The answers have been constructive. sm
Posted By: sm on 2007-05-09
In Reply to: Would it kill you people to give constructive advice instead of insults and insensitivity?!? - AMD
What I don't understand is why you think they're not. People are stating the truth--the employer calls the shots, not the employee. Just because the truth isn't as comfortably "warm and fuzzy" as you want it to be, doesn't make it less true. It seems that this point is missed very frequently on this board and to try to convince this person that it is the employee who decides the working terms is both cruel and non-constructive. (There are so many cliches that I could use right now I'm not even going to start.)
There have been several posters who lament the loss of jobs to overseas competition but instead of laying blame at the feet of workers who want to call the shots, they instead try to blame the people who are hungry for jobs and are willing to work at getting and keeping jobs that are "too demanding", "too demaning", "not family-friendly" for US workers. Employers are also to blame when their biggest concern is the bottom line and not upholding the society that allowed them to become employers in the first place.
A very good book to read for more on this subject is The World Is Flat by Thomas Friedman. It is a long book but if you're really interested in understanding what is going on in the world today and being prepared for the reality of tomorrow, it's worth the read. Of course, it also requires a mind willing to see the problems that both workers and employers have created.
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Constructive
No one likes being corrected, even in a nice way, especially if doing the same thing the same way for years. Us QAs out here are just like you, employed by a company, we are not the almighty rulers of the world. We are employed to do a job which is not easy and many feelings get hurt along the way. Many MTs just want to be left alone to do their work even if it is incorrect. Thats not an option these days, the work must be correct and quality is mandatory, not an option.
Can anyone please tell me what constructive
I have been following the discussion below about impolite QA and some of you have mentioned receiving constructive feedback from QA and/or mentors. Would someone please tell me what this constructive feedback looks like? Where I work they just fill in the blanks, but I never receive any comments. I often ask questions but receive no response. What am I missing? I hope for some sort of feedback from the QA people and/or my manager but it never happens. Maybe I have been spared the rudeness that some of you experience because they never comment. Which companies offer feedback, tips, constructive criticism? What does the feedback/mentoring look like? Thank you for your responses and help.
If you have nothing constructive to say, then
xx
Constructive feedback is ...
providing commentary and suggestions on improving the MT's work process (i.e. 'hearing' ESL's better or maybe a more refined search process, etc.) in a professionally worded fashion. Most times when an MT leaves a minefield of blanks in a report it's because he/she because of their lack of experience wasn't able to 'hear' what the dictator was saying.
A true QA person of excellence can recall their own journey on the road of transcription, remember that type of frustration and lack of experience, and translate solutions and suggestions to the MT in a manner that the MT can draw upon that experience and going forward incorporate the QA's suggestions into their work process, correcting any deficiencies they may have in putting out a quality document without a lot of blanks.
In the case of where you work, sometimes constructive feedback is as simple as just filling in the blanks. You can use the document that's been returned to you as a sample for training your ear to better hear what that particular dictator is saying when you get him/her again. In this way, you continue to improve and are more autonomous in the work that you do.
I hope this helps.
EXACTLY! Constructive input is always welcome;
nm
First of all, you did not come here looking for constructive advice. SM
You came here to whine and moan about QA and you wanted people to pat you on your head and said "poor little MT, you were right." When you didn't get that, you started throwing a tantrum and telling everyone what big 'ol meanies they are.
By your own admission, you have been an MT for three years. You are in no way qualified to tell QA or the QA supervisor that you like or dislike changes made, account specs, or anything of the sort. Your job is to type according to the account specs and according to whatever other BOS rules QA imposes. Like it or not, this is the job! MTs are called upon to be flexible. Personally, I abhor the BOS, but I like money, I need money to live and feed my kids, so if my employer says do by the BOS book, then that's what I'm gonna do.
I going to go out on a limb here and guess that since you said some of the mistakes you made were "stupid mistakes" you shouldn't have made, then you probably look inexperienced to QA and aren't going to be taken seriously when you complain. When you've become a seasoned MT who makes very few mistakes and then want to complain, you might be taken a bit more seriously.
I have 20 years under my belt. My last QA score (which happened to be yesterday) was 99.5% and that is my consistent score. If one day I get a QA score say below 98%, then I may question it diplomatically. I probably have more experience than the QA person proofing my work, but being condescending is not the way to go. Here you are 3 years experience and you are condescending and go above your QA's head to her boss. Good thing you're starting a new job, sounds like you're going to need it.
