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blood tests aren't bullet proof either. Must be matched up with history and sx. But you knew that

Posted By: nm on 2006-07-03
In Reply to: That doesn't matter. A quick blood test, NOT 3 hours, would have settled that question. - this is someone's life.

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I dodged a bullet with someone like this..

He was 5 years younger than me, moved in with me as I own a home.  When he wasn't working making little over minimum wage at Jiffy Lube with no future aspirations, his behind was planted on my sofa.  Before he moved in he had all these plans on what he wanted to do with his future, go back to school, better job, etc., but the longer he stayed the more lazy he got.  I don't mind doing the yard work, I had been doing it for 6 years before he came into the picture, but when somebody tells you they are going to do it tomorrow, then tomorrow, then tomorrow and it gets to be a foot high it's like telling a kid to do his chores.  He would only get up to do the lawn after I got the mower out, emptied the bag, put gas in it, and started it up.  All that was left to do was push it across the yard, and then that is when all of a sudden he is in the mood to mow it.  Same with rolling the garbage bins out to the curb once a week. Again, no big deal unless you have to do it after somebody else says they are happy to do it but don't actually go through with it.


He also had three kinds, two from one woman and one from another.  He was so far behind on his child support from the youngest one he could never see her.  The mother of his other two kids (one of which was actually his, one of which he took responsibility for before her birth) made a deal with him that if he religiously paid her $360 a month by the first of each month, she would not go through the courts as they would take much more out of his check.  He couldn't even follow through with this one simple thing for his kids, so she took him to court and then 50% of his checks went to child support.  This is all because he was too lazy to go get a money order and a stamp. 


This is all stuff I found out after he moved in with me.  It was like he just gave up and was coasting on my sofa.  With his modest salary and half of it being taken out, we certainly were not getting ahead financially and I was living with a big lump on the sofa in front of the TV.  After four months, I gave him his ring back, and a week later he was living with his mommy again.  Had I known some other things I found out after he left, I would have kept the ring and had his things packed up for him with the locks changed when he got home from work.  I'm just glad I didn't actually marry him. 


 


I would probably bite the bullet this ...sm
time BUT I would make it clear that next time I would not. I would tell them that they have to let you know which patients have already been done. You have no way of knowing.
I just bit the bullet and ordered a Sierra Wireless - sm,
AirCard 875U via AT&T. This way I can use it on both my desktop and my laptop is it connects via the USB port, not a slot. Paid 0.01 for it (normally about $300-$350) on Amazon as a new customer; the plan is $80 a month though for unlimited access. The fees for the aircard for the laptop were cheaper at $60 a month, but I'd rather have it on my desktop. Figure I have nothing to lose to try it; can cancel in 3 days of activation and it is free, within a month and all I pay is the $36 activation fee. Sprint has one too, called a 595U, but they did not have coverage here, but AT&T did, so they got my business. I should have it early next week, very excited about using it and cannot wait. Just hope it works! (will have to beat the kids away from my computer though which is the only drawback for me)
POLL - Do you proof as you go or proof when finished? sm

I proof after, but would love to proof during.  I'm working on it.  I'm curious as to what percentage of MTs proof as they go or proof at the end?


Thx for responding.


MT, proof as I go. ME, go back and proof afterwards
I have only been editing 3-4 months, and I find I make at least twice the stupid mistakes on ME as with MT, so I do scan the ME reports --find double periods, caps where they are not supposed to be -- stupid stuff.

good luck!
I knew him well before I asked him out, so I knew
a long time before our first date that he was the one for me. He didn't know it that soon, but I did.
Yes to all the above - they need some new blood
nm
Blood Test
Could it just be that his CEA is elevated? The rise in CEA would be used to determine if treatment is working. Just a thought.
blood thirsty
Call me all what you will, but I don't understand why Barney is being bashed here?

Hey BARNEY - I really don't think ya did anything wrong.

