I did receive the Instant Text (text expansion program) that I ordered and am only beginning to use it. I am using it at work and work only two 10-hour days a week.

I thought and played around for a while and have opted to use the "spacebar" rather than the ";" for phrase expansion. (I realize the disadvantages - but am dealing with them quite easily.)

My first and earliest impression is that this is going to be a "great program" for me. After I have used it for a few months, I will bring you up to date.

I use the spacebar, too. Once you get used to using the spacebar, it's so hard to learn something else, although I am sure it could be done. I don't have too many problems with it, though. To accommodate for some of the disadvantages, what I do is say, for instance, I just want to type CHF. Well, if I spacebar, it expands it, so for all of my abbreviations, I put a C after (for me to remember Caps) so if I want CHF, I type CFHC and I get CHF instead of the expansion. I hope I made sense. It is an extra keystroke for an abbreviation but it gets around that the spacebar problem.

Windy

I should clarify that...chfc gives me CHF. I am also not good with typing all caps and this gets me around that as well.

Windy

Windy,

I used to do something similar to what you do until I got this idea. I type chf to get CHF and chff to get congestive heart failure. That way I don't have to hunt for a different key. Seemed so simple when I was told!!

kkb

Sounds good. I just put "c" after all of my capped abbreviations. That's my way of "coding" my own stuff so I know what it means. I put "h" on the end for shortcuts to headings, (i.e. peh for PHYSICAL EXAMINATION, etc.), "bh" for bold heading, etc. Kinda goofy but it works. For other words, I use the last letter to shorten the word i.e. tx-treat, txt-treatment, txd-treated, txg-treating, etc., etc.

It's amazing the different things we all do to get the results we want.

I may be using IT totally incorrectly --- but I'm putting most of my entries in as phrases (not words). I like using the "spacebar" for everything.

An example would be - I type aten (spacebar) for Atenolol -- rather than entering it as a word.

It's working - I'm beginning to fly...

Also - I have noticed that IT uses the first letter of every word in a phrase. Often I use only nouns or nouns and verbs. (I skip the articles, etc.)

Example - The patient tolerated the procedure well. IT would use "tpttpw." I would use "ptp."

Do I make sense?

I guess we each have to do what makes sense and is quickest for us individually. Believe me -- I am still learning.

Fun fun fun!!!!

I use it to accommodate for my "handicap" of stubby fingers, and I especially have "weak" little fingers so making caps is one of those trouble spots for me, and certain words that I consistently either spell wrong or transpose letters, like adn and hte. I have entire report formats in there as well, like Dr. A consult might be abcons, etc. I have op report normals in there and just all kinds of stuff. I really, actually, do not use their glossaries and delete them from my use when I open up IT. Something like tol = the patient tolerated the procedure. I guess I just put them in according to the quirky way my mind processes things Now some things I have more of a phrase instead of words as well, like dwtp = discussed with the patient, etc. I also use it for capping brand names on drugs that I have a hard time remembering whether they are capped or not. I really do not know what in the world I would do without my handy dandy IT! Hey, there is another handy dandy little tool out there too, called the Little Red Notebook at the HPI site. I use it a lot, too. It's a free download. I keep those hard to remember but don't want to look it up again words in it...like guaiac...that one gets me every time. I have a mental block to it. Whatever there is that will make my mind work better and my fingers go faster is a "good thing".



Windy

It sounds like Instant Text is working great! I'm still trying to make my decision. (I may need to get Instant Text - - it sounds like there would be a lot of support).

I got my information on Shorthand with MedBrain. Does anyone out there us that? It is pretty costly for the whole program - 7 programs altogether; or you can just buy parts of it?? The advertisement says Shorthand anticipates what you will type next and starts building its own dictionary from what you normally type?

Also, in the MedBrain for part of the program is daily medical updates that you download each day, that is an extra $49.95 per year. I wonder if that is the same thing you can download from the computer? I've never used this, but I've heard they have an update every day you can download?

I would like to hear from some of you guys that use word expanders and see what is working for you. I've never used one except what is in Word, and of course I love that!!

I'm ready to take the plunge and get one, there's just so much out there, I'm not sure which way to go.

I had a couple of doctors that have asked if I would do their transcription and really need something to speed things up so I'm not working all day and all night long. That would get me back to full-time after having the baby. (The kids feel the stress when Mom gets no sleep).

Have a great day.

MOM3

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!

This site lists expanders, tells a bit about what each of them does and what they work with, and gives links to the suppliers' pages --

http://home.earthlink.net/~agjon/list.htm

I use Shorthand and love it. It doesn't have all the features of Instant Text, but because of the transcription program I use I needed something that doesn't take up a lot of memory or disc space. In my next incarnation, I would love to try IT.

Incidentally, in Shorthand as well as in IT, you can have different dictionaries for different specialities or even for different docs.