That's my 2 cents.
Constructive remarks in message
I have a couple of constructive things to say. First take it to a blog where you can whine to someone who cares. Where you can all wallow in your self-pity while your bills add up and your kids starve and nothing changes the situation. Next, get another job. Stay at MQ if you must, but get another job, be it MT or whatever, that will pay your bills while you whine. Third, get some ambition and help yourselves. Whining to each other will accomplish nothing. Why would I be MQ management when I am offering suggestions to help your plight. I am sure MQ management is very happy with the way things are. They have you whiners that are still there for them to scrape their feet on and not doing a thing about your situation.
LOL. I told you, it's a pet peeve. It was constructive
Personally, I don't like to have errors in any of my writing, personal MB or not, and I would rather have someone tell me on a MB than make a fool of myself elsewhere. To each his/her own.
FWIW, I was not proofreading, just reading. After seeing it the incorrect way umpteen times, I felt compelled to mention it.
Take constructive criticism and LEARN...
I worked for this company and the only reason I quit was I needed a job where i worked 4 hours and that was it. I absolutely LOVED my job with them. They were encouraging yet at the same time made me aware of what I needed to correct, as quality is of utmost importance in medical dictation. I made notes and reviewed the corrections sent back to me in order to undo my errors. The Editor (Rose) taught me so much by giving me these corrections cause it has helped me become a better MT. It is so important in this field to be accurate and have good grammar and spelling skills. Maybe this field isnt for you, but definitely even look into getting perhaps a used grammar/english textbook or the AMMT Book of Style to review, as that might be less expensive than going back to school. I have talked to other MTs who have been in this field for 35 years and said they STILL learn something new every single day. Keep an open mind on this job and learn all you can. In the long run you will be a better MT for it.
Yes, thanks for a thoughtful and constructive comment. SM
Much too rare on this board. I'm shocked by how many people still don't use Expanders and use them very extensively. People need to understand and accept that today's much higher standard of production is set by those who do.
Yeah...let's not try to do anything constructive because everybody is contributing to the problem
I think most of us hear this all the time...let somebody else clean up the mess.
THAT is when constructive feedback helps, not being a jerk about it.
QA should remember how it felt to be MT and struggling to get it right.
I have found no matter how constructive my feedback is... SM
most MTs either don't read it or read and immediately send it to the recycle bin literally and figuratively. So when I send feedback, it is basically a list of their errors, my corrections, and quoting chapter and verse from the BOS if necessary.
Quite frankly, I'm tired of hearing MTs gripe. I used to try to educate and mentor MTs, but it is a thankless job. Someone below said that QA people try to insinuate their egos, but in my experience it is the MTs ego that is getting in the way. So many MTs think they are "excellent MTs" and so many of them are not. At one point, I decided to keep a running log of unacceptable errors that even the most remedial MT should not be making and start posting it here because I'm so sick of MTs posting that QA is unreasonable or big meanies.
So here is a very unacceptable mistake I've seen this morning and I've only been on the clock for an hour...
"pressure ulcer on the left heal"
Of course, when I sent feedback to this MT, she emailed me saying "ha ha, oh it's just a typo." Problem was she did it repeatedly throughout the entire report -- not just once but every instance the dictator talked about the left heel ulcer, she typed "left heal ulcer."
Now, MTs, tell me that I'm not supposed to roll my eyes and be a little irritated that I had to spend fifteen minutes listening to her entire report because such a basic error sends up warning flags, when I should have just had to fill in her blanks.
Thank you, that is certainly constructive. How about 17 years, you want me to just change to accomm
nm
Would it kill you people to give constructive advice instead of insults and insensitivity?!?
I understand your frustration. I think you just need to sit down and have a talk with your employer. Find out exactly what they want your status to be. As an employee, yes they do have the right to dictate your hours, where you work, etc., but they do not have the right to jerk you around. If they want you to work at home, then they need to provide for that, not you! Anyone who says otherwise is wrong! In any industry, if a company wants you to commute, they pay for gas/mileage. If they want you to have a cell phone/pager, they either pay for it, or they provide an allowance for it. If they want you to work at home, they provide equipment. It sounds to me like they want way too much and are giving very little. Just because a person/company is the employer, it does not give them the right to treat people like dirt, sending them on wild goose chases, interfering with their life, schedule, expenses, etc. I am sorry you have received such critical and insensitive comments. I hope this works out for you. Blessings!
