What pedal is universal so I can test for various companies?
Posted By: sm on 2008-01-12
In Reply to:
I am going from working locally to searching for a national position and need a pedal to even test most places. Is there a certain type or brand that works universally to play all types of files? I'm pretty ignorant about this whole setup. Also, do I have to purchase software to run the pedal? What about headphones or can I just use mine through the computer speakers? Thank you all for your help and expertise. It's greatly appreciated!
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I also have a USB foot pedal. Do most companies use the USB pedal or SM
will I need a 9-pin or a 15-pin. Also, which transcription software for playing back audio files is the best? I've used one that was a fee download, I think it was called Bytescribe or somethingl ike that. Does that work for most all files or should I look into purchasing something like Start/Stop or GearPlayer?
Oh and does anyone know where I can get Microsoft Word or Office Suite for a reasonable (I'd say cheap, but cheap usually means bootleg) price?
Sorry to ask so many questions, but it's been a while since I've worked for a national. Before the hopsital job I'm being laid off from, I worked in the office at a hospital. So I've been out of the loop so to speak.
Thanks guys.
How can I test my foot pedal?
Sorry if this is a dumb question. I am just getting back into MT and will start training with the new company soon. I got my foot pedal and hooked it up, but how can I test it to see if it is working? Is there only a certain type of file it works with? Thanks!
test the companies... c msg
some of them are what you think they are, some are expanding.
anyone can doubt a company not only because of they have ads all the time, but also because when an ad is posted, people look to others for opinions about these ads, and you will get both pluses and minuses. but the only way we can really find out about a company is to weight all aspects out and you either go for it or not. that way, we know first hand ourselves.
MANY companies will let you test if you went to the top 3.
The companies do not have to be partnered with the schools for this to happen.
No---all companies require you to test - sm
one way or another. Some will hire w/o a test based on your resume and experience, and will know rather quickly if can do the job or not. I have gotten 2 jobs that way, one as an employee and another as an IC, however this was after I had a minimum of 3 years experience for this ever happened to me--at 6 years now. I am still with the IC one (since 06/2007), had a falling out with the other one but did work for them for about 9 months and they were happy with me; left as I was unable to continue working a firm schedule due to change in circumstances and they needed someone to work a set schedule, so we parted ways. But as a newbie no one will hire you w/o a test. So just keep plugging away and test a lot, they are a very good way to learn what to expect.
Question about the foot pedal with test files. sm
Sorry to digress, but I have tested for several companies and my foot pedal did not work with their wave files. I had to resort to hand controls for the test files.
Am I missing something? I sure would like to know because I hate testing with hand controls.
Thank you
True, you can test without a pedal but it sucks and if you are newbie
trying to test for your first jobs, doing it without a pedal is going to really be difficult! Plus, you have to consider the first job she gets probably won't be the last and she'll probably be testing again in the future and that USB pedal will pay for itself in the long run.
Personally, I think a USB foot pedal is a very good investment and I've always had need for one. Down the road, you can buy one of the 9-pin or 15-pin pedals if you find a job that requires one, but the future is USB. You'd be hard pressed to go out and buy a brand new computer that would even have a 9-pin or 15-pin port. I'm just saying...
P.S. You can get on ebay and find pedals and headsets for pretty good prices. I got my USB Infinity off of ebay and paid $30 for it and my Koss DC-10 headset for $20.
Foot pedal? Going from VXP to applying for other companies. What foot pedal should I get that woul
I need one even just to test so it seems. Thanks for the input!
Trying to take a test in Express Scribe and cannot get my foot pedal to work. I dont want to
cause a problem in DQS with the foot pedal either. Any suggestions. I have the foot pedal that you use for DQS. It is an Infinity foot pedal.
