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You typing on downloaded templates or something? Sounds like someone

Posted By: sent you a virus! nm on 2007-12-02
In Reply to: Microsoft Word Problem - Barbara

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  • Microsoft Word Problem - Barbara
    • You typing on downloaded templates or something? Sounds like someone - sent you a virus! nm

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I downloaded it and it is so COOL! Thanks for the freebie, admin!
I have just started working for a new company as an IC, and this will come in handy.
Macros and Templates
Hi!  I am not new to trascription but new to home work.   Previous work was in an office on a regular old typewriter.  I hear a lot now about templates and macros, but am unsure how to learn about them.  I have Word 2007.  Any suggestions.  Thank you!
need some sample templates
I am finishing up my schooling and wanted to know if there are any sample templates that I can down load to get an idea of the different forms to use for different doctors. I would like to practice a little.
They really don't pay spaces or templates? Holy cow.

They're templates or shortcuts that you've made yourself as you go along...sm
All the physical exams you've saved for each doctor, all the op reports that you've saved as templates, shortcuts, or macros. Your opening and closing sentences in your letters saved by doctor...your lab tests that get repeated over and over...your doc versions of any tests that you get over and over - their EKGs, cardiac caths, PFTs, etc. Your normals are what make you even more successful at this job in addition to just having words and phrases in an expander. nm
Just keep saving his/her stuff as shortcuts/templates. After about 10 reports, you'll have
s
Sure sounds the same
nm
Sounds like...
C-pak, seepak, zeepak. It's an antibiotic for airway disease. Currently taken with albuterol MDI. I've looked online and through my Saunders but I am stuck. It is probably embarrassingly simple but any suggestions would be appreciated.
It sounds to me like
the training you did get was enough to secure a job for you, which you say you are doing ok at. This is a huge accomplishment in and of itself! It is quite normal to feel like you are not producing what you should be when you first begin. I too let this overwhelm me and quit my first good job, which I now regret. With regard to the BOS, if you own one or have access to one, I would just review its major points until you memorize them. "Saving Keystrokes" is a great book, and adding to your expansions is one great way to increase line count. Most companies, I believe, like the ShortHand software for word expanding, which you can download online and try out for free if you don't already have it. I would not worry so much about going over your old text books; you can learn a lot more by sticking with the job you have , and speed will come with experience. The CMT certainly is an ego-booster and would qualify you for practically any MT job, but I agree this is not something you should attempt without at least 2 years of full-time work experience. These are just my thoughts. Good luck!
Sounds odd
I have never heard of such a thing either. To get into my MT educational program all I had to do was take a pre-enrollment test and meet the requirements like having a computer, high speed internet, virus protection, Windows xp or higher. Things of that nature.
Typing on a lap top
I too type on a lap top.  I use a wireless keyboard.  I prefer it to a desk top.
6 sounds sleazy to me!

You can and will get 7, just keep looking.  I made 8 right out of school, and no it wasn't one of the expensive schools. 


Six is a rip, three is absolutely ludicrous, and you are worth more than that.  I applied with every company out there, two-year clause or not.  It was not hard at all to find 7-8 my first year.  My second year I make much more, and I don't and never have had to "beg" for anything.  Just because someone else did 15 years ago, doesn't mean I have to or would. 


I don't see anything sleazy about a list either.  Name me any school that has job placement.  What else is there?  Sleazy is the ridiculous comments above from the owner suggesting new grads are worth 3 cpl. 


This sounds really questionable to me.
x
Sounds like a company I know in
Alabama near 280.  If it is and you want to talk, send me an email.  I worked there before.
Sure sounds like a certain company
that is notorious for this very thing.
It sounds like you are doing good (sm)
so far with your line counts.  You are also very fortunate to be making 9 cpl with your experience.  There are many MTs with years of experience who are not paid that much.  Your line counts will increase as time goes on.  You will become more familiar with your dictators and will spend less time verifying words, etc.
I think it sounds great!