She didn't say she put "no-no" in her feedback and used baby talk in her constructive criti
I wish she were on my QA team. She sounds wonderful!
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!
Thanks for all the answers!
I recently started working for some local docs. My best friend told me that she would rather me do her reports than anyone else. I was checking a patient list one day and noticed a family member name on it, so I thought I would see what everyone else thought
THANKS TO ALL ANSWERS
THANKS ALL!
Answers
1) He does not hold any taxes.
2) NO benefits.
3) Same salary regardless, but I do transcribe everday of the week except Saturday.
Thanks - It helps to get some input from you'll. I feel totally embrassed to ask for a raise.
A few answers
Most programs have a built-in spellchecker. Not all of them are the best in the world, but they suffice. It's a good idea to have a MS Word-compatible spellchecker on your own computer - that way if the spellchecker on the program you are provided isn't adequate, you can type the word into a blank MS Word document and check it on your own medical spellchecker. Saves a little time versus Googling it, especially if you keep MS Word open but minimized.
Text Expanders you have to supply, if they don't have a full version of Word (and a lot of them don't).
Some companies will supply hardware as well as software, such as C-phones, computer foot pedals, etc. Not all, but some.
I don't know if you have mentioned your age in any of your other posts. As I said in a different context, I would not advise someone who is in their 20s or 30s to go into this field, because I believe voice recognition software and other innovations will make it obsolete within the foreseeable future. I only have 11-12 years to go until retirement, so I am going to try to hang on. But if you are young, I would advise you to at least consider a different field.
Just my two cents. 
Better answers would come through if they
knew what they were doing - and there were be far fewer problems. Most of the MT company middle managers with little or no experience (yes, it shows up by your lack of understanding) are incompetent. A decent manager would look for methods to reduce the problems which would reduce the complaints, and reducing problems is not done by beating people to death.
Some answers
"What is the difference between AMD Sempron, AMD Athlon and Intel Core processors?"
AMD and Intel are competitors for the main processor chip in the computer. They have different grades, too. AMD: Athlon is a higher grade than Sempron. INTEL: Core is higher grade than Celeron. All of them should have a number associated with them that tells the speed of these chips, expressed in Gigabytes. The higher the number, the faster. AMD chips are generally cheaper than the equivalent Intel chips.
"SDRAM size at 533 MHz and 667 MHz."
Again, speed is the issue. Higher the number, the faster the memory access. Get as much memory as you can afford. System crashes and problems are USUALLY memory problems...either not enough, bad memory, or conflicts.
"Hard drive speed 5400 RPM and 7200 RPM (I have a vague idea about that)?" Hard drive speed is not capacity. I'd go with 7200, but 5400 is fine, too. Again, for the higher speed you'll pay more money.
"What is considered acceptable for doing MT work?"
MT work isn't really demanding on computers, so last year's model is probably okay. You don't need the "bleeding edge" system, those are expensive and geared more toward gamers.
"How do you tell the speed of the processor, and does this mean the surfing speed and the speed work can be uploaded and downloaded?"
Speed of the processor will be noted as above. It is NOT the surfing/upload/donwload speed. That is solely dependent on your internet connection, dial-up, DSL, or cable, etc. As long as the notebook has an ethernet port, modem, and a wireless card built-in (and most do, now), you'll be set for nearly any situation.
"I really feel lost here!!! TIA."
We all do before we learn about stuff! You're welcome! Hope it helps some.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR ANSWERS
I am new to ShortHand and appreciate learning anything I can.
Some answers for you.
Recorders name the files with letters and/or numbers. Once the file is off the recorder, it can usually be renamed manually before uploading. (My docs just hand their recorders off to the OM who takes care of all that for them.)
Having said that, if your docs are really phobic about renaming or just don't want to be bothered, depending on the recorder, you can have the dictator dock their recorder and use software to take it off the recorder and upload directly to your FTP site. Specifically, the higher-end Olympus recorders can do this.
You could set your FTP site up so that each doc has their own folder and when they upload, they can only access their specific folder. The voice file(s) would just keep the name given on the recorder but you would know which doc was which by the folder the voice file was loaded to.
Hopefully, this answers your question.
Appreciate the answers!
nm
answers
1. 32 yr
2. passed adult education course in anatomy and transcription.
3.Interest in medicine and not wanting to go to school a long time.
4. work at home now, but many years in hospitals and offices.
