M-TEC Message Forum / Announcements / M-TEC Student Forums

CMT-RMT Review and HIPAA Compliance Webinar Series

vpiloian — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 14:16:43 GMT

Hi everyone,

Just a reminder... Register for the HIPAA Compliance Webinar Series by tomorrow (send me an email). Many thanks!!

The following webinar series are available to current students at M-TEC for Free. To register, send a note to me at vpiloian@mtecinc.com. Do not register through the M-TEC website. Be sure to note in your email what you are registering for…CMT-RMT Review (which day) and/or Compliance Course.

The Compliance webinar series available to ALL students. It is scheduled during your normal 8 p.m. Eastern Monday night class.
To qualify to take the CMT-RMT Review, current students will need to be Tier I Premier in good standing with a GPA of 94% or higher and in session 17 or 18. Graduates on or before the CMT-RMT Review registration deadline date are included (no GPA requirement).
Before the CMT-RMT Review begins, approval for current students will be verified through instructors.
When registering for the CMT-RMT Review, be sure to note which Review (Tuesdays or Saturdays) you would like to sign up for.

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M-TEC HIPAA Regulations Compliance Webinars

We are excited to offer a new 6-week webinar series in HIPAA Regulations and Compliance to the medical transcription industry beginning Monday, January 11, 2010, at 8 p.m. Eastern. The webinar series has been pre-approved by AHDI for 6 medicolegal credits! The program will provide a thorough review of best practices, rules, and guidelines for preparing medical documents and protecting health information under ARRA’s HITECH Act. A certificate of completion will be provided. Registration deadline is January 7.

For more details, go to http://www.mtecinc.com/content.aspx?id=491. To register, send a note to me at vpiloian@mtecinc.com. Do not register through our website.

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M-TEC CMT-RMT Review

Set a New Year’s resolution to become credentialed in 2010! The CMT-RMT Review has been pre-approved by AHDI for 52 continuing education credits to include 42 Clinical Medicine, 2 Professional Development, 4 Medicolegal, 2 Comp Medicine, and 2 MT Tools.

We have scheduled two convenient times for the 12-week CMT-RMT Review beginning January 2010.

SATURDAYS Register by

1/16/2010 thru 4/3/2010 01/14/2010

10:30 – 11:30 a.m. EST

TUESDAYS Register by

1/26/2010 thru 4/13/2010 01/22/2010
6 - 7 p.m. EST

The CMT-RMT Review includes weekly webinars, handouts, quizzes, puzzles, instructor support, and more! For more details, go to http://www.mtecinc.com/content.aspx?id=477. To register, send a note to me at vpiloian@mtecinc.com. Do not register through our website.

NEW SYLLABUS POSTED

Paula Stoltz CMT AHDI-F — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 10:19:37 GMT

Good Morning,

There has been a new syllabus posted on the SLC. This syllabus reflects some of the changes in assignments that needed to be made for materials received for the new program. It is important that you visit the SLC as soon as possible and make sure you are using the most up-to-date syllabus for the session in which you are currently working. The largest change made was moving the assignments for the Human Diseases, Laboratory Medicine and BOS from sessions 1 through 3 to later in the syllabus. Some of the readings were also moved around and made optional.

Depending on where you are in the program, you may encounter an assignment that you have already completed when you reach a later session. If that should happen, please just skip that assignment and continue on.

If you have any questions, please contact your instructor. Thanks.

MESSAGE BOARDS ARE ONCE AGAIN PUBLIC

Paula Stoltz CMT AHDI-F — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 14:07:51 GMT

Hi Everyone and happy Friday,

We are pleased to announce that the privacy and security upgrades to the message boards have been completed and they are once again public for everyone.

Have a great weekend.

Paula

New Director of Education

Karen Perenic — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 10:41:32 GMT

Good morning,

Our new president, Jack McCullough, made an important announcment yesterday that I wanted to share with you. Please read his message below and join me in congratulating Paula.

Karen Perenic, RN, CM

Operatationas Manager

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I am glad to announce that we have promoted Paula Stoltz to the position of Director of Medical Transcription Education. Paula has a long and distinguished background in transcription education and a stellar track record with M-TEC.

