Tales From a Medical Transcriptionist

When I was working as a clerk in a government agency six years ago, we spent the whole day encoding, posting files and other data manually, writing down data, and typing them it on a PC's word processor or database software. We took tabs of numbers, names, and even minutes of meetings. The only time the word transcription was present then, was in the courts, where stenographers write down, or transcribes the legal proceedings that they were listening to.

Fast forward to 2000. As the industrialized economics were focusing on cutting costs, and raising profits, the idea of outsourcing some aspects of daily business duties and processes to other countries, came forth. Western firms started "outsourcing", or literally transferring and moving some of their departments, to countries they prefer, especially if they offered low labor and relocation function. India became one of the earliest, and it still is the largest, recipient of BPO's, or business process outsourcing jobs. Transcription jobs followed the initial call center wave, and transcription jobs were purely medical in nature at the start. Today, the art of transcription covers just about anything that requires the need to be recorded on paper, and kept in electronic files. Transcription jobs at present range from medical and legal transcription, to events and entertainment, podcast, as well as business transcription. I spent two years working as an MