Mike Hastings, Business Manager
Medical Transcriptionists Associates, Inc.
Auburn, Washington

Arlene Goodinow
Transcriptionist, Medical Transcriptionists Associates, Inc.
Auburn, Washington

Sue Hollis
Transcriptionist, Medical Transcriptionists Associates, Inc.
Auburn, Washington

Cindy Ness
Transcriptionist for a hospital
Ellensburg, Washington

Mike Hastings, Business Manager
Medical Transcriptionists Associates, Inc.

Q. Tell me a little about your firm and what you provide?
A. " We've been in business for five years [1993] and guarantee 24 hour turn around. Our business has been doubling in size every year, providing services to about 350 doctors. We currently have 30 employees."

Q. What initially motivated you to purchase a Kinesis contoured keyboard and how long ago was that?
A. "My wife had a demonstration of your original keyboards when she was a supervisor of transcription at Valley Medical in Kent and she liked it. When we first went into business she had a problem with carpal tunnel and said if we're going to do this we are going to buy one...because she liked it;...at that time they were over $400. That's when we purchased our first one. The second employee that we hired loved it and she took it, so we had to buy another one."

Q. What are your impressions of the keyboard?
A. "I personally don't use the keyboard. The people that use it will not type on anything else. We have one individual who we hired who had developed carpal tunnel and we put her on the keyboard and initially it slowed her production but within 3-4 months her carpal tunnel syndrome seemed to disappear and she has now increased her speed to the point that she is now our second fastest transcriptionist. She's quite a bit faster than what she used to be.... We have had that same thing happen in several different instances where we have hired someone that has carpal tunnel... one that went from full time to part time because she couldn't use the standard keyboard anymore and we finally convinced her to use the Kinesis board and she is now back to full time production... I mean, it works!...The name of the game in my industry is employee comfort and with that you see increased productivity."

Q. How many people in your firm use the Kinesis contoured keyboard?
A. "I would say about half, or 14 to 15."

Q. Would you recommend the contoured keyboard to other transcriptionists... and why?
A. " Any! Number one, most of the keyboards that we have wear out...and we haven't worn one these out yet. Number two, they are repairable. Number three, employees are hard to replace and keyboards are a whole lot cheaper than training new employees."

Arlene Goodinow
Transcriptionist, Medical Transcriptionists Associates, Inc.

Q. How long have you've been using the Kinesis contoured keyboard?
A. " I think its been about three months."

Q. What initially motivated you to use the Kinesis contoured keyboard?
A. " I had looked at other keyboard styles at the stores and they still didn't look to me like they would be workable for me when I started here [MTA]. I then saw the keyboard [Kinesis] that some of them [other MTs] were using and it just seemed that it would work for me."

"The thing I like the most is the back space key because my hands are relatively small and on the regular keyboard I have to reach over and then my hand loses its place... With this one [Kinesis] its already there and I don't have that problem. I use it not because I'm in pain but it is more comfortable to use. It is more comfortable because on the regular standard keyboard, even those with the wrist rests, it's still not that comfortable. It [the Kinesis keyboard] has also increased my productivity."

Q. How long did it take you to adapt to the Kinesis keyboard?
A. " About a week and a half [using it] 4 times a week, 8 hours a day."

Q. Would you recommend this keyboard to other Medical Transcriptionists?
A. "Yes. Because its user friendly and I can type on it longer without experiencing any fatigue."

Sue Hollis
Transcriptionist, Medical Transcriptionists Associates, Inc.

Q. How long have you been a medical transcriptionist?
A. "Twenty years."

Q. How long have you been using the Kinesis contoured keyboard?
A. "About a year."

Q. What initially motivated you to use the Kinesis contoured keyboard?
A. "I noticed that the people who were using it had higher production than the people who were using regular keyboards and also they said it was easier on their wrists."

Q. What are your impressions on the keyboard?
A. " It is easier on your wrists, especially for people that have been typing for a long time and have sensitive wrists."

Q. Has using the Kinesis keyboard increased your productivity as well?
A. "Yes. I believe it has as well as my comfort."

Q. How long did it take you to adapt to the keyboard?
A. "About 3 days."

Q. What features do you like best about the keyboard?
A. "I like the wrist rest, I like the fact that the back space key and control key are altogether in the middle. So you can reach it with your thumb and you don't have to move your wrist around."

