Way to keep track of what you do, without writing
Posted By: it down - sm on 2008-10-09
In Reply to: Exercises for increasing speed - BL
If you go to cnet.com downloads and go to Rayflectar Project Timers. Hard to explain (for me anyway :), but you can program it to keep track of the things you do on your computer, time spent on each document, even time spent surfing the web, checking email etc. Just thought it might come in handy for some.
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keep track!!
Me and my husband got into a BAD habit of not writing anything down in our check book. We literally would just look on line and however much money it said we had, that is how much we thought we had!!! Well, it got us into some big trouble. We had never went "in the hole" before, but when we wired some money to someone, they charged us an unknown fee of $50, which ended up costing us almost $300 in fees. Something about they let the "big bills" go through first, so we "bounced" 2 and 3 dollar trips to the gas station. It was ridiculous. I now write everything down and even round up to the nearest dollar.
Track Changes?
I use Word's Track Changes for when I am editing writing. What happens is you can take out the incorrectly-spelled word and replace it with the correct version. In red, it will come up as "deleted: and then the word that was mispelled" so the MT can see both the right and wrong way when you send her back the file. Hope that might help!
track changes?
There is a feature that is called "track changes" and it changes the color of any word that you added or puts a line through a word that you want to remove.
In my Word it is under "Tools" then "track changes" then click on highlight changes.
Good luck.
yes, this thread has gotten way off track
z
Can the ISP track to an address?
I didn't think it could. That would be great though. I feel bad for this person.
I lost track of how many
hospitals (30+), in how many states (12?), and how many doctors (1000s), but depending on the length of dictation I do anywhere from 15 to 40 reports a day. I seldom ever have the same doc the same day, sometimes don't have the same one more than once in a week, month, or even year.
Sounds like your on the right track...
along with internal medicine, family practice, pediatrics, and dermatology comes to mind. There may be piddly little office procedures with those (am I the only one who finds abscesses being lanced TOTALLY COOL?!), but they are usually way easy.
Good luck in your goal! 
keeping track
Maybe that is a personal thing if you keep track of who the doc dictates and who he doesn't dictate for. All I know is that they can take it for granted and you can spend lots of time if you're not careful. Could it be a doc in Ravenna?
How convenient for them.....you keep track of
xx
Keep track of your own lines.
Fast Track
I wanted to thank all of you for your responses. I don't want to make less than I do now, which is 4 edit/8 typing. It's just that it seems like what we are doing is "softening up" the accounts so they can be transferred overseas. That is very discouraging, especially when you have been on an account for over a year
HELP-ASAP Tract or track (sm)
 Haven't been doing surgery for a while and cannot remember the rule for tract/track. Couldn't find it in the AAMT BOS either. Thanks!!
EX: I probed this area with a Q-tip and found that she, indeed, has a sinus tract/track leading to a cavity below the healed skin.
put on your track shoes, baby! :)
I'll be officially divorced on September 10, 2006, and I can't wait! I was only married for a year and a half. I was absolutely at the end of my rope. I tried everything. Counselors, psychiatrists (for me), drugs, books, websites, EVERYTHING! I hated Fridays b/c it meant spending another two days with my husband. In my opinion, counseling is great, but it ONLY WORKS when the other party is ready to accept responsibility. And usually, sadly, they're just not.
As someone once said, "You don't need a reason to leave someone you can't stand!" I also really like this quote, "My worst day single is better than my best day married!"
Good luck, and remember, you DO deserve someone who treats you well.
PERIOD. ;)
Suggestions for getting back on track?
I have been doing transcription for quite a while now, 14+ years. I am finding that my count is dwindling and it's not due to lack of work. I think I'm just burned out. I love my job, but just can't seem to get it going again. What do you all do to increase your production and get yourself out of a slump other than the obvious word expanders, etc. Any advice you can give me would be really appreciated. My husband is about to kill me because my check is not where it should be.
Sorry, didn't track hours.
Not an employee - just got on the computer and did a few offers whenever I felt like it.