I suppose I better watch what I say or I could be crucified next by some of your blood hungry people!
blood clots
It happened to me earlier this year, right out of the blue--pulmonary emboli--and with no real risk factor other than sitting still doing long hours of transcription. Everybody stretch and move around--it's important!
I'd recommend getting CMP and other blood
tests and going from there.  If you get a physical and they do the blood work, should be covered under insurance. 
The blood can be from implantation, but...
it can also be a sign of miscarriage of ectopic pregnancy.  I have had three pregnancies.  During the first pregnancy I started having spotting at about 5 weeks that got heavier, and I ended up miscarrying.  The second pregnancy I started spotting at about 6 weeks, but went on to have a full term healthy baby.  The third pregnancy I started spotting and kept this up for 3 weeks.  When I started having pain in my lower right side they found that I had an ectopic pregnancy.
Some companies try to squeeze blood out of you
and as long as someone does it, that makes them think they can continue to do it. I would not do it for free. If they ask you to do it, then tell them what you charge. If they don't buy, then they are not worth working for. That's why all the industry rates are going down, down, down. Too many who just continue to work for free or low wages. We have to stand up for ourselves or the industry will just keep going down as we have seen it for a decade.
Do you take blood pressure medication? sm
They can make you extremely tired, too. I take Toprol XL and have for 13 years. It peaks about 3 hours after I take it I have trouble staying awake at the PC from 6 am to about 10:30 am. I literally fall asleep with fingers right on the keyboard. It was so bad that I finally changed to the afternoon shift. I asked my doc about it and he said try taking it at night. Well, that brought on the headaches I was trying to avoid. He said to take 1/2 in the a.m. and 1/2 in the p.m. No dice, still had headaches. He won't change my pills, says if it isn't broke, don't try to fix it. He wants to keep my pressure on the low side. My only solution was changing shifts and now I don't fall asleep at the keyboard anymore. I can get 10 hours of sleep at night but still fall asleep about 3 hours after taking that medication. I'm fine if I am up and about and doing things but sitting at the keyboard is another story.
Dad has blood clot in his lungs
Please pray for my daddy.  He and my mother and younger brother went on a 10-day, 3800 mile trip to Mount Rushmore.  He started having chest pain and arm pain while he was gone. He went to the doctor when he got back and they found out he had two blood clots that were in his legs and had traveled to his lungs.  He is in the hospital and they are trying to stabilize him on Coumadin.  He is 49 years old.  They said that they stopped every 2 hours for a break, but drove some distance every day but one.  I am worried about him, please pray for him.  He is not in any pain and is resting, reading and watching TV.  I don't want to lose my daddy.
Had to ammend the blood thing ... sm
Once she was proficient at cleaning and dressing minor scrapes (9 or 10), I had to ammend the blood to lots of blood, but by then, it had become a running joke. It now stands at massive amounts of gushing arterial blood, and she wonders why she can't break her neck, but a broken skull with brains oozing out is okay. Needless to say, she has a bit of a sick sense of humor. She's a great kid, though.
What is it they're looking for in the blood? Drugs?
?
MT is history.
After doing this for 10 years, 3+ in house, I'm on the brink of hanging it up and forgetting it. The pay keeps getting worse for the MTs (and better for the corporatists), the platforms keep getting slower and more cumbersome, the quality of the dictation does not get any better and tends to get worse overall as the old masters of English retire and more ESLs move in to replace them.

