Depends on the power of your expanders
Posted By: Annette on 2007-12-03
In Reply to: 200 lines an hour is way beyond minimum expected - production for anyone, never mind a newbie! nm
I average 300 lines per hour and on rare occasions have achieved 400 lph with the right dictator when I'm in the "zone". It's all in knowing your stuff and having shortcuts for as many words, phrases, and whole sentences as possible. I know someone who regularly averages 350+ lph.
Complete Discussion Below:  marks the location of current message within thread
The messages you are viewing
are archived/old.
To view latest messages and participate in discussions, select
the boards given in left menu
Other related messages found in our database
I will only use my power for
ordering pina colatas on a beach...or I'll just take my travelers checks to another resort, or I could write a letter, um... Ya gotta see that movie!
I noticed the ads to but didn't think about it bringing the force with me!
Peter: Every day I'very worked has been the worst day of my life, so if you see me today, that is the worst day of my life.
Dr.: Man, that's messed up!
expanders
First to address your question about expanders, the main ones are ShortHand and SpeedType (which are the same as I understand it) and InstantText (IT) but there are a lot out there, some even free. IT is the one with the most features I would say. As a beginner, it could be overwhelming for you. But you can Google it and on the web site see how other Expander programs can be converted to it when/if you decide to use it. I'd do a comparison of these and see what makes the most sense to you, what you think you can handle, and I think most jobs will support these programs 3 Expanders at least. I'd download a free one first for practice while you learn your own system for making short cuts unless you know which program your company uses. These are expensive but more than well worth the money. I have thousands of short cuts and keep adding daily. The more I put in, the higher my line counts.
One hint -- If your company has it's own expander program built in (like ExText does), personally I wouldn't use it but use one that is not dependent on the platform (such as the above programs). Your expander is your money-maker. If you leave a job, you want to take it with you. With ExText's ESP, you can't. You must start from scratch building it all over again. (If I'm wrong, somebody please correct me.) That's too much time and effort down the drain.
Another suggestion is to read the thread on the forum about starting out as an MT where the poster is advised to start in-house with a hospital and get experience there. That's even better than working on an expander. This is if you wish to change jobs and start somewhere else, as I believe you said you already were hired by someone?? -- I don't know how long you can wait before you get steady work.
You can also visit web sites where you can test your knowledge of anatomy and watch surgeries, etc. All this will help you. When you find a good site, bookmark it for reference for when you get work. Create a folder for every specialty you do, and then enter web addresses for good sites that address each specialty in their proper folder. That will be part of your reference library.
If you know the names of physicians you will be transcribing for, make a Word file for each one and enter their most commonly used phrases, pargraphs, etc. as you get their work. Then, if you get a report and you can't understand something they say, pick a word next to it and use the FIND feature to do a search in that physician's Word file and ten to one you'll see the word there that you can't understand. You can't copy specific patient information. That's not allowed. But you can cut and paste parts of things for reference. Also put these in your expander, of course.
expanders
You're very welcome!
I didn't discover the WORD file idea until I had been an MT for a couple of years. Found it on www.productivity.com. Great place for ideas. I had kept a 3-ring binder of samples until then--many, many specialties and physicians. It was huge. It helped, but with a WORD file you can cut and paste and use that FIND feature. Sure speeds things up! And if you decide someday to get IT, you can use it to compile a glossary.
I also keep sample procedures/ops in a separate WORD file for each physician and cut and paste them and adjust where necessary. I used to store them in the Expander but could only see a part of what each one was. With them being in a WORD file, one following another, I can scroll or use Find to see what I need and again cut and paste into the report, as I don't work from templates. Sure helps!
Good luck to you!
Expanders
Try making 2 word Expanders with first 2 letters of each word. Three word phrases and up can be just first letter of each word. For 1 Word Expanders - first 2 letters of word plus 2 letters of another syllable, such as chondromalacia would chma. Works pretty well.