I am a newbie who is currently in an internship program which I paid to participate in.  I am not getting paid, and it doesn't bother me one bit!  I studied through the US Career Institute without studying up on which schools were best, so I was in a real bind.  I did not have the "proper" MT education, and as I am finding out, it really was not a good one either. 


When I started, I had only a tape player, computer, a dictionary.  I had to purchase my foot pedal, headphones, several references.  I think that is doable for a serious prospect. 


I also feel that a newbie that has been looking for work without luck, and one that possibly did study through the best schools would be more than willing to work for a couple weeks sans pay.  My unpaid internship is a lot longer than that, but I see it as practice/education rather than a pay-less job. 


It may be different for someone who went to one of the best MT schools and is fully prepared, I don't know.  Maybe then they would want to be paid.  But seriously, 2 weeks to prove yourself is not that bad is it?  Especially for a person who cannot find a job, and has been searching for an opportunity for months.  I think you are very kind to consider it!


typing speed
So, what is the required typing speed for someone who is looking hired?  Or should I say the minimum.
typing programs

I used this website www.typingtutor.com and it was very helpful. You said you were using a MAC? I don't believe you will be able to use that once you are working, and I think that is a problem with training with M-Tec because of the software they use.You can check with them, but I'm pretty sure I saw that on their website.


typing lab values
Can someone please help with ponters on how to type lab values in H&Ps.  Which ones are commonly dictated one way but meant to be typed using decimal point values? thx in advance for your help.  
The typing program I have is .......
Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing, which I have had for years. It doesn't cost much and allows you to practice your typing and improve typing speed.

Also, used to get a lot of headaches sitting in front of the computer but since I bought a radiation shield/screen to hang in front of my monitor, that has relieved a lot of my eye strain and headaches. It tones down the brightness of the monitor, which I didn't realize was so bright and how it affected by eyes until I put the filter screen in front of it. But I also wear glasses now for nearsightedness as a result of sitting in front of computers for years in previous jobs.

Anyway, hope this helps.
$5....but what the heck are you typing about? :) nm
s
typing test?
I am testing for jobs, and they want a typing test sent to them.  My comment... why?  I type what I hear not what I read.  The brain is trained in a different way.  I can only type 60 wpm without my shortcuts and stedmans smart type.  They want 80 wpm.  I dont know if I should test or not?
typing tests
Don't understand the reason either.....I just take the test...
First you aren't typing 150 lph, you are

transcribing 150 lph - big difference.  That lph isn't bad for being a newbie and you can't compare yourself to an MT with 10 years of experience. 


You can make more macros, use more expansions.  If you are trying to work around kids you probably aren't working as much as you think you are.  There is a free program you can download called Time Stamp (I think) and you use it to clock in and out to show the time you are actually transcribing.  You'll be surprised how much time you think you are working and how much you are actually working.


Try to get up early before kids and work 2 hours.  If they are young enough to still take naps, work when they are napping, or give them at least an hour of quiet time in their rooms so you can work.  Work after dinner when your husband can look after them.


Don't get on the internet unless you are researching and do your research and don't visit other websites or check your e-mail.  If possible make a note about what you need to look up and save it for when you take a break and you can look up several at one time.


I've been doing this for 20 years.  I'm not a fast typist, I can't transcribe with the speed ramped up.  I know people who can turn out the lines, but I have also seen some of their work and it isn't a quality product - not saying that it isn't possible to do both, just that fast isn't always good.


 


 


typing speed

I am starting school the end of this month and only type about 25 wpm just concerned and wondering if anyone else started out typing this slow and how it went for them and if school really help to pick-up their speed...or should 
i just forget it and move on to something else.