I would strongly advise anyone who is young enough to find something with a future.
CPL History
Just a thought here.  It seems we're all so consumed with making lines and working faster and faster, has anyone stopped to wonder about how the 8-10 cpl rate was devised??  It seems that with the amazing fund of knowledge we have to possess to function in this profession, I feel ridiculously underpaid and overworked.  The companies are constantly begging for us to do extra work with no incentives - just the statement that "here's a chance to get extra lines".   I realize that this is a production-based business, but COME ON!!   Am I the only one who feels like the companies are profiting big-time from our skill and knowledge??   There's so much we have to know as well -- A&P, meds, extensive terminology, hardware, equipment, and on and on.  Please tell me if I'm overlooking something obvious, because I'm getting really burned out.   Thanks guys for listening. 
No spin. No blood pressure problems.
I'm not complaining about an Indian MT taking good work from me and I don't know anyone within the company who gives out that information anyway.  I do believe you might resolve your issues by telling the whole story because at first glance it just sounds like you are complaining and really don't want a solution.  If that's the case I am sorry for you.  I am also sorry for you that your source came up with an "Indian MT" taking your work who only wants American doctors to cause your blood to boil.  Not only does this intruder come from India but she leaves you with the lousy Indian dictators.  Not that you sound prejudiced or anything.  But do you really need all that info to perform your job?    Or is someone trying to stir you up like that higher source you have within the company.  Maybe they want you to get mad  and quit!  Be careful who you believe and IF your source information is valid what are you going to do with it but fret?  That's not a good thing friend.
Did he have blood work w/his job physical? Maybe they missed something. nm
x
I love my vet, the only blood work she does is an occasional - sm
heartworm test, about every 2 years. Only take the dogs (and cat) in for shots, no extra or unnecessary stuff. She is cheap (and good) too, compared to where we used to live. I'd say if there is a hint of a problem, then yeah it should get monitored. But if there is nothing wrong, then why? Once every few years should be adequate I would think for blood work. As for teeth cleaning, I have only done it once with 1 of dogs because she was going to be out anyways getting some teeth pulled, a tumor removed too, so we had her teeth cleaned. As for my other dogs, forget it, that is what Milk Bones and Dentabones are for. I already spend enough on shots for 3 dogs, Frontine, heartworm pills, special dog food for the 1 dog, etc. Some vets do whatever to get more $, others though don't get greedy (country vets) and think of the animal, not on pumping up their bottom line. If you aren't happy with your vet then either tell them you only want the 1 x a year visit, shots only, none of the extra crap, you can say NO, it's your pet. Or find another vet. Though we are in the boonies, we have 2 vets within 2 miles of each other, who are both very reasonable, go into town though and you pay a lot more.
Is this your flesh and blood grandchild you are talking about?? sm
If not, how could people who "wanted to be teenagers" literally dump the child on your doorstep?  Sounds like you resent that poor child much more than the people getting what you call "vanity" surgery.  Gad, what a sad, awful attitude you have.
Nothing like making up history
There are in fact many Hispanics who died and continue to die for this country. I am the daughter of a WWII veteran whose mail was confiscated because he wrote letters to his mother in Spanish. While my dad was literate in both English and Spanish, his mother could only read in Spanish, as was the primary language of New Mexico, Colorado, etc. 50+ years before the Mayflower landed. Also, my brother is a Sgt.Major who retired after 25 years in the army and 3 of his sons are also currently in the army (including Iraq). But as I said before, you can ignore all that 'cause you make up your own history....and telling Native Americans to get over it only displays your ignorance.
Learn from history

and think very carefully about this person and his sob story. Boo hoo! 


His child is cruel toward animals, chances are this child is being mistreated in some way by someone. This is a red flag that something in not right in this child's life regarding the adults. Children are NOT naturally violent--it is learned behavior.


Be friendly, but takes things very, very slow and think of the safety of yourself, your children, and your pet (s). Better safe than sorry.


Click on history
It states that in Nov. 2004 Warburg Pincus and Soros Private Equity Partners acquired Spheris. It is right on their history page.
Family history
You bring up a great question. Personally, I don't think any of that is their business - it doesn't affect how they will educate their child. I would not answer any of that - just put family medical history unknown.

Where do you live? I have taught in 3 states and none of the school districts I taught in, or the private school where I worked, asked.

You know, in this country it is illegal to ask someone for their national origin - how can they get by with asking about such personal information as your family Hx?
This patient with a history of
Aids is status post Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia.
Criminal History?

Can a person with a criminal history, felonies within the last 7 years, still work as an MT?


He drew my blood for my marriage license - engaged to someone else
True story. My husband was the one who was drawing my blood for my marriage license. I was engaged to someone else, and back then you have to have your blood drawn before you got married. When I sat down, he said to me "are you sure you want to get married before you and I have a chance to get to know each other?" I cracked up and realized he was right - I needed to get to know him before I got married to somebody else. We have been married 24 years - 4 children and 2 grandchildren.
MAs take vitals, draw blood, give injections, etc.

PAs have the mostly the same authority as a doctor EXCEPT writing narcotic prescriptions they need their suopervising doctors signature.  I used to work in a doctor's office as an MA for a PA.  Hope this helps!!!


Yes - it was explained to me that this happens when the egg implants in the uterine wall. The blood
Had this with all of my pregnancies.
i gave blood, sweat, and tears as a QA person -
I tried for over a year with a very lame lady who supposedly graduated from one of the *top 3* schools and was a former nurse. She had a terrible ear, little to no comprehension, and was clueless on how to even use her reference books! She was hands down the worst MT out of dozens of people I worked with. The point is this - You can usually tell pretty early if someone is worth training or not. What does your gut say?
blood or visible bones?! lmao - I love it!
nm
Chucky, you're history
k
You want the history of how a line is defined?

I have a feeling you're going to need it.