That mttest website is terrible. Companies that use that test in my opinion
are just lazy. They need to make up their own test based on their own rules. Much on that test also is about commas and the newer rules are that we don't use that many of them so you could fail over things that just are not that important. Don't sweat it! If they based hiring you on that test site, then the co is not too bright. I have taken the test and passed but I think it is a horrible test for anyone. I think a better way of testing is testing someone's actual knowledge of medical terminology like a phone test. That also guarantees to a company that it is actually you taking the test. I think it is Spheris that has given a phone test ever since they were Edix and the old Your Office Genie also gave a phone test. That speaks wonders of what is in your head.
Two of the best companies I've worked for didn't make me test. Makes you wonder if...sm
these MTSOs that mandate so many "tests" aren't just trying to see how many actual reports they can get transcribed for free. I could understand maybe a written test and one very in-depth transcription test, but 6 is utterly ridiculous. I would have definitely passed on that too and then told the MTSO exactly why.
Universal MT Testing
Anyone else out there looking for a job only to be deluged with requests to take applicant testing at mttest.com?
After taking this test three times for different companies it occurred to me that why not test once or retest for a higher score, etc and be able to share this info with all potential employers.
After researching this site, I have found out it's all about the mightly dollar. Did you know the more applicants a company sends for testing, the bigger discount they get?
Urgh.. I have two more invites to take the test in my inbox. 
There has got to be a better way, any ideas?
Universal MT Testing
Our company contracts with Career Step (MTTest.com) to screen and test our applicants. After having tested hundreds of applicants who expect and deserve quick notification, we have found this method to be beneficial not only to our company in recruiting but to the MT who is not really qualified for the position we need filled. Immediate pass/fail notification is a plus I think.
Our old method was to give randomized voice files by speciality (as someone in the string suggested), but the time it took to check the test and get back to the MT took considerable man hours and expense. We have seen numerous complaints posted about MTs who test for various companies who do not hear back immediately from companies they tested for, but who do not bother to call the company in question either. It becomes a catch-22. The company generally will respond to someone who is interested enough to call and inquire how they did on the test if they have not heard back in a week or so following the test. Conversely, there are many times a company does follow up immediately only to find that the MT is no longer available or interested.
The testing site at Career Step screens an applicant. If you pass the screening, you move on to the objective portion (general medical knowledge). If you pass that portion, you move on to the transcription test. You would be amazed at how many do not get through the screening.
I would recommend this type of testing to any service who is recruiting. The cost is minimal when you consider the time saved by ruling out those who are not qualified right off the bat. For those of us who do take trainees, we also have the ability to check the scores on the screening and objective portions and decide to give the MT a try. We've found quite a few diamonds in the rough that way.
The test is randomized and is customized for each company. I believe confidentiality prevents the site from "sharing" applicant scores, but any MT that has taken the test for other companies on the site is welcome to let me know their scores on the screening and objective protion, which might prompt us to pass them on to the transcription portion. It is certainly worth consideration.
We were just there the 16-21 -- Universal was great - sm
I cannot comment on the lines though because we had a special pass due to my daughter being in cancer recovery and it was a Make-A-Wish trip; we went right to the front of the line on each ride basically. There was 1 ride at Universal though when we were there that had a 1 hour wait, forget the exact name, it was the name of a dinasour "P... flyer". The ride was 80 seconds long. I am happy we did not have to wait for that one, nuts. Fun ride but not worth an hour wait. I will definitely miss that pass the next time we go, but it helped us accomplish a lot w/o Jen getting too tired which is the purpose of the pass in the first place. The crowds were not bad until the 19th I thought then it got a bit more crowded at Disney, people coming for Christmas I presume. Animal kindgom was mobbed, but the trails are very skinny there and that was a big part of the problem and why it seemed to crowded. The weather sucked though, rained for 3 days straight, was relatively warm though at 66-68 which was a lot better than the 20 degrees we were coming from at the time. I've been to Disney in April, June, August and December. The best weather and time was probably in April. It's crowded whenever you go of course, so that really is not an issue. Whenever you go, have a good time!-- P.S. I highly recommend Emerils at Universal Studios, expensive but excellent food (this was our 1 splurge for the trip).
does anybody wonder if we get universal healthcare
in the coming years that we will see a quick drop in ESL dictators? I personally know a doctor from Canada that came to the US to work because (she says) doctors make next to nothing there. I suspect that is why the dictators from Spanish-speaking countries come here too, though I have no insight at all into thier medical practices/insurance/laws/fees there. I just wondered if healthcare fees ever came under strict government guidelines, i.e., not charging $4 for a Tylenol, if we would see a decrease in our difficult dictators....Thoughts?