Paula has been an MT for 25-plus years. She has been a strong advocate of educating and training our next generation of MTs. She became part of the M-TEC staff in 2004 as the Instructor/Coordinator. In 2008 she was promoted to Program Manager. She has been responsible for the development and updating of the M-TEC curriculum.

Her past teaching experience includes teaching at a county adult education program for 5 years. From there she moved into teaching the medical transcription program for a local Virginia community college in their adult education program. Paula completely revamped the program adding many courses such as the SUM program, pharmacology, anatomy and physiology and grammar. She rewrote the curriculum and took the course from a “pass-fail” course to a graded course requiring a GPA of 96% or above to pass.

Paula has been a member of AHDI for over 15 years and became a CMT in 1996. She became a Fellow of AHDI in 2004. She has been active in both the local and state transcription associations, serving as the president of the local chapter for two terms and as treasurer and vice president of the state chapter. She has served in various offices at both the state and local chapter levels. When not serving in the capacity of an officer, she has chaired various committees serving on both the local and state chapter levels. Her educational background consists of a BA in Business with a minor in nursing.

In this position Paula will be accountable for developing and managing all aspects of the Medical Transcription educational program, providing educational program development leadership and continuing to build confidence among the medical transcription community for all M-TEC products/curriculum, including incorporating any necessary new competencies required to maintain M-TEC as the leading cutting-edge educational institution in the industry.

Please join me in congratulating Paula on her new role and giving her best wishes for a future filled with success!

Jack McCullough

President, M-TEC

Program Enhancements

jmccullough — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 18:24:12 GMT

Greetings:

I am Jack McCullough, the President of M-TEC. I am proud to be associated with M-TEC, the highest quality MT School in the industry. I look forward to providing students with the best possible learning and job support services possible. That has been and will continue to be our primary purpose at M-TEC.

Why is M-TEC Better? We offer a Superior Value-Added Program:

· A 940 Clock-Hour AHDI Certified Program 50% longer than most programs

· Full-Time Live Instructor Support

· Instructors are 100% CMT Certified

· Full Job Placement Services to Graduates

We are also in the midst of developing and implementing a wide variety of brand new enhancements that we call M-TEC’s Plan for Student Service Excellence. The M-TEC Plan for Student Service Excellence will enhance our programs by incorporating many new value-added technologies and processes designed to increase student learning, improve overall educational value delivered to students, increase student job possibilities, enhance student/instructor communications, widen industry relationships and much more.

M-TEC’s Plan for Student Service Excellence

The M-TEC Plan for Student Service Excellence includes development of a wide variety of new technologies designed to enhance the overall student experience:

· New Instructional Modules: Designing three new cutting-edge instructional modules to incorporate in our course including (1) Increasing Productivity through Technology (2) HIPAA/Security and (3) Speech Recognition technology.

· E-Learning Platform: Incorporating a sophisticated e-learning platform to make it more efficient for students to learn and access their academic records/progress and for instructors to keep track of each student’s satisfactory academic progress.

· Job Placement Support Enhancement: Developing an enhanced Job Placement Services/Industry Relations platform and adding more support staff to develop deep industry relations, automate job placement for graduates and improve the speed and results of job placement services for our graduates.

· Website Improvements: Enhancing our website to make it more user friendly for instructors, students, employers, employees, vendors & others including bringing more instructional materials on-line for easier, quicker access.

· E-Commerce Platform: Implementing an all-purpose e-commerce platform which will make it easier for students to order materials, pay bills, stay up to date with their payments history, materials ordering, etc.

· Student Information Management System: Adding a comprehensive student information management system that provides information for all aspects of student records

· Student Funding Option Enhancements: Seeking national accreditation for M-TEC will enable us to provide student access to Federal Student Loans and better private financing.

· Improved Communications Tools: Providing enhanced access for instructors/students to better communications tools such as Skype, Webinars, etc.

We are excited about where M-TEC is headed. Our program enhancements add up to:

· Enhanced learning experiences for students, and

· Superior job placement services for graduates

I hope this explains the enhancements we are making at M-TEC. We invite each and every one of you to actively participate in the exciting mission of the M-TEC enterprise. Please contact us if you have ideas or suggestions on how we can make M-TEC the best! Feel free to contact me at jmccullough@mtecinc.com or 330-670-9333 Ext 105.

