Word Expanders....need opinions on which is the best.....

.....and that doesn't cost $200.00.  I have seen many downloadable expanders, and wondered if anyone has downloaded one from the Internet?  I've been considering Fastfox by NCH or Swifttext by Bytescribe ($49.00).  Anyone use these with good results?

Thanks so much.

• Word Expanders....need opinions on which is the best..... - MT
  • try FlashType offered on this site--sm - ks

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.. is there another way?   Do many use the "autocorrect" to make your own word Expander without having to purchase anything?  Does that workout well or is it best to buy expander software? 

I'm setting things up to start again after a couple years out of hte business.  My Spellex spellchecker expired and I had to purchase a new spellchecker.  Also wanting to get my expander going.  GAH!  It's a bit spendy to get things going again... not fun.

Can anyone tell me the advantage of using word Expanders versus autocorrect/autotext in word?  I use autocorrect a LOT but am wondering if there is an advantage to switching over? 

Thanks so much for your help/advice!  - Karen

Has anyone used SmartType as a word expander? How do you find it?

I do not even know how many short cuts I have, but I know that I would never continue to do this job if someone told me I could not use them!  How would you ever make any money?  Some of my suggestions are for the word endings; for example, dem = demonstrate; dems=demonstrates; demd=demonstrated; and demj=demonstration; all I change is the last letter and I am consistent about how I make my shortcuts so I never have to really think about what I need to type.

You might want to check out ShortCut.  I believe it is manufactured by Sylvan Software and it will convert all of your PRD entries with no problems.

Hope this helps

I am looking for a word Expander to purchase and I was wondering if any of you have Instant Text Pro and how exactly does it work.  Are there entries already in there?  Also, what is the difference between Instant Text Pro and Shorthand.  Thanks so much.  Do you think Instant Text Pro is worth the money?

Carla

I am starting with All-Type soon, and the handbook says that their platform works with any Word-based expander.  That's all fine and good, but I have never used one.  I'm a PRD+ girl from the old WP51 days, and currently work in Bayscribe, and the Expander in it is a lot like PRD.  Are any of the Word-based Expanders like that?  I tried Instant Text once and hated it.  I don't want popup windows and such.  I like it to be simple, like PRD ... enter copdd and get chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, etc.  Are any like that?

Thanks for your help!  

I know that ShortHand and Abbreviate both work with Meditech. There may be others as well. Hope this helps.

Jeff Smith

Okay.  I just got laid off.  I've been using Meditech server macros for years.  I doubt that they will let us copy the macros off their server, so I have three questions.

How long did it take you to get up to speed loading your Expander from scratch,

and

if you could take your macros with you, is there some way to import them into any expander brand available, and

is/are there brand/s that are more universal than others?

I know from experience that autocorrect is less than easy to export, at least in my personal experience.

Thanks for your help.

What is the difference between Word Expanders and Auto text?  Are they the same thing? 

Thanks!

Hello everyone ....  I've been using MS Word's auto correct feature as my expander.  Is it 'just as good' as using an Expander ?   Of course my line count is lousy per hour - but I don't do the same account regularly, and I don't get many ops (standard formats).  

Please tell me if / why I should change to an expander - and which one works best.  Remember PRD for DOS - I loved it.  Is there a Windows version?

Thanks, Susie

Hi All,

I will be starting a new job soon, and it looks like I will be typing in my own computer's Word program.  I managed to download my old Expander entries from my old job into Notepad, so I now have a list of my expansions.  I am wondering if anyone has any good tips on doing something  with the Notepad entries to get them into AutoCorrect in Word, or do I have to just go through the whole list manually and make new entries into Word AutoCorrect to use for my new expander?

I am also open to any and all suggestions to the Word spellchecker since it does not know LOTS of medical terms and drugs.  Just start entering them manually or buy a medical spellchecker that interphases with Word? I saw some listed when I Googled it, but they seem awful expensive.  100$ and more.  Any suggestions?

THanks!

Does anyone use software for transcription that has the automatic faxing and e-mailing so the doctor's office doesn't have to pay staff to do this? 

Was it expensive for you to buy - does the vendor charge you a per line fee or any fee for this - is it easy for you to use - and do you feel that the doctors like this kind of software and its faxing and emailing of transcripts to referring physicians functions?  Also, do you have names of companies you could give so that I could possibly check into this?  I am currently using a phone-in system but I thought an automatic faxing software would draw in prospective doctor clients. 

Any opinions, good and bad, are welcomed.   Thank you. 

Does anyone use software for transcription that has the automatic faxing and e-mailing so the doctor's office doesn't have to pay staff to do this? 

