Hi Mom3,

Although I have not yet figured out how to do it entirely, I do know IT will "scan" documents for phrases and let you make a shortcut from what it scans. You can also get free updates/additional glossaries from them at their web site. Occasionally, they will send me an email to let me know that there is an update. Mine was about 175.00 if I recall, for ITPro and I am sure they now have more upgrades since I got mine several years ago. I got it because, at the time, it was the only one that worked with Meditech, and that was what I needed, so I never did a lot of comparing. I know there are some out there that are much less expensive, and I think some less than 50.00, but I couldn't tell you their names.

Windy

Hi Windy,

The $175 for IT sounds much better than the whole program I was looking into, it was $798.00 for all seven programs that go with Key-Master's MedBrain. The program sounds absolutely wonderful, but it would really have to be awesome to pay for itself. The material reads like it would though. I'm just not sure I'm ready to dive in that much with not being familiar with all of this. It would be kind of like Carol said "a little hobby" to have fun with for a while.

The only expander that I have really read much about on this site about MT's using very much is Instant Text.

Is there a lot of memorization of numbers with IT, or is it more like what is in Word, the Autotext and Autocorrect, where you just name it what is easiest for you to remember?

Thanks for the info. I think I'm going to go back to the IT site now and check out more about it. This is interesting.

Everyone have a great day.

MOM3

There isn't a lot to memorize with IT.

It comes with glossaries - but like another poster - I am pretty much starting from scratch and building my own. And don't we all - just name things whichever way works best for us.

For instance - I have this long terrible phrase that a Dr. Canaday uses over and over. I just named it "cana (from his name)." This types about a half a paragraph of "yuck." Love it!

I spent $165 (recently) on ITPro (it is $99 without the line counter).

No No No - I would never consider paying $600 - $700 for any program. That's way too much money. I'm already stripping IT of some of the stuff that came with it --and building my own taylor-made glossaries. It's working out great for me.

I think the $99 IT would be the perfect buy (unless you want the linecounter - then it's $165 - a deal they are having right now.)

People seem to like IT - and it is obviously a very flexible program. We can make it fit our individual ways of thinking and working.

THANKS CAROL,

I think you just helped me make up my mind. Probably the other one for $798 would have a lot of stuff I would have to strip off also and never use. It would probably be good if you were just starting out, but I mostly do Family Practice and Internal Medicine anyway.

I think I will get started with something a little less pricey.

MOM3

Hi everybody:
My old grandad used to say, "It is better to keep your mouth shut and be thought a fool than to open it and remove all shadow of a doubt." Well, sorry, grandad, but here goes..

I have been following this thread on Instant Text and word expanders and I have to admit that I have no idea what it is all about. I do have my AutoCorrect and utilize that to the max and I find that very helpful. I tried to do a little research on my own, on word expanders and if I understood correctly, it seemed like words or phrases could be expanded by typing certain letters. But how would that work if you transcribe all specialties and all work types? I don't think I could remember that much.

Anyway, as I said, I know I must sound like I am a few cards short of a deck but any help would be appreciated. If you could explain it as if you were explaining to your 5-year-old, it would be even better. For example, you are transcribing a clinic letter, when would you use it mostly? Any clarification would be greatly appreciated.

Melissa

Melissa isn't the only one out there who is in the dark in regard to word expanders - I tried a free download of shorthand and it just frustrated me - it got in the way too much and I guess I didn't know how to use it correctly. Melissa~my granddad probably said that, too, but when I taught my kids, I told them repeatedly that the only dumb question is the one that isn't asked!
Amy

Thanks guys I'm listening too. I'm glad to know I'm not the only transcriptionist not using these YET.

Where did you get your shorthand download?

MOM3

To all of you who are not using text expanders--you'll NEVER regret it!! It saves your hands and can increase your productivity (more $ per hour and less time transcribing). Depending on the dictator, I can increase my productivity by 50% (my expander keeps track of it!). The average expander will pay for itself in a couple of weeks. And they are fun!! You can use them for addresses of docs if you send a lot of copies or transcribe a lot of letters. I rarely have to look up an address anymore. That's a time saver, also. Also, if you enter drugs, you can correctly capitalize or not capitalize, depending on the drug, and don't have to remember. Another great thing: I transpose letters in words a lot, so I put it in my expander that when I type wtih it changes it to with.

There are many of them out there, some better than others. The only one I didn't like was WP Expand which was for old WordPerfect for DOS. It was only $30, but wasn't worth it.

There are also some great ones out there, some more expensive than others.

I would encourage you all to check into it!