First things first, thanks for the references!

We receive lots of calls from potential students that have heard about us from you.  Many of them are excited to get started on their training because of the course and job information that you have provided.  They often ask if they can have the same flexible career, work around their family's schedule, and still make a decent income.  They are so impressed with your success and want to enjoy that same achievement for themselves too.  We make a note of each potential student that tells us you referred them to our training program so that you will receive a nice "thank you" from CanScribe.

If you are thinking of referring someone to CanScribe do they:

1. Enjoy helping others
2. Possess great attention to detail
3. Have superb typing abilities
4. Want to talk to one of our friendly Admissions Advisors for more information?

For those of you that aren't aware of CanScribe's referral program, we offer $50 to students and graduates for every student that enrols with CanScribe.  When your friend or family member enrols, CanScribe will mail that $50 cheque to you within 3 weeks of their enrollment.  You can have your friend or family member contact me directly, I am always happy to help someone make the right career path decision.

My number is 1(800) 466-1535 and my email address is scarnegie@canscribe.com.  I can also set them up for testing to ensure they can meet the course prerequisites.  CanScribe also offers a course demo on our website http://canscribe.com/course-info/course-demo/.

We love that so many of you feel positive about this training program.  Please keep those referrals coming!

- Samantha Carnegie
Manager of Admissions and Student Services

Try not to do too much studying at one time.  If you try to do too much studying at one time, you will tire and your studying will not be very effective.  Space the work you have to do over shorter periods of time.  Taking short breaks will restore your mental energy.

1. Plan specific times for studying.  Study time is any time you are doing something related to schoolwork.  It can be completing assigned reading, working on your transcription modules, or studying for a test.  Schedule specific times throughout the week for your study time.
2. Try to study at the same time each day.  Studying at the same time each day establishes a routine that becomes a regular part of your life, just like sleeping and eating.  When a scheduled study time comes up during the day, you will be mentally prepared to begin studying.
3. Set specific goals for their study times.  Goals will help you stay focused and monitor your progress.  Simply sitting down to study has little value.  You must be very clear about what you want to accomplish during your study time.
4. Start studying when planned.  You may delay starting your studying because you don't like an assignment or think it is too hard.  A delay in studying is called "procrastination."  If you procrastinate for any reason, you will find it difficult to get everything done when you need to.  You may rush to make up the time you wasted getting started, resulting in careless work and errors.
5. Work on the assignment you find most difficult.  Your most difficult assignment will require the most effort.  Start with your most difficult assignment since this is when you have the most mental energy.
6. Review your notes before beginning an assignment.  Reviewing your notes can help you make sure you are doing an assignment correctly.  Also, your notes may include information that will help you complete an assignment.
7. Tell your friends not to call you during their study times.  Two study problems can occur if your friends call you during your study times.  First, your work is interrupted. It is not that easy to get back to what you were doing.  Second, your friends may talk about things that will distract you from what you need to do.  Here's a simple idea - turn off your cell phone during your study times.
8. Contact another student when you have difficulty with an assignment.  This is a case where "two heads may be better than one."
9. Review your schoolwork over the weekend.  Yes, weekends should be fun time.  But there is also time to do some review.  This will help you be ready to go on Monday morning when another school week begins.

These ten study habits can help you throughout your training.  Make sure they are your study habits!

- Carolyn McEwen
Admissions and Student Services

It is commonly believed that most people favor some particular method of interacting with, taking in, and processing information.  By recognizing and understanding your own learning styles, you can use techniques better suited to you.  This improves the speed and quality of your learning and can improve study skills.

The learning styles are:

• Visual (spatial)  - You prefer using pictures, images, and spatial understanding.
• Aural (auditory-musical)  - You prefer using sound and music.
• Physical (kinesthetic)  - You prefer using your body, hands and sense of touch.

Visual Learners - You prefer to think in pictures or movies.  This style is most effective when you want to create and recall images when you read, or when you are taking a written test.  "One picture is worth a thousand words." is true for visual learners.  Visual learners tend to be neat and organized.

Auditory Learners - You prefer to learn by listening and often recall the words you've heard in your mind.  If you are taking a written test, this tends to slow you down because you are speaking to yourself as you read.