Have you ever thought about keeping track... SM
of the reports you send to QA and then going back later and looking them over? I'm sorry, but when there are 300 jobs in the QA queue, we cannot possibly send feedback on each and every report. Most of us are on production just like you or have production quotas we have to meet just like you. At some point the MT must take responsibility for her work and do her own research. It isn't enough that we get sent reports with 20 or more blanks because a lazy MT didn't feel like do the research, but now we have to make sure we email that same lazy MT and give her the answers that she should have been able to find in the first place?
In my opinion, once an MT leaves 20 blanks or more in report, the QA person is basically transcribing that report. The MT should get docked those lines. I have seen reports with 80 blanks in them --- 80 BLANKS! Tell me that MT isn't just being lazy!
QA is abused by a lot of MTs. They use us to finish their work and give them free lines. They use us to do their research. They are used to be handed free answers on these online word boards -- word boards, I might add, that are usually manned by QA people lending a helping hand. I used to frequent the word boards and offer answers, not anymore. Just try to explain to someone how to find the answer to the question instead of just handing it to them on the word board and you are met with hostility.
I've given up. This us versus them mentality is perpetuated by the MTs not by QA and I'm so tired of hearing it. If you want a better relationship with QA, get better at your job.
keep track of emails; keep producing; it's all you can do.
nm
You want us to have "O" work? They would track that complaint in a heartbeat.
communication and reality.
Talk about your drugs or your dinners. Pass over MQ. We won't mind a bit. Our lives are rough enough already without biting comments.
We are trying to dig out of the quagmire MQ/Philips has put us into. Like I've said, MTing is no longer a profession or can be considered a "real job". At best it is pickup work or sideline extra non-necessary money because one certainly can't depend on the money.
Ever heard of "ghost track" after an ORIF???
A small "ghost track" is seen in the distal tibial shaft.
Thanks!
Sounds like you're on the right track with Weight Watchers (sm)
Do they offer counseling too? I know of two people who did Weight Watchers and they were very successful. Seems like a good, healthy program. I am not overweight myself but my sister is and, like you, has struggled with her weight her whole life. So I know at least second-hand the struggle you're going through. I think maybe if Weight Watchers doesn't offer counseling that it might be a good idea to talk to someone about your feelings and help you sort through them. Best of luck to you and try not to be too hard on yourself. Your son and your husband love you for who you are.
Only if you're using the track changes or compare feature. Once somebody else has the document
x
which is the most common that you use when flagging? do you include the time track?
Given their track record, I woudn't give them a dime
They had their chance, and all they did was take advantage of the people they claim to 'represent'.
It is actually ghost track - area where a screw has once been for fixation of fracture.
dd
I use Word 2003 and on the track changes toolbar there is a while pull-down box on the left.
This gives you your final report without the marks.
The junk faxers aren't leaving correct info so you can track them down.
.
Writing!
We will be praying for you! I too have had a lifelong dream to write (short stories and a novel) but also settled for a steady paycheck. Still get to put words on paper, just not my words! I wonder how many of us share the dream of earning a living writing? Maybe we can start a support group?
So we are writing our own BOS, right??
A logical book with classic rules that don't change every three years would be great! If we follow older rules like the MDs are used to, they'll think we're brilliant and the foreign AAMT BOS followers are idiots!
You should consider writing
a humor column for a newspaper free lance!! You have a great sense of Humor and good writing!! By the way, I agree totally with you about this job!! I think the Twinkie thing sounds like a good job.
Not in Writing, but they are paying
Spot checks show they are paying me for spaces and for headers.
Resume writing - what to put - sm
I have been an IC for about 10 years and have worked for several clients. Is it proper to put names of companies in resume? It looks pretty blank with just my name, company, and that I transcribed a variety of reports, etc.
Any suggestions would be helpful.
are you enjoying writing to yourself
on your hands
is this the writing on the wall for us? is there nothing we can do??
are we being sold-out by our own profession?
my opinion is to get everything in writing. sm
I signed a contract with my local company that says that I can pick up my own accounts on the side, but cannot offer to take over one of her accounts even if I do the same doctor every day, which I basically do.
Don't get me wrong here. My "boss" is wonderful and she's very good. She started out small (just herself) and now has built up a respectable business with a half dozen part time MT's and a part time editor.
However, if she started slacking off and I were in your situation, I would ask her to put in writing and sign it, saying that it was okay for me to take over the account. I would then keep a copy and give a copy to the account that wants me to work for them. That way your bases are covered and the "boss" that you work for can't come back at you for breach of contract, etc., even if she didn't make you sign anything when you first started working for her. She doesn't sound too nice, so there could be problems for you without having it in writing.
Once you have your signed paper, by all means, pick up that account! Sounds good. I would love it if my boss said, "I'm not going to do Dr. Soandso any more, so if you want it, it's yours." I'd still make sure I got it in writing.
Good luck! 
After having the ink dry
I saw the writing on the wall with them
More than 2 years ago I decided to quit lining their pockets with my hard-earned money to support their "garden party" mentality and grossly overpriced coferences that are too expensive for the average MT to attend (come on, do we really need an annual meeting in Hawaii???). I dropped my membership after more than 10 years of seeing no action, hearing of secret meetings, never ending in-fighting, and just a general attitude of them thinking it was up to the average working MT to support their grand "hobby" of being a board member while they sat around accomplishing nothing year after year.
Ask them but get the answer in writing if
they agree to it.
need help with resume writing
Hi there,
I have been working as an MT now since January and want to add this experience to my resume. Can anyone help me make it look good?
Get everything in writing. When someone asks
if a company is flexible in hours, what does that mean? It could mean that they're willing to let you switch from the day shift to the evening shift if you request it. It could mean you have a window of time in which to complete your work. Or it could mean that you can work when you want. A question needs to be much more specific than that, and both the question and answer need to be in writing.
Thank you so much for writing, Patti.
``
Writing rates
Hi all,
I know this is probably weird and not related to medical transcription. However, I have been doing MT for 3 years. I was just asked if I would like to update an article for an online job search. I had actually just given some information about a former job I had held for many years and wrote the site to let them know there were some inaccuracies in the article I had read. I got a response back asking if I would like to write some articles to fix the inaccuracies and he asked what I would charge to do so. I have written essays in college before, but I have never written an online article. So, I was wondering if there happened to be anyone on here that has done such and wondered if you guys had an idea of what a fair price to charge to do this.
Thank you in advance :)
If you don't charge for them, put it in writing that
x
Writing to president sm
It's a good idea but he's been talking about it for a long time and doubt he'd agree, his mind is made up. What has to come across is the confidentiality issue which I believe is another moot point. It's very sad and I think has been in the making by the hierarchy for years. Doctors don't care period. They have families, hate dictating, would love to have it off their backs. I guess what we have to do in response is be discreet and not tell them anything we don't want the world to know. Sad, sad,sad!
Could this be the writing on the wall for the US MTs...
Whoever is responsible for this current economy in my opinion has just done us in...
This is from an Indian company (if you go to their site check out their job openings, all in India)
See below:
With the economy in the US showing ‘no’ signs of recovery and with the ‘fourth’ largest bank going bust, companies which earlier had said an emphatic ‘no’ to outsourcing, will have to rethink.
High Capital Costs
The burgeoning ‘operational’ costs a company based in the US incurs for basic back office functions such as payroll processing, accounting, distribution and other important functions adds to the high capital cost of a product or service rendered by companies there.
A new ‘strategy’
A new mind-set is the need of the hour; entrepreneurs need to harness new technologies, outsource assembly lines across the globe to offset the high labor costs at home, this trend adopted by some of the companies a couple of years ago has turned the corners for them, ever since they started moving some of their tasks to overseas companies based in India, operational cost were reduced by one third.
Internet the ‘messiah’
The vast avenues of communication made possible by Internet has made it possible for enormous levels of information that is exchanged, unlike the pre-Internet days where communication was possible only through a telephone, a fax or a personal face-to-face meeting, now entire board room meetings can be held on the Internet regardless of the physical presence of members.
Cost ‘benefits’ of outsourcing
When a company based in the US ships a $14 to $15 an hour transcription job assignment to India where a transcriber is paid just $1 an hour, consider the cost benefits the company will receive, in comparison to the in-house service maintained by the company.