Warm regards,

Jack McCullough

President, M-TEC

P.S. None of the new program changes (i.e. shortened program or price changes) apply to students already enrolled in an M-TEC program.

CHANGES TO FLAGGING PROCEDURES

Paula Stoltz CMT AHDI-F — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 14:46:03 GMT

Hi Everyone,

We have recently made some changes to the flagging procedures. Effective immediately there is no longer an exception list for things you do not have to flag. The only flagging that will be required going forward will be flagging a blank or flagging a word/phrase you are not sure about. For these 2 instances, you should still include your research in the flag so your instructor can help you refine your researching skills. I would strongly suggest you go to the Test-Taking Procedures on the SLC and read the procedure instructions.

NOTE: Any notations in the annotated keys about flagging should be ignored as it will take some time to do the updates.

Should you have any questions about these new procedures, please contact your instructor.

Updates to the Syllabus

Paula Stoltz CMT AHDI-F — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 09:56:29 GMT

Although any syllabus updates we do are usually very minor, there was one recent change that I wanted to alert you to.

Since AHDI has launched their new web site, the links in some of the sessions in the syllabus were no longer correct. The corrected links have been changed in the syllabus, so please be sure that you are working from the most recent copy. If you happen to have an older version of the syllabus and a link will not work, you will have to refer to the new syllabus.

Please be aware that AHDI is still working out a few "bumps" with the new website, but that should not impact the links referenced in the syllabus.

Each day is a gift, so make the most of it!!!

Paula Stoltz, CMT, AHDI-F

New Page in the SLC - Terminology Challenges

Mike DeTuri — Fri, 08 May 2009 17:39:48 GMT

We've just added a new page to the SLC, Terminology Challenges. You can access this from the Vital Information section.

Be sure to check it out at your earliest convenience.

CONGRATULATIONS TO SUSAN FRANCIS ON HER RECENT AWARD!

Kathy Kropko CMT AHDI-F — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 08:57:58 GMT

In case you do not receive the AHDI Vitals, I wanted to share with you Susan's recent accomplishment. The article also mentions Jacque Taylor, who is also an M-TEC graduate. There is a link below to the article in Advance magazine as well as an audio recording of an interview with Susan.

AHDI Members Taylor and Francis Named to ADVANCE’s "Top 10 in HIM"

Past AHDI Director Jacque Taylor, AHDI-F, and AHDI member/educator Susan Francis, CMT, AHDI-F, were named to ADVANCE for HIM magazines’ "Top 10 in HIM" annual list of movers, shakers, and people to watch in the health information sector. Both exemplify what it means to be an engaged, proactive industry professional, are a credit to the association, and demonstrate the value of professional networking afforded by membership. Read the write-up and listen to the interview with both Jacque Taylor and Susan Francis, and join AHDI in congratulating them on this important acknowledgement.

TAX CREDITS

Susan Francis CMT AHDI-F — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 08:21:14 GMT

Many of you have inquired about using your training investment towards tax write-offs. We have been told by the IRS that, if we are not nationally accredited, then we do not qualify for the Hope Credit or Lifetime Educational Credit. Although we are “approved” by the State of Ohio Board of Career Colleges and Schools as well as (ACCP), a joint committee established by AHDI and AHIMA for certifying and approving MT education programs, that is not the same as national accreditation. At this point in time we have not sought that national accreditation because the purpose of that is to receive Title IV funding for students. At this time, distance learning programs are not eligible for those Title IV funds, so we have opted not to seek accreditation.

We strongly recommend that you contact your own accountant or IRS representative for guidance on this issue. Things change from year to year, and we have not seen any new information on this topic for this year’s taxes.

NEW BMT CD AND CHANGES TO SYLLABUS

Kathy Kropko CMT AHDI-F — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 13:20:56 GMT

Hi everyone,

Since we seem to be getting quite a few questions on this, I thought I would go ahead and share some new information with you now rather than waiting until a few more pieces of the puzzle were in place.