Expanders
I've gotten great tips on Expander lists at www.productivitytalk.com. You register for free, go down to shortcut abbreviations/systems and macros and there's a ton of expander lists people have submitted.
Expanders
Just wanted to add something. Someone mentioned about headings. I use an h in front of anything I want to use for a heading. For example: hcc= Chief Complaint and then just use cco for chief complaint in lower case. hhpi= History of Present Illness; hpi=HPI; use an x at the end to expand, hpix=history of present illness. This works really well for me.
Looking for help with expanders
Anyone out there willing to send me a some of their Expanders for Ortho - just starting out in this field and need a little 'boost' here. Thanks. 
expanders
Have U tried productivitytalk.com.
very helpful to me...
Question about expanders
Do you get the common phrases and words off the internet along with coming up with them while you are working or do you just do it strictly from the work you are typing?
I am a new MT and want to have my Expander work at it's fullest potential.
Thanx
Word expanders
What is the best Expander out there?
Word Expanders
I don't know if my reply got through. I use Instant Text. Expensive, but if your memory is shot some days, you just type in a few letters and it gives you a list of not only words but phrases. I can remember to type cce when I want to have it spelled out for me as no cyanosis,clubbing or edema. It spells better than I do. You really save Keystrokes when you learn it over time, you just can't make a glossary for it overnight. It comes with like 20 anyway,but like the drug one doesnt always have what I need. And I still need to find more ways to produce more. 
Text Expanders and counters
Does anyone know where I can get a free word Expander and a word/line counter? I was using FastFox and TextTally, but I didn't realize it was only free trials. I may have to go ahead and buy them though. I just don't have a lot of money to spend on them right now, and I can't keep entering in my information over and over again. Thanks for all the help
A helpful note about expanders
I just thought I'd offer this up: The ABCZ method for making shortcuts. I just came upon it after reading about it in the archives here. It's just a simple method that offers advice and suggestions about how to make and organize your abbrevation/expander files. Here's the link: http://home.earthlink.net/~agjon/abczrule.htm There's also the book Saving Keystrokes, but you have to buy that. Anyhow, the method description is free for those who don't want to spend any $$. I hope this helps!
It depends...SM
I have some very good dictators who dictate in quiet areas, but I have others who dictate from their cell phones, which is horrible. I also have one who dictates from the cafeteria in a children's residential center with kids screaming and hitting things in the background. The good news, however, is that after you have done those dictators several times, you begin to understand them even when the sound quality isn't that great. Don't get discouraged. You eventually develop an ear for it and can learn to block out the background noise. Good luck!
It depends on whether
you need to hone your typing skills or not. Knowing your word processor helps a lot. I worked with MSWord for years prior to changing careers. However, my first two employers needed Word Perfect knowledge. Not much difference there. Aside from your typing skills, work on listening skill, too. For me, the toughest was learning the medical terms for each area but you'll get the hang of it.
It depends...
I have made, starting out hourly, about $8 an hour (8 years ago), then started at another hospital 5 years ago, started at 12 something an hour, then we got incentive pay and with incentive sometimes made up to $16 an hour. If you have high line counts you can make 20+ per hour. But of course also depends on how they calculate a line count......good luck!
It really depends
on the company you work for. If you are just looking for a pedal to do practice work or test files, I recommend an Infinity pedal. I got mine brand new on ebay for about $20.00. It's a 15-pin serial port pedal and works great with Express Scribe. But each company has different requirements, so if you haven't gotten a job yet, just remember that you may have to purchase another pedal to meet their requirements (that will work with their software).
depends who else wants the job
if experienced people are getting 7, you probably won't have a chance.
It depends on why you want to do MT...
There are lots of changes in the field right now. Many are just trying to hold on until retirement. Some believe jobs will always be there. It is a good job if you want to work from home. It is not a good job if you hope to become rich or if you are not self-motivated. Think about it and decide if it is for you or not.
