Don't get me wrong. I never claimed to be the best MT in the world. I never even pretended to be one of the best. I know my limitations. I may hear certain words that you can't seem to decipher, but you may easily figure out what took me a number of Google searches to do. What I can't seem to accept is the fact that there are people who, instead of improving your transcript, only make it worse, sometimes even making it the worst of all you've ever done in your lifetime.
What really is frustrating for many is the fact that some editors don't they're doing. Here's a true-to-life example. An MT has forgotten to expand a certain medical acronym, so Wannabe Editor expands it. The problem is, Wannabe Editor takes the acronym in the wrong context and ends up making the wrong expansion.
One MT at AM-Accuscripts, an experienced one at that, would get ticked off whenever he reviewed the previous day's edited files. Well, with the quality of the editing, it would be a surprise if you wouldn't yourself. He would often remark in a bitter tone, "BOBO!"
The problem with wannabe editors is they usually accept the position simply because they hate typing and/or the pay is a little higher. They don't ask themselves if they're really fit for the job. They think their English is good enough for them to be able to edit transcripts. They think that they know all the medical terms out there. They think that whatever they hear will always be what the doctor said or meant without ever thinking that the MT who transcribed the document could be right after all. Consequently, they end up putting in mistakes, thereby negating what the MT transcribed correctly. They think they're fixing what's broken, but they're actually breaking what's fixed.
Here's a pair of glaring mistakes that have been carried over in the two months that I worked in hell.
Take a look at this:
A 6'0", 185 pounds.
Huh? Sure, I know that the first number's the patient's height, and the second number's the patient's weight. But when you read the sentence, does it look good, or does it make you want to weep for the sorry state Philippine education has become since those local education geniuses took control?
Now here's the second:
Blood pressure 120/80 mm
Yes, you're seeing it right. I transcribed a dictation by this doctor, who kept on saying "millimeters" instead of "millimeters of mercury". Of course, if you are a real MT, which I'm sure many of you are, you will make the correction and type in mmHg.
Well, I cannot accept situations like this where I am forced to type in the wrong unit simply because that's the way it was dictated and every editor would change my mmHg to mm -- I'd rather resign instead -- or try some form of suicide: slash my wrists, shoot myself in the temple, or have someone put me in a straitjacket and fit me with a pair of headphones attached to a portable radio that's tuned to the crappiest radio station in the metropolis.
In fact, even if I knew the editor would make that change, I would still stick to mmHg. I have a high regard for myself and the profession; I would not want to degrade myself simply because the stupid doctor said so or the even-more-stupid editor would make the change.
You want to meet Dumb and Dumber? Go work at AM-Accuscripts. I assure you, after working there for a couple of years, you won't be able to pass the qualifying exams given by other MT companies. Hahaha. I was just kidding. Or was I?
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Friday, January 18, 2008
Why PeopleSupport Shut Its MT Operations in the Philippines
PeopleSupport, a call center that offers benefits that no MTSO can ever match, shut its MT operation in the Philippines effective May 31, 2007. However, the company continues to operate and maintains a group of home-based MTs in the U.S.
Apparently, Ms. Evelyn Abat, in an attempt to save her skinny ass, has given poor quality as the cause of the shutdown.
Now, it's a case of believing Bong Borja's word or Ms. Abat's. Who would I believe? Need you question Mr. Borja's business acumen? Need you question his exemplary leadership in business? Need you question his decision making? I don't even want to compare Mr. Borja's achievements in business with that of Ms. Abat's.
Speaking of Mr. Borja, he wanted to retain all the regulars who were displaced. Ms. Abat, in her desire to establish a U.S.-affiliated MTSO in the soonest time possible, told Mr. Borja that her people were going with her. Now, if she blamed her people for the failure, why would she want to take her employees along in her new venture? Well, that new venture, MedWrite, was another failure for Ms. Abat, who then opted to join MxSecure to play it safe and remain employed.