HPI has reprogrammed their BMT CD in order to allow for the newer 64-bit computers that seem to be more and more prevalent these days. THERE IS NO CHANGE IN THE CONTENT OF THE CD. IT IS JUST A PROGRAMMING CHANGE TO ALLOW FOR 64-BIT COMPUTER USAGE. There are a few differences in the instructions for accessing tests and reports, so there was a need to differentiate between the two CDs when writing the syllabus instructions. It will be easy for you to determine which instructions to use based on the label on your CD. We posted an update to the syllabus last week to give you instructions for 2005 and 2008 copyright versions of the CD. Because HPI made another last-minute change to their CD label, I will be updating those instructions again later this week when they are finalized, but what is there now should still be adequate for you to differentiate as to which CD you have.

Here is how the next syllabus update (later this week) will be worded. Although these are installation instructions, they do tell you how to differentiate between the two versions so you know how to interpret the syllabus instructions, no matter what session you are in.

BMT: The first step to installation is determining what version of the BMT CD you have and following the installation and future test-taking instructions for your particular version. The most current version will read “Copyright 2008, 2005” on the bottom of the label and also read “Second Edition, Revised” in the middle of the label. This will be referred to throughout the rest of your syllabus as "BMT CD with 2008 copyright." The older version will read “Copyright 2005” on the bottom of the label and “Second Edition” in the middle of the label (without a “Revised” notation). This will be referred to throughout the rest of your syllabus as "BMT CD with 2005 copyright."

Medical Teaser

Susan Francis CMT AHDI-F — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 11:29:10 GMT

We wanted to let everyone know that the Medical Teaser Forum is going to be removed in the next few days. We appreciate all of you who participated, but the activity on the forum does not warrant our continuing to maintain the forum. If you would like additional practice materials, please contact your instructor, and she should be able to accommodate you. Keep studying! :)

EXCITING NEWS FOR M-TEC!!!

Kathy Kropko CMT AHDI-F — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 13:53:27 GMT

Hello everyone!

We have some VERY exciting news to share with you. M-TEC has always been considered one of the top schools in our industry, and 100% dedicated to quality. Now, the best is just going to get even better!

As of today, we will be working side-by-side with Webmedx, the company that we consider to be the perfect match for M-TEC.
The major change that will occur is that M-TEC is no longer a stand-alone entity but a full subsidiary of Webmedx.

Susan and I will stay on to make sure that everything we have worked so hard for is going to grow and flourish for many years to come.

The opportunities for growth and an enhanced learning environment for our students are endless and with the help of the leadership team at Webmedx, we can get even closer to the current industry trends and create an even stronger workforce of graduates.
As the employer and industry-driven skill set for the future MT evolves, M-TEC will be incorporating the training for those skills into our curriculum.
Our mutual goal is to continue to grow, and this next step that we are taking today will definitely help us to do that while still maintaining a high quality program.

We realize that this is exciting information but on the same hand might be a little concerning to you.

Your relationship as a student with M-TEC and your instructor is not going to change.
You will continue to have the same job placement opportunities with ALL of the companies on our COC
M-TEC will still be M-TEC and will not change it’s name.

After reading the attached press release, learning what this means for the MT industry, and knowing that you will reap even more benefits as an M-TEC student, you will be as excited about this news as we are! J

Kathy and Susan

BOS 3rd Edition

Susan Francis CMT AHDI-F — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 13:00:45 GMT

We are aware that some students have purchased the 3rd Edition of the BOS; however, for purposes of this course, we require you to use the current Transcription Tips located on the SLC, which follow the 2nd Edition of the BOS. Continue using your 2nd Edition of the BOS for now. Once we have had the opportunity to extensively review the 3rd Edition (which is currently in progress) and make our recommendations as to what areas will change, we will update the Transcription Tips and include updated assignments in the syllabus for the 3rd Edition. Students will be notified when those changes are going to take place.

All current tests and assignments will be graded and reviewed/commented on following the currently posted Transcription Tips and any course information which follows the 2nd Edition of the BOS. We promise updates will follow as quickly as humanly possible. Please do not apply any of the changes in the 3rd Edition until further notice.

Keep studying! :)

NEW TRANSCRIPTION TIPS AND BOS 3RD EDITION COMING SOON!!!

Kathy Kropko CMT AHDI-F — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 14:16:25 GMT

Hello everyone.

