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Reference Material Help - Newbie Needing Help

Posted: May 29, 2012

So I'm wondering what the difference between the Nurse's Pocket Drug Guide and The Pill Book is. I am trying to gather some reference material to be better stocked for my first transcription job and I'm not sure what to actually get. I'm on a tight budget but know that I need decent material. Throughout school I mostly used my textbooks and online reference material and it worked great but I'm not sure if companies are open to that type of work/referencing. Any help or advice is appreciated. Thanks in advance.

use drugs dot com - no need to spend money

[ In Reply To ..]
Plus, they have a "medical transcriptionist" section with a phonetic spelling and wildcard search. I use it nonstop. I also use google and RX list dot com.

Thanks - Newbie Needing Help

[ In Reply To ..]
Thanks you. That is one website I haven't been introduced to yet so I will bookmark it. Will it not count against me on applications to not have reference material though? I have notice when applying for jobs that every application has a section for what type of reference material I have or use. I put down the websites I use but not sure what else to do.

On that note, I do have an interview here in about an hour with MedScribe to learn more about their Earn to Learn program. Can anyone tell me more about this? Is this a decent program?

I disagree...SM - Old Anon

[ In Reply To ..]
I have used Saunders Pharmaceutical Word Book since it came out in 1992, and it has never failed me. It is comprehensive. I happen to like book references but occasionally have used internet sites. Some employers actually require you to have an up-to-date "book" drug reference.

I've tried it all - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
I've used on-line programs, drug index (my 2nd fav), and various drug books. I went back to using Saunders. It's more comprehensive than most the others and at a reasonable price. I like that the drug index and Saunders list their generic drugs along with proprietary rather than cross referencing. I fairly frequently use the on-line drug sites too, but usually when I can only hear part of the word.

stedman's on line Quick Look also very good - anon

[ In Reply To ..]
I have found Quick Look to have more info than Saunder's, have used both and actually would recommend both. The Quick Look does have a feature where you can add info and new medications. You can get the on line version with Saunders which will give you updates for a year as well. Both are very good.

I also use the FDA drug site on line. Good luck!

Reference material help - anon

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I have used the Quick Look Drug Book for years. It is the best drug reference book for transcriptionists... You can look up drugs by their generic name, brand name or look under the specific disease/problem and it will list the drugs for those diseases, etc...

Reference Books - MT55

[ In Reply To ..]

The difference in a nurse's drug book and one for MTs is that there is always a section of side effects, etc. things that nurses need to know and MTs donâ��t. Wading through all this info can slow you down. The Quicklook Drug book is very concise, listing drug dosages, sound alike drugs, drug categories, what the drug is used for, etc.

The reason why I use Quicklook Drug Book is because the drug dosages can be quickly found. While drugs.com is an excellent site and I use it - especially the wildcard and phonetic features - you have to wade through so much junk trying to find the dosages and it slows me down. Quicklook is in book and CD form. It comes out once a year, but at $45.00 I only update every 3-4 years. I prefer the CD form loaded on my PC.

If you will subscribe to www.lww.com (Lippincott Williams, & Wilkins) emails they often run a 20% sale and you can get the Stedman books on sale. They also carry the Quick Look Drug book.

Most MTs use Stedman's Word books which is in book form and CD form. CD form is my favorite as it is quicker than thumbing through a book. They are expensive and just starting out, I would buy only the specialities that you will be using on the job. The Stedman Abbreviations & Acronyms is really good when becoming familiar with all the abbreviations and acronyms, especially because I have found discrepancies when using the Google search. Stedman books are usually the gold standard for MTSOs.

You will also need a medical dictionary and spellchecker. Sometimes as an employee, the MTSO will supple these free of charge. Stedman's is the most commonly brand used.

You will also need a shortcut program. I like PC Shorthand the best. This will help you make your own abbreviations to make you faster. Be sure to ask your employer what shortcut program their software platform is compatible with. Some MTs use the Microsoft Word Autocorrect exclusively and that comes with MS Word.

Here is the link to the phonetic and wildcard search at drugs.com. It is terrific when the doctor mumbles off a drug and all you can understand is "mumblemumbleprolol" Just put in *prolol and it will search all the drugs ending in prolol. Really great.

http://www.drugs.com/search-wildcard-phonetic.html

Good lab values website:
http://www.globalrph.com/labs.htm

Drug Reference... - mtmom23

[ In Reply To ..]
Hi Newbie! Here is an online website that is available free. It is a great site. Hope it helps.

My best wishes for success to you!

http://www.empr.com/

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