A community of 30,000 US Transcriptionist serving Medical Transcription Industry

Increase line counts? - jb

Posted: Jun 26, 2010

I kind of feel dumb even asking this question but how does one get these 300 lph counts I've read about on here? I have 12 years plus years experience and have only worked in 2 different hospitals. We never had expanders so I don't really know much about them. I average about 180 lph but am realizing now working for an MTSO that I am going to have to increase my line counts. Thanks!

Expanders, expanders, expanders. - Happy MT Robin

[ In Reply To ..]
You didn't say if you were doing VR or typing, so I'm basing all of this on typing.

Get a good expander program. I use Stedman's Smartype, but lots of people like Instant Text or ShortHand as well. If you're on an account where you can do any kind of normals or "stock" phrases load those into your expander. Every time you have a two or more word phrase try to make that into a two or three letter short cut. Even long or awkward to type words I have made into short forms, such as proceed is prd, discontinue is dc. I do oncology work so I have all of my cancers in short form, i.e., lung cancer is lca, thyroid cancer is thca, etc. You really want to get to the point where you're not really typing whole words, but typing in your abbreviated language that you have created for yourself.

Google the words productivity and talk and you will get a site that shows you lots of really good suggestions.

The other thing that I do is every time I make a typo I put that into my expander with the correct word. It can slow you down a skosh at first, but you'll be glad you did it later when you're not backing up to correct teh for the all the time.

There are some different "methods" that are put out there, but I found that figuring out something that works with my brain waves was best. For a two word phrase, I use the letters of each word. If that combination is already taken, then I use the first letter of the first word and the first and second letter of the second word. There are variations, of course, but that's the gist of it. Figure out whatever system works best for you to remember.

The other thing is the normals or templates. My company uses a lot of templates, and I have expanded on that beyond what is loaded into the system. I have them saved in Word and I type in word and then just cut and paste into the platform. One of my dictators uses the phrase "Back today for follow up" on just about every note, so I have that added into his template so it saves me time.

Little things like that will make a huge difference once you've made the commitment to doing them.

Good luck and happy typing!

clinic notes - clinicmt

[ In Reply To ..]
I would say some of these ones typing that many lines are clinic MTs and have exclusive doctors. I have one that I can average 300 or so. When you have exclusives you can definitely use the expanders because a lot of them say the same things alot. I have worked acute care and did find it to me a little harder to get as many lines, but even though I can make 300 lph on 1 of my docs (the others prob 250), it doesn't mean that they will send a lot of work.

the problem with expanders and templates is that - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
employers have become reluctant to pay for characters that are typed by expanders or for inserted templates, also caused by the introduction of VR.

how would they know? - pushindapedal

[ In Reply To ..]
Seriously, how on earth would anyone know you used an expander other than inserting one and then not correcting verbatim to the dictator.

thanks everyone for your help - jb

[ In Reply To ..]
I'm going to be getting myself an expander. I've been given a VR account as my secondary. I thought it would be extremely easy but it looks like I need a better trained eye so I can go fast enough to make any money.

Similar Messages:

Jan 01, 2013

Can you tell me what the required line counts are for Nuance please ? ...

Jun 30, 2012

but from the posts, I can see that everyone else is in the same boat I am. I can only agree that this is the lowest paying MT job I've ever had and that the constant haranguing about working extra over the weekends is completley annoying. I worked for 5.5 hours for Nuance the other day and made $47. I then worked for a private client for 2.75 hours and made $82. If only he had more work for me! Unfortunately, I'm expecting him to go on the EMR this year an ...

Oct 24, 2011

I would like opinions about the IT (Instant Text) line count program? Do you find it user friendly? Are there other programs preferred/easier? Any suggestions or opinions? TIA. ...

Aug 14, 2012

I was wondering if someone could point me in the direction of an accurate line counter. I currently use Word, but am not sure if it's accurate. ...

Aug 05, 2010

I was wondering if anyone knows exactly what OSI cuts out of their line counts? Seeing as they use a remote website for line counts, it is pretty obvious they cut corners with what MTs get paid on. I was just wondering WHAT are the cutting? Do they only pay 1 space? Do they not pay if you copy and paste? Do they only pay on a % per page - meaning if you have little on 1 page you aren't going to get any credit for those lines, etc? Just curio ...

Sep 07, 2010

Is it me, or does it seem that since 6.1 went into effect, my counts are a lot lower than usual when I check them under statistics. ...

Nov 12, 2011

I know this has been discussed before, but what is up with these line counts? I used to have no problem doing 200+ lph. Now, I work at the same pace on an account with less ESL speakers and I struggle to get my required 150 lph. I won't even comment on the fact that my straight typing has dwindled away to maybe 10 lines a day...on a good day. Thanks for listening...this is just all so very frustrating. I try to keep a positive attitude and be very diligent about my work and ...

Feb 03, 2012

For MTs with this company, are any of you having trouble meeting the line count required with VBC within a 40-hour timeframe? I even have expander program. ...

Jul 12, 2012

I posted yesterday and had lots of views, but no one replied. Every time I check a line count in different online "character counters", it is about 10% over my MM count. What is the most accurate way? ...