The following information is being sent to you via email this afternoon through your instructor's student listserv. However, because of the importance of this notice, we wanted to post it here as well to be sure all of you are aware of the impending changes taking place on Friday, July 18.

As many of you know already, AHDI recently came out with the 3rd edition of the Book of Style. We have been working around the clock to incorporate this new edition into our curriculum so you are always on the cutting edge of the newest trends in our industry. New students enrolling as of July 18 will receive the new 3rd edition. While it will not be mandatory for current students to update to this new version, we do encourage all current students enrolled before July 18 to consider purchasing the new edition of the BOS. We have that available on the M-TEC online store and if you are a member of AHDI you can also purchase it from them at a discount.

Our Transcription Tips have been revised to incorporate both the old and new versions of the BOS. The newly updated Transcription Tips will be posted sometime Friday, July 18. As always, the Transcription Tips are your number one resource. That document will contain all of the current trends and guidelines from the 3rd edition of the BOS that M-TEC has chosen to incorporate. We will provide you with a summary of the major changes on the Change Log for the Transcription Tips when the new Tips are posted Friday. In addition, for those of you that really want to know every single change that we made between the old and the new Transcription Tips, for a short period of time we will provide you with a link to the draft of our revisions. This document will note any information we have moved, deleted, or added. It is quite a colorful document to say the least and quite cumbersome. I think you will find the summary of changes information to be much more useful.

Over the ensuing months to come, we will be updating the annotated keys to incorporate these new changes. In the meantime, if you have any questions or doubts about the accuracy of the annotated keys as it applies to the new guidelines/rules, refer to the Transcription Tips for the most current information and adjust your dictations accordingly. If you still have questions after that, please contact your instructor.

When submitting a test or assignment you have already started before the change takes place, be sure to do a final review when you proofread to make certain you are using the most current guidelines noted in the Transcription Tips. If you have not started that test or assignment yet, then be sure to use the new TTs when you do. We will allow a period of adjustment until August 15 so everyone can make the transition to the new TTs.

Remember, as we strive to keep on the leading edge of changes in our industry there will be an adjustment period for all of us. We are all being introduced to these new guidelines and getting to know them at the same time as you are. If you have any questions whatsoever, be sure to contact your instructor for clarification. Being flexible, learning new things, and adapting to change now will help make you a better MT on the job later on.

JULY WEB UPDATES

Kathy Kropko CMT AHDI-F — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 18:59:51 GMT

It's hard to believe it is time to celebrate the 4th of July! I hope all of you have a very safe and fun holiday weekend.

This month our own Harriet Stewart has an article on pacemakers, our crossword puzzle covers infections diseases, and our skillbuilder tests you on your knowledge of the integumentary system. That should keep you busy for a while and also provide for a quick review for those studying for the RMT exam!

You will also notice in the Specialties section of the SLC under the Pharmacology heading that the newest FDA drugs have been added.

Enjoy!

M-TEC A WINNER

Susan Francis CMT AHDI-F — Fri, 02 May 2008 07:21:47 GMT

Dear Students and Staff:

We are proud to announce that M-TEC was awarded the 2008 MTIA Industry Support award on Friday, April 25, 2008, in Long Beach, California. The award was presented by Jay Cannon, President of MTIA, in recognition of outstanding, dedicated service to the medical transcription industry.

We are so proud to have been recognized by MTIA, whose board and members are comprised of service owners and business affiliates within the MT industry. Kathy and I have always felt that participation in your professional association is important, and we hope we instill that in each of our students/graduates. We hope that, with the continued support of the MTIA membership, we will be able to pay this award foward and continue to provide our industry with the next generation of MTs, SRT editors, educators and even service owners in the future.

We have officially returned to our desks and would like to say -- let the celebration begin! If there is any announcement regarding this on the MTIA website in the near future, we will come back to set a link for you all to see. We hope we made you proud!! :)

AMT ANNOTATED KEYS

Kathy Kropko CMT AHDI-F — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 20:54:58 GMT

As of this evening, 3/28/08, Sessions 13-17 of the syllabus have been updated to refer you to the AMT Annotated Key page of the SLC for accessing the AMT annotated keys in pdf format. You will no longer download the executable files to you CD for these dictations. At this point in time, no changes have been made to the content of these keys. Updates will be made in coming months as we incorporate the new guidelines from the 3rd edition of the Book of Style.

