I have been working at home as a medical transcriptionist, but has been slow since Thanksgiving and today I was told that the transcription service that I work for has lost the account I typed on. This happens so much in the transcription field. It is so frustrating. You get familiar with an account and then its gone. The company did not even have a back up account for me so I am screwed.
My husband is really not going to be happy with this. He already thinks I am a loser when it comes to making money.
I did get a job offer for a data entry government job at $13 an hour which is great, but the downsides are:
*I will have to be on the road a total of at least 2 hours a day (100 miles) to get to work and back home.
*It is only a temporary job lasting until September.
*My kids will have to get up at 4:30 or 5 am every morning so that I can get them to someone who can get them to school. Is it worth upsetting my kids so that I can make that little amount of money?
Not sure what to do about this situation, but I need to be bringing money home.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
How to Make Money When You Chat
I found this really cool way to make a little extra money replying to chats and discussions. Its at http://alturl.com/q398 and there is no fee to do this. Just join for free and pick a topic and reply to it and make a little money. You will not get rich, but if you are chatting online you might as well get paid for it...Right? Have fun with it. Its sort of a data entry job.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Free ABAB and AAA Phrase Expanding for Medical Transcription Productive Typing
In medical transcription expanding phrases will make you more money than just expanding words. Expanding words does help a great deal in your line production, but the ABAB and AAA expanding methods are for expanding phrases and this will make you much more productive.
ABAB method is for two word phrases. The "ABAB" is the first two letters of each word. For example:
adca = adhesive capsulitis
lesh = left shoulder
AAA method is for phrases that have more then two words in them. The "AAA" stands for the first letter in each word of the phrase. For example"
tpi = the patient is
t3m = Tylenol 325 mg
tpigtroapb = The patient is going to return on a p.r.n. basis.
$$10 characters expanded to 49$$
OK now here is the exciting part...... "pe" equals the following:
PHYSICAL EXAMINATION: General: Well-developed, well-nourished female alert and oriented x 3, comes in in no apparent distress. Left hip wound inspected. Staples removed. The incision is clean, dry, and intact. There are no signs or symptoms of erythema or drainage. Calf is soft and nontender. She is neurovascularly intact. She has +2 DP and PT pulses.
$$$$WOW....Just two characters (pe) expanded out to 362 characters!!!! This is where the money really comes in. $$$$$
Do not forget about every day phrases because they are very commonly spoken in dictation. Phrases like:
hw = he was Hhbh = he had been having
These can really add up and make a huge difference in your line counts.
Focus on phrases as much as possible when typing and you will be very productive!!!
ABAB method is for two word phrases. The "ABAB" is the first two letters of each word. For example:
adca = adhesive capsulitis
lesh = left shoulder
AAA method is for phrases that have more then two words in them. The "AAA" stands for the first letter in each word of the phrase. For example"
tpi = the patient is
t3m = Tylenol 325 mg
tpigtroapb = The patient is going to return on a p.r.n. basis.
$$10 characters expanded to 49$$
OK now here is the exciting part...... "pe" equals the following:
PHYSICAL EXAMINATION: General: Well-developed, well-nourished female alert and oriented x 3, comes in in no apparent distress. Left hip wound inspected. Staples removed. The incision is clean, dry, and intact. There are no signs or symptoms of erythema or drainage. Calf is soft and nontender. She is neurovascularly intact. She has +2 DP and PT pulses.
$$$$WOW....Just two characters (pe) expanded out to 362 characters!!!! This is where the money really comes in. $$$$$
Do not forget about every day phrases because they are very commonly spoken in dictation. Phrases like:
hw = he was Hhbh = he had been having
These can really add up and make a huge difference in your line counts.
Focus on phrases as much as possible when typing and you will be very productive!!!
Free ABCZ Word Expanding For Medical Transcription
I just recently (today) starting really using ABCZ word expanding methods in my transcription. If you are not familiar with this I will try and expand it without confusing anyone.
A B C Z = The first three letters of a word and the "Z" is the last letter of that word.
For example:
abny = abnormality
appy = apparently
norl = normal
Yes, you will get some duplicates with this method because "appy" could be "appendectomy" as well so if you would like you can modify this with adding an extra letter at the end like appyy or appyx or appyz. It is really up to you. Find your method and stick with it.