This site will give you some ideas about creating your abbreviations so that you can "remember" them without thinking too much. I have several thousand, and have no problems.

http://home.earthlink.net/~agjon/abczrule.htm

HTH

I think the key to using word expansion programs is naming them so that you don't have to "memorize" them.

Name them in a way that fits your way of thinking.

Personally - I usually try and take the first 3 or 4 key main words of a phrase, sentence, etc.

For example: I would type "The patient tolerated the procedure well." as... "ptp"

I try to use main words (not "the's" "a's" etc..) and keep my abbreviations short (3 letters as much as possible).

------------ I have several hundred - and have never memorized them. I just know what I would have named them. ....

---------------

I name my addresses starting with an "a" for address. Then I add the first four letters of the doctor's last name (There is no way I can remember doctor's first names -- I have over 300 addresses).

Example: Dr. John Walker would be "awalk"

If there is another doctor whose last name starts with "walk" ==== it would be "awalk2" and I might have an "awalk3".

But - with other than very common last names, this rarely happens. I have used this for more than 15 years with hundreds of doctors - works like a charm for me.

--

I can't see that it would matter how many specialities you work for. You still find yourself typing the same phrases over and over again. If you do - make an abbreviation for them.

This includes any phrases - or anything that you type often.

You would be surprised after a while how little you have to memorize....not much...

---------------------

The key is - have a system with the way you name things --- and be consistent...

There could well be some trial and error for a while - you may be doing some re-doing and deleting at first - but it will all come together.

-----

Another thing you can do - if you want some phrases to be "gender-specific." Type an abbreviation with an "f" or "m" on the end - for male or female.

There are a lot of little tricks you can come up with. Be creative.

I know everyone out there has a lot of ideas - things that work for them. Make up your own abbreviations as much as possible. Everyone's mind works differently.

Good luck!!!

Melissa,

You may want to try using some of the free built-in features of MS Word or WordPerfect for Windows to get a feel for the whole word expansion idea. MS Word has "Autocorrect" and WP has "Quick Correct." Both these features will allow you to replace one word with another. MS Word has the advantage of also being able to add attributes like italics or bold to the replacement word.

I have used WP's Quick Correct feature since its introduction in version 6.1. Here are a few samples of how I use abbreviations for the word examination:

exn = examination
exg = examining
exd = examined

exdw = examined with
oexn = on examination
iexg = in examining
iexgw = in examining with
oexnw = on examination with

That's a very small sample of some of the "rules" I set for abbreviations. Of course, like every language, there are tons of exceptions. The problem with my system is that each abbreviation has to be added manually. Many of the new systems come with many abbreviations already done. As Carol states, and I wholeheartedly agree, it is a good idea to use a system that makes sense to you and then you are more likely to remember the abbreviations.

I have checked out a number of expanders and they all deliver as promised. I wouldn't spend a lot of money on any of them unless you need a particular program because it offers conversion from another system so you can keep abbreviations you are using.

Why not give it a try? I think you'll surprise yourself with how many you remember, especially when transcribing and using them in context.

Hi - to answer an earlier question, I think I got the free downloads of shorthand and medbrain from the earthlink address posted in CMTs previous note.
Happy day!
Amy

Amy,

What did you think about Medbrain?

MOM3

Thank you everybody for the information on word expanders. I think I understand it much better now. I have decided that for now I will use my AutoCorrect function to the fullest. I spent some time, first deleting anything that I wasn't using in the AutoCorrect and then adding things that I use a lot. For instance, everytime I typed a brand name drug, I added that so that I don't have to capitalize when transcribing. Also, long words, such as hydrochlorothiazide I abbreviated to "hyd" and so on. Also, I put in some paragraphs (I found I could use up to almost 50 words) for some of the dictators. For example, some dictators that always close with the same sentence, I put that in under the dictators initials. Anyway, it seemed to take a little while adding all my shortcuts but I soon found that it really cut down on my keystrokes. So, thanks again for all the help.
Melissa

If you are the only one using "autocorrect" on your computer - it is great and will perform miracles for you.

My problem was that I had to share "autocorrect" with another transcriptionist at work --didn't work out too well.

So now - I use my Instant Text and she is using "autocorrect."

Carol Jean,

Now that you have used Instant Text for a few weeks now are you finding that it is a lot better than the Autotext and Autocorrect if you are the only one using it?

MOM3

Hi Everyone,
I am new and am curious to know if anyone has used Instant Text in the platform ChartNet?? My company may be switching over to this platform on the account that I work on. I currently use both SmarType and SpeedType together and LUV, LUV THEM!!! and simply cannot be without either of them and I am just SICK about that because SmarType does NOT work in ChartNet. I am told SpeedType does. Instant Text is kind of similar to SmartType but not really. Just curious. Any input would be FABULOUS!
Thank you in advance!

How do I flag a report?

In AHP course, I would highlight the flagged issue in yellow, and they never counted off for that.

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