UPDATE TO GENERAL COURSE INFORMATION PAGE

Kathy Kropko CMT AHDI-F — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 13:02:37 GMT

Hi everyone!

I wanted to make all of you aware of 2 additions we made to the General Course Information page this week. First, you will find information on our course extension policy. I know this is a question that comes up frequently. Now you can refer to it any time you need to.

Secondly, I have noticed recently that many students takes the initiative to contact the vendor when one of their CDs is not working properly. We have a much more efficient way to help you when you are having technical difficulties. Mike DeTuri has posted resolutions to many of the frequently encountered problems on the tech pages of the SLC and is available to help when his posted troubleshooting suggestions do not work. Therefore, for easy access, we have posted the steps to take and the contact information needed for common issues with the virtual class, CDs, foot pedal, etc. You will find this information on the General Course Information page as well.

I hope this information is useful to you. :)

MARCH UPDATES

Kathy Kropko CMT AHDI-F — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 15:41:12 GMT

It's almost spring!! I can hardly wait. :)

I am just reminding you that the monthly web updates are now posted. For those of you who are new to our program, you can find these located under the Special Features heading of our web site. This month you will learn everything you wanted to know about Salmonella from Carolyn Grimes' in-depth article. In addition, especially for those of you currently on the dermatology session or studying for the RMT or CMT exam, you can test your knowledge with this month's crossword puzzle. Finally (to be posted very shortly), you can check out our latest skillbuilder. Also, the FDA list of newly approved drugs has been updated on our Pharmacology page. Enjoy!

TEMPLATES

Kathy Kropko CMT AHDI-F — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 15:07:03 GMT

Just a quick FYI!!

For those students already exposed to the new templates starting in Session 10, I wanted to make you aware that I just added two new headings to the Discharge Summary template. :)

FEBRUARY UPDATES

Kathy Kropko CMT AHDI-F — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 08:49:17 GMT

Just letting you know that Mike has posted the February updates to the Article of Interest, Crossword Puzzle, and Skillbuilder. For those of you who are new to M-TEC, you can find these under the Special Features drop-down menu. This month Patty Seitz has a great article discussing how having the right attitude can really make a difference in what you do in life, while our crossword puzzle and skillbuilder will test your knowledge of terminology in the areas of otorhinolaryngology and proper grammar. Enjoy!

SYLLABUS CHANGES AND TEMPLATES ON THE SLC

Kathy Kropko CMT AHDI-F — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 09:56:49 GMT

I wanted to alert you to a syllabus change to Session 10 that affects your practice dictations for Sessions 10, 11, and 12. We have now introduced the topic of templates in Session 10 instead of waiting until Session 15. The Template page on the SLC (under Universal Information) has been rewritten. Included in that information you will find sample templates based on the types of reports you will be transcribing in your practice dictations for Session 10, 11, and 12. In Session 10, we now instruct you to create and use the appropriate templates for your practice dictations for those 3 sessions.

If you are currently working in Sessions 10, 11, or 12, please refer to the new instructions under the TRANSCRIPTION assignment in Session 10 in order to benefit from the template information and better prepare you for your first MT job.

JANUARY WEB UPDATES

Kathy Kropko CMT AHDI-F — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 08:56:15 GMT

We have some excellent monthly updates to share with you this month. Our monthly article of interest is authored by our own Jami Fineberg and covers the topic of HIV test counseling. Our crossword puzzle will test you on common surgical procedures (good way to brush up on those prefixes and suffixes to form medical terms), and our skillbuilder will test your skills at spelling drug names. Enjoy! Happy New Year!

MISSING POSTS ON FORUM

Kathy Kropko CMT AHDI-F — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 08:23:36 GMT

Happy holidays everyone!

I am sure some of you will be heading for the forums today and wondering where that post was that you wanted to followup on or the one you created yesterday. Due to some technical issues, we needed to restore a backup of the forum from 2 AM on 12/11. That means that posts created or added to since that time were lost. We are sorry for any inconvenience, but this was a necessity in order to restore full forum functionality. If you have any questions, feel free to email me. Thank you for your understanding.