I had a casual conversation with my wife and told her that we MTs were being blamed for the shutdown because we couldn't turn in quality reports. She retorted, "Is she crazy? If she were a skilled manager, she would've been able to hire really competent people."
Which she did -- or at least attempted to do. She brought in a bunch of arguably elite MTs and MT editors in her quest to be the Philippine's top MT group. Who hired them? She did. She wanted seasoned veterans. The only problem was that many of those veterans were seasoned with vinegar rather than sugar. You don't know what I mean? Imagine how your face would look after ingesting the sour liquid.
So, isn't she contradicting herself then? You don't need MENSA-like IQ to figure out what I mean.
Now, if those people I'm referring to, those seasoned MTs and MT editors, don't get offended after hearing that she blamed her people for the downfall, then what does that make them?
Ms. Abat should face the truth and stop blaming her people. That's the reason why managers get paid so much. If something fails, there's no one else to blame. It's easier to dump rank-and-file personnel than managers, unless, of course, that manager -- or program director, in this case -- screws up. Yes, a good manager will take the blame rather than resort to finger pointing.
If she had only been mature (well, at her age, she should be) in dealing with her PeopleSupport failure, which could be her greatest failure by far, then she would've given the real reason:
THE OPERATION WAS NOT PROFITABLE.
How can the operation be profitable? If you take a look at the books and know how to interpret them, you won't need any more explanations. You know how much she, her team manager, and the editors were making? Forget it. Remembering how we were deprived of the salary increase Ms. Abat promised, and then finding out that a bunch of new hires were being paid a lot more than we were getting, just makes me sick.
I'm not through yet. Now, if you know the volume of the work being done and the corresponding income PeopleSupport was making out of it, then subtract the salaries and other expenses, you'll see that the operation was not making money.
Well, that's not the only reason. Ms. Abat did not fit in with the PeopleSupport culture. She did not get along with some of the managers there, particularly those who have pioneered the transcription operation and joined the company long before she did. At the very onset, Ms. Abat wanted to do away with the QA/editing group in the U.S. as a way of reducing costs. She failed to realize that the company had its own way of doing things and it's not going to change. You don't need to fix what isn't broken. By contrast, the pioneering manager, when asked about making changes to the system software so that transcriptionists won't have to punch in those telephone buttons, simply replied, "That's the way they do it, and if it works, let's just leave it the way it is." Or something like that.
A newly hired manager doing an Adolf Hitler definitely isn't right. You have to fit in first, feel your way, get along with key personnel, and use your common sense. You'd be surprised that people with so much intelligence end up doing stupid things because of a lack of practical thinking.
Another reason was the seemingly uncooperative QA person in the U.S. She failed to align her goals with those of the company's with regard to offshoring. She was untouchable because the upper management (those above Ms. Abat) considered her to be some sort of authority in the business. They didn't really know the MT business well enough, so they let that U.S.-based person run the show.
It's really pretty simple logic. Management was giving out performance ratings for employees, and these ratings can lead to an employees dismissal. So, if poor quality was indeed the real reason for the MT unit's closure, then why weren't we fired in the first place? Don't tell me Ms. Abat's compassion saved our necks, because if that were the reason, then she still is to blame. Do you get the logic?
Needless to say, only a dim-witted individual would believe Ms. Abat's allegations.
Apparently, Ms. Evelyn Abat, in an attempt to save her skinny ass, has given poor quality as the cause of the shutdown.
Now, it's a case of believing Bong Borja's word or Ms. Abat's. Who would I believe? Need you question Mr. Borja's business acumen? Need you question his exemplary leadership in business? Need you question his decision making? I don't even want to compare Mr. Borja's achievements in business with that of Ms. Abat's.
Speaking of Mr. Borja, he wanted to retain all the regulars who were displaced. Ms. Abat, in her desire to establish a U.S.-affiliated MTSO in the soonest time possible, told Mr. Borja that her people were going with her. Now, if she blamed her people for the failure, why would she want to take her employees along in her new venture? Well, that new venture, MedWrite, was another failure for Ms. Abat, who then opted to join MxSecure to play it safe and remain employed.
