A good book for phrases is the Medical Phrase Index. $$$ but well worth it when first starting

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    • A good book for phrases is the Medical Phrase Index. $$$ but well worth it when first starting - out. nm Early Morning Oldie
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Just to let everyone out there know, this book is wonderful. It's very similar to the Medical Phrase Index by PMIC. It's by Stedman's so you know it's reputable and catered just for the MT. I wanted to inform those interested in purchasing it, I found it on amazon.com. It retails for $66 but there are several sellers selling the newest version for $8 (includes shipping). New, not used as well.  Sellers are best1bookbuyusa (who I purchased mine through) and dabearbooks and sweethomeliquid2. I hope this information benefits someone. Whenver I find a good deal, I have to pass it on.

Here's the review: http://www.stedmans.com/product.cfm/366/224

2005 Stedman's Medical Terms and Phrases: A Complete Guide to Medical Language.  HUGE.  Over 1785 pages.  Hardcover.  I purchased this just a few months ago, I just didn't use it as much as I thought I would. No writing, no damage.  Bought from Stedman's for $69.99 plus tax and shipping; I paid over $75 in total.  I will sell it for $60 including shipping parcel post with delivery confirmation. 

PayPal (cash only, no CC or debit), checks (hold until cleared), and money orders (preferred).  Email me for pictures if you are interested.   

Hi Guys ~

I have started another at-home business and am planning to get out of the MT field in the next six months to a year, and so I am getting rid of any of the references I no longer use.  The last one I have available is the Stedman's Medical Terms and Phrases.  I LOVED this reference when I was still in school and brand new, but after using it just a handful of times I am now familiar with my accounts and no longer need it.  Perhaps a newbie could use it.  This is how it works:

It is the most current edition, which is the 2004.  It is approximately 2000 pages,
hardcover, tabbed for easy looking up. Here is how it works, in case
you are not familiar with it:

The book is excellent for things like when the dingaling of a doctor is eating
Cheetos while dictating and says something that sounds like,
"chron-CRUNCH nonsuppurative CRUNCH CRUNCH -ructive CRUNCH
cholang-CRUNCH".  Well, you got the "nonsuppurative" part and then a
bunch of half coherent stuff.  So you use the one word you got out of
the bunch.  When you look up the one word you got, nonsuppurative, you
look down the list of phrases under that word and you come up with
"chronic nonsuppurative destructive cholangitis". AH-HAH!

That's how it worked for me when I was a student and when I was new and was shuttled around from one account to the next as I was needed. I have been placed on my permanent accounts for so long that I know what my docs are going to say before they say it.  Therefore, I spent $70 for this book plus the ridiculous shipping that Stedman's charged me, plus tax, so the book cost me over $80 new thinking I would use it all the time... But I have rarely used it. If you have any marble-mouth doctors or any ESLs or if you are new to MT or if you work on multiple and/or
changing accounts ... This would be an incredible resource to
consider.  It is in perfect condition. 

Email for pictures.  Price is $45.00 plus $5.00 for
media mail with delivery confirmation (this book weighs a ton, so actual shipping cost is over $6.00, but I will do for $5)  for a total of $50.00.

Thanks! 

Grammar and Writing Skills for the Health Care Professional. You can get a used copy on Amazon for around $10 shipped. The Gregg Manual is also good ad you can find that used on Amazon for around $7 shipped. Good luck and don't get to discouraged, you'll learn over time what is acceptable in the "real world" of transcription. 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0766812596/ref=dp_olp_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1220570885&sr=8-6

Hi,

I am a MT and can't find a job or pass employment test.  So, I have to take one of the AAMT approved schools this time around and was thinking about Medical Coding but, not sure of this.  Does anyone know if Medical Coding is harder than Medical Transcription to pass or is the stress more intense?  Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks a bunch!

Barb

I am so confused!!  I took a Medical Transcription course and could not find a job and it was not one of the BIG 3.  I am about ready to go with M-Tec Medical Transcription School.  But, I have been reading post about Medical Coders and now I do not know which to choose.  I do not want to make another mistake and choose the wrong school or the wrong career.  Any advice or insight would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

BMT

Does anyone know what the MT starting pay is for Webmedx, Accustat Carolinas,  Accusribe and Transolutions?  Also, could you give me your feelings about these companies?  I'm looking for the good, bad and ugly.  I need to make a change, but am looking to avoid going from the frying pan directly into the fire.  So, I am asking here in an effort to get some honest information from those of you who would know from your experience. 

Thanks a lot for any info you can provide.  Feel free to send me an email if you would prefer.  Thanks again.

Starting out as an IC is probably a good thing.  Most companies want their employees to type 100 to 150 lines per hour average.  I know that does not sound like a lot, but when I was new I had to stop a lot to look things up.  I still have a hard time getting in 150 lines per hour and I have been at this for over 3 years.  (I probably should have learned how to touch type before I started!)  I started out with a company called MedQuist.  They hired me right out of school.  It is a good company to work for, but they require 100 to 150 lines per hour for benefits.  I know that most companies won't even consider hiring anyone with less than 2 years at least, some require 5 or more years expierence. 

I am an IC now and I am a bit concerned about taxes also.  I was told by my accountant that you can deduct a percentage (based on the size of your home office) of your bills, possibly taxes, and even mortgage.  Save all receipts!!!!  To be sure, please talk to an accountant.  Tax laws are different in every state. 

Good Luck 

I began transcribing for a gastroenterologist and I have to look up every other word. Does anyone know of a really helpful gastro terminology book?

   Thanks for any help.

Hello all-

I had gone to the AAMT site (now AHDI) and found the e-book entitled Getting Your Foot in the Door: Two Years' Experience Not Required. Before I purchase it, I wonder if any one has read it and if it had any good tips for an MT that does not have the 2 yrs that is spoken about so much.

Thanks in advance.

Stedmans Medical Dictionary is a good start. The drug books I use are Saunders and Quick Look Drug Book. The Quick Look is good for beginning as it has a lot of information in the appendix section and drugs listed by disease process in the back. The AAMT Book of Style is a "must have" as some companies require you to follow the guidelines in this book; this book you can study now and it will help you be a little ahead down the road when you start testing for jobs and working. Stedman's word books are good (each book for a different specialty), but you may want to hold off on getting any of these until you know what specialty you will be working in when you graduate. I do hospital acute care and so have the complete library of Stedman's word books.

I don't know how far you are in your schooling, but testing for different companies is the best way to know what you do not know and what to study.

I wish you luck in your schooling and hope it is a rewarding experience for you,

 DJ

Thats what i heard but about what will that come out to per hour if I am working from home?

Hi.. I'm so new, that in fact, I just signed up for an MT course at Career step.

Now, after reading this, i'm quite concerned that I will never have work when i'm done with this.

We live in a small rural community but there are a lot of doctors and one hospital.
I would like to stay home and work.. is there really money.

I see people talking about the money is not very good that they are making.

I only need to make 25,000 a year- can that be done?  With outsourcing?

Thanks for your help.

to spend the $3500, time and effort to learn MT and then have the fear of not having work or dealing with a less than reputable company waiting for my checks when they are late or they bounce?

I have to admit some of the posts scare the heck out of me? Am I the only one scared of this aspect of the business?