Kinesthetic Learners - You prefer to be a hands-on learner and most likely love to move around frequently, like athletics, and to build things with your hands.  Go to this link and click on "Take the Inventory".

http://people.usd.edu/~bwjames/tut/learning-style/

Once you know your own learning preference, you can work on expanding the way you learn, so that you can learn in other ways, not just in your preferred style.

- Susan Cunningham
Instructor

One of the greatest advantages of working as a medical transcriptionist is the opportunity it provides us to work from the comfort of our own home.  However, there are also some disadvantages to working from home.  The greatest disadvantage I have found is the daily distractions.  The little distractions and interruptions will slow you down and affect your productivity.  Below are a few tips for avoiding some common distractions:

• Separate Space - Try to keep your office separate from the main living area of your home.
• Telephone - This distraction can be eliminated by always using an answering machine. You can customize your message to tell callers when you will be available to return phone calls.
• Ground Rules - When working from home it is very important to set ground rules for family and friends about visits and interruptions.  Many friends and family members will think that you are available because you are working at home.  It is essential that you stick to the guidelines that you set.  If you do this right from the start you will find that most friends and family members will adhere to them.
• Doorbells - Do not answer doorbells.  If it is really important, the person can call and leave a voice message.
• Television - Don't leave the television on while working.  This will slow you down and can cause costly errors.
• Housework - Try to schedule housework at allotted times, just as if you were working outside the home.

In order to have a successful medical transcription business, you will need to keep distractions to a minimum.  Once you are able to do this you will find your work is getting done in a timely manner and you have more free time for yourself.

- Debbie Albert
Instructor

Some exciting news was announced at the ACE convention in Austin, Texas last month.  AHDI is changing the testing provider for their exams and along with that is a change in testing sites.  After January 2011, candidates will have the ability to go to a testing site or take the test from home via a secure web connection.  Candidates will be proctored via webcam throughout their exam.

The new exam will actually be combined so that you can do RMT and CMT at the same sitting.  Part 1 will be the RMT portion of the exam.  If you pass this portion, you can choose to go on and take the CMT exam.  It's not required to do this, but it is an option.  There are some experienced MTs in the workforce who aren't certain if they should take the RMT or CMT exam and this gives them the chance to test their skills and see if they meet CMT requirements.  If an MT already has their RMT, then they would just write the CMT portion of the exam.  However, if someone doesn't have credentials yet and they want to take the CMT exam, they will need to pass the RMT qualifications first.

I believe this will make it much easier for MTs to access the exam and become credentialed.  More news about this will be available as January approaches on the AHDI website at www.ahdionline.org.

- Jo-Ann Clarke, CMT
Senior Academic Officer

Hemmingway said "Wine is the most civilized thing in the world."

As a resident of the Okanagan region of British Columbia, I am surrounded by row upon row of lush vineyards bursting with beautiful grapes of all sizes and colors.  This time of year is special as the grape harvest and crush is right around the corner; the grapes are almost ready to release their precious juice and so begins another new year of hope and risk for the vineyard owner and another year of great tastings for the rest of us.

When it comes to tasting wine there are two distinct groups of people you will see at the wineries.  The first is all about drinking the samples provided and the second is all about the finesse of wine tasting.  Whichever one you are welcome to this article; I hope you find it informative and always remember that whatever group you are in doesn't matter, just enjoy the experience.  So remember a few basic etiquette rules and you will look like a seasoned pro the next time you are at the winery tasting bar, not to mention how impressed your friends will be at your newfound wine knowledge.

Wine tasting bar etiquette - This is an important step in your journey.  Many people go to a winery and leave because they are too intimidated to approach the tasting bar to sample.  Remember, the wineries love to have you there and without your support of their wines they may never become successful.  So follow the easy steps below to learn to sample the truly great wines of B.C.  And don't feel intimidated about the varieties of wines out there, try them all and you will soon have a list of wines you love and you will never have to shop for wines by label again.  We've ALL been there!  Remember to always allow room for the next taster, spit the sample out if you don't like it or you are going to taste multiple wines, listen to what the wine is about and always compliment the winery servers, don't linger when there are other guests waiting.  Now onto the fun stuff, the art of tasting wine!

