can any answer a couple if Winscribe questions?(sm)

I'm a fairly new MT and have done all my MT-ing so far with C-phones.  I am being switched to a Winscribe system.  My question is this:  Will the MTSO be able to monitor how fast or slow I'm transcribing?  I'm not trying to get away with anything.  It's just that I've read horror stories from some MTs on certain platforms where the MTSO can see (and calls) whenever they're "off the system" (bathroom breaks, looking up a word, legitimate coffee-breaks) etc.  I work as an IC and have a window in which to get my work done rather than a set number of hours.  What I'm wondering is if the MTSO, with this new system, will now be able to "see" if I'm not typing every single minute.  TIA

• can any answer a couple if Winscribe questions?(sm) - newbie Winscribe MT
  • I work on Winscribe. There is the ability to - SM please

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Not sure which to go with.  Currently, due to location, have dial-up.  Considered netzero which I guess is still technically dial-up.  I would like to have something that I can travel with, which leaves netzero or satellite.

Will be beginning work with Meditech based program, working directly on company's website.  I'm concered about dail-up being slow with Meditech, but have heard that satellite does not work well with Meditech either.  Any opinions on what to go with or anyone working currently with Meditech on satellite basis?

   SO CONFUSED!           TIA

First, do you carry error and omissions insurance or a clause in your contract?  Second, when you do your billing--do you find it easier to bill twice monthly (1st and 15th) or once monthly? 

How do I quickly modify an entry?  (I've been pulling up shorthand, putting in the short form, clicking on Dictionary, then modify, then cut and paste....there has to be an easier way).

How do put yo (for year-old) directy behind the age without putting a space (i.e., 32yo instead of 32 yo). 

How do I stop SH from working when I'm in my e-mail or on the Internet for a brief time, but don't want to completely close out the program?

The ShortHand directions I have are very unclearly written, so I'm grateful for any help to these and upcoming Shorthand questions!

 Use the semicolon with yo to expand out to -year-old (50;yo expands to 50-year-old).  To stop expanding uncheck the "AutoReplace" box up near the top of the ShortHand program.  It's sort of in the middle of where you enter the Keyword and the Type It button.

First, A company I worked for briefly at the beginning of 2008 sent me two different W2.  One lists all the pertinent boxes (wages, federal taxes paid, etc).  However, in box 15 where your state and local taxes are listed, they have the wrong state.  It is a state I used to live, but haven't lived there for the past three years.  I definitely did not live there at all in 2008.  The second W2 they sent list nothing in any of the boxes except box 15 where it lists the correct state, income, and taxes I paid.

So does this mean I paid taxes in a state that I didn't even live in?  And if that is the case, do I have to file a return in that state?  Or do I contact the company and ask they correct my W2? 

I am using TurboTax to prepare my return.  My second question is I have a 1099 from IC work I did in 2008 and after I enter the information, the software asks me for a business ID code on attachment form C for my "self-employment business."  I have no idea what to put on this line.  I looked at a list of the codes on the IRS website and there is nothing that is specific to medical transcription.  There is a code for Data entry and then under legal there is a code for document preparation and stenotype.  Those are the only two codes that even come close.

So which one do I use?

Oh, and have I mentioned, I HATE TAX SEASON! 

Did you have a learning curve with this keyboard?  I was reading about it yesterday.  I understand the home, page up, page down, etc. keys are on the left-hand side of the keyboard.  That would make for some serious re-learning on my part!  How have you coped?  Thanks to both of you in advance

How did you get your accounts and what line rate did you start with? Also do you pick up and drop off? Who do you speak with (Doctor or office manager) when you have a question about dictation?  What is your normal TAT?

--------------------------------

Pounded the pavement 12 years ago, introduced myself in medical buildings/offices that I chose to walk into, handing them my business card, spending a few minutes with them, giving a resume if requested, showed a little of my personality, asked for their business cards, followed up with them with a phone call.  I did this once a week, a different medical building in my area(s).  I started charging at 12 CPL.....never upped them until this year.  They so appreciated that.  I pick up and deliver and also supply plain white paper if they request the work be printed on that versus their letterhead.  I also never charge for just one word on a line, no matter how long that one word might be, and I give them free 5-line headers as it's only 2 Keystrokes for me.  (Most docs like to see something for *free*).  I spoke originally directly with the doctors and some of them I still do talk with them, but many times I just deal with the office staff.  I rarely have to call though.

Hope that helps and good luck to you. 

Let me first tell you about my background.  I've been an MT for 15 years and QA for 7 years.  I have also worked as a supervisor of a MT department in a large inner city hospital.  I went to a business college and enrolled in their newly established MT program and it was awful.  I paid nearly $5000 for my "education" in 1992.  Fortunately, I lucked out and was able to get a p.r.n. MT position with a local hospital and one of the instructors at my school worked at the hospital.  She became my mentor at school and on the job.  I learned more on the job than I did from the school.  I started out making $7.86 an hour!  It seems like peanuts now, but I took it and ran with it.  Best thing I ever did.  I am a firm believer that every newly graduated MT simply MUST work in an office for at least the first year.  You learn so much from other, more experienced MTs.  You develop a trained ear by having someone else with experience listen and tell you what you should be hearing. 

