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