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

Honest question - Lack of fingers

Posted: Dec 16, 2009

Long story short, I had an accident and lost all but 3 fingers. I had 15 years experience as an MT before that and have been trying to enhance my typing skills so I can get back into it. Is there anything someone could suggest to help me? I really need my jobs back am really lacking the speed with my limited fingers.

Try VR or QA - don't need flying fingers for that - good luck to you

[ In Reply To ..]
Seems like you would really seek a something with less typing though - medical records is another possibility.

If you want to transcribe, use Dragon - Snow Bunny

[ In Reply To ..]
It's ideal for someone who wants to be a MT but has limitations.

Dragon - box

[ In Reply To ..]
I ordered Dragon thinking I could make more because it prints as fast as you talk. However, when I listen to a phrase, speak it into the mic, then edit it to make sure it's right, I'm not making what I would on VR or typing. Dragon trains to your voice (one voice at a time). If you have many docs, you can't train it to the docs. Also, it locks up and you have to restart your computer. You'll have to have time to call support a lot to begin with. It is not compatable with your employer's platforms, but they do have a box that pops up that you can type in because of interference, but I have to have larger print to look at. You could probably make it work for you, but you would have to keep calling support before your 90 days is up. They charge $20 per call after that. If I couldn't type, I would use Dragon, but VR at my job pays more. It takes time to train on VR or Dragon.

not entirely true - Snow Bunny

[ In Reply To ..]
>>>I ordered Dragon thinking I could make more because it prints as fast as you talk. However, when I listen to a phrase, speak it into the mic, then edit it to make sure it's right, I'm not making what I would on VR or typing.

First, you need to listen and dictate at the same time. Second, you edit while you dictate which means basic grammar skills that you learned in elementary school.

>>>Dragon trains to your voice (one voice at a time). If you have many docs, you can't train it to the docs.

You train it per specialty.

>>>Also, it locks up and you have to restart your computer. You'll have to have time to call support a lot to begin with.

Never for me on both issues.

>>>It is not compatable with your employer's platforms, but they do have a box that pops up that you can type in because of interference, but I have to have larger print to look at.

Dictate in Dragon Pad and copy/paste it into the platform?

>>>You could probably make it work for you, but you would have to keep calling support before your 90 days is up. They charge $20 per call after that. If I couldn't type, I would use Dragon, but VR at my job pays more. It takes time to train on VR or Dragon.

The initial training on Dragon is not as much as you think. It all depends upon what you put into the program before you start to use it. --- And I type and use Dragon, depending upon the dictator. The slower the dictator, the more Iâ��m likely to type. Iâ��ve got one dictator who talks at least 160 wpm and I have no trouble keeping up with her at 99.9% accuracy (maybe one error per page).

Dragon is like trying to keep physically fit. The more time and effort you put into it, the more success youâ��ll have down the line.

Maybe also look at editing (as suggested) with heavy use of - MissIndigo

[ In Reply To ..]
an expander, with your abbreviations chosen for those 3 fingers. Any special keyboards out there that could accommodate edges of hands for extra keystrokes? How about using a combo of Dragon and expander?

Also, this field is going to change, with new jobs being created as the old ones die off. Classes in data abstraction and coding, combined with your MT experience, would probably set you up nicely for eventual transition to a combined medical records work that, also as suggested, doesn't involve constant typing.

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