Are You a Wannabe Transcriptionist?

I was at a job interview when the company president, after complimenting me for my good test scores, snickered and mentioned that there was no way he would take in wannabe transcriptionists. I took his statement lightly until I remembered just recently what he said and mulled over the impact of that statement.

By the way, I declined the job offer because 8,000 pesos a month for 6 months is too low, considering that I'd have to spend for transportation and food. I also refused to negotiate for a higher paycheck because such a practice is frowned upon by most employers here in my country.

So I asked myself what a wannabe transcriptionist is. Let's get real for a second and do some introspection. Go ask yourself, "Am I a wannabe transcriptionist?"

After working with several MT companies and observing the work behavior and attitudes of MTs, I have formed certain conclusions based on my experience working with them.

The Lazy MT.
The MT who falls into this category will not let a day pass without pestering a co-worker. This MT hates Google, Stedman's, and Quick Look. Convenience is this MT's goal in life, and asking dumb questions -- which can easily be answered by checking the appropriate references -- is part of this MT's daily routine. This MT is also most likely to be obese and would rather spend time eating than transcribing.

The Overly-Reliant MT.
This MT does not know the meaning of independence and can't work alone. It has become a necessity to turn to a colleague, who is burdened with the task of having to fill in the blanks left by Overly-Reliant MT. No matter what this MT does, there will always be tons of blanks left, even if the audio quality is crystal clear. Apparently, this MT's vocabulary is so shallow that English words that are part of everyday conversation sound like Greek to this MT's ears. This MT shudders at the thought of doing home-based MT work. Overly-Reliant MT does not realize that a transcriptionist's job is best done alone and that consulting a co-worker impedes that co-worker's productivity. This MT may not know how to use Google. However, this MT ends up getting good QA marks because the editor doesn't know that the work turned in was the collaborative effort of at least 2 MTs. Bragging remarks like, "Oh, what a good job I did on this one" are commonly heard from Overly Reliant MT, who has eventually forgotten the people who had helped out.

The Return-on-Investment MT.
After spending as much as 40,000 pesos and more (which includes expenses on fare, food, and reference materials), this MT realizes that so much money has been spent and that it was imperative to find a job. Once employed, this MT realizes that it isn't easy trying to figure out what Dr. Verbally Challenged dictates, but 40,000 pesos is 40,000 pesos. So Return-on-Investment MT sticks it out with MT Exploiters, Inc. for the number of months it will take to get back that amount of money.

The Know-It-All MT.
This MT is likely to have a college degree in the allied medical profession and the like. This MT finds Google, Stedman's, and Quick Look a waste of time after having spent years and years learning all those highfaluting medical terminologies. Stock knowledge is the key to this MT, who ends up with lower QA scores compared to those incurred by this MT's more persevering co-MTs.

The Pretentious MT.
Many perceive this MT as among the best in the industry due to length of experience and a degree in the allied medical profession. This MT is likely to have flunked the board exams but continues to maintain his seemingly elite demeanor. Newbies who have a crush on this MT are among the most ardent admirers this MT gets. To look elite, this MT will turn to you to "confirm" misheard words, but you'll find out that you can pick up most of those words and that Pretentious MT has missed those words by a mile. This MT eventually gets promoted to MT Editor in a short span of time because of an acting job well done. While an MT, Pretentious MT kept bugging colleagues. As an MT Editor, Pretentious MT continues to do the same.

The Grammatically-Challenged MT.
Not knowing that MT skills have more to do with language than medicine, this MT focuses on the medical jargon and ends up typing sentences that do not make sense. It is likely that as a student, Grammatically-challened MT was wide awake in science classes and was mentally absent when taking English lessons.

The Turtle Typist MT.
This MT has a maximum typing speed of 30 words per minute. Practice seems to further reduce this MT's typing speed, and 10 fingers don't seem to be enough.