Not sure about Universal, but I think you pay the same for Disney whether you pay at the gate or in
x
If we get universal healthcare ESL docs will be
Do you know in Canada it can take up to FIVE MONTHS to get an MRI done?
I experienced socialized medicine with the military. It SUCKS!
Yes, our system is bad, but let's fix it.
There needs to be a way to provide universal health care BUT sm
I don't believe that a national system is the right answer. If you look to Hawaii which has a law for universal coverage, it works pretty well.
We have had CHiPS which is the child health plan. I know something about that and had it for my own grown kids when it very first started. You get that if you don't qualify for Medicaid, and if your employer doesn't provide or if the premium of what is provided through employment is more than a given percentage of income.
This issue is one that I feel is best handled by the states, not by the feds. All you have to do is look at the No Child Left Behind to see how well that kind of thing works. States know what their demographics look like. They know what sector of the population is without health insurance and they know what funds they provide to various indigent programs to provide for the poor. It is the lower middle class woman and the lower middle class child who is most likely to be uninsured because they make too much for Medicaid and too little for any type of private insurance and most employers in this bracket can't/won't offer anything.
If you look at Medicare, which is a mess actually, and CHiPS which functions better, they are about the same idea for two different sectors of the population. There are HMOs and plans that one chooses. They are all a bit different, but you all know how this works. The companies who insure people through these plans keep costs and premiums down in order to participate.
I am in favor of the federal government figuring out a capitation rate along the lines of Medicare or Medicaid and paying this to the states, but more broadly to cover more people. Then, the states can figure out what they can contribute. If they eliminate funding for indigent services to cover these people under a statewide plan, that can go into the kitty. Every person in every state WITHOUT employer provided insurance, will be required to contribute to the state plan in some way, based on income. Employees with company provided insurance can opt to participate in the state program. The idea is to recoup the money wasted on county, city and state indigent programs and put it to the greater good. With having not to cover unpaid medical bills because there aren't any, anymore, it should help to raise the amount that states and other agencies have to pay into the system. Insurance companies will have to bid lower to participate in this, because I think it is best that they are the ones who administrate, private sector always does better...
well now I am boring you, but I see what I mean! LOL
Soon it will be the government, Universal Health Care, nm
xxx
It's a test in progress to measure what MTs know and what type of test to give for the SM
different levels of MTs. It's over $90. That's a lot of money to pay to someone who is giving these tests for research as to what type of testing should be done for the different levels of MT. The AAMT will probably take the results and make a test that they can give in India or the Phillipines or some other foreign country.
tuning fork test: Is it about a hearing test? .See inside
A whisper is about 20 dB
Loud music (some concerts) is around 80 to 120 dB
A jet engine is about 140 to 180 dB
Hope I could help
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Not a medical typing test but this website can test you..
It's called www.typingtest.com
Atleast it will give you an idea.. Sadly, I had to take it twice before I passed it LOL
Why would they do a microalbumin test when she has the period? A lot of test s will come out wrong
Why would they do a microalbumin test when she has the period? A lot of tests will come out wrong.
Neer's test is a shoulder impingement test
Don't think that has to do with the knee. How about "bucket handle tear" of the knee? Never heard of Neer having anything to do with the knee.