I had a casual conversation with my wife and told her that we MTs were being blamed for the shutdown because we couldn't turn in quality reports. She retorted, "Is she crazy? If she were a skilled manager, she would've been able to hire really competent people."
Which she did -- or at least attempted to do. She brought in a bunch of arguably elite MTs and MT editors in her quest to be the Philippine's top MT group. Who hired them? She did. She wanted seasoned veterans. The only problem was that many of those veterans were seasoned with vinegar rather than sugar. You don't know what I mean? Imagine how your face would look after ingesting the sour liquid.
So, isn't she contradicting herself then? You don't need MENSA-like IQ to figure out what I mean.
Now, if those people I'm referring to, those seasoned MTs and MT editors, don't get offended after hearing that she blamed her people for the downfall, then what does that make them?
Ms. Abat should face the truth and stop blaming her people. That's the reason why managers get paid so much. If something fails, there's no one else to blame. It's easier to dump rank-and-file personnel than managers, unless, of course, that manager -- or program director, in this case -- screws up. Yes, a good manager will take the blame rather than resort to finger pointing.
If she had only been mature (well, at her age, she should be) in dealing with her PeopleSupport failure, which could be her greatest failure by far, then she would've given the real reason:
THE OPERATION WAS NOT PROFITABLE.
How can the operation be profitable? If you take a look at the books and know how to interpret them, you won't need any more explanations. You know how much she, her team manager, and the editors were making? Forget it. Remembering how we were deprived of the salary increase Ms. Abat promised, and then finding out that a bunch of new hires were being paid a lot more than we were getting, just makes me sick.
I'm not through yet. Now, if you know the volume of the work being done and the corresponding income PeopleSupport was making out of it, then subtract the salaries and other expenses, you'll see that the operation was not making money.
Well, that's not the only reason. Ms. Abat did not fit in with the PeopleSupport culture. She did not get along with some of the managers there, particularly those who have pioneered the transcription operation and joined the company long before she did. At the very onset, Ms. Abat wanted to do away with the QA/editing group in the U.S. as a way of reducing costs. She failed to realize that the company had its own way of doing things and it's not going to change. You don't need to fix what isn't broken. By contrast, the pioneering manager, when asked about making changes to the system software so that transcriptionists won't have to punch in those telephone buttons, simply replied, "That's the way they do it, and if it works, let's just leave it the way it is." Or something like that.
A newly hired manager doing an Adolf Hitler definitely isn't right. You have to fit in first, feel your way, get along with key personnel, and use your common sense. You'd be surprised that people with so much intelligence end up doing stupid things because of a lack of practical thinking.
Another reason was the seemingly uncooperative QA person in the U.S. She failed to align her goals with those of the company's with regard to offshoring. She was untouchable because the upper management (those above Ms. Abat) considered her to be some sort of authority in the business. They didn't really know the MT business well enough, so they let that U.S.-based person run the show.
It's really pretty simple logic. Management was giving out performance ratings for employees, and these ratings can lead to an employees dismissal. So, if poor quality was indeed the real reason for the MT unit's closure, then why weren't we fired in the first place? Don't tell me Ms. Abat's compassion saved our necks, because if that were the reason, then she still is to blame. Do you get the logic?
Needless to say, only a dim-witted individual would believe Ms. Abat's allegations.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Why Forward This?
Below is the e-mail in which Ms. Medina (yes, she deserves a little respect, being single, bosomy, statuesque, good looking, and all -- at the age of 40-something) bragged about a new account. I know that such communication should be confidential. Now why did she forward this to someone who's no longer part of her organization? Now do you believe the oxymoron I was telling you about?
Read the last part in bold. That was her message. Notice how she tries to win the favor of her employees by complimenting and flattering them. Read between the lines. Do I smell delusions of grandeur?