So again, go ask yourself the question. Be honest with yourself; if not, you're the victim of your inability to look at the truth. Do yourself a favor; don't lie to yourself.

If you fall into any of these categories, then -- sad to say --
YOU ARE A WANNABE TRANSCRIPTIONIST.

Beware: The Truth About AM-Accuscripts

There is an MTSO that goes by the name of AM-Accuscripts. This company blatantly violates labor and human rights laws. Here are some of the malpractices going on:

1. No contract - Everything is verbal. Yes, you're simply asked to start on a certain day without any written agreement whatsoever. What are the implications? You can't prove you were ever employed by the company in case you plan to sue. What's worse is that the owner can impose a regulation at the snap of a finger.

It's so easy to get in; even a novice MT with good listening skills will bag that job; however, it's difficult to get out.

Moreover, once you leave, the owner will bug you with text messages in an attempt to make you feel guilty and miserable, as if you can't find another job elswhere. She even bragged that she was paying some of her people so much money, as if one was deeply indebted to her because of that.

2. No explicitly-written rules and regulations - There are bulletins posted warning you not to do this or that, but that's basically it. Employees were punching in for those who were late, thereby committing company fraud, but the practice continues to be tolerated; no, there are no rules governing this.

3. No tax deductions - Sure, they may be paying taxes, but the taxes they pay are definitely not what's due the government.

4. No SSS - Social security contributions are important. What if one suddenly needs money for an emergency? You can't loan from the SSS if you hadn't been contributing for the past 2 years straight. I know that employers guilty of this can be put behind bars.

5. No overtime pay - Imagine people slaving away for more than 8 hours a day without overtime pay? What do we get in return? A dinner of palabok or tapsilog? Is that fair? Here's something that will make you feel like a slave: The owner won't let you leave the office until she thinks that enough work has been done. Yes, working for 11 hours is common. You know how unfair she is? If you're late for 16 minutes or more, you don't get a proportionate deduction; instead, you get paid 0.50 centavos per line. Yes, that's how one-sided she can get.

6. No 13th month pay - By law, companies are required to give the 13th month pay to employees.

7. No medical/health benefits - Apparently, the owner doesn't care about her employees' health.

8. Late payment of salaries - This goes to show that the owner doesn't really care about her employees' financial needs.

9. Favoritism - What's the bundy clock for? If someone punches in for somebody else and she likes the people involved, she will let something like that pass. Clearly corporate fraud. How would you feel if you tried your best to arrive early every day of your life, and then for some reason you end up being late? Don't you think it's unfair that some cheaters don't get a deduction?

10. Low wages - Can you imagine an MTSO paying 0.79 centavos per line? The industry standard is 1.00 peso, and most of the companies are giving this rate.

11. A 1,500-peso bond is deducted immediately, which means that during your first 3 or 4 days, you don't get paid as you're being trained. Remember that you also spend for fare and food on those first 3 or 4 days. You can only get back your 1,500 pesos after one year of being exploited by being forced to work extremely long hours.

12. No HIPAA document signed by MTs. Wait till MxSecure finds out about this. An unannounced check will prove the nonexistence of such documents.

13. Most editors, if not all, usually try to correct something that isn't wrong to begin with simply because it's what they heard. These people won't ever likely be able to find a job in another MT company because, as they say, bad habits are hard
to break, and they won't get any better. They can't even follow simple instructions from clients. If you think you're going to get better as an MT in this company, you're wrong. The editors are going to make you dumber and dumber, dragging you down with them in the process. Besides, there are no expicit performance metrics there.

You're good in the eyes of the owner only if you've been there long and you want to leave, then the owner will promote you so you'll stay.

14. The owner keeps bragging about bagging new accounts only to lose them
because of incompetent employees; in fact, a bunch of newly hired MTs were forced to take a leave of absence. In addition, the company loses its employees because of the owner's unfair labor practices.