Depends.
Some doctors will never be voice recognized because they are terrible dictators. If you get onto an established account, then you will have less typing but you will never have 100% editing.
Depends on the MT - 1.5 hr to 3, 4,
It varies with the MT and with the dictator. Very experienced MTs might take only 1.5 hours. Others might take 2-3 hours. New MTs might take more, and student MTs might take . . . days.
If there is a lot of material in the 1 hour's worth of dictation, then it will take longer. If there is a lot of dead air, it might be possible to transcribe it in an hour flat.
Depends on if you want a job or not.
If you need to work at home and want to get a job right out of school, there are only two reliable choices, Andrews or MTec.
Read the archives. Look at the numbers of people who complain about not being able to get a job after graduating. It's not because there are no jobs -- jobs in MT go begging. It's not because they're stupid, either. It's because only two schools teach MT effectively enough to virtually guarantee you a job. They cost more for a reason--they have hgh-quality programs with instructors.
National services will test and hire their grads without hesitation, and those grads invariably get up to speed quickly and make it past the 2-3 month point of employment.
I think that depends on the company
I think some companies but a time frame on when you can test again if you do not do well the first time. Good luck
Depends on how fast you are...sm
I would hazard a guess that a beginning MT, working on a new account alone at home, with unfamiliar words, having to re-listen, research, might make...mmm $4 an hour? That's why experience is so valuable.
depends upon the company
The company I'm an IC with is located in CA but I live in TN. Since I've had a problem with my sleep for *years,* it was an ideal situation in terms of what accounts to put me on. I'm in charge of H&Ps on three specific accounts. They need the reports by 6 a.m. their time, which is 8 a.m. my time. No problem. It's rare for me to sleep until 4:45 a.m. Usually, I'll get up around 2:30 to 3 p.m. I just go back to sleep for a few hours when the morning rush is done. My work day ends by 4 p.m. my time, which is 2 p.m. their time.
depends on the hospital
There is hospital near me who will take on beginning MT's who have typing and medical terminology skills. They work with you for up to a year before you go on your own. They pay about $11.75 an hour to start. But, then there is another hospital that requires years of experience. You need to check with you local hospitals to see what their requirements are.
depends on how much schooling they go for
After high school, go into the armed forces or live at home for a while with mom and dad.
Same to be said for most 2-year associates degree.
After BS degree, probably can find something to sustain independent living. Absolutely after a masters. Pick of your field with a PhD.
That is today's reality. Don't just wait for your kids to finish high school. I would recommend (and probably get kicked around for saying so) taking the kids to Belgium to finish schooling is much better and if they finish in the top percentiles, their college education is also free. Belgium kids routinely score 40% higher than their US equivalents on the very (repeat very) same tests. My nephew's presence in the US Marines was welcomed after he finished his education there. Knowing 3-4 languages fluenty in our global economy is nothing to sneeze at. If you really wants you kids to succeed and don't want to leave the US, then teach them different languages to speak and the earlier in life it is started, the easier for them to learn. Translation is going to be a necessity for doing most things in another 10 years.
It depends on the training...
that the new MT has. With proper training, it wouldn't be a problem. If you are trying to do the job without the proper training, it is much more difficult.
It depends on a LOT of things.
Have you systematically inundated companies with your resume? And what's your resume like? Is it EXCELLENT? Does it show the employer all the specialties you've learned? Does it show other experience that might be helpful, such as working at home in a home business (many employers wonder how you will handle being at home) or general transcription, etc.? Are you keeping HIGHLY accurate records of all the places you've applied to and following up with thank you notes even with the places that won't hire you? Have you reapplied after not hearing from them in a couple of weeks? Have you networked on different chat groups with other MTs? Have you placed your resume on any of the sites that take MT resumes (including this one)? What exactly have you done? We need more information!