=====================================================================================
Subject: Fw: AMA New Account Assignment - 40,000 LINES A MONTH - Gastroenterology
Date: Wed, 16 Jan 2008 20:34:33 +0800
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: multipart/alternative;
boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0018_01C8587F.34154840"
X-Priority: 3
X-MSMail-Priority: Normal
X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2900.3138
Disposition-Notification-To: "AM Accuscripts Phils."
X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.3198
Content-Length: 11948
----- Original Message -----
From: Evelyn Abat
To: Arleen ; Implementation ; _Production
Cc: Karen ; Richard
Sent: Friday, January 04, 2008 11:34 PM
Subject: AMA New Account Assignment - A - 40,000 - Gastroenterology
Dear Arleen,
A very Happy New Year to you and your AMA family.
I’m assigning this account to you as I know that you have had the experience of doing gastroenterology accounts. Please do well on this account as we are counting AMA as one of our more credible MTSO partners in the Philippines.
Specialty: Gastroenterology
Number of Providers: Two
Potential Providers: They are hiring another physician and nurse practitioner
TAT: 24 x 5
Monthly Line Volume: 40,000
Potential: 40,000
Projected Go Live Date: 1/4/2008
More details will be sent as these are made available to us.
Thanks and regards,
Evelyn
Evelyn S. Abat
Country Manager, Philippines
At the end of the day, what matters most is what good, credible people say about our company. Nobody can put a good person/company down. Let us keeping doing good. The secret to our success!
To all my good, patient and loyal people, Maraming-maraming salamat!
Read the last part in bold. That was her message. Notice how she tries to win the favor of her employees by complimenting and flattering them. Read between the lines. Do I smell delusions of grandeur?
=====================================================================================
Subject: Fw: AMA New Account Assignment - 40,000 LINES A MONTH - Gastroenterology
Date: Wed, 16 Jan 2008 20:34:33 +0800
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: multipart/alternative;
boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0018_01C8587F.34154840"
X-Priority: 3
X-MSMail-Priority: Normal
X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2900.3138
Disposition-Notification-To: "AM Accuscripts Phils."
X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.3198
Content-Length: 11948
----- Original Message -----
From: Evelyn Abat
To: Arleen ; Implementation ; _Production
Cc: Karen ; Richard
Sent: Friday, January 04, 2008 11:34 PM
Subject: AMA New Account Assignment - A - 40,000 - Gastroenterology
Dear Arleen,
A very Happy New Year to you and your AMA family.
I’m assigning this account to you as I know that you have had the experience of doing gastroenterology accounts. Please do well on this account as we are counting AMA as one of our more credible MTSO partners in the Philippines.
Specialty: Gastroenterology
Number of Providers: Two
Potential Providers: They are hiring another physician and nurse practitioner
TAT: 24 x 5
Monthly Line Volume: 40,000
Potential: 40,000
Projected Go Live Date: 1/4/2008
More details will be sent as these are made available to us.
Thanks and regards,
Evelyn
Evelyn S. Abat
Country Manager, Philippines
At the end of the day, what matters most is what good, credible people say about our company. Nobody can put a good person/company down. Let us keeping doing good. The secret to our success!
To all my good, patient and loyal people, Maraming-maraming salamat!
Been There, Done That
Maybe I've worked in more MTSOs than any of you readers out there have. You'll need the fingers of your other hand to count them.
The truth is, no other company has compelled me to blog the way I have here. You know why.
I've worked with so many companies in my lifetime, and only one company did not give me my final pay. In the case of some companies like ADEC and Transkripsyo, I did not even bother to ask for my last paycheck simply because I believed I didn't deserve it. The others, like e-Scribir and South Transcription, gave it to me without my asking.
AM-Accuscripts is the only company that deprived me of something I believe I really worked for. No, line count at that company cannot be used as basis because when you're asked to transcribe crappy dictations, you definitely slow down, which drastically reduces your line count. Unfortunately, no one else wanted those files, so I ended up doing them. Look what I got in return.
