Questions about Equipment

Hi everyone - I graduated from US Career Institute earlier this year.  Since that time I have moved out of state and am new to my area.  I have put together a marketing packet including a letter of introduction, a flyer describing my service, a business card, a reference letter from my school and a coupon for one free report to try my services. 

I have a list of 65 doctors that I will methodically start marketing but what if someone actually gives me an opportunity??  AAK!  I was told to get a Start/Stop pedal as it is the best, but I see that the Infinity USB-1 is much cheaper.  Also should I get a microcasette transcriber too?  Anything else I should have?

Any positive feedback is appreciated.

• Questions about Equipment - CC
  • In Same Boat - MThopeful
    • Giving newbies a chance - sm
      • Little harsh don't ya think?...sm - blondie_1147
      • Giving newbies a chance - MThopeful
  • If you are just out of school you don't have the - my 2 cents
    • Working for a "national" - Barry Watts
    • Your advice... - CC
      • Why isn't she hiring you since she sm - question
        • She will - CC
  • equipment - Rosemarie Danelle
    • Actually it's better to HAVE the equipment IMHO (sm) - midwestMT
      • But you're not going to be any better off if you have the WRONG equipment. nm - d
    • I have read that - CC
      • CC - email me. I'll be happy to give you recommendations on equip. :) nm - midwestMT

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I will be graduating soon and the school I'm with doesn't do placement. What equipment should I have right away (foot pedal, c-phone, ....) to be prepared when I start taking tests? Where exactly is the best place to get the equipment?

Thank you for the help.

I am a newbie, just finishing up school and I have no idea what kind of equipment I should be looking for.  Can someone give me some idea's?  Should I jump into digital?  Thanks 

Couple questions. Is the dictation equipment portable, ie., could I plug it into someone elses computer???? Also, we have to buy our own equipment, or do some schools include it in tuition?

Also, translate per line, into what you make per month and how many hours you're working. If you get a certain amount per line, how many lines do you type in how many hours of work, and what would your pay check be.

Also, I found out that MTEC works with vocational rehab centers across America, SO I can get help with paying for the course!! Yahoo! They may pay for all of it, since I have a disability.

I need a line counting program that can be used on Windows XP.  I am using Microsoft Word.  I also need a good medical dictionary on CD that can be used on Microsoft Word.  I only have a couple of small part-time accounts, but I need these two items. I've looked on the boards and I am just confused as to which ones listed are best.  Please help!!

GC from NC

Thanks.  I have the hard copy Stedman's.  I have an older Stedman's on CD.  But I doubt if it is compatible with Windows XP.  I appreciate your help.

I need advice about the type of digital handheld wav recorders.  I need to get one that I can set up at a Doctors office and I am not sure what to get or even how to set one up.  I need any info on the best ones to use and how to get it up and running.  HELP!!!  I know nothing about that stuff.  I just took courses and they didn't tell me anything about that stuff. If you have any advice I sure would appreciate it. 

use the abbreviations book a lot. 

www.drugs.com or www.rxlist.com for drug references.  I have Dorland's but in 22 years I think I've only used it twice. 

Getting out of the MT biz and want to sell my word books, spellchecker software, C phone, wav pedal, etc.  Anyone interested please email me.  See inside for list

Stedman's word books:  $16 ea including shipping Psychiatry/Neurology/Neurosurgery 2nd ed

Surgery including Anatomy and Anesthesia

OBGYN 2nd ed

Endocrinology GI & GU 2nd ed and 3rd ed

Pathology & Lab Medicine 2nd ed

Equipment words 3rd ed

Oncology 3rd ed

Orthopaedic & Rehab 4th ed

Cardiovascular & Pulmonary including respiratory 3rd ed

Plastic Sx ENT/Dentistry

Abbreviations, Acronyms & Symbols 2nd ed

Other books:

Handbook of Commonly Prescribed Drugs 14th ed $5

Mosby's Rapid Reference to Diagnostic & Lab Tests $5

Drake & Drake Pharm Word book 2000 & 2003  $5 ea

American Drug Index 1999 $5

Current Medical Terminology Vera Pyle 7th ed $5

Stedman's SpellChecker for Word 2000, 2002, 2003 $18

ea

Medical Acronyms, Eponyms & Abbreviations 3rd ed $5

Stedman's Medical Dictionary 26th ed hardback $15

101 Best Home-Based Buisnesses for Women 2nd ed $5

An at home medical transcription training course - all manuals, text and tapes included.  Contact me for price.