Dates:
For the Month:
j=January f = February m = March a = April y = May u = June l = July g = August s = September o = October n = November d = December
jan = January feb = February mar = March and so on
For Dates With Hyphens:
j1h = 01-01-2009 f2h = 02-02-2009 and so on
For Dates With Slashes:
j1s = 01/01/2009 f2s = 02/02/2009 and so on
For the Month and the Year:
jun9 = June, 2009 may8 = May, 2008 and so on
Numbers:
Since most expanders that I have came across will not let you start a shortcut with a number I use an "n" before the number. See examples below:
n1t2 = 1 to 2 n4t4 = 4 to 5
noot = 1 or 2
ntof = 3 or 4
Use "p" for the percent sign instead of holding down the shift and reaching for the percent sign:
n50p = 50% n70p = 70%
n50mg = 50 mg
You can also use the letter o for number 0:
oo9p = 0.09%
oo3mg = 0.03 mg
Use the letter "r" for ratios:
r1 = 1:1 r2 = 2:1
Sutures:
n1v = 1-0 Vicryl
n1vn = #1-0 Vicryl
n1vs = 1-0 Vicryl stitch
n4es = 4-0 Ethibond stitch
n4esn = #4-0 Ethibond stitch
These are all examples and you can modify them however you like....Just remember your system and try to stick to one system for your shortcuts to get the most out of your expander software.
Happy typing! :)
A B C Z = The first three letters of a word and the "Z" is the last letter of that word.
For example:
abny = abnormality
appy = apparently
norl = normal
Yes, you will get some duplicates with this method because "appy" could be "appendectomy" as well so if you would like you can modify this with adding an extra letter at the end like appyy or appyx or appyz. It is really up to you. Find your method and stick with it.
Dates:
For the Month:
j=January f = February m = March a = April y = May u = June l = July g = August s = September o = October n = November d = December
jan = January feb = February mar = March and so on
For Dates With Hyphens:
j1h = 01-01-2009 f2h = 02-02-2009 and so on
For Dates With Slashes:
j1s = 01/01/2009 f2s = 02/02/2009 and so on
For the Month and the Year:
jun9 = June, 2009 may8 = May, 2008 and so on
Numbers:
Since most expanders that I have came across will not let you start a shortcut with a number I use an "n" before the number. See examples below:
n1t2 = 1 to 2 n4t4 = 4 to 5
noot = 1 or 2
ntof = 3 or 4
Use "p" for the percent sign instead of holding down the shift and reaching for the percent sign:
n50p = 50% n70p = 70%
n50mg = 50 mg
You can also use the letter o for number 0:
oo9p = 0.09%
oo3mg = 0.03 mg
Use the letter "r" for ratios:
r1 = 1:1 r2 = 2:1
Sutures:
n1v = 1-0 Vicryl
n1vn = #1-0 Vicryl
n1vs = 1-0 Vicryl stitch
n4es = 4-0 Ethibond stitch
n4esn = #4-0 Ethibond stitch
These are all examples and you can modify them however you like....Just remember your system and try to stick to one system for your shortcuts to get the most out of your expander software.
Happy typing! :)
Why Every Medical Transcriptionist Should Use Word Expander Software
By Mary Ruff-King
Self-employed medical transcriptionists know that time is money and that to make a nice living working from home we all have to come up with the ways, as well as the financial means, to automate what we can.
Production is the name of the game when it comes to medical transcription. Producing more means more money. Usually speeding up our output comes with a price: sacrificing quality for quantity. However, it does not have to be that way.
People who do not work in the medical transcription field have no clue how much technology we use or how many software programs we must use and master to become proficient enough to earn a decent living as MTs. One such tool that helps us to speed up our production without jeopardizing the quality of our work is word expander software. Thank God for this tool. It not only helps us be more productive, it also may lengthen our careers as medical transcriptionists.
Word expander software, also known as text expander software, allows us to develop short forms of words and/or phrases which, when typed, will be expanded to show the full word or phrase. For example, if I type "ctr," the word expander software will expand that short form to "carpal tunnel release" which is called the long form.
The reasons for using this production tool are these:
First of all, a medical transcriptionist only has to type the long form correctly one time. It cuts down on the amount of editing that needs to be done.