DECEMBER WEB UPDATES

Kathy Kropko CMT AHDI-F — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 11:55:45 GMT

Happy holidays everyone!!

This month our own Harriet Stewart goes over confidentiality issues and things we all need to be aware of. We also have a crossword puzzle to review those cardiology/arterial terms as well as a great mind stopper when it comes to unscrambling terms related to locations and positions. Great review for any student or even a graduate preparing for the CMT/RMT exams!

NOVEMBER WEB UPDATES

Kathy Kropko CMT AHDI-F — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 11:30:08 GMT

Please take a few minutes this month to read the November Article of Interest and try your luck at the crossword puzzle and skillbuilder for this month. They are now posted for your viewing pleasure!! (See Special Features column of our web site.)

STU ANNOTATED KEYS

Kathy Kropko CMT AHDI-F — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 10:03:44 GMT

Over the next several weeks, we will be posting annotated keys on the SLC for the STU practice dictations. The Orthopedic Surgery and Neurosurgery units should be posted within the week with others to follow within the next several weeks or so. If there is an annotated key available for the unit you are working on, please use that annotated key instead of the CD transcript key for that unit.

At this time we have also decided to separate out the advanced sessions. Previously Sessions 13-18 were all in one document. They are now separate documents according to the individual sessions. There will also be a Terminology Challenge added to the syllabus for the STUs that will cover pertinent terms in the tests and practice dictations. As a new annotated key is added to the SLC, the syllabus will be updated for that session to reflect the new terminology challenge and the location of the annotated key that will replace the HPI transcript key on your CD. Eventually, when all annotations are complete, students will no longer use the CD transcript key at all.

If you are currently in the advanced sessions (13-18), as you begin your next session be sure to download the updated syllabus so you are working with the most current copy.

Please feel free to email your instructor or myself if you have any questions! We hope you will enjoy and benefit from these updates to our program. :)

NEW SKILL ASSESSMENT #2

Kathy Kropko CMT AHDI-F — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 09:05:35 GMT

Within the next few days (possibly even later today) a new skill assessment will be posted for skill assessment #2. If you are currently working on skill assessment #2, don't panic! We will be keeping both the old and new skill assessment posted for the next 2 weeks so that you have an opportunity to research your answers and submit the test you are currently working on. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. (kkropko@mtecinc.com)

OCTOBER WEB UPDATES

Kathy Kropko CMT AHDI-F — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 09:35:51 GMT

It's that time again! Halloween is just around the corner!

The October updates are mostly posted, with the final article being posted later today. Please take a few minutes this month to test your skills with the crossword puzzle and skill builder, as well as reading the newest article of interst authored by one of our instructors, Kim Adams.

FOR THOSE CURRENTLY WORKING ON SKILL ASSESSMENT #5

Kathy Kropko CMT AHDI-F — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 12:57:54 GMT

Be very careful if you have previously printed out Skill Assessment #5 to research off line and you are now ready to key in your final answers and submit your test. A few of the questions have been changed, and you will need to adjust your answers accordingly. Good luck on your test!

Daytime Tech Classes Start Thursday 9-27-07

Mike DeTuri — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 12:29:25 GMT

We've decided to start daytime tech classes. Currently, they're scheduled for every other Thursday and will start at 1 p.m. Eastern (10 a.m. Pacific).

Wednesday evening tech classes remain unchanged.

As usual, check for class announcements in the Online Class Schedule forum.

SPECIAL REDUCED PRICES ON OVERSTOCK ITEMS

Kathy Kropko CMT AHDI-F — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 15:09:54 GMT

We have some fabulous deals on overstocked inventory that you may be interested in. These are great reference books that some of you may want to add to your reference library. Quantities are limited, so it is a first-come first-served basis. If you are interested in purchasing one of these items, please contact the main office at 1-877-864-3307 between 8 and 4 EST.