I owe my career to Martha, Jane, Sherri, and Helen.  They are all retired now, but they were MTs back when they used typewriters and recording belts!  They were my mentors in the beginning and everything they taught me is still with me today!

what type of school is nec.? Personally, I feel that you can take a medical terminology course, anatomy and physiology I and II, and English at your local community college and that is a good start.  I don't feel like any of the online schools out there really prepare anyone for the real world of transcription and their tuition is outrageous!  You can go to a community college for half of what you pay some of those "business" or "career" colleges.

is school required? Those courses I listed should be required.

what is an apprenticeship? can i work as an apprentice and get paid? I think an apprenticeship is an excellent idea.  After you completed the necessary course work, on-the-job experience is the next step in the learning process and an essential step.  As far as being paid, there are companies out there that pay a minimal line rate (usually 5 or 6 cpl) to newbie MTs who are still learning.  Even if you don't get paid, it's still excellent training and education.

can i work at home straight out of school or do i have to work at an office or hospital first?  Unfortunately, you can work from home right out of school, but I don't recommend it.  Like I said above, there is a gigantic learning curve the first year or two out of school.  And even after 15 years on the job, there is still a little bit of a learning curve.  For at least the first year, you need to be in an office with other experienced MTs.

I really do appreciate it. 

DixieKaye

I just recently went back to work in the office at a local hospital. We type in both Meditech and Cerner, depending on what you are typing, i.e. Medical Records reports versus Radiology.  We are currently typing blindly in Meditech, meaning we do not have access to our line counts and must depend on management to give us our totals.  In Cerner, we are able to run a line count report and print out a hard copy of our line counts at the end of the day.

We are finding that 800 lines in Cerner equals about 500 lines in Meditech.  We are not paid per line nor do we have an incentive plan, but we have a new HIM Director who would like to institute an incentive plan and the administrator over our department has laid down the law and decreed that all transcriptionists not making minimum in the department will be written up.  Problem is according to Meditech line totals that we have been given, that would be about half the department.

The transcription supervisor has taken our concerns to the new director who told the MT Supervisor to hold off on writing people and has taken home all the line counts from the last month and she is going over them with a fine tooth comb this weekend.

I am not a very trusting soul by nature, so I am doing a little research on my own.  I've been in this business for about 15 years.  I started out in a hospital and have worked for a few services at home and am now back in the hospital setting.  So I know a few things about line count and I consider myself to be pretty well informed on trends and technology in the industry.   I would like to walk into our next department meeting armed with as much knowledge as possible.  So I have come up with some questions that I would like some fellow MTs to answer, give opinions, and maybe even direct me to websites or individuals who could give me a better understanding of Meditech and Cerner.  Here are my questions:

1. Is it possible for an MT to have access to her line count in Meditech or is strictly a management function?  Any MTs that work in Meditech on this board, do you currently have access to your line counts and if so, how do you check them?  Is it an option on the main menu after you log into Meditech?


2. How is a line defined in Meditech?  (i.e. 65 cpl, with spaces, without spaces)


3. How is a line defined in Cerner?


4. What abbreviation Expanders work with both Meditech and Cerner?


5. Examples of incentive plans (if anyone would like to share that with me that would be great, if not I completely understand).


6. Measuring productivity by minutes of dictation versus typed lines.




1. What would be the minimum minutes required for an 8-hour day?


2. How would one structure an incentive program based on minutes?

I was thinking of presenting the idea that we keep track of productivity using minutes instead of lines since there is such a discrepancy in Meditech.  I also worry that if an incentive plan is put into place and we are still typing blind into Meditech, what's to keep management from shaving off a few lines here and there?

Feel free to email me or post here any responses.  Either is fine.  I really appreciate any input, comments, or just plain old supportive posts would be nice too! 

How is it to work on?

Has anyone who has had Winscribe for their work ever encountereda a problem where it kept saying that either the URL was incorrect or to check my internet connection.  I cannot find a solution for the life of me. 

disappear between every radiology job (and that means at least one hundred times a day)?   It falls into the abyss known as the margin.  I have to minimize all other windows for it to peek from the corner where I can grab onto it and drag it back into view...arrrrgh

Long difficult day I am having...

My company is currently using the Winscribe Dictation system.  Its quite pricey but overall it is good.  You can set it up to do most anything. 

Job id#, dictator, type of report, etc and you can also put a spot for chart number to find things easier.  I just wish my docs would use the PC dictate part, as its less combersome then punching numbers on the phone, but overall it is a good product.  Just be sure you get it from someone reliable.

Has anyone else had trouble installing Winscribe?

When I try to install I get the install prompt and then a progress bar, but no progress is made...I can get it installed on other PCs, but not the one I need to work on.  MTSO is no help and I am out of suggestions...I have rebooted, changed web browsers, checked popups, checked security settings, checked firewall settings...I'm at a loss.

Any and all suggestions are appreciated!!!