Color, Swirl, Smell and Taste

• Color - The very first thing you will notice about the wine is its color.  Look at it, examine its color, many wines, especially reds, have magnificent hues within the glass.  Each grape variety or varietal will display similar variances of color.  This then is your first clue to determine what you like about any wine.  An avid wine lover or sommelier can get lost in this step as this can paint an enormous canvas about this particular varietal and can prepare the taster for what is to come next.  As an amateur, concentrate and admire the beauty and complexity of the wine you are holding and prepare to taste!
• Swirl - The first moment of impact for inexperienced wine drinkers.  Don't worry, everyone spills a little grape juice getting this down to a science.  This is quite an art for some people.  I'm sure you have seen them out and about in fancy restaurants and the like.  Fact is, the swirl is integral to your tasting experience as it introduces oxygen into the wine releasing the wines bouquet.
• Smell - The bouquet refers to the overall smell of the wine also known as "the nose" important stuff, ...right?  You bet it is; this is the step where you get to smell the winemaker's expertise from the soil composition they grow their vines in to their ability to craft wine.  This step is critical as we can differentiate about 2000 various scents and while we have developed a sense of taste, it takes a backseat to our nose in tasting wine!  What we smell affects what we taste and that is why it is so important to take the time to properly smell the wine before you taste it.  So, stop laughing at the people who have their noses buried in the glass inhaling the heavenly scents presented to them, take heed they are doing it the right way.  Now, go ahead smell the wine. What do you smell?  Fruit, spices, maybe an oaky scent?  What about fresh laundry, leather or traces of clay and other mineral compositions?  By taking the time to practice smelling the wine you will soon find that you will be able to pick out some scents that you otherwise didn't before.  Now if you smell a dank or moldy smell that is a sure sign of a "corked" wine.  This is caused by a contaminant called TCA, which is found mostly in natural cork, but can also reside in wood barrels, even walls!  So if you get a bottle that just doesn't seem right; take it back to where you got it from and get a different bottle.
• Taste - Finally we are getting somewhere!  To taste the wine means just that, a taste to evaluate the wine.  Take a sip and leave it on your palate for a moment or two.  Use the thousands of taste buds we all have to help you taste the wine as you allow the wine to flow throughout your mouth coating your cheeks and tongue.  Take note of how your taste buds react to the wine, consider the characteristics of the wine and mentally score the taste in your head.  Use the following characteristics to scale the wine:
  1. Sour and tart - This is largely determined at the edges of your tongue and the back of the throat and it usually signals acidity.
  2. Sweetness - You'll know immediately if the wine you taste is sweet as sweetness is determined on the tip of your tongue.
  3. Bitterness - This resides at the back of your tongue, sweet in the front, bitter in the back.
  4. Weight - Does the wine feel full to you or lighter on your tongue?
  5. Tannin - Not all tannin is evil!  Tannin is however a very astringent sensation felt throughout your mouth and tongue, can make you saliva challenged!
  6. The End - Whether you decide to swallow the wine or spit it out is up to you.  Be sure to mentally catalogue every wine you try and really try to determine what you love or dislike about it.  Did it taste balanced to you, not too much of any one flavor, sense or sensation, then it's just right!  Also observe how long the wine lingers on your palate, a really well made great wine can linger for several minutes!

As with anything, practice makes perfect.  Taste as many great wines as possible as often as you can and if you are unsure about what to buy always remember this, if you love it then buy it, otherwise leave it at the winery.  No one needs a cellar full of mediocre wine that you don't love.

Ten really great Okanagan wines you must try!