Secondly, production can be increased manifold without compromising the quality of the work. Accurate medical reports are vital for patients getting quality care. Timeliness of getting the work done is of paramount importance as well.
Finally, what concerns me most as a medical transcriptionist-one who types tens of thousands of keystrokes per day-is the possibility that I and others in my profession may develop carpal tunnel syndrome or some form of tendinitis due to the repetitive nature of medical transcription.
The above reasons demonstrate that using word expander software in the performance of transcribing medical reports is not a luxury-it is a necessity not only for the benefit of our work and pay, but also our health.
If you are not using word expander software in your medical transcription business, consider looking into purchasing it now or in the near future. There are several packages that come at affordable prices. It is an tool you will soon appreciate and wonder how you did without it once you get it and implement it
Self-employed medical transcriptionists know that time is money and that to make a nice living working from home we all have to come up with the ways, as well as the financial means, to automate what we can.
Production is the name of the game when it comes to medical transcription. Producing more means more money. Usually speeding up our output comes with a price: sacrificing quality for quantity. However, it does not have to be that way.
People who do not work in the medical transcription field have no clue how much technology we use or how many software programs we must use and master to become proficient enough to earn a decent living as MTs. One such tool that helps us to speed up our production without jeopardizing the quality of our work is word expander software. Thank God for this tool. It not only helps us be more productive, it also may lengthen our careers as medical transcriptionists.
Word expander software, also known as text expander software, allows us to develop short forms of words and/or phrases which, when typed, will be expanded to show the full word or phrase. For example, if I type "ctr," the word expander software will expand that short form to "carpal tunnel release" which is called the long form.
The reasons for using this production tool are these:
First of all, a medical transcriptionist only has to type the long form correctly one time. It cuts down on the amount of editing that needs to be done.
Secondly, production can be increased manifold without compromising the quality of the work. Accurate medical reports are vital for patients getting quality care. Timeliness of getting the work done is of paramount importance as well.
Finally, what concerns me most as a medical transcriptionist-one who types tens of thousands of keystrokes per day-is the possibility that I and others in my profession may develop carpal tunnel syndrome or some form of tendinitis due to the repetitive nature of medical transcription.
The above reasons demonstrate that using word expander software in the performance of transcribing medical reports is not a luxury-it is a necessity not only for the benefit of our work and pay, but also our health.
If you are not using word expander software in your medical transcription business, consider looking into purchasing it now or in the near future. There are several packages that come at affordable prices. It is an tool you will soon appreciate and wonder how you did without it once you get it and implement it
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
MT Notes - Word Stumpers
Grade 1, 2, 3, .......
Stage I, II, III.....
Type 2 diabetes mellitus
Follow up (verb) will follow up
Followup (noun, adj) for followup, for a followup
Effect - (noun) a cause, a result
Affect - (verb) to act on, to move
one week's time
six weeks' time
UA always use "nitrite"
Mucus - noun
Mucous - adj
C. diff
Coyle view
Sarring - wound scar
Ilium - bone
Ileum - intestine
Stage I, II, III.....
Type 2 diabetes mellitus
Follow up (verb) will follow up
Followup (noun, adj) for followup, for a followup
Effect - (noun) a cause, a result
Affect - (verb) to act on, to move
one week's time
six weeks' time
UA always use "nitrite"
Mucus - noun
Mucous - adj
C. diff
Coyle view
Sarring - wound scar
Ilium - bone
Ileum - intestine
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Medical Transcription-Keybord Shortcuts
I decided I would assign a commonly used word to each letter key on my keyboard. I am still working on this so will add more later. This is what I have so far.
Q = question
W = With
E = Examination
R = Are
T = The
Y = Any
U = You
O = Of
P = procedure
D = And
F = For
G = Good
K = Knee
B = Be
N = In
This is a work in progress so I will add more later as I get a chance. I am also thinking that I could double and triple the letters for other words also. This could save a few key strokes anyway.
Q = question
W = With
E = Examination
R = Are
T = The
Y = Any
U = You
O = Of
P = procedure
D = And
F = For
G = Good
K = Knee
B = Be
N = In
This is a work in progress so I will add more later as I get a chance. I am also thinking that I could double and triple the letters for other words also. This could save a few key strokes anyway.
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