the same thing over and over.  Save a copy of everything you can like the ROS and PE in a macro or your word expander and each time you do them  you will pick up a word or 2 until pretty soon you'll have the whole thing down pat and can just edit it for any changes.  Of course if you're lucky your QA will send you a copy of the report with the filled in blanks but don't necessarily expect it even if you ask for it.

Hang in there.  You can control your paycheck,  you just have to be willing to do whatever it takes even if it means finding another employer.

Which is not Holy Grail 

ANESTHESIA:  Intravenous sedation in the form of 50 mg of Demerol and 75 mcg of fentanyl

all we have to do is convert our massive growth of corn in this country into fuel.......and then we wouldn't have to tear up the Pacific NW-Alaska territories and then we wouldn't be so DANGED DEPENDENT on the MIDDLE EAST for oil.......

I also think Canada has a ton of oil and they are our friends - we should be doing far more oil business with Canada - where our dollar is better than theirs - and give them more business than we do now.

CORN is a surplus in this country........and can continue to be.