1. Dictionaries: If you are currently working as an MT at home and you do not own a Stedman's or a Dorland's Medical Dictionary - stop what you are doing right now - and go somewhere (Barnes & Noble, Amazon, try E-Bay for used versions) and buy one. Taber's and any other medical dictionary is a good backup reference book. There are some things you'll find only in Taber's but nothing -- absolutely nothing can replace Dorland's or Stedman's. Do not forget the importance of a regular 'ol dictionary as well!

2. Pharmaceutical books: There are several pharmaceutical word books to choose from. Updating this book on an annual basis is a must!! Some MTs find the drug book they are comfortable with and update it every year. Others alternate books each year. Others buy a different one each year. Doesn't matter - just find a solution that works for you and buy a new drug book each year.

3. Style books: There is more to transcribing an accurate document than getting the medical words correct. Style counts. AAMT Book of Style is an absolute must if you are working for a company that uses that as a guideline. Greggs Reference Manual is another good option for basic grammar/style rules.

4. Specialty books: Stedman's, Saunders, and HPI all offer specialty word books. If you are an acute-care MT, having all specialty word books is more than a good idea - it is a necessity. A lab book, surgical word book, abbreviation book, and Vera Pyle's Current Medical Terminology are must haves regardless of which specialty you do. They are versatile and will serve you well.

1. Where to start: Upon purchasing any new reference book, the best place to start is familiarizing yourself with the book. Read the introduction, editor's notes, explanatory notes, and appendix. Thumb through the book and get used to the layout at your convenience. Do not wait until you are hurried and harried to start!

2. Which book to reach for first: The dictionary is usually the best first place to look. If you are working in a specific specialty and cannot find what you are looking for in the dictionary, then obviously, head to that specialty word book next. You are not always going to find what you are looking for on the first try! Be patient. Sometimes it takes going through every book - even twice - before you'll find what you're looking for. The more you do this, the more proficient you will become at utilizing your own reference materials properly.

3. The method to the madness: There are many ways to search through the various books in your reference library to find what you are looking for.

   1. Try the obvious first. Look under the first letter of the word you believe you are hearing. Try different combinations using that letter. Look under "Da," "De," "Di," (for example).

   2. Try a letter it could be instead of what you think it might be. Try "Ta," Te," "Ti" instead.

   3. You've got the second word but not the first?? Try looking under the second word. (For example) you hear "mumble separation." Try looking under the word "separation" and see if any of the words under that fit the context.

   4. Don't overlook any book! Don't "think" it would be in Vera's book? Try it - it just might be where you least expect it!

4. WHEN TO TRY ONLINE SOURCES: You have exhausted all of the books in your reference library. You've searched every one of them and have still come up with a big ZERO. Now what?
   

   1. MT Desk: MT DESK. If you have not familiarized yourself with ALL of MT Desk features, now is a good time to do so. Do not wait until you are pressed for time to learn how to navigate through the site.

      1. MT Chat Search Features. There are two different ways to search MT Desk. Learn how to utilize both search features as well as learning how to get to the archives and finding information there.

      2. Additional links. There are additional links to other online medical resources listed on the main page of MT Desk. They are broken down into categories.

      
      
   2. Search Engines: Search engines are NOT reliable sources of information. They are only the means to the end. Just because something comes up when you search for it on google.com does NOT mean it is correct. Put on your detective's cap and DIG! Follow the links provided. Is THAT source reliable? Does it confirm what you were looking for? Can you find it in more than one place? Be SMART! Don't just stop because you were able to confirm the word by plugging it into google and finding that the word exists. Be patient when you do your searches. Searching is an art - and one that takes practice to perfect. Do searches for words you already know when you have some spare time. Practice...get comfortable doing searches and learn how to search smart. You'll find a whole host of tips on how to research/search right HERE

   3. Other medical sites: Find a reliable medical site(s)? Book mark it (them). Start a separate folder in your favorites and add any medical links there. Just like with MT Desk -- learn how to utilize the resource...familiarize yourself with it when you are not rushed.

   4. Help forums: When is it time to post a question? After you have tried ALL of the steps above!!! Then and ONLY then should you post a question.

      1. MT CHAT FAQs READ THESE - these are a MUST on what is and isn't expected/acceptable on THIS forum. P>
      2. Post your questions with as much information as you can possibly provide. Do NOT post patient names, hospital names, doctor addresses, etc. Post some history, other medication, a couple of sentences before and after the word you are looking for help with.

      3. Tell us where it is you have looked!! Which books have you looked in? Which web sites? Did you search MT Desk? The message forums?

      4. It is ALWAYS the responsibility of the MT asking the question deciding whether or not to use the answer. Verify the source given in the answer, listen again to the dictation, look the word up if someone did find it in the dictionary, and then decide whether or not it is correct.

      5. When answering questions - PLEASE give your reference. If you do not have a reference - but the answer is something you are familiar with...suspect it may be...that's fine - just please say so. "I've been doing OB/GYN for 20 years, and although I cannot document this anywhere, my physicians have always said 'blah-blah'." Be responsible when answering questions.

      6. I should not ever have to post this -- none of us should -- but I'll do it anyway. A "thank you" goes a long way. Even if the answers given may not be what you were looking for "thank you for trying" is at the very least appropriate!!! People spend their own 'free' time helping out here. Keep that in mind when posting a question. If you had the time to post your question, you have the time to say thank you.

5. A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS
   

   1. The forums should be your last effort - not your first. Each of us has been through awful days - when our fingers just won't work right...we can't find anything..we've got the toughest dictators doing the longest most difficult dictations...and we're ready to pull our hair out. No one is going to bite you if you come post a question on such a day.

   2. Is this what I'm hearing? Want confirmation? Looked it up....found it....and think it might be right but just want another opinion? Feel free to do so! Always nice to know we haven't totally lost our mind!
      
      

   3. Filling in for a day? Have never done Orthopedics on any kind of regular basis? Don't have an ortho book and you're just filling in for someone? Exhaust all other online resources first - and then post if you need to.

   
   

Last but not least -- when in doubt, leave it out. Always better to leave a blank and flag something then take a guess when you're not as sure as humanly possible!!

Thank you to all of you who contribute to MT Desk/Chat and help make it the wonderful site that it is!