Don't worry sometimes it takes
Posted By: JanSetzmt on 2007-11-28
In Reply to: Need some pick me uppers!! - Crying newbie!
awhile to get the hang of it. I haven't been doing this very long either and it took me looking things up alot of the time to get it right. Left alot of blanks at first. But sooner or later you'll get to know the drugs that are used frequently and then you'll turn into a pro! Don't let it get you down, take it moment by moment if necessary! God bless and email me if you want to chat some more!
You'll do fine!!
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Don't worry about it
You don't have to say you're sorry. Everyone gets burnt out from time to time. This board should be a place to vent as well as to get advice, help, etc. You don't have to be sorry for having a bad day and you shouldn't be made to feel guilty for it either.
Oh, don't worry, you will....you will...
x
Don't worry so much about VR and ASR
Sure, it's growing in popularity, but it's just not very good. An MT will always have to go over each and every one. Even if this technology ever does improve, reports will still need an MT (language specialist, Editor or whatever the latest name may be) to go over them to correct all the stuttering, redundant and miscellaneous things dicators say (such as "next, next, next; hold on; go back and add ...; go back and change...; the occasional curse word when they realize they are dictating a report they either already dictated or don't have all the information for; extraneous noises; etc., etc.). There are so very many things to fix from VR/ASR reports that MTs should be working for a very long time.
Don't worry
Some people on this board try to get down on others, so don't feel too bad if you get crappy responses sometimes. Good luck! :)
don't worry
I started out only getting about 300 lines a day. For me that was about 5 or 6 reports. I've been at my current job for 10 months now and I'm up to 35-40 reports a day. Just keep at it, you'll get your speed. Just a suggestion...you might have one already, but I would definitely suggest getting a split keyboard. It's better for your hands/arms and you'll pick up major speed once you get used to it.
Not to worry
You don't need to worry about this! The advice already given is very good. If you follow it, you'll learn to understand the dictation.
The thing is that physicians dictate like auctioneers. That's a good thing, because that's why they need MTs. If they talked slowly and clearly, anybody could do this work.
In all seriousness, your ears just need to listen faster. I know that sounds odd, but it's the truth.
You can take comfort in the fact that doctors say things the same way over and over, so once you've figured him or her out, you'll understand nearly everything.
Then you don't have what it takes to make it
as an MT. If you can't digest truthful information being given and have the courage to digest it, apply it to any areas of yourself that might need tweeking, then you will not last as an MT. This industry can be pretty rough at times. If you have thin skin, you won't make it. I can only imagine how you will take QA feedback.
Good luck to you.
Takes time
My friend made $50,000 last year and has only been doing MT work for 4 years now. It can be done. You just have to find the right companies and work hard to get what you want. She has never worked for any nationals. She does do IC work for 3 companies right now. I just graduated and am looking forward to getting my first job.
Good luck!
It takes time
I think most do, but I have heard some do not. You just get to where you can proof as you go. I know it seems like you are not very fast right now and that 1200 to 1600 lines a day is completely unreachable, but it is possible. There is an MT with the company I work for who commits to 2300 lines a day. I could not do that. It just takes time to build up your speed and make as many shortcut keys as you can.
You will get better, it takes time
We have all struggled in the beginning. Pretty soon, you will find you look up less and less each day and many days you won't have to look up anything at all! Hang in there and persevere. You will be okay.
It takes a while to break into the field
and start making a decent living. There are huge differences in companies. You might get paid the same cpl but make much better money with one company over the other. If you keep your eyes open, sometimes you find a really good one. Also be sure you have a good Expander program and keep finding ways to speed up your own typing.
You have to retrain your ears for ESLs and it takes
some time. If you tend to have the same ones regularly it really helps. What I do is, if I have blanks I just mark a blank and continue the report. When I finish the report I go back and relisten and I am usually able to get the blanks because I have figured out the accent. If you get QA back make copies of the reports for future reference. If you have a couple of reports by the same doctor and don't have to send them in immediately, sometimes you can pick up something in one report you didn't in another and you can go back and fill in. Getting up for a short break does help, also taking a deep breath and closing your eyes while you replay the dictation helps. I have dictators that I just cringe when I see them come up, but I just take a deep breath and just jump in. If I have the right frame of mind I find that even the difficult ones tend to go better. If I'm tired and frustrated I chose another dictator that isn't so bad and come back to the bad ones. I download via internet so I know who I have and I can do them in any order - I'm not cherrypicking.
I have had new ESL dictators and I swear they aren't speaking English and it can take me a couple of sentences to figure anything out and then I go back to the beginning and I can do it better then.
I only work part time but it takes me...sm
all day to do the work. I have one at home and my other two are in elementary. I only do about 500 lines per day, but I it takes the whole day to do it because I stop and play, read, and BE with my little one. She just turned 5. I used to work in the evenings or at night when she was younger, but now I do it during the day. She has a desk beside mine and she does her "work". But then she wants to be held or read to or played with and that is when I stop and do those things with her. IF I needed to make more money or if I was needed to work more then I would find someone to watch her or work when she is sleeping. I would never expect a child to sit in front of a TV all day by herself (which is what it is if you are not paying attention to her) and be okay and well behaved.
As a new MT, focus on quality and don't worry about quantity. SM
Any decent company who gives a new MT the chance, should be considerate and realize they cannot produce like a veteran MT. Speaking from experience working for myself and hiring several subcontractors, and also working for large nationals, the quality of your work will first be evaluated. With training and experience, your production will increase. If you need to reread, relisten, etc., do it because it will be well worth it. Research every word or phrase you are not sure of. In time, your brain will soak these terms up like a sponge. You will find yourself researching less and less. However, even veteran MTs continue to learn daily. I feel a good MT has good researching skills that never end. Good luck, keep your head up. Research and review your reports before submitting them.
Don't worry - you'll learn all that basic stuff
in school. They used to teach it in secretarial classes, of course, but if you know you want to be an MT, go to one of the top schools (M-Tec and Andrews), and you will be ready when it's time to test.
Does anyone know how long it takes for tests to be graded at MediVoxx or OSI?
I recently tested at both companies and am beginning to wonder how long this process takes. While I am waiting for their replies, if anyone could tell me of other corporations that hire new MTs I would appreciate it.
SOAP Transcription takes on newbies who test well. nm
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MT is not worth it anymore. Would not worry about past. Did need to give ID to be hired though.
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Don't worry anon, this is the same person on the Word Board asking test questions!!
SOAP Transcription takes on experienced newbies for ER and rehab medicine. They use
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