It takes time. - Varmint_hunting Posted: Oct 30th, 2009 - 11:56 pm In Reply to: Just gotta gripe - newvhmt
Yeah, I know that's not a very helpful answer. But it's true.
You've probably found that your various dictators use a lot of the same phrases over and over. Some will even dictate entire paragraphs practically verbatim from one job to the next. My suggestion would be to start saving samples, if you're not already doing so. (If you're not working in Word, you can copy and paste into Word from other programs. Just be sure there is no patient-identifying information in your samples, so the HIPAA police can't get you.) You can try highlighting some of the most-used phrases so you can spot them quickly. Then just copy and paste them back into the new report.
You can also use your expander to create shortcuts for not just words, but combinations of words, phrases, even entire paragraphs. One of my dictators gives the exact same list of possible risks of surgery that were outlined to the patient, every time. That's in my expander. But, for the most part, there are too many dictators to customize expansions that way and remember all their shortcuts, which is why I resort to the copy-and-paste-from-samples method. (And learn to use your ALT-tab key combination to switch back and forth between the sample and the "real" dictation; it's a whole lot faster than using the mouse for the switch.)
You need to figure out an expansion keyword system that works for YOU, but if you are looking for suggestions for how to beef up your system, just Google medical transcription productivity, and you'll find everything from companies that sell expander software to blogs where people talk about increasing productivity. There are plenty of people with plenty of advice and suggestions.
Speaking for myself... I use the transcription platform's own autocorrect function to fix misspelled words, and I use my expander (mine is Shorthand) for words and phrases. That can help fix any possible conflicts. Somebody posted a question here not too long ago and the answer was that she had some of the same shortcuts/corrections in both her autocorrect and her expander, and they were both trying to expand at the same time, so she got interesting results. So that is why I keep them separate.
I also take the time to add just about EVERY word I misspell or make a typo on, because it saves time in the long run. (I have a lot of repeat typos because my fingers tend to go haywire in the same directions when they go.) You can also use this to make sure you always have the correct capitalization; there are some drugs that even after all these years, I have mental blocks on whether they're generic or brand names. Those I put into my autocorrect (if I haven't made an expander shortcut for them already) with the proper capitalization.
And bigger is not always better. I have expansions for even short words (drug names, mostly), because every single keystroke you save adds up over the course of a workday. Here are just a few of my own, to give you some ideas:
las = Lasix
zo = Zofran
zoc = Zocor
lis = Lisinopril
lipi = Lipitor
prx = Protonix
pril = Prilosec
isuf = iron sulfate
peni = penicillin
prd = prednisone
zyp = Zyprexa
tpx = Toprol XL
dn1 = Darvocet N 100
insu = insulin
slsc = sliding scale
slsi = sliding scale insulin
I also try to think up a system for related words. For instance:
chole = cholecystectomy
choll = cholelithiasis
cholt = cholecystitis
chold = choledocholithiasis
divi = diverticulitis
divo = diverticulosis
divu = diverticulum
Also, be sure you're using expansions for things like:
prn = p.r.n.
bid = b.i.d.
q4 = q.4 hours
q46 = q.4 to 6 hours
24h = 24 hours
1d = 1 day
1w = 1 week
1m = 1 month
1y = 1 year
And so forth for numbers of days, weeks, months, even years.
Or whatever keywords work for YOU.
I also use a number of one-letter keywords:
n = night
l = left
r = right
y = year
m = month
w = week
Since we're supposed to use "L" for liters, but I use the word "left" a lot more than I use liters, I just use ll and that expands to L. Same thing if I need a capital R by itself - rr expands to that. Same with nn expanding to N.
You can also use left and right with various body parts. I've done a lot of orthopedics, so I have lh and rh for left and right hip, lk and rk for the knees, lsh and rsh, lwr and rwr, lel and rel, lak and rak (you can probably figure out what all those are for).
You can also use your expander for any section headings with special formatting that you might need to use. It might help to use an H at the front of the keyword. For instance... when I type 'hros' I get the formatted heading for REVIEW OF SYSTEMS. However, if I simply type 'ros' I get 'review of systems' with no special formatting.
There's no law against expanding plain English words (as opposed to medical words). For me, 'appn' is 'apparent' and 'appnl' becomes 'apparently'. There are plenty of others as well.
I make up new ones as I work. Usually it will penetrate my thick skull that I'm typing a word or phrase that I type a LOT, so then I'll try to think up an expander keyword for it that will work for me. Sometimes I discover that I've already done it and forgot.
Finally... again, it does take time. I wasn't typing warp speed right away either. I really couldn't tell you how many WPM I type. But if it's an easy dictator and I have plenty of expansions available, and I don't make any mistakes (yeah, right) I can keep up with most dictators, even some of the faster talkers. I even find myself speeding up some of the slower talkers so they don't slow me down. But it has taken YEARS to get to this point. And I'm still looking for ways to increase my speed--or cut down on my number of keystrokes, at least, to save my hands and wrists....
Just keep plugging away, keep adding in new expansions and shortcuts when you can, remember to use them, and try not to stress over it too much. It's a very steep learning curve--even for old pharts like me who've been at it waaaay too long. When I get a new dictator it isn't QUITE like starting completely over, but each one takes some getting used to, the cadence of their voice, and how they word things. But then it all falls into place and you "get it."
Best of luck, don't sweat it when you have a day when nothing seems to work (we all have those), and above all, go hunt down some of those resources for ideas!
Post A Reply Reply By Email Options
Complete Discussion Below: (  marks the location of current message within thread)
- Just gotta gripe - newvhmt (Views: 325, 2009-10-30, 10:51 pm)
- It takes time. - Varmint_hunting
- Thanks - newvhmt (Views: 116, 2009-10-31, 12:14 am)
- Another tip - gourdpainter (Views: 69, 2009-11-01, 2:10 pm)
Latest Messages Posted
|
