I used to respect physicians a lot. Really. They're well-respected members of the community whose jobs are geared towards helping people and curing them. They've got not only the dignity but also the money. They've got minds that are able to memorize all those highfaluting medical terminologies and a deep medical vocabulary to boot.
Not anymore. Well, most of them still have my respect, but those physicians who dictate like they don't care someone is going to transcribe their dictations should be banished to a remote jungle in Africa. Sorry, I hate to say this, but FUCK THEM. How they dictate is a very good reflection of their personality. I wouldn't want any of those assholes to be my doctor, not even if I'm on the brink of death.
So, can you explain why you're so inconsiderate, huh, fucktards?
Showing posts with label mt. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mt. Show all posts
Monday, November 24, 2008
When English-challenged MTs Converse
I can't believe that so many months have passed since my last post here. My mind has been farthest from anything MT and I don't even miss the profession. If there's something that I miss, it's the company of my former coworkers who I really like.
Anyway, I came across this conversation -- not real time but through a series of posts to an online board. I find it really funny. Anyway, you be the judge.
http://www.indeed.com/forum/job/medical-transcriptionist/Finding-Entry-Level-Medical-Transcription-Jobs/t26511/p26
Anyway, I came across this conversation -- not real time but through a series of posts to an online board. I find it really funny. Anyway, you be the judge.
http://www.indeed.com/forum/job/medical-transcriptionist/Finding-Entry-Level-Medical-Transcription-Jobs/t26511/p26
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Do I Bite the Hand That Feeds?
"Don't bite the hand that feeds." This is a saying I picked up from one of my officemates at a job I used to hold about a decade ago.
If you asked me, well, I don't. The answer is no.
I bite the hand that strangles.
If you asked me, well, I don't. The answer is no.
I bite the hand that strangles.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Scammer? Most Probably!
An e-mail was forwarded to me by a lady friend:
Please beware of Mr. Ryan Paguntalan aka Ryan Cruz. He uses different websites such as I-Xcel Master Corp. located in Las Pinas City, Lasermed in Mandaluyong City, Charleston Myriad Solutions, Inc., and now Amsterdamnyc. Do not send any of your informations (sic) to this person. Please pass to your MT friends.
I had sent my resume to this guy sometime late last year. He asked me when I was free to take his online exam; that was the last I heard from him. Judging from the way he constructs his e-mail, he does not have communication skills. You have to e-mail him again to find out what he actually meant by his e-mail, even if the sentences were gramatically correct. It sure seemed like he was hiding something.
There are other people advertising in Best Job Philippines who seem like scammers. Unlike this guy, whose e-mail address seems convincing, there are advertisers who use free e-mail accounts like Yahoo! to carry out their evil plans.
Yes, there are many scammers out there, so please beware. Don't say I didn't warn you.
Take care, y'all.
Please beware of Mr. Ryan Paguntalan aka Ryan Cruz. He uses different websites such as I-Xcel Master Corp. located in Las Pinas City, Lasermed in Mandaluyong City, Charleston Myriad Solutions, Inc., and now Amsterdamnyc. Do not send any of your informations (sic) to this person. Please pass to your MT friends.
I had sent my resume to this guy sometime late last year. He asked me when I was free to take his online exam; that was the last I heard from him. Judging from the way he constructs his e-mail, he does not have communication skills. You have to e-mail him again to find out what he actually meant by his e-mail, even if the sentences were gramatically correct. It sure seemed like he was hiding something.
There are other people advertising in Best Job Philippines who seem like scammers. Unlike this guy, whose e-mail address seems convincing, there are advertisers who use free e-mail accounts like Yahoo! to carry out their evil plans.
Yes, there are many scammers out there, so please beware. Don't say I didn't warn you.
Take care, y'all.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
More Dumb Editing
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?
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?
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.
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!
Friday, January 11, 2008
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.
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.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
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.
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.
Monday, December 3, 2007
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.
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.
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?
... sooner if there is any other problems or questions that arises.
So nothing's wrong with this, huh?
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Mystery of the Hidden Candy
There I was at work half-pissed and half-dumbfounded. A colleague told me that she transcribed the same doctor that I had been working on and didn't find his dictation difficult but went on to add that that it could be a case of mood swings.
After listening intently, I realized that the doctor could barely open his mouth, like half of his face was paralyzed or something. So I start cursing the mofo, still wondering why the f*ck he can barely open his mouth.
As my Express Scribe's scroll bar lazily chugged along, I suddenly had to step on the pedal like I was avoiding a fatal vehicular collision. Why? I heard a slurp. Yup, you guessed it. Mister Physician, M.D., was sucking on a piece of candy while dictating.
So have you asked yourself why don't news reporters eat candy or chew gum while working?
After listening intently, I realized that the doctor could barely open his mouth, like half of his face was paralyzed or something. So I start cursing the mofo, still wondering why the f*ck he can barely open his mouth.