Q. Would you recommend this keyboard to other Medical Transcriptionists?
A. "Yes. Because its easier on your hands and fingers...they don't get as tired. I'm able to type longer with more comfort... and I think that same feelings hold true with the other employees that use the Kinesis as well."

Cindy Ness
Medical Transcriptionist
Ellensburg, Washington

Q. Tell me a little about your job and what you provide?
A. "I do medical transcription for a hospital and transcribe approximately 7.5 hours a day ('doctor dictation')."

Q. How long have you been a medical transcriptionist?
A. "I have worked as a MT for a little over 10 years."

Q. What initially motivated you to purchase a Kinesis contoured keyboard and how long ago was that?
A. "I incurred a work-related injury...I have tendinitis in my right forearm and upon investigation to ensure the continuation of my career I happened to notice a Kinesis keyboard advertised in a Computer Magazine, and thought that it would be worth my further investigation. I talked with my L&I person and she said 'lets give it a shot.' I tried one for a month or two and it really made a huge difference in the ability to perform my job - it basically saved my career."

Q. How long have you been using the Kinesis contoured keyboard?
A. "I've been using the Kinesis keyboard for about 4 years now. I had the original Model 110 and now I have the Classic. In fact I drove over from Eastern Washington (approx. 240 miles round trip) on my day off to pick up the keyboard - in means that much to me!"

Q. What are your impressions of the keyboard?
A. "Very, very favorable. It has increased my typing speed. I utilize the optional foot switch which I have hooked in with WordPerfect. I have that to recall macros, so all I have to do is push on it instead of hitting the 'Alt F10' keystroke, I have programmed to recall macros. The comfort level of the keyboard is phenomenal. The touch is very light. It is extremely comfortable - my hands used to be very tired when I got home. I have not had a problem with tired hands for years now because of this."

"Even when I find myself in a tense situation when they are transferring a patient right away... You know, a ten minute dictation that has to be done in five minutes? I can actually pound on this thing [Kinesis keyboard]. Even though I don't intend to - its just a natural reaction - but it doesn't hurt. I mean I would be going home [prior to purchasing a Kinesis keyboard] and my arm would just be killing me, or my hands would be so tired I could hardly pick up anything. Now I never have tired hands - Its just amazing! Its just awsome!"

"... I've typed on the Microsoft Natural and absolutely hate it. I won it at a door prize and its at home. Needless to say I don't do much typing at home."

Q. How long did it take you to adapt to the Kinesis contoured keyboard?
A. Well I had to use my regular keyboard at work for a little while and what I did is use the tutorial and the Kinesis at home. Because I had an injury I had to go slowly and couldn't do too much after work - so I worked probably about 15 minutes at home in the evening. I then asked my supervisor if I could take an emergency room tape home ... and take the time to transcribe at home - to get a real live situation. So I did that and within just a matter of days [was adapted]. Literally I brought it in [to work] and hooked it up and I was up and running...Probably within two working days, I was 'at speed' if not faster than I had been before the injury."

"Its not hard at all to learn. The tutorial that comes with it is excellent. The keystrokes are so easy. Its like caressing them instead of having to reach for them."

Q. What features do you like best about the keyboard?
A. "Oh man...there are so many. The reach of the keys are so comfortable. I like the way the numbers are split up, instead of having to reach across. Where the Enter, Space, Back Space and Delete keys are placed, the way they are laid out, is very, very comfortable. The touch is perfect - not too hard. And I really, really like the extra foot switch."

Q. Would you recommend this keyboard to other Medical Transcriptionists?
A. "I would definitely recommend this keyboard to other Medical Transcriptionists. Not only for its ease of use, its comfort level, but the capabilities that are built into the keyboard, as far as being able to program macros into it, using the foot switch. Like I said before it really has saved my career and I really believe that it can help prevent injuries also- because of the light touch and the lack of ulnar deviation that you have with your hands spaced properly and not crowded together. As I said it has increased my productivity...I highly recommend it."