Apr 19, 2013

I was wondering if any of you could tell me your average LPH. Is the ASR at Nuance pretty accurate or are you constantly making corrections? How many lines per day are you able to do? I was offered a job here and I know I can trust you more than the recruiter to tell me the truth. Are the top producers really able to make a decent paycheck? Are you kept on your primary accounts for the most part? TIA. ...

Mar 10, 2014

Is anyone's line count for today WAY OFF?? I've been working all morning and it seems to be waaaaaaaay too low! ...

May 18, 2015

Anyone out there finding that their lines are dropping for no apparent reason? Have been struggling for 2 weeks to get minimum 150 lph, doing nothing different than I've ever done, same amount of work, same clients, same hours but lines suck. What are the chances they are messing with our bean counter?? ...

Jun 23, 2015

How many lines are reasonable to expect from QA per hour? Is a flat rate of 0.09/line count a good rate? Any info would be appreciated! Thanks- ...

Dec 28, 2009

Does anyone work for DTS America and have problems with descrepancies on their line count? ...

Feb 05, 2010

I would just like to know who DOES get their line counts in every pay period. It seems I am always a little short due to low volume? I hope I am not in the same boat........Thanks for the input! ...

May 03, 2010

Does anyone who's recently been hired or who have been there a while tell me what the current line counts are for those who want to be full-time employment status at Etransplus? I work on VA accounts and was told it was 10,0001 per pay period, but I've been told by one of the office staff that it was 12,000. I've sent email after email to the supervisors with no response. Does anyone know? I just want to make sure I'm hitting the right target. Th ...

May 12, 2010

According to the Escript, I'm doing an average of 300 lph on VR but usually at the end of 8 hours, I don't top 1100 liines most days. On Dictaphone's ExSpeech, i used to consistently do 1800-2400 a day on a combination. I have noticed with EScript that 1 day a week, my lines will hit 1200-1300, and I even hit 1500 one day, yet the lph were still 300. It doesn't make sense. No, I do not take breaks. Half the time I don't stop ...

Jun 22, 2010

Hi - I have a question regarding counting templates. I have a new doc who wants me to only count what he dictates, and not the templated review of systems, past medical history, social history, etc. which is all unchanged (unless he says to change it). Do you cut and paste your work into a "count" file to get the total, or do you tell the doctor that it has to be included in the count. And what about the times he does make changes to the "templated items". I welcome any suggestions. ...

Jul 17, 2010

extreme trouble being consistent in their line counts? Some days I struggle to get half my lines and some days I can double them. Of course there are factors that influence that like lack of work, which account I am on, if I am having technical difficulty or if I am having an off day personally, but when I look at my timesheets, I look like the most random person on earth. I know many people say they work 7 days a week to get their lines, etc., and I have most certainly been th ...

Jul 19, 2010

My highest line count in a day is 2012.... I am wondering what everyone else's record is and how long it took them to get it ????? ...

Jul 29, 2010

I am just curious as to what line count standards are out there. What are your line count requirements for the day and how much do you use your QA for things like missing encounters, unable to ID patients, incorrect work types? Where I work our standards are relatively lower than other places, however, we also are required to match encounters, determine the work type, send an email for each work type or inrcorrect MRN, create a temporary patient if we cannot find the patient anywhere in the s ...

Nov 08, 2010

Please share highest line in 8 hour day with VR, but no normals. My highest was 2300, but range from 1700 to 2300 usually. I've been at for about 6 months now and need to know where I should be and where I can potentially be. Thanks ...

Nov 15, 2010

Okay, another end of pay period with not enough work to make line count. This is just not right. Is there anybody working for DTS right now, working their scheduled shift and making their line count? What is happening there? ...

Dec 02, 2010

Is anyone else suspicious about how they are calculating our line counts? I have been siltting here VERY diligently and typing like crazy these last few days and my counts seem to be going DOWN!!! I can't imagine how this can be happening. Anyone else notice the same? Is there some way to keep track? But then again, that would take time from typing EVERY SECOND of EVERY HOUR like they want us to, now wouldn't it? ...

Mar 15, 2011

I have been an MT for over 10 years doing hospital work. I have never been able to do much over 200 lines an hour straight typing except for the rare occasions I get several eye surgeries in a row that are canned. Usually I fall below this. My account is not difficult, but I do have a couple of different hospitals and of course many dictators. I have put a lot of their ROS and PE in my shortcuts, but of course they make a lot of changes sometimes. There are those that take forever to spit i ...

Mar 24, 2011

Is there anywhere we can look to verify our line counts? Is this information provided somewhere? ...

Mar 27, 2011

Did Transcend change the lines or something? Seems to take a lot longer to get my lines in the last few months. It happens consistently so I don't think it is just a bad day now and then, or being over tired. Anyone else notice this? ...

Apr 07, 2011

What kind of line counts do you need per week to be full-time? Also, do you have to work set hours or can you stop when your line counts are in for the day? ...

Aug 23, 2011

Can someone please explain to me how I am working the same accounts, the same hours, the same docs, and now coming in approximately 1000 lines short a DAY? I feel it in my heart I am being ripped off. Does anyone know of any software/sites etc to check this? I am financially drowning....Thanks ...

Oct 03, 2011

The line counts don't seem right for the past few days. Cannot figure it out. ...