Sheet of paper = 8-1/2 x 11 inches.
Courier font = 10 Keystrokes per inch

Type in Courier font from the left edge to the right edge (no margins) and you'll get 85 keystrokes. Create 1" margins on left and right side and you deduct 10 keystrokes per side. Therefore, 85 keystrokes less 10 keystrokes for left margin and 10 keystrokes for right margin leaves you 65 keystrokes a 1" left margin to a 1" right margin. That is considered a "real line," as opposed to a gross line where "anything on a line is a line." It doesn't matter if you type a whole sentence or just word. If it's on a line, it's counted as a line.

When we started using computers, people switched from Courier font to other fonts, but Times Roman 12 pt was the favored. So, to calculate a line when it's not running from left margin to right margin (Times Roman 12 pt is a smaller font than Courier (see below), you simply follow the rule:  65 keystrokes equals a line. This way, it doesn't matter what font you use, you're rate of pay will be the same. So, if you're getting 6 cents a line for a 65 char line (presuming that includes spaces), you'll be paid the same no matter if your font is:


My dog has fleas and he scratches his head. (Arial)
My dog has fleas and he scratches his head. (Courier)
My dog has fleas and he scratches his head. (Times Roman)
My dog has fleas and he scratches his head. (Verdana)

All of the lines are different lengths, but you will be paid the same no matter which font you use. You don't have to worry if the person who hires you wants you to use Gothic (huge font) and Mary Contrary to use Arial Narrow (very thin font). You will both be paid the same - 65 char/line.

You also need to do is find out if spaces are included. If spaces are included then every KEYSTROKE is counted. If not, then only what you actually see (the letters) are counted. So, be sure to ask if spaces are included.

But, as far as getting 6 cents for a 65-char line ... I'm going to presume you're new to the business (what they call a newbie). As such, 6 cents per line is decent. Just make sure you get raises over time.

However, if you have at least 2 years of experience doing acute care and they offered you 6 cents per line, you really should refuse the offer ... unless it's either that or the bread lines.


Unusual clinical history...
"The patient is status post gunshot wound to the head now complaining of headaches." Yes, bullets tend to cause headaches, I'm sure!
AI - I think Elliott is history tonight-NM
NM
"No history of TB exposure"? nm
x
I agree with AnnuderMT because of the history....sm
of professional abuse suffered by the original poster...I mean, this young woman who has worked for such an indifferent company for 10 years without even any benefits....GEEZ! Even in these hard times, her professional skills and personal integrity are worth more than that. For heaven's sake get another job! There are still better jobs out there. If it were not for my extremely painful lower back, I'd find some PT work to do, just to keep my hand in, and even a retired MT could surely find a job with say, Medquist or some huge MTSO like that. I know what it's like to have one's professional self-esteem eroded and destroyed. Not worth it, not at all. Exit ASAP!

Any tip less than $1 is considered a cheap slight nowadays, and that is just for a piece of pie!
Well, there's your problem! You're using blood pressure pills instead of birth
control pills!!  See - BP pills are for your heart - BC pills are for your - well, surely you must know! 
I can't imagine any father not wanting to make sure his flesh and blood
x
Might also be your thyroid or Lyme disease. Insist on blood work! nm
s
For extra cash I just started donating blood plasma SM

to BioLife, owned by Baxter. They pay about $50 a week for this (put on debit card). Does anyone else do this, and what other things like this is anyone aware of? It's not as gross as it sounds, just like giving blood, and they separate your plasma from the blood and give you your blood back.


Interesting history of Christmas Trees
Christmas Trees

How it All Got Started | Trees Around the World | Rockefeller Center
Related Links | Tree Trivia

How it All Got Started
Long before the advent of Christianity, plants and trees that remained green all year had a special meaning for people in the winter. Just as people today decorate their homes during the festive season with pine, spruce, and fir trees, ancient peoples hung evergreen boughs over their doors and windows. In many countries it was believed that evergreens would keep away witches, ghosts, evil spirits, and illness.

In the Northern hemisphere, the shortest day and longest night of the year falls on December 21 or December 22 and is called the winter solstice. Many ancient people believed that the sun was a god and that winter came every year because the sun god had become sick and weak. They celebrated the solstice because it meant that at last the sun god would begin to get well. Evergreen boughs reminded them of all the green plants that would grow again when the sun god was strong and summer would return.