You aren't going to be typing 60 wpm. You are going to have to
look up words, format, spellcheck, etc. so just because you can type 60 wpm doesn't mean a thing.  You also have to figure it the difficulty of the account, how lines are counted .........   
typing error
Who are you, the typing police? Do you get pleasure out of insulting people? Or are you the perfect typist who never makes any errors? Don't think so!!!!!!!!!
typing test
It was a timed typing test.
I was not fast or accurate enough to pass, but I am improving. Have you worked online without taking a typing test?
Typing tests
I've never seen a typing test, timed or untimed, as part of any medical transcription application process. Transcription tests, yes, but not TYPING tests.

If I had ever been asked to take one, I'm afraid I would have gotten up and walked out. I would have assumed that the employer didn't understand the nature of the work they were calling "medical transcription." If they didn't understand that, they wouldn't be likely to understand much else about it, either, and that would be unfortunate for everyone.

If you're applying to legitimate MT employers, I don't think they will ask you to take a typing test. I do not believe our students have reported having to take a typing test, either.

You might want to check what MT services actually require.

That being said, you should . . . of course . . . improve your keyboard speed. That isn't achieved by going faster, but by keying slowly enough that you don't make any typos, but just keep going on and on. Eventually, you'll speed up. Try keying medical reports and books. There are lots of them on the internet.

In order for you to work comfortably as an MT, you'll need to be able to keyboard a whole shift, or about 7 hours with a 10 minute break every hour and a half-hour to an hour break in the middle.

You can do this if you start now and work at it gradually and without causing yourself stress. :)
Typing Tests
I have applied to several online companies and I haven't found any that don't require a typing test. Do you know of any? Also, as a newbie with no working experience, it's extremely to get my foot in the door anywhere. Thanks.
typing test
I agree, when I first started radiology I had to look up every 30 seconds or so - and I'd been doing this for 10 years. If you want you can take a quick typing test at www.typingtest.com, It would be purely for your own knowledge but it is kind of cool to see your improvement.

I remember seeing a job posting that said (this job is not worthwhile unless you can type 75 WPM) which I thought was very stupid. But they pointed out this website and I was at 73 wpm - when I started 10 years ago I was only at 45 WPM.

WPM doesn't matter as much as your knowledge - this is true - so consider that before you apply for a job that even mentions WPM!!
You'll do great, as it sounds like
you've already done your "homework".  Best of luck to you!
Sounds like you need the position from Boo2
is requiring.  Maybe you wouldn't have to look for a job, filling out those applications and trying to do those tests.  Since you do not have children, you should have no problem at all with the turnaround.  You two could be two peas in a pod.   Oh, I'm bad, very bad!  Take a taste of your own medicine, bitter or sweet?  Lord, forgive me, please!
I also think $3.00 a page sounds fair. sm
Ask for templates.  Most of the formatting is probably done for you.  My thing would be though even if say the last page is only half, then still charge the $3.00 for that page as well.  JMO. 
Sounds like a sad state of affairs.
That really sounds awful! I was considering this company, having only a year's worth of experience. I was watching this thread to see how it all comes out. It does not sound like this would be a good place for me to try to start a career after all - newbie or not. I have read this stuff before. For it to keep coming up, there must be some truth to it.

Is there any newbie friendly company out there worth hitching your wagon to? Spheris sounds like it has the potential to basically be okay, but creating the environment where the MTs have to scratch around for work is just kind of sad.
From the sounds of the gripes on this board anyone
on the side.  There are newbies who have completed a course that are not very good at transcription.  I would say try ordering some sample work or see if anyone has anything that you could try out.  This way you can tell if you like it or not.  I wish you all of the best.  You have just as much of a chance as anyone else in this profession.
Sounds like my DH, doesn't care that he - sm
is leaving behind a wife and 2 kids(me and our children)---and I presume you have at least 1 child from your name. I hope you had life insurance already in place since no one will undoubtly touch him now. ---Good luck in your new job.
NAME OF MEDICINE. Sounds like injatony 5 mg a day...

 Does anyone have any idea what this could be?


 


You know what they say, if it sounds too good to be true ...
It says you can be reimbursed for 100% of the cost of the 16 "Advanced Practice Packages" which cost $59 each. This would be a total of $944, which is not the cost of the entire program.