2006 American Drug Index – $39.95 plus $9.95 S/H

Surgery/GI Words & Phrases by HPI - $19.95 plus $9.95 S/H

Stedman’s Medical & Surgical Equipment Words – 4^th edition - $19.95 plus $9.95 S/H

Medical Transcription Techniques and Procedures (MTTP)** - 5th edition - $41.00 plus $9.95 S/H

**This MTTP book, for those of you who did not have this text included in your program materials, is a great source of information, practice exercises (including grammar and punctuation as well as medical reports), and sample reports that you may be exposed to during your MT career. It does NOT always follow the BOS or our TTs, so you will need to make adjustments to the answer key they provide.

STUDENT DISCOUNTS AND TEXTS

Kathy Kropko CMT AHDI-F — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 11:26:09 GMT

This is just a little friendly reminder for those of you who may have forgotten or did not notice the SLC page under Product Information that is entitled Student Discounts and Texts. You can find some great savings and suggestions for adding to your reference library, especially as you are graduating and getting ready to enter the work force. There is also a brand new addition to the site for SoftFlex gloves that may interest you. Take a few minutes to check this site out and watch for an upcoming announcement for special discounts on some overstocked reference books that we have. Stay tuned!

SEPTEMBER WEB UPDATES

Kathy Kropko CMT AHDI-F — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 15:59:58 GMT

I hope all of you are ready to enjoy a long Labor Day weekend.

When you get a chance, take a few minutes to read Carolyn Grimes' article on HIPAA, try the crossword puzzle to test your knowledge of the urinary system, and finally the skillbuilder will test you on your knowledge of the reproductive system. Enjoy!

DIRECTORS OUT OF OFFICE

Susan Francis CMT AHDI-F — Sat, 11 Aug 2007 10:47:03 GMT

Kathy, Karen, Paula and I, as well as several of the M-TEC instructors, will be out of the office starting 8/14 to attend the AHDI educational conference in Reno, NV. We will be running limited staff throughout the week; however, we will be checking voice mail periodically as time allows. All emails will be answered in the order in which they were received when we return.

Those of you who are planning to enroll this week, or if you need to make a payment, please continue on as usual. There will be someone availabe in the accounting and processing department to accommodate you during the week. Janet will also be available to help with any questions regarding student loans or to help if you have any other questions throughout the week. Please feel free to leave a message for a call back if your call is not picked up immediately.

We hope you will all continue to study while we are gone and enjoy some of the down time as well! :)

TEST-TAKING PROCEDURES UPDATE

Kathy Kropko CMT AHDI-F — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 14:18:45 GMT

Please be advised that more details have been added to the topic of flagging as noted on the Test-Taking Procedures page of the SLC. Please be sure that you familiarize yourself with the updated guidelines for the use of flags in your assignments and tests. If you have any questions, be sure to email your instructor.

AUGUST WEB UPDATES

Kathy Kropko CMT AHDI-F — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 10:35:04 GMT

It's August already! It is hard to believe that fall is just around the corner! We hope to see some of you in Reno next week at ACE!

Have you ever stopped to think about what path "life" has led you down? RuthAnne Darr, M-TEC Instructor, has an article this month that makes you stop and reflect about your life and how you got to where you are today. Our crossword puzzle covers the neonatal specialty (my personal favorite out of all the types of specialties I have transcribed in my life), and finally our skillbuilder tests you on homonyms and sound-alikes, which will be very important when studying for your RMT and CMT credentials.

Enjoy!!

NEW SKILL ASSESSMENT #1

Kathy Kropko CMT AHDI-F — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 10:54:07 GMT

Within the next few days (possibly even later today) a new skill assessment will be posted for skill assessment #1. If you are currently working on skill assessment #1, don't panic! :) We will be keeping both the old and new skill assessment posted for the next 2 weeks so that you have an opportunity to research your answers and submit the test you are currently working on. If you have any questions, you know where to find me! (kkropko@mtecinc.com)

JULY WEB UPDATES

Kathy Kropko CMT AHDI-F — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 10:14:30 GMT

Mike has just posted the July web updates for your viewing pleasure. For those students who are new, be sure to check the Special Features section of our site for monthly featured articles, crossword puzzles, and skillbuilders. This month we have a great article that EVERY student and graduate should read. It was authored by our own Patty Seitz and is entitled "Taking an Active Approach to Your Medical Transcription Career." In addition, check the SLC under Pharmacology for the most current FDA-approved drugs to add to your list.