The ancient Egyptians worshipped a god called Ra, who had the head of a hawk and wore the sun as a blazing disk in his crown. At the solstice, when Ra began to recover from the illness, the Egyptians filled their homes with green palm rushes which symbolized for them the triumph of life over death.

Early Romans marked the solstice with a feast called the Saturnalia in honor of Saturn, the god of agriculture. The Romans knew that the solstice meant that soon farms and orchards would be green and fruitful. To mark the occasion, they decorated their homes and temples with evergreen boughs.

In Northern Europe the mysterious Druids, the priests of the ancient Celts, also decorated their temples with evergreen boughs as a symbol of everlasting life. The fierce Vikings in Scandinavia thought that evergreens were the special plant of the sun god, Balder.

Germany is credited with starting the Christmas tree tradition as we now know it in the 16th century when devout Christians brought decorated trees into their homes. Some built Christmas pyramids of wood and decorated them with evergreens and candles if wood was scarce. It is a widely held belief that Martin Luther, the 16th-century Protestant reformer, first added lighted candles to a tree. Walking toward his home one winter evening, composing a sermon, he was awed by the brilliance of stars twinkling amidst evergreens. To recapture the scene for his family, he erected a tree in the main room and wired its branches with lighted candles.

Most 19th-century Americans found Christmas trees an oddity. The first record of one being on display was in the 1830s by the German settlers of Pennsylvania, although trees had been a tradition in many German homes much earlier. The Pennsylvania German settlements had community trees as early as 1747. But, as late as the 1840s Christmas trees were seen as pagan symbols and not accepted by most Americans.

It is not surprising that, like many other festive Christmas customs, the tree was adopted so late in America. To the New England Puritans, Christmas was sacred. The pilgrims's second governor, William Bradford, wrote that he tried hard to stamp out "pagan mockery" of the observance, penalizing any frivolity. The influential Oliver Cromwell preached against "the heathen traditions" of Christmas carols, decorated trees, and any joyful expression that desecrated "that sacred event." In 1659, the General Court of Massachusetts enacted a law making any observance of December 25 (other than a church service) a penal offense; people were fined for hanging decorations. That stern solemnity continued until the 19th century, when the influx of German and Irish immigrants undermined the Puritan legacy.

In 1846, the popular royals, Queen Victoria and her German Prince, Albert, were sketched in the Illustrated London News standing with their children around a Christmas tree. Unlike the previous royal family, Victoria was very popular with her subjects, and what was done at court immediately became fashionable—not only in Britain, but with fashion-conscious East Coast American Society. The Christmas tree had arrived.

By the 1890s Christmas ornaments were arriving from Germany and Christmas tree popularity was on the rise around the U.S. It was noted that Europeans used small trees about four feet in height, while Americans liked their Christmas trees to reach from floor to ceiling.

The early 20th century saw Americans decorating their trees mainly with homemade ornaments, while the German-American sect continued to use apples, nuts, and marzipan cookies. Popcorn joined in after being dyed bright colors and interlaced with berries and nuts. Electricity brought about Christmas lights, making it possible for Christmas trees to glow for days on end. With this, Christmas trees began to appear in town squares across the country and having a Christmas tree in the home became an American tradition.

http://www.historychannel.com/exhibits/holidays/christmas/trees.html
Allergies would be the child's own medical history sm

Not the family medical history.


As far as juvenile diabetes or similar diseases, genetically transmitted or otherwise, if the child is being taken to the ER the parents should have already been notified and be on their way. If the child's family physician is on record with the school (a legitimate request), then medical records can be sent to the ER. I still do not see any necessity of the school having anything other than the child's OWN medical history - allergies, shot records, current state of health, etc.


...The content stays the same - history, symptoms,
s
If the ESL doctor cannot understand English enough to get a history..sm
he does NOT need to be practicing medicine in the United States. I understood the OP to say that the patient was a white American female, so I assume she speaks pretty good English!
If you check the ownership history of the site

To be fair, history and other sections are composed, SM
analyzing and gathering in the process, with sometimes additional legal and political issues to consider, and the labs are mostly just read.
I can't believe how bad some of the tests are!
Some test where you put commas (for which there are few real-world rules) and other BOS nonsense. Some count off if you didn't transcribe the patient's name and other private information (that you'll send to them via e-mail). Few actually test the skills required to be successful at real-world MT. Many tests only answer one question: "Have you memorized all the personal preferences found in the BOS or not?"