When I'm up to it, I'm going to rate all those MTSOs as best as I can. By now, you must've guessed which one's at the end of the pack.
Just so you know I won't be biased, the MTSO on top of my list is the MTSO that welcomed my resignation because the management didn't want a carcinogenic employee like me around. I still think they're the best in town though. No, I can't even imagine myself back there -- or in any other MTSO, for that matter. That's objectivity at its best.
As an MT, only one company actually made me feel that I was important to the organization. That company never paid my salary late (yes, there were lots of time wages were even paid early). They gave me real health benefits, overtime pay, holiday and vacation leaves, a reasonable salary, and a fat separation pay. No, that company is not an MTSO.
Yes, I've been there, done that -- and there's no way I'm going back to work for an industry that gave me shit. That's why I gave it back.
The truth is, no other company has compelled me to blog the way I have here. You know why.
I've worked with so many companies in my lifetime, and only one company did not give me my final pay. In the case of some companies like ADEC and Transkripsyo, I did not even bother to ask for my last paycheck simply because I believed I didn't deserve it. The others, like e-Scribir and South Transcription, gave it to me without my asking.
AM-Accuscripts is the only company that deprived me of something I believe I really worked for. No, line count at that company cannot be used as basis because when you're asked to transcribe crappy dictations, you definitely slow down, which drastically reduces your line count. Unfortunately, no one else wanted those files, so I ended up doing them. Look what I got in return.
When I'm up to it, I'm going to rate all those MTSOs as best as I can. By now, you must've guessed which one's at the end of the pack.
Just so you know I won't be biased, the MTSO on top of my list is the MTSO that welcomed my resignation because the management didn't want a carcinogenic employee like me around. I still think they're the best in town though. No, I can't even imagine myself back there -- or in any other MTSO, for that matter. That's objectivity at its best.
As an MT, only one company actually made me feel that I was important to the organization. That company never paid my salary late (yes, there were lots of time wages were even paid early). They gave me real health benefits, overtime pay, holiday and vacation leaves, a reasonable salary, and a fat separation pay. No, that company is not an MTSO.
Yes, I've been there, done that -- and there's no way I'm going back to work for an industry that gave me shit. That's why I gave it back.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Why Some Employees Stay
You know why some employees stay? You've exploited them. You continue to exploit them. Yet they won't budge.
Why?
They're so lame they can't find a job elsewhere.
Of all the MTSO's I've worked with, there's only one where I witnessed at least 4 MTs resign in the 2 months that I was there -- and they all worked in one location. Unbelievable!
Why?
They're so lame they can't find a job elsewhere.
Of all the MTSO's I've worked with, there's only one where I witnessed at least 4 MTs resign in the 2 months that I was there -- and they all worked in one location. Unbelievable!
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Ooh, 40,000 More Lines a Month and Counting
Isn't that effin' awesome?
Someone just flaunted the fact that she bagged a new account that will give her 40,000 lines a month.
Isn't that great?
At a rate of 400 lines per day over a 22-day month, that's roughly 4 to 5 more MTs.
So that's something to brag about, huh? A new account from MxSecure? Wait, am I supposed to know this?
So there's no breach of confidentiality there, huh?
Oh, well, Satan has his way of reciprocating.
Someone just flaunted the fact that she bagged a new account that will give her 40,000 lines a month.
Isn't that great?
At a rate of 400 lines per day over a 22-day month, that's roughly 4 to 5 more MTs.
So that's something to brag about, huh? A new account from MxSecure? Wait, am I supposed to know this?
So there's no breach of confidentiality there, huh?
Oh, well, Satan has his way of reciprocating.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
AM-Accuscripts is Hiring!
Wow, AM-Accuscripts is hiring! Go for it, people. It's your chance to get employed in one of the more credible MTSO partners MxSecure has in the country. Excuse me while I barf.
By the way, don't expect a corporate environment; the office is actually a house in the middle of a huge suburbian subdivision, perhaps to make tax evasion a whole lot easier.