1. Grey Monk, Late Harvest Kerner.  White wine fruit forward, juicy, somewhat acidic and well rounded, delicious well-made wine with sophisticated overtones really, really good!  Serve very well chilled!
2. House of Rose Hot Flash.  Red bombshell, slight tannins beautifully complex and easily drinkable right now, lots of talent here crafting this value-priced red.
3. Volcanic Hills Magma.  Slightly sweet with mild tannins, a nice juicy red blend with great mouth feel and a beautiful texture and taste.  Very good value here and a sure winner on anyone's table or menu.  This is a worthwhile addition to your cellar.
4. Burrowing Owl Pinot Gris.  Hard to put down once you try it; this is an excellent white wine with a ton of fruit flavors and a really beautiful nose.  Well worth picking up a case of this as it sells out quickly.
5. Black Hill's Note Bene.  Not hard to describe, but yet impossible to do it justice.  Fantastic wine and a winery experience that is second to none.  Worth every penny and a must have in any cellar.
6. Mission Hills Oculus.  The flagship wine and it shows incredible nose with sophistication, very well crafted with moderate tannins.  This red is world renowned for good reason, price point is high, but the value is there.
7. Painted Rock Merlot.  Unbelievable red wine from a winery that produces very small lots; moderate price point with a ton of flavor; drink now or age for a few years but whatever you do get your hands on a few bottles of this Merlot.  Buy this by the case, it's worth it.
8. Arrow leaf Snow Tropics Vidal 2009.  White and really drinkable, full of fruit flavors and a really great finish give this wine an edge that isn't found at this low of a price point, incredible value.  Floral nose with a nutty finish perfect patio wine.  This white is a winner, buy by the case.
9. Ruby Tuesday 2009 Viognier.  "You will find tropical fruit, peach, mandarin and orange flavors"  You'll also find an incredible smooth white wine with an amazing finish and depth.  Quite the offering from this new winery, albeit with established wine makers, an incredible gift wine to anyone you care about.
10. Little Straw Riesling. Amazingly well crafted, beautiful wine. Simply the best Riesling I have ever tasted!  Priced under $20.00 and equal to anything on the shelf at triple the price.  Always sells out, buy a few cases of this as it will age very well.  No annoying cork to pop out, it's a screw cap!  If you can't find this at your local wine vendor have them bring it in for you, it's that good.

Happy tasting and let me know when you have tried some of these picks!

- Shane Larsen
Vice President of Operations

Apple Crisp Recipe

INGREDIENTS

• 7 tart apples, peeled, cored and sliced
• 4 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1/2 cup butter, room temperature

METHOD OF PREPARATION

1. Preheat oven to 375 F.  In a mixing bowl, combine apples, lemon juice, and vanilla.  Toss to combine.
2. Layer sliced apples in a 9 x 12-inch (or approximately the same size) baking pan.
3. Combine brown sugar, cinnamon, and oatmeal in a bowl.  Cut in the butter.  Sprinkle sugar mixture over apples.
4. Bake 45 minutes or until topping looks crunchy and apples are tender.

Serves 8.  Serve with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

- Jessica Parker
Admissions and Student Services

Apple Cranberry Stuffed Pork Roast

INGREDIENTS

Filling:

• 1 cup apple cider
• 1/2 cup cider vinegar
• 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 large shallot, peeled, thinly sliced
• 1 1/2 cups dried apples (packed)
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries
• 1 Tbsp grated fresh ginger
• 1 Tbsp yellow mustard seeds
• 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 7 tart apples, peeled, cored and sliced
• 4 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1/2 cup butter, room temperature

• 2 1/2 pound boneless center-cut pork loin roast (short and wide - about 7-8 inches long and 4-5 inches wide)
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

METHOD OF PREPARATION

1. Before starting on the pork, put the pork roast in the freezer for 30 minutes to make it easier to cut.  While the pork is chilling, you can make the filling.
2. Bring all the filling ingredients to simmer in medium saucepan over medium-high heat.  Cover, reduce heat to low, and cook until apples are very soft, about 20 minutes.  Strain through a fine-mesh sieve, reserving the liquid.  Use a rubber spatula to press against the apple mixture in the sieve to extract as much liquid out as possible.  Return liquid to saucepan and simmer over medium-high heat until reduced to 1/2 cup, about 5 minutes.  Remove from heat, set aside and reserve this liquid for use as a glaze.  Pulse apple mixture in food processor, about fifteen 1-second pulses.  Set aside.
3. Preheat oven to 350 F or prepare your grill for indirect heat.  You will be "double-butterflying" the pork roast.  Lay the roast down, fat side up.  Insert the knife into the roast 1/2-inch horizontally from the bottom of the roast, along the long side of the roast.  Make a long cut along the bottom of the roast, stopping 1/2 inch before the edge of the roast.  You might find it easier to handle by starting at a corner of the roast.  Open up the roast and continue to cut through the thicker half of the roast, again keeping 1/2 inch from the bottom.  Repeat until the roast is an even 1/2-inch thickness all over when laid out.  If necessary, pound the roast to an even thickness with a meat pounder.
4. Season the inside of the roast well with salt and pepper.  Spread out the filling on the roast, leaving a 1/2-inch border from the edges.  Starting with the short side of the roast, roll it up very tightly.  Secure with kitchen twine at 1-inch intervals.  Season the outside of the roast generously with salt and pepper.
5. Place roast on a rack in a roasting pan, place in oven, on the middle rack. Cook for 45 to 60 minutes, until the internal temperature of the roast is 130 to 135 degrees.  Brush with half of the glaze and cook for 5 minutes longer.  Remove the roast from the oven or grill.  Place it on a cutting board.  Tent it with foil to rest and keep warm for 15 minutes before slicing.
6. Slice into 1/2-inch wide pieces, removing the cooking twine as you cut the roast.  Serve with remaining glaze.