Just depends on who you talk to
When you select a school, be sure to enroll in a program that can offer you some job support or a program like Career Step's Spheris Training Track, which can lead directly to employment. Maybe other schools have something similar. Just be really clear about what your school will provide you with when you start your job search. Some schools don't offer any support whatsoever. There are companies who hire beginners. New grads get jobs every single day. I haven't graduated yet, but I know that though sometimes it takes a while to get that first job, almost everyone at my school who has wanted a job upon graduation has found one within a couple of months, and high honors grads usually get multiple offers.
Buy Olympus DS-2. Then it depends if
you want it to be completely automated or the front desk have to drop and drag. If you want it automated, go to DocShuttle's web site and look at their DocShuttle Administrator, Dictator and Client. If you will be the only transcriptionist, then look at their Eshuttle Email program, same site. Otherwise, you can set up an FTP site and then use a free ftp software, like ftpsurfer. The front desk can drop and drag the files up to the ftp site.
Email me if you have any more specific questions... but it sounds like Eshuttle would do it.
Not a rumor ... it depends ...
If you are an employee at a company that offers benefits, then you get them. If you are an independent contractor or subcontractor, you don't.
So if you need health insurance or other benefits, you have to be an employee and work for a company that supplies benefits.
Depends on a lot of things
Depends on how long you have been working as an IC, do you have a husband that works and has taxes withheld, what deductions you have as an IC, combined income, etc. My best adcive is that if this is your first year as an IC, to go to an account with your last year's taxes, your husband's (if you are married) last pay check stub, a report of what you have made year to date and what your expenses have been and get some advice. Do not wait until after the first of the year when they are so busy. But for the first year talk to an accountant, pay $50 to $100 for some advice. They are not as busy right now and it could be cheaper than if you wait until the first of the year. Or else, get a copy of Turbo tax and try to do your taxes even it if is based on last year's program and that will tell you what you need. If you are married and have trouble putting aside money, I suggest you have your husband up his withholding, it is easier that way. E-mail me with questions and I will try and answer for you. Patti
It all depends on how well you can understand
the dictators and how good you are at proofreading. I have been editing for a long time, and even with a lot of experiences I have some really low line days, and I get paid by the line.
Take this into consideration: How fast you are and how accurate you are equals how many lines a day you can proof. How much do they pay per line versus hourly. It is pretty easy to determine.
Depends on the company
I have a part time that requires 2500 per week part time and two that have no requirement. I generally do 2000+ lines per day with them all combined.
It depends on where you went to school.
If you graduated from one of the AAMT-approved schools, some companies will waive the 2-3 years experience. I received my first job offer before I even graduated and I am starting with a second company in a couple of weeks.
If you graduated elsewhere, you may have more luck looking for in-house work at local hospitals or clinics.
Good luck!
It depends on where she wants to work.
If she wants to work locally, then a local college program would be best. But if she wants to work online for a national, most of them do not recognize local college MT programs. She would want to use a reputable online school like Andrews or M-Tec (and NOT one of the cheaper schools).
Depends on the company
It is harder to get a raise with one of the big nationals. On the other hand, it doesn't hurt to ask. Talk to your supervisor and give her the reasons you feel you deserve a raise. List your good qualities such as dependability or good grammar skills. You have a 50/50 chance! Good luck to you.
I think it also depends no where you work
When I worked as an IC, I ran out of work and I also had days where I had very sporadic work which didn't help my paycheck. Now that I'm an employee at a local nephrology clinic, I never run out of work, sometimes I have too much work, and I there is ever a day when the doctors aren't working, I still get paid for an 8 hour day. Good luck in whatever you decide to do. After reading some of the horror stories, I consider myself lucky.
It depends on a lot of factors.
I charge 13.5 cpl, but I do everything digitally. I do not pick up tapes or print out documents. If I did, my rate would be much higher. I also have a very long TAT. For shorter TATs, I charge more. Also, consider your cost of living. If you live in a high-cost area, you should charge more.
Good luck.