How will ‘US’ benefit from outsourcing
US companies will be able to enjoy reduced costs, and the large profits that will result can be re-invested in new ventures or expanding the existing ones, thus the outsourced new contractors can in fact create new markets for American products, and displaced US workers will have the opportunity to find newer jobs in vibrant new enterprises. The US companies will have the advantage of developing newer products with better features and thus antiquated products or services can be handled by the ‘contracted’ offshore companies.
Advantage of a different time zone of an ‘offshore’ company :
The operations of a US based company will never come to a stand-still, even after the staff has left for the day, the off-shore company based in India will take over and complete your unfinished task, thus projects get a round-the-clock attention, giving the companies an effective lead in completing projects with a quick turn-around-time. Client is therefore assured of an ‘on time’ delivery of his project, and in the bargain the company will have the benefit of maintaining the customer retention ratio.
Why choose ‘transcriptionstar.com’ as your vendor
As a transcription company we have the process expertise and an effective track record of experience and knowledge, we also are very flexible in adapting to newer technologies and since our operations are India based, where employ wages are one fifth of the their counterpart’s in US, an effective price advantage can raise profit margins of US companies to new heights.
Avert ‘Costs’ from sneaking up and corrode ‘Savings’:
medicaltranscriptionsservice.com can effectively ensure that companies outsourcing transcription requirements to us can save 40% to 50% on costs, whether it is for applications for Business Transcriptions, Media Transcriptions, Legal Transcriptions or Medical Transcriptions, we are the ‘source’ that you can ‘outsource’ and avert costs from sneaking up and corrode savings.
Advantage outsourcing from India:
With a vast reservoir of English speaking university graduates and a vibrant democracy, India can virtually ‘clone’ the operations of US companies at one fifth of the cost, and still maintain the standards of quality required by clients in the US, remember it is time to act now than wait, ‘outsourcing’ is the solution.
“A Stitch in Time saves nine”
Writing on the Wall
I went to their website. I could not find any link for job openings nor could I find any of this text on their website. Where did it come from, am I missing something?
what Professional Writing is.....sm
It's writing for the business world, as opposed to "creative" writing such as fiction novels or poetry.
My classes are focused on things like science writing, technical writing, newspaper/magazine, financial writing, speech writing... So if I wanted to stay in healthcare, I could look for a job writing for a health magazine, or maybe writind/editing textbooks.
It also prepares me for jobs in marketing, copywriting, public relations, human resources (somebody has to compose that employee manual), etc. Every industry needs good communicators, and I've always had a knack for writing, plus I really enjoy it.
How about earning via writing
See link below titled "Sample page." Sign up for free and start writing and earning. Read the FAQ on that site to learn about how. Also, visit the forums section and see how others are earning just expressing their thoughts, writing on topics they like.
correction: charge by PAGE, and keep track of long-distance of local numbers, as well as fax supplie
.
Does MQ in Monrovia pay for spaces - do you have this ans in writing?
?
Be careful about writing any letters. sm
Look at it this way, another account will be around the corner for you. I have been there. It is business. Most of the time it is about who knows who, whether you understand that or not. There is so much politics involved in some hospitals, so don't feel bad. A friend of a friend who works there...... etc.
I would just call whoever it was that you met with about the proposal and account and ask if they made a final decision on their transcription provider/vendor. Be graceful and professional, they may call you again for that account. Don't burn bridges. Even though it is very frustrating for you, keep your cool.
There are other accounts out there, go get them!
Good luck to you and best wishes.
You just said you were writing to ME cause you thought I was irritated!
Yet another post that spins totally into a rabbit trail! Hop, hop, hop...Is there a rabbit face thingie? I would prefer animal thingies! 
need some feedback on article I'm writing
I read an article in the Baltimore Business Journal about offshoring, and without getting into too much detail about the article I would like to send a follow up article back to the Baltimore Journal.
Basically the AAMT representative stated in the article that "younger workers are not lining up to enter the profession." And that the median age for a transcriptionist is 48-50 years of age. I find this to be quite untrue as I do think there are younger and younger people entering this field, and I hope to be able to get information to back that up. There are, of course, other things mentioned in the article that I will be doing the demographics on, but for now ... I would like to know what school program/course you attended, where you attended, and your age, and anything else you may want to add to help me with a "rebuttle" on the perks of offshoring. I have left my email address.
Thank you
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