Serves 6-8.

- Jessica Parker
Admissions and Student Srevices

Butternut Squash Apple Soup

INGREDIENTS

• 1 yellow onion, chopped
• 1 rib of celery, chopped
• 1 carrot, chopped
• 1 Tbsp butter
• 1 butternut squash, peeled, seeds removed, chopped
• 1 tart green apple, peeled, cored, chopped (squash and apple should be at a 3 to 1 ratio)
• 3 cups chicken broth (or vegetable broth if vegetarian)*
• Pinches of nutmeg, cinnamon, salt and pepper

* If cooking gluten-free, use gluten-free broth

METHOD OF PREPARATION

• Combine butter, onion, celery, and carrot in large saucepan.  Cook for 5 minutes.  Add squash, apple, and broth.  Bring to boil.  Simmer for 10 minutes or until squash is soft.  Puree. Add spices to taste.
  
  Serves 4-6

- Jessica Parker
Admissions and Student Services

Say Hi to Marcia!

Marcia began her career in 2003 after earning a place on the President's List for Academic Achievement in her MT program.  Based in Iowa, she worked for several years at the renowned teaching hospital, the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.  In addition, she moonlighted from home for online companies in Canada and the US.  In 2008 she earned her CMT, moved to Barbados, and discovered a love for teaching at the Medical Transcription Training Centre.  In 2009, Marcia traded the beaches of Barbados for marriage in Manitoba.  She is returning to the role of instructor by joining the CanScribe team and looks forward to imparting her knowledge to students in her always personable and detail-oriented way.  She enjoys live theatre, slam poetry, music, and comedy, as well as movies, reading, hiking with her dog, and travel.  She hopes to see as much as possible of this big, beautiful world.

Give a Calgarian Howdy to Lynn!

Lynn is a former CanScribe High Honours graduate and has been with CanScribe as an instructor since March 2010.  She has worked from home since January 2006 as an MT and currently works for various hospitals and clinics.  She enjoys encouraging new students and grads along in their journey to becoming great medical transcriptionists.

Lynn lives in the stampede city of Calgary with her husband and children and her hobbies include reading, scrapbooking, and anything Scottish!

My name is Kim Hans, and I am one of the newer instructors at CanScribe, having been here since late June.  I have been in the medical transcription field for over 17 years and absolutely love what I do!  I have been a QA supervisor, an instructor, a mentor, a director of online education, and of course an MT. 

Education is the key to your success as a transcriptionist..both academic education as well as continuous self-education.  You have chosen a profession in which you will always be learning something new, and I am honored to be a part of that endeavor.

On a personal note, I live in the US in the state of Tennessee (no I am not a redneck lol).  I am married to Troy (a Harley man) and have 2 biological sons (ages 3 and 1) and 4 stepchildren (ages 20, 19, 18, and 16).  We are breeders of Boxers and English Mastiffs.  We enjoy going camping and watching NASCAR.  As some of you may know from the student chats, I am a diehard fan of the Green Bay Packers football team.  I also like to scrapbook and do other paper crafts such as rubberstamping and card making.

Again, I thank you for allowing me to be a part of your education.  You chose an outstanding school in CanScribe, and I am here to help you reach your goals in any way I can.  I wish you much success!

- Kim Hans
Tennessee

With 20+ years of professional experience in software development, enterprise networks, network security, web services, design and managing the software life cycle, Gary joined the CanScribe team in July.  Prior to CanScribe, Gary was the founder and CTO of a company nominated as best technology startup in 2006 by the British Columbia Technology Industry Association.

Gary enjoys hockey, backgammon, chess and running.  He is a long time Okanagan valley resident. His wife Rhonda and family of Leslie, Fraser, Graham and Destiny keep him busy!

We are so proud of all the CanScribe graduates and would like to congratulate you for a job well done!  Please keep in touch and share your experiences with us!