Was it expensive for you to buy - does the vendor charge you a per line fee or any fee for this - is it easy for you to use - and do you feel that the doctors like this kind of software and its faxing and emailing of transcripts to referring physicians functions?  Also, do you have names of companies you could give so that I could possibly check into this?  I am currently using a phone-in system but I thought an automatic faxing software would draw in prospective doctor clients. 

Any opinions, good and bad, are welcomed.   Thank you.

I'm still firmly of the opinion that it does suck.  I hate it.  The poster who said it's just a mess to clean up, is absolutely correct.  That's the whole problem.  Some doctors are great,  others are so-so, and many are just a mess.  You waste more time backing up and correcting, and could have typed it by hand in the first place with less grief and frustration.

Yes, maybe it is the wave of the future, but as many bad dictators as there are, there are always going to be people needed for them.   Let the ones who love speech rec go for it.  It might help some, saving some people's hands, and boosting production somewhat, but I'd really like to talk to the people themselves who love it and supposedly have great production, rather than just seeing a generic sheet of numbers that the supervisors wave around for show. 

No, it was not the Dragon program, and not a national company. 

This is not on just a few providers, it's about 70% of them in a quite large facility, ESLs included right along with the stumblers and mumblers.

Correct, the supervisors are pushing this program so hard, to save money. Yes, it can be a great help to some, but not to all. 

Medical reports can be extremely complicated, and are in no way comparable to social work reports.  One person, consistently dictating all the time, compared to an assortment of 20-30 dictators/speech patterns at random, with different types of reports?  No, there's no comparison. 

All in all, it does suck to work with.  And if I'm not taken off the program at the end of three months, then I will probably quit.  It might help me somewhat, but I doubt it's going to boost my production that much.  We'll see what happens.  To me, it's not worth the stress and frustration. 

I am SO sorry for reposting this. If I knew how to remove my other post from the pressure valve, I would... I do not want to get in trouble for multiple postings, so PLEASE forgive that mistake. I just don't think that the PV gets as much traffic as this board, and I really need some help right now! 

Can I get an opinion from someone who is experienced in this business?  I am a relatively new MT...  I have only been doing this job since March 2005, so less than a year. 

I work as an independent contractor at .08 per line.  My employer is a really nice person, but she will frequently need help over the weekend.  I have always said sure because I want to make myself valuable to her.  However, I have always done as much as I can do comfortably and still have time with my family over the weekend. 

I did an extra 1000 lines this weekend, which takes me about 6 hours because I am still new and research everything if I am not totally familiar with the terms.  I got an email this morning saying that, basically, I had not done enough to help her and she ended up doing "most of it" herself.

My feeling is that she is the owner of this business.  If she overextends herself as far as taking on work and she has to work all weekend to get it done, that's what she has to do as the owner of this business.  If she wants to pay a weekend differential to me, then sure... I will make plans with my husband to take the kids on his own and I will work all weekend now and then.  But if I am working for the same rate, I am not willing to work all week and then work all weekend too and miss out on my husband and children.  Isn't it customary and expected to offer a differential for working weekends and holidays?

I am a bit miffed because I gave up most of my Saturday and an hour or so on Sunday to help her out, and now I am criticized for not doing more for the same pay. Any input from you experienced MTs?

I am sitting on my email reply, but it does have this in it:

"I am happy to help as much as I can over a weekend without a differential, but I will need to do so around my family's schedule."

I need to reply to her email, but am not sure what to say. Thank you in advance for your help.  

Yesterday, I received an announcement in the mail regarding the graduation of a long-time ex-friend's daughter's graduation...wheew!

My question to y'all is...the last time this ex-friend and I spoke, we were not on good terms..and actually, she wasn't really a friend.  She was an MTSO that I worked for for about a year.  Turned out (and long story short) she was a crazy person!!!  Anyway, I was very surprised to receive this announcement.

What would y'all do? Send the girl money?...I have nothing against her, though I don't really know her that well...trash the announcement and forget about it, or what? I am by no means going to attend the ceremony, but should I even acknowledge the receipt of the announcement?

I feel like the "friend" just...like my daughter said...went through her address book and sent everyone in it an announcement...probably just for gifts...your help would be so appreciated!

I don't believe I am looking for acceptance or any such thing from my mother, but rather I truly care about my father and aunt's health.  I think sometimes people are very close to a situation and may not be able to see outside of themselves. 

Also, I never said, nor do I believe, that an MT has anything on a NP.  I only believe that we do have some medical knowledge and can sometimes pick up on things.  Years ago my dad had a constant cough.  His doctors (IM, card, pulm) or my mother couldn't figure it out.  I asked if he had started any new medications and he had started an ACE.  He changed meds and his cough was gone. 

I have to think a little more about this, but I do appreciate all the help.