While the textbook they use is a good one, it is also the only one that they say they use. Andrews & M-Tec use a lot more books. Although lots of practice is good, I believe the training you get before all that practice is the most important. What good are all those reports if you haven't learned what you need to know to transcribe them?

In five years I have heard nothing but raves about Andrews School and M-TEC. I have heard next to nothing about eSmartMed. That alone would be enough to steer me away from it.
If you need extra practice typing itself...
goodtyping.com

COOL!
I was typing 150lph my first week. sm

It certainly isn't impossible.  No, it isn't great pay for someone who has a skill that is needed and is good at it, but you do need to start somewhere.  I don't think companies are willing to start newbies out at 7-9cpl because they can and do hire experienced MTs at that rate.  Why should they take a chance on someone unproven when they can get someone who has been in the industry 5+ years at the same rate?  That doesn't happen in any profession that I know of.


I've been a working MT now for just under a year and can type 300 lph doing acute care and more if I am doing podiatry.  Even at 6-7 cpl I can make a decent amount of money.  I'd love to be getting more money, but that just isn't happening.  Look at the job boards, most companies are advertising for 3-5 years experience starting at 7-9cpl, any higher than that is not the norm.  Is it fair?  Probably not, but it is the reality of this industry.  Those who don't love their work, are not good at it, or are only in it for the money will be getting out and finding another profession.  That will leave less competition and eventually the wages will begin to go up again. 


I think there has just been a huge surge in new people entering MT in the last few years because of all the 'get rich quick' ads out there, but people are starting to realize this isn't an easy job. 


Who knows, maybe I'm just too optomistic.


From my typing school days
I recall learning that a word consists of five characters, spaces, symbols, etc., so it seems to me that they are asking for a 65-character line rate.
How do you increase typing speed?
I am a fairly new MT who can type approx 150-170 lines per hour. I work p/t approx 500-1200 lines per day but it seems like I work f/t hours because of my typing speed. I have kids at home so when I get an hour long report I tend to try to hurry and that means I make more errors and slows down my typing speed.

My problem is I am constantly working so I can't find the time to work on my typing. I have only been working for about 3 months and am at 150-170 lph. How long should I give myself to get up to 200-300 lph like many can type?


what type of reports are you typing?

I do alot of psyche and some of my reports range from 150-450 lines per report.  So when you look at it like that it is not bad.  On the other had if you are doing radiology that would be totally different.  Again some of mines average from 15-30 lines.  That is with a 65 character line. 


sounds like your skill level needs work...
SO, you may do best in a hospital setting where there are oldtimers around to help you. Do NOT give up! :-)
Thanks for replying... It sounds absolutely perfect - sm
that is what I would be looking for exactly.  It is nice to know that there are opportunities like that around.   Good for you!  Enjoy your job!  Thanks again!
Sounds like they made a poor choice of EMR...sm

the whole point of EMR is not to type the notes into the system - it's to choose from a menu and point and click to get the information in.  Think


chief complaint:  sore throat.     choose:  erythematous   edematous  purulent drainage and so on


if it's a speciality with a lot of redundancy, i.e. podiatry, they fly through their notes. If it's more unique situations a little tougher. But don't worry... the EMR companies will soon figure out the missing link...


 


 


 


A footpedal is around $79, so if they offer one it sounds good to me.
x
It sounds like your mind is made up that you don't need an adequate course,
and that hard-working MTs in your area are just waiting to complete your education so you can be of help to them. But you did say you wanted advice, so mine would be that your future co-workers, supervisors and customers will all wish you were ready to transcribe when you got out of school, which can only be guaranteed by two schools: Andrews & M-Tec. So instead of wasting a few hundred dollars on an education that won't land you a job, spend what it takes for a real education. At these schools you can learn at your own speed with lots of support from the teachers, and when you graduate you will be an asset to the profession.
Hello fellow M-TEC grad! Sounds like you have a great job!!! nm
x