I think it depends on where you work
I work from home locally and I get yearly raises.
Depends on the situation
Usually they lump clients together regarding the software that will work with stuff on their end. So all the clients that use (as an example) Lanier and Meditech will go on the "L" platform, and people with experience with those systems will get assigned to that platform and trained on it.
Or it could have to do with specialties. Example - I type only radiology, and have never been trained for the "Basic 4". I will only be working radiology accounts, so I work on the "rad" platform and am only concerned if radiology accounts are out of TAT, approved for OT, etc. If I type for company XZY and they are way behind on Acute Care reports, sorry, I don't type that. Some distinct specialties are split off into their own platforms with their own supervisors and would call themselves some sort of team name. My supe might be over all the radiology MTs, and there may be several subteams under her (such as "L" platform above).
Usually new platforms are scary to current employees, because some companies tend to use us as guinea pigs to work all the bugs out as we go. Its easier for companies to assign new employees to the new platforms because they'll have to learn everything new as it is.
Depends on your perspective.
I recently read posts from MTs that complained they weren't making enough doing MT. They said they were having a hard time taking care of their families. Then some of them went on to say they were making more than $35,000! I would be thrilled to be making $35,000. I do expect to be close next year though (my second year as an MT).
Depends on where you went to school,
MedQuist
Spheris
Focus
RI Unlimited
Princeton
Sten-Tel (out of Springfield, MA)
Successful Office Solutions
I know there are more, but this is all I can think of right now off the top of my head. Hopefully someone will have more suggestions.
It depends on your account
Sometimes MTs, new and otherwise, get accounts like that. On the plus side, it is experience that you can use. Learning some of these difficult ESLs now can be benificial to you when you move on to another job. As far as line count goes, that would be tough. Just do the best you can, at least it is a paying job.
Good luck and God Bless.
depends on circumstances
The great proof for me is that I'm home all the time, we don't have to pay daycare and we save a lot on gas by me working at home. And if you're happy. You have to enjoy what you do. I'm not making a ton of money right now, but all the things above outweigh that for us.
It really depends on your training (sm)
Simply by going to a particular school (online course), most companies will waive their 2 year experience requirement. Make sure you pick a course that is AHDI approved .... http://www.ahdionline.org/scriptcontent/mtapproved.cfm. Going this route you will have no problems being able to work from home in the beginning.
It all depends on your employer (sm)
and what they require.
I work a flexible 12-hour window in which I can put in my time at any point during that time frame. I asked for 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. which is what I stick to. If there is a time that I need to alter that, it is pretty much always allowable as long as I notify my supervisor. I work employee status for a hospital.
For those that work as an inidependent contractor, they sometimes work on turn-around-time only. They can put in there time here or there as long as the jobs are back within 24 hours' turn around time, for example.
HTH!
It depends on how badly you want it.
I need to work from home. For me it was worth it to search as long as it took. I just found something last week after searching for three months. The job I found really is a miracle job. I would advice people to ask their school for names of other graduates from that program, preferably people that graduated quite some time ago. I was given a name of some one who was said to work for a small MTSO. It turned out that she now is a small MTSO, and she agreed to give another graduate of the same program a shot. She is providing me with all the software, the foot pedal and offered me a much better line rate than I anticipated, given the current market. My advice would be to send out resumes to smaller companies, even if they don't have posted opennings.
again, it depends on where you are - what part of the northern
part of the US?? Smoe people consider Boston to be the northern part of the US, and others may consider Maine, or both to be northern US. Some parts of NY pay differently, same can be said for PA or CT.
Depends too on how much repetition the reports have, sm
I think I would like to see and hear samples before I could figure it out. What happens if the tape is 54 minutes...do you carry over the 6 min extra to the next tape? Or is he saying If I give you 3 30 minutes cassettes a week, it's $60, whether they are full or not. Again if he says a bunch of the same stuff, it could be good! Just use the heck out of your word expander.
|