Be prepared to work in an office where a thief lurks; do not leave your valuables anywhere unguarded.
Don't be surprised if fingers are pointed your way for being the culprit; they've blamed the new hires before.
Don't be greedy; get ready to donate your 1,500 pesos to the owner, who needs money badly so she can stick with her slimming regimen. Remember, if you end up disliking the way the company is run, you'd have to stay for a year before you get back that amount. Don't forget that you spent for transportation and food during those three days or so.
Tell yourself that you'll be working for an employer who can't keep her word. Yes, you do have a verbal contract; now you know why she prefers it that way.
Accept the fact that you'll be leaving the office at around 8:00 p.m. or so on most days of the week.
Finally, prepare a resignation letter before you even think of submitting your resume.
So, with me having a lot to say about this great company, don't you think I'm making things up or even sour graping? Haha. I don't give a hoot about what you think.
What are you waiting for? Go ahead and apply. I'll be glad you did!
By the way, don't expect a corporate environment; the office is actually a house in the middle of a huge suburbian subdivision, perhaps to make tax evasion a whole lot easier.
Be prepared to work in an office where a thief lurks; do not leave your valuables anywhere unguarded.
Don't be surprised if fingers are pointed your way for being the culprit; they've blamed the new hires before.
Don't be greedy; get ready to donate your 1,500 pesos to the owner, who needs money badly so she can stick with her slimming regimen. Remember, if you end up disliking the way the company is run, you'd have to stay for a year before you get back that amount. Don't forget that you spent for transportation and food during those three days or so.
Tell yourself that you'll be working for an employer who can't keep her word. Yes, you do have a verbal contract; now you know why she prefers it that way.
Accept the fact that you'll be leaving the office at around 8:00 p.m. or so on most days of the week.
Finally, prepare a resignation letter before you even think of submitting your resume.
So, with me having a lot to say about this great company, don't you think I'm making things up or even sour graping? Haha. I don't give a hoot about what you think.
What are you waiting for? Go ahead and apply. I'll be glad you did!
The Truth Can Hurt
Some people are used to living a lie. They have a false sense of the real world and live in a world of lies and make believe.
If you tell the truth, they think you're being libelous, slanderous, or what not.
I hope one day, this person will wake up to reality, look herself in the mirror, and say, "Yes, I have been greedy and unfair to my employees."
A relatively well-off employee, who went to the same school as her employer, was chatting with this fat-assed biatch seated beside me. Translated, the sentence went something like this: "She treats money like it was her god." Yes, that sentence was referring to no one else but you-know-who.
Well, she does count her blessings, which definitely do not come from the Christian God. As they say, charity begins at home; so in her case, she better start with her employees. Can someone ask her to spell the word "conscience"?
Sure, the truth can hurt. In my case, the truth set me free.
At the end of your life, you will face your Creator. How can you hide the truth from Him?
If you tell the truth, they think you're being libelous, slanderous, or what not.
I hope one day, this person will wake up to reality, look herself in the mirror, and say, "Yes, I have been greedy and unfair to my employees."
A relatively well-off employee, who went to the same school as her employer, was chatting with this fat-assed biatch seated beside me. Translated, the sentence went something like this: "She treats money like it was her god." Yes, that sentence was referring to no one else but you-know-who.
Well, she does count her blessings, which definitely do not come from the Christian God. As they say, charity begins at home; so in her case, she better start with her employees. Can someone ask her to spell the word "conscience"?
Sure, the truth can hurt. In my case, the truth set me free.
At the end of your life, you will face your Creator. How can you hide the truth from Him?
MxSecure: An Oxymoron
Funny how a business entity like MxSecure can give a contract to a small company that doesn't ask its employees to sign a HIPAA-related document or have a security policy in place.
Hmm ... perhaps that small company, which continues to exploit its employees, has a security policy after all. The front door's always locked.
Hmm ... perhaps that small company, which continues to exploit its employees, has a security policy after all. The front door's always locked.
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