5. spelling, grammar, common sense, attention to detail, integrity, work ethic.
6. I had some trouble developing a good ear; spelling and grammar came easy.
7. no
8. difficult to keep all the rules/changes in mind, starting new accounts/doctors, concentrating, staving off carpal tunnel.
9. researching much easier now than 30+ years ago!!
10. Sometimes do need another ear/opinion, and that is where QA comes in.
Answers
1. We have to meet min quality standards to get our monthly bonus.
2. Yes, we have a performance management ordeal. They give an oral warning and keep reviewing your work. If you fail the next time, it's a written warning and then if you keep failing you can be fired.
3. I think anyone (in any industry) who does not meet quality standards should be let go.
JMHO
Some answers for you........
It will depend a great deal on your past working experiences, as well as what you have learned and retained in your MT coursework. If you have prior secretarial skills, computer skills, good grasp of the English language along with good grammar and punctuation skills, you will most likely fare better than those without such prior experiences. If, for example, your only prior experience is perhaps working in a sock factory and have little typing or computer skills, or have no prior secretarial exposure or poor reading and comprehensive abilities, it may take you a lot longer to achieve success, if any, in this field. It takes a lot of intelligence to perform MT well, and unfortunately, the field does not draw strong intellectuals into it because of the low wages.
Once you graduate from a formal MT program, your true learning experience will begin. The lucky MTs who have deep pockets and can afford to purchase multiple reference books and other equipment have an advantage over those who must pinch pennies.
As in any other job, you start out at the bottom and work your way up. If you are fortunate to land a job right out of MT school (and many do who apply themselves properly), and work a full-time position, depending on what type of MT work (it varies from chart notes from an individual physician to hospital reports from a variety of physicians), you should be able to begin transcribing at 50-100 lph. Average pay is 6-8 cpl for transcribing just starting out (and many sadly never progress beyond 8 cpl, even after years of experience). So you can expect approximately $6-8/hour initially, if all goes well. You will progress slowly but steadily each day, but it all depends on your abilities and prior experiences, listening skills, whether or not you are transcribing ESL physicians, etc. There are a lot of variable that come into play.
There is a lot to cover on this subject, but I hope that I have been of some help to you. I LOVE MT and have been doing it a LONG time, but it is not an easy way to make a living. If I were younger and could do it all over again, I am not sure this is the field I would choose as a
Answers
Blanks do not go against your QA score. If the sound quality is poor - always put a note in the comment box or pend the report and ask for full QA review due to sound quality.
As for accuracy and QA scores. Critical errors cost the most points. Some critical errors would be incorrect medications names, dosage, incorrect diagnosis, wrong patient name, words not spelled correctly.
Verbiage = 1 point deducted most times. That would be grammar.
As for punctuation, it depends if changes the meaning of the report, but usually nothing counted against you for commas and the like; unless you do not puncuate at all and have run on sentences throughout the report.
Does this help?
Answers
Are you a CMT?
***No. I was, but chose not to renew.
All of the CMTs are AHDI lovers and the rest of us know why AHDI changed their name to include the global MT, and so what? They are entitled to do so. It's their organization.
***Actually there are quite a number of CMTs who don't know what AHDI is up to, who still think AHDI is the next best thing to having a union.
How about practice what you preach? If you don't like what AHDI is doing, then start your own organization yourself!
***The way to start that is to raise awareness on a board such as this. Next step will be a blog. But people have to know who, what, when, where & why first.
I, quite frankly, am tired of hearing the same old story.
***Then you should stop reading these threads.
It's old, get over it already.
***No.
P/S: I'm entitled to my opinion and I'm allowed to post just like you as long as I follow the rules, so why brush me aside?
*** I'm entitled to my opinion and I'm allowed to post just like you as long as I follow the rules, so why brush me aside?
If anyone wants information from AHDI, they can e-mail them just like this original poster and see the response they get.
***I have done this. See link, but only if want to know about AHDI. If you think AHDI issues are *old* and we should *get over it,* you probably shouldn't check out this link. It will make you even crabbier.
My Answers (sm)
Q: Do you think AAMT/AHDI did their best as advocates for us and our profession, yes or no? Not exactly.
Q: What do you think they should have done differently or better? I think that AAMT/AHDI should have made it's purpose more clear: It was not ever intended to be a union organization. It is a trade association. It should have done more to educate its' own trade practitioners on what to expect.
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