15. Wages are paid LATE. Yes, if payday falls on a holiday, a weekend, or a Monday, you won't get your salary on time. The owner doesn't care if you have to settle financial obligations. If you're unlucky and there's a 2-day holiday after the weekend, i.e., Monday and Tuesday, and payday was supposed to be on the Saturday of that weekend, you'd have to wait until Wednesday. I don't understand how much bank interest the owner stands to lose if she paid her employees on the Friday of that weekend. Maybe she really is that greedy.

I pity those who are lured by the owner's sweet talk. She will tell you that the files are easy and there are no ESL dictators, but what she's saying is the exact opposite. I also understand the fact that many have spent from 25,000 to 35,000 pesos on a medical transcription course, which makes them more likely to bite the bait in order to get back what they had spent for; it will take them at least 6 months to do so.

It's really up to the reader to decide whether what they're reading here is true or not. Go ahead and apply. You might be taken in; which is a good thing, so you'll know what I'm talking about. Don't say I didn't warn you.

It is unbelievable that businesswomen like her aren't behind bars.

AM-Accuscripts: Greedy Owner

I'm glad I'm out of there. Would you believe that the owner is so greedy that she refused to give me my final pay of 3,000 pesos? Can you imagine that? She chose to rob me of such a small amount? She even made it appear that I owe her rotten company some money despite her having clearly told me not to worry about my line count. I've worked a mere 35 days, not even 2 months, working up to 14 hours transcribing the most crappy dictations (because no one wanted to do those). Unlike most Filipino transcriptionists who cheat by asking other people to help them do their transcripts, I did everything on my own. And this is what I get in return.

Yes, that's AM-Accuscripts. I cannot help but reveal to you the oppressive measures that the owner, Arleen Medina, has been imposing on her employees. She does not pay taxes despite her employees earning way above the minimum wage. She does not give the 13th month pay required by law. She does not provide here employees with SSS (social security) benefits. What's worse is she forces you to work sometimes over 12 hours without overtime pay. You can't find a greedier Filipina than Arleen Medina.

Lord, please forgive her.

Another Stupid Editor

Here's what that stupid editor did to my work.

We will go ahead and discontinue use of the Achillotrain today.

I had spelled it as AchilloTrain, with a capital T.

Check out their website and the link to the product:

http://shop.bauerfeindusa.com/cgi-bin/cart.pl?Dynamic+products.txt+ACHILLOTRAIN+template.html+3

Yes, that's the kind of quality that AM-Accuscripts produces. I don't know why it still exists despite the poor quality of work that it turns out. Most editors lack the common sense and English skills to make sense of the transcripts. Another theory is the fact that they get additional pay for the number of lines they edit, which means that they too have become as greedy as their boss.

English and Listening Skills: More Important than Medical Jargon

The problem with many companies hiring medical transcriptionist is their emphasis on one's educational background, specifically the pre-med or med course one studied in college.

The fact is, medical terminologies can be learned by anybody who can memorize and who is seriously interested in learning such words. When it comes to actual transcription work, it is ultimately hearing acuity and listening skills that will help one get through the day.

Additionally, one's English proficiency will help make sense out of the document. A female colleague once transcribed it as "... shaft on the penis ..." -- well, she could be "inexperienced" so I don't blame her, but imagine a penis (which already has a shaft) having another shaft on it.

Unfamiliar with these?

The doctor said, "... would cast doubt ..."
The editor typed, "... without a doubt ..."
Notice the opposing connotations.

The doctor said, "... up and about ..."
The editor said, "... up and bout ..."
Was the editor thinking of a boxing match?

The doctor said, "... and her face gets beet red ..."
The editor typed, "... and her face gets to be red ..."
Oh, you mean her face has a choice?

Obviously, these editors are not well read.

Nothing Wrong with This?

Here's an excerpt from a supposedly edited document:

... sooner if there is any other problems or questions that arises.

So nothing's wrong with this, huh?