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happens quite often i would test again or go see your GYN for blood test which is more accurate
nm
This would be just a "regular" 3-pedal pedal and not the Dictaphone pedal. nm
s
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You can buy just the Start/Stop software w/o the pedal if you're able to use your pedal as a VEC
s
Bringing up ExpressScribe pedal question again. Does anyone have 9-pin Infinity pedal on a USB?
tia
Yeah a 30 minute test---work for free, he gets enough to test, his work is done - nm
x
Is there ONE pedal I can buy that will work with ALL platforms? And where do I shop for a pedal?
.
A wave pedal is a foot pedal that connects to either
serial port, game port, or USB depending on the software needed with it. You have to download the work via the internet and most companies still require high-speed internet, though some allow dial-up or satellite. A pedal costs about $70, though can find on e-bay cheaper. You can download ExpressScribe for free to use with the foot pedal unless the company requires a different software program.
Or maybe that in itself IS the test! It's really an ethics test, LOL. nm
R
wav pedal is a foot pedal that plugs into your
computer so you can transcribe wav files. There are many other formats such as DSS, but they are all digital voice files.
I don't think brand of foot pedal is important, but need to know if it is game port, serial port, or USB and how many pins it has. The majority of them are made by Infinity in some foreign country, but sold by many companies.
WAV pedal vs. USB port foot pedal
PLEASE HELP! Are wav pedals and USB port foot pedals one in the same? I've only transcribed from audio tapes, and all this is new to me. Thank you for your help.
A wav pedal is just a generic term for a pedal used to
play voice files you have on your computer. You can get them on the equipment board here, e-bay, or you can Google and get lots of other places. Some pedals are fairly generic and can play multiple "wav" types, but some only work with certain software. You can have a serial port connection, a game port connection, or a USB connection.
If you do not already have a job that you need a pedal for I'd suggest waiting because you don't know which kind you will use. If you need it for testing you can download ExpressScribe for free and use the function keys to test.
MT companies negotiate with the insurance companies until they get what they want
It is strictly up to the agreement between the employer and the insurance company. Your new employer can tell you what the pre-existing clause is in your new policy. Some require proof of insurance for the past 12 months. It may say something like if a diagnosis has not been made NOR treatment received within the last __ months. Not good when companies negotiate with a pre-existing clause in order to get a lower rate. Better check with your HR with your new company before doing anything. It really gets hairy !
INCRE pedal vs. wav pedal
anyone know if express scribe works with the INCRE pedal? I have an infinity pedal which I use for current job, but a possible second job says I need the INCRE, so I am wondering if my current job can be supported with this new pedal. Any info appreciated
Most companies do no use their only files (HIPAA). They use files provided by other companies, serv
If you can get through the test files, then the sound quality on the actual company files is better. And, the dictation is never as bad as the test files, plus you have QA to help with hard blanks.
test
test
And a test
Wondering how many companies this is set up for....
HealthScribe, Avicis, Spheris, MQ, TRS, Medware, others?
Test
//
test
You really should not be asking for help if this is a test sm
If this is a test for school or employment, it really should be done by you. It is not a fair test if someone else does it for you. If this is not a test, please clarify and maybe people will help, but I think it is cheating otherwise.
test, this is only a test. nm
<img scr=http://bestsmileys.com/silly/11.gif"></center>
If this don't work, I'll quit.
If this is just a test then (sm)
why don't you just pick something...like @@@ or ??? or *** or something like that...leave it for where you find it inaudible, and when you send back your test just tell them. You could do ___inaudible___...anything. Just let them know when you send the test back. If you were actually working, then you'd go by the account specifics for how leave a blank, but for a test, just pick something appropriate and let them know.
We have to test because there have been....sm
too many times that people claimed they were transcriptionists, or could do a certain work type, only to find out they couldn't and were bluffing. Testing is the only way to tell if an applicant has any knowledge or not. Resumes don't always tell what their true skill level is.
That's the best way for a co to test you because they never know if someone sm
is having someone else take a written test for them. The best way to test and just as accurate as mega transcription tests is oral phone testing. That way, it comes from what is in the person's head of what they know
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