Macro building 102

The AutoCorrect feature in Word is my bread and butter.  I literally type in shorthand.  The best way to use this feature is to make your entry something easy to remember:

pnt = patient

The next step is to build on this foundation:

pnts = patients
pnts’ = patient’s
attpnt = according to the patient

Notice I put the apostrophe at the end of the shortcut… that is because my brain will type the shortcut first, then remember to add the apostrophe for the possessive afterward the fact.  Any commonly used phrases should definitely be included in your shortcuts.

Another building trick is to “stack” the shortcuts:

rt = right
lt = left
br = breast
ch = chest

rtbr = right breast
ltbr = left breast
rtch = right chest
ltch = left chest

I also utilize numbers in with the shortcuts:

1deg = first-degree
2deg = second-degree
3deg = third-degree   ….and so on….

th4 = therefore
no4 = notable for

Next, I build on macros that have different endings:

xfm = transform
xfmd = transformed
xfmg = transforming
xfmn = transformation
xfmns = transformations

Make sure to include any acronyms to avoid the shift and caps lock keys, and then add “x” to expand:

cabg = CABG
cabgx = coronary artery bypass graft

aaa = AAA
aaax = abdominal aortic aneurysm

Something else I do… I shorten some words with their “phonetic” spelling:

cof = cough
flem = phlegm
cud = could
wud = would
shud = should

It takes some time to build your shortcut database, but once you do, be sure to BACKUP your macros at least once a week!  Trust me on this, I speak from experience (a day I shall long remember).

MT Daily used to have an entire list of ready-made shortcuts that you could import into your AutoCorrect, but I can no longer find it… perhaps they took it down?  In that case, I will attempt to have one on here that is accessible, but that may take me a bit.

Until then, the best shortcuts are the ones you create for yourself.  Be sure to:

• Include any commonly misspelled words in your AutoCorrect so you don’t waste time changing them constantly.
• Include brand name drugs with the capitalization already set up to avoid pressing the shift key so much (or trying to remember whether or not that weird name was brand or generic)
• Include any hyphenated words.
• Set up any homonyms like so:  ileum/ilium for both words — to double check that you’ve transcribed the right body part.
• Set up any commonly transposed words like “to” typed as “ot” as ot****.  Since OT is a legitimate acronym, your spell check may not catch it.  The stars will flag you to double check yourself.

Have fun macro-building!

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