C-phone model 0421 $125 - good working condition

wav pedal $25 - older model uses game pin port, good working condition

Two microcassette transcribers with foot pedal $40 each

through a third party so AMA is no help with getting your money back, although they told you what company to buy it from.  You don't get paid until your work is good enough, but your work is never good enough, so you work and work.  Now I can't figure if they actually have real work and so you're working for free and they are making big bucks, or they don't really have any work and are making their money on ripping you off on the software.  I figure where has got to be some connection to the software company. 

They have many, many complaints still unresolved with the BBB.  They have moved to a different state and changed their name at least once that I know of.   They also represent themselves as very religious. 

keep in mind that if you are applying to a company who is hiring independent contractors, that the IRS definition of employee vs. contractors hinges on three main areas, one of which is how much control the "employer" has over the worker. If the employer is providing equipment to get the job done, the IRS tends to look upon this as more of an employer-employee relationship. So if you are applying for a job that is independent contractor status, remember you are self employed and have to provide your own equipment.

Employee vs. Independent Contractor Status is a hot area of IRS Audits.The IRS, state taxing agencies, as well as the Departments of Labor (which are responsible for Unemployment tax collections) have been stepping-up their audit activities. The purpose of the audit is to misclassify a subcontractor as an employee. The taxing agency can then collect the taxes which "should have been withheld" as well as large fines, penalties and interest. So if you want to be an IC, expect to provide your own equipment.

hi, all.  didn't want to hijack "not sure's" thread...

i know what to ask when interviewing for a nursing position; the from-home MT thing is going to be a new one for me.  i've searched before asking this (maybe didn't use the right key-words).  any suggestions for what to ask a company? 

here's what i've jotted down:

1.  CPL;

2.  percentage of ESLs (not terribly huge, as i've worked with lots of foreign docs, both as a nurse and as MT);

3.  soft-/hardware used;

4.  TAT (if not stated in the offer/job-description);

5.  not sure how to phrase this...what the company considers "a line" (as in "how many characters);

6.  whether the rate includes spaces.

any other ideas?

BTW:  you guys are terrific.  thank you!

I just received a position as an IC. I have never been one before so how do I figure taxes and such? Also, I have been told that I would be able to deduct a lot of things since I do this out of my home.  What are some things that I can deduct? I was guess internet service but couldn't figure out anything else.

Thanks for the help.

I wouldn't say you got the best MT education to be had.  I also don't see where you have interest in doing for yourself (that Stedman's Work At Home issue).  While you are looking at your insular little world, you haven't been around the past, well, even 10 years, to see the changes that have brought down this industry.  Ten years is not even considered one generation.  There will be need for GOOD MTs still for many years to come, but those positions will be held by the very best MTs to be had and who are still willing to work for the pay that goes down over time.  Many other positions that are now MTs will transition into something different, something still with a living to be offered but different just the same.

Just this year, my employer restructured its pay scale so that in order to make the same cpl, I had to produce an additional 4000 lines per month.  If I didn't, I suffered a pay cut of 1 cpl.  Obviously this has not happened to you.  I've been at it much longer than I suspect you've been an adult.  I do not plan to leave the industry although my alternate education is already in place.  I'm lucky because my skill set is very much in demand.  I am a high, accurate producer with flexibility and if I'm making money, my employer makes much more.

But I didn't get there by patting myself on the back and asking questions that some research would help with and save myself the embarrasment of my peers for not having done the research.

As to what school to go to, read the writing on the wall and take one of the top 3.  This industry has changed just in a few short years and if you don't know everything that everyone is doing, someone without education from the top 3 will have a more difficult time getting placement after schooling.

JMHO, which is free, and you're welcome to do with it what you will.

I just got an account with a local doctor doing clinic notes part time.  Will I be considered an MTSO since there is no middleman?  Is .11 cents a line reasonable for 24 hour turn around?  How long do you stay at that rate?  The only transcribing experience I have is from Career Step where I graduated two years ago.  I am in the southern Illiniois area.  Is it recommended to charge more for consult notes?  I have seen examples of $2 per page and .6 cents per line. 

Also, is anyone aware of the HIPPA requirements for emaling transcription files back to the doctor?  He sends them in WAV files and I send them back password protected.

Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks

1.  Why is it such a shock to newbies that the field is so hard to break into?

2. Why aren't the people who sell these MT training programs telling newbies that it is so?

I'm just finishing school with At-Home Professions (doing my final now) and have 2-3 job possiblities. One is working for 2 physical therapists and I will find out more about it today or this week. The other is the one I am leaning towards and would like your input on; It is working in Neurology Surgery (very specialized) and at first it is working for a very good friend at a lower pay scale just until I get the confidence to do it on my own. What do you think of this option? There is a chance I can get a job with my friends boss, however I thought it might be good starting off to just work for her, that way I can have someone editing my work etc. After I have the confidence and a little experience I can work for the my friends boss.

By the way, all the newbies looking for work-all of these job possiblities have just been from friends and asking my husbands cardiologist about who he uses.

Hello Everyone! first of all, I want to say thank you for all of the great information I have found so far from these boards.  I am very seriously considering being an MT.  I currently work full-time as a Transcriptionist in a Psychologist's office and I really enjoy it.  However, I believe I would enjoy the medical field more.  I have a few questions that I would really appreciate you guys answering...

Can you make a decent living as an MT working for an online company? (i.e. Spheris, Focus or accuscribe?) Currently, I would need to make at least 25k a year to suppliment my husbands income for our family, and I do not mind working full-time. 

I believe I am going to being training with CareerStep... will companies like that consider hiring me if I test and score high enough, even without prior MT experience?

Thank you so much for your help!

I am looking into becoming a MT, can anyone tell if there are any other references or templates available for formatting a medical transcription document or is formatting info only outlined in the AAMT Book of Style? Also, are there different formats for different reports?

I am very interested in working at home for an MT company but have a few questions regarding doing so and would appreciate any help and advice anyone can give.

If hired to work part time, say four hours a day, do they have to be consecutive hours or any time, so long as four hours are worked during the day? What about full time hours? What is a good production amount for both? Also, if hired to work four hours a day and you finish the work in three hours, can you "sign off" early?

I realize that some companies provide equipment; what equipment would that be and does that include the word processing software? Which is preferred: WordPerfect or MS Word? What would you recommend as the absolute "must haves" for starting out as an MT? Does the company provide report templates to base your work on?

Which company would be the best to start out with? I've only noticed Spheris takes MT's with only one year experience; are there others that are better? Are there companies that hire brand-new MT's; what are they?

I realize that some of the questions seem rather silly, but I am trying to convince my husband that, with a little bit of help with the kids, I can have a lucrative career with benefits and the added bonus of staying at home. Any advice is greatly appreciated and I thank you in advance.

What types of special software would I need to work at home as an IC? This is for a school project.

Thanks!

Firewall, Security Suite, Medical Spell Check, Line Count, etc. Anything eles anyone can add to this list?

I am a new MT and very proud of my achievemnt. I have just been approved to enter an apprenticeship program with Focus Infomatics. Is there anyone here that has had some experience (good or bad) with this company?

Thanks for any input!

Hi,

I want to go back to school to be a MT.  Could any one answer a few questions

for me?

1. What company do you work for?

2. How long have you worked in the field?

3. What are the duties and responsibilities of your position?

4. Did you receive on the job training in your position?

5. Are there opportunities for advancement in your position?

6. What do you enjoy the most about your job?

7. What do you enjoy least about your job?

8. If you were starting again, what would you do differently?

9. How is your job different from how you expected it to be?

10. What is the current starting wage?

11. What are the working conditions of your position?

12. Can you refer me to anyone else I should talk to?

If you would like you can add any other info.

Thank you,

Debra

Canada

I am a recent MT graduate. I am needing advice on which USB foot pedal would be the best one to purchase. And I have noticed that a lot of the classified on this website say that you need a medical spell checker and some even suggest getting a word Expander program. Which ones would be the best one to purchase?

And another question. Do the online companies furnish you with the transcription program for you to use or do you need to purchase one for yourself? While I was attending school, I just used MS Word to type all of my reports into.

I am just needing some advice or suggestions about the above questions.

Thanks,

Melissa

your instructor could answer better than anyone here could.  In general, when to edit for grammar, what format to use, and how to decode mumblers are all things that you will get better at with more and more practice, so don't get too discouraged.    For those hard to understand dictations, try playing at different speeds (even faster) and going back to the difficult parts after you have transcribed the entire report.  As you do more and more reports, you can look back through them to figure out what a dictator might be most likely to say at that point, which may give you a clue.  Another trick is to put key phrases around the part you can't understand in Google and see if you come up with something.  You can put an asterisk for the part you can't understand and put the key phrase in quotes and sometimes that will help, for example "* prostatic hypertrophy."