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La creme de la creme ~ MT Necessities

Could I work without a desk?  Not very easily--and I feel the same way about the tools discussed below.  They are indispensable to me, and I am sharing the list because I hope that other MTs might discover a heretofore-unknown gem.  

These "tools of the trade" are a motley assortment, and some are not directly related to transcription; however, thanks to the Internet and digital technology, today's MT needs to know so much "above and beyond" the normal skills and requirements of even a few years ago.  The tools mentioned here reflect that.  Many of them are free.  As always, bear in mind that "your mileage may vary."

Disclaimer:  I do not profit from these recommendations in any way.  I do not make any guarantees as to your results with any of these products.  I am simply sharing my opinion of their quality and utility.  

MedPen - If you are not familiar with this program, go immediately to the site, read about it, and download it.  MedPen is the most important tool of my transcription business.  It flawlessly takes care of file management and databases. It counts lines many different ways (according to your specifications), creates daily logs and invoices, and performs a dozen other indispensable yet onerous tasks.  There are versions for the largest agencies to the independent contractor.  I am just one of many fans. 

Grisoft AVG - Free and dependable antivirus program.  If you don't keep an UPDATED antivirus program running at all times, you WILL be zapped sooner or later (imagine infecting clients).  This program makes it easy to stay protected--it costs nothing, works great, protects your e-mail, and can be scheduled to automatically check for new virus definitions.  Remember that no type of  protection is a 100% sure thing.  Practice commonsense precautions when surfing and using any e-mail program, particularly concerning attachments.  Stay away from Outlook and Outlook Express--the virus magnets--if at all possible (recommended alternatives: Eudora, Calypso, Pegasus).

ZoneAlarm - Personal firewall.  The best firewall available, and the free version is excellent.  I bought the Pro version but uninstalled it and went back to the free one.

Google - How did I ever function without Google?  Not nearly as efficiently, that's how.  I highly recommend installing the free Google toolbar.

Blue Cross / Blue Shield Preferred Provider Directory - Perfect for unearthing those hard-to-find physicians.  Each state has its own print directory, available free from BC/BS if you have their insurance.  I get a new copy yearly from a friend or from one of my clients' offices.  Some states have their directories online; Alabama's directory includes radiology and lab providers.  The MD section can be searched by location or physician's name.  Drop-down alphabetical lists are great because the correct spelling is not necessary.  This is an excellent resource, and free.

Stedman's Spellchecker (works with Word and WordPerfect) - A great time-saver, and a product that makes me look smarter than I really am.  I use the standard version, although there is a premium edition that includes three yearly updates.

Stedman's Electronic Medical Dictionary - Includes definitions, audio pronunciations, wildcard search, and other tools not possible with the print version.

WordWeb - Free thesaurus and dictionary for Windows.  This is an absolute gem.  Do not do without this another day.  It's free and so easy to use.  There is a very reasonably-priced paid version that allows wildcard searches.

Stedman's Medical Word Book Series - Get 'em all as you can afford them.  Stedman's offers specials at certain times--particularly around MT Week.  Register at the site so you will receive notice of sales.  In addition to the regular "body systems" books, be sure to get Abbreviations, Acronyms, and Symbols; Surgery Words; and Equipment Words.  Most of the word books are now available on CD as well as in print.

The AAMT Book of Style and/or Medical Transcription Guide Do's and Don'ts (Fordney & Diehl).  AAMT probably sells their book on-site, but I would Google for vendors who may offer it discounted.  A style guide is a must, and both of these have their strong suits.  I personally prefer Do's and Don'ts.

AdSubtract - The ultimate pop-up killer and ad-blocker.  I never see an ad or pop-up while surfing.

Ad-Aware - A free spyware removal utility.  Get this and run it regularly.  You will be amazed at the spyware it finds and removes. 

Sigaba - Free encryption software.  HIPAA-compliant, everyone?  E-mail plug-ins are available for Eudora, Outlook, OE, Hotmail, Yahoo, and others.

Document Shredder - They are inexpensive and much easier than starting a bonfire every few days. 

eFax - Free fax program.  Faxes are delivered via e-mail.  I have a regular fax machine, but this program is so much more convenient for receiving faxes because you do not have to scan documents into your computer.  The eFax site emphasizes their paid version, but click on Products and look for the link that says, "If you'd like to try out our technology with a limited account in a random area code, register for an eFax Free account."

emailSTRIPPER - Free and nifty little program that removes all those EXTREMELY annoying >>>> from forwarded e-mail messages.

Roxio's GoBack - System recovery software.  I am an inveterate tinkerer and lover of software, which sometimes gets me into serious trouble.  GoBack takes a "snapshot" of your system at various points and then allows you to restore your computer to whichever point you choose (just before the big screw-up).  It has saved me from disaster more than once.

@Backup - Off-site (Internet) backup.  This is worth every penny of the small yearly fee.  If my computers crash and burn, my vital records and accounting information are always available by logging in to @Backup and performing a "restore."  This affords priceless peace of mind.

MT Monthly - Newsletter published by Jennifer Martin.  Another absolutely indispensable tool for all professional MTs.  I learn something invaluable from every single issue.  This newsletter is particularly helpful for MTs working at home or in relative isolation.  If you are an MT, you simply must subscribe to MT Monthly.

Hopefully you have found something helpful here, which was my goal when creating the list.  Best of luck in all your endeavors.

Suzanne McCartney

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