As my Express Scribe's scroll bar lazily chugged along, I suddenly had to step on the pedal like I was avoiding a fatal vehicular collision. Why? I heard a slurp. Yup, you guessed it. Mister Physician, M.D., was sucking on a piece of candy while dictating.
So have you asked yourself why don't news reporters eat candy or chew gum while working?
Friday, November 9, 2007
ESL Dictator Trying Hard to Sound Like an American
ESL is an acronym that means "English as a second language." So expect ESL dictators to sound everything but American.
The problem lies when the speaker tries to speak with an American accent. They more often than not end up badly mispronouncing words. They try to speak faster thinking that it was better to do so, perhaps in an effort to emulate their native American colleagues' manner of talking.
Honestly, it would be much easier if the ESL dictator syllabicated each word deliberately rather than slurring the syllables like most Americans who sound like they're lazy to pronounce the words and squeeze a five-syllable word into one syllable. A far cry from your favorite Fox News reporter, I must say.
One of my favorite ESL dictators is a male physician of Hispanic descent. He usually comes up with a decent dictation even while retaining his native accent: the long and overly emphasized letter 'R' similar to the way most Japanese would pronounce the letter 'L.' My major problem here is his grammar. I once tried to correct it, and my boss told me not to because it will offend him. Then I checked one of my edited files; the editor had apparently corrected the physician's grammar.
There goes another of my woes. The editors themselves do not agree on a single standard even if they worked on the same doctor under the same account. I will blog about it in a future post.
The problem lies when the speaker tries to speak with an American accent. They more often than not end up badly mispronouncing words. They try to speak faster thinking that it was better to do so, perhaps in an effort to emulate their native American colleagues' manner of talking.
Honestly, it would be much easier if the ESL dictator syllabicated each word deliberately rather than slurring the syllables like most Americans who sound like they're lazy to pronounce the words and squeeze a five-syllable word into one syllable. A far cry from your favorite Fox News reporter, I must say.
One of my favorite ESL dictators is a male physician of Hispanic descent. He usually comes up with a decent dictation even while retaining his native accent: the long and overly emphasized letter 'R' similar to the way most Japanese would pronounce the letter 'L.' My major problem here is his grammar. I once tried to correct it, and my boss told me not to because it will offend him. Then I checked one of my edited files; the editor had apparently corrected the physician's grammar.
There goes another of my woes. The editors themselves do not agree on a single standard even if they worked on the same doctor under the same account. I will blog about it in a future post.
Intellectually-challenged Editor
At the office, there are MTs and editors. The MT does the transcribing, while the editor cleans up the transcript in terms of making sure that the client specs are followed to the letter.
Well, the correct templates and fonts should be used, and the spelling and grammar have to be error-free. Because the MT has a quota to meet, the race against time can cause errors, hence the need for editors. Some of them are really good; however, there are editors who refuse to think, most likely because they do not understand what is being said or simply do not have the IQ or even common sense. All they care about is what their ears tell their brains. Perhaps it's because they spent years memorizing all those body parts, medical words, and the like without really understanding what they've been trying to learn.
Here's a quote from an edited file. Note the tense inconsistency, then try make some sense out of this sentence:"Unfortunately, he did not require any hospitalization nor developed any febrile illnesses in the interim."
You mean the doctor or whoever dictated this wants the patient to end up in the hospital or have some kind of fever? Hmm ... sounds like a hospital stockholder, a sadist, or both.
First Post
Yes, this is my first ever post for this blog. I've been trying to hold it off for the longest time, thinking that my woes would disappear or ease somewhat. I was wrong.
What's an MT? It's an acronym for a lot of things, but to me it means medical transcriptionist. That's my work. I transcribe audio files dictated by a health professional: an MD, an RN, or a PA-C.
You may think that the medical terminologies and the drugs (both generic and brand names) make the job difficult. Wrong. It's the way the words are spoken that compound an MT's woes.
For some reason many of these people with impressive titles attached to their names cannot pronounce certain words properly. Imagine a kid who's trying to learn how to say a newly-learned word, something rarely or never been used.
What makes life more difficult for MTs is the fact that these health professionals end up saying such words as fast as they can, perhaps to cover up the fact that they can't say the word properly. To make things worse, errors in the transcript are blamed on the MT.
What's an MT? It's an acronym for a lot of things, but to me it means medical transcriptionist. That's my work. I transcribe audio files dictated by a health professional: an MD, an RN, or a PA-C.
You may think that the medical terminologies and the drugs (both generic and brand names) make the job difficult. Wrong. It's the way the words are spoken that compound an MT's woes.
For some reason many of these people with impressive titles attached to their names cannot pronounce certain words properly. Imagine a kid who's trying to learn how to say a newly-learned word, something rarely or never been used.
What makes life more difficult for MTs is the fact that these health professionals end up saying such words as fast as they can, perhaps to cover up the fact that they can't say the word properly. To make things worse, errors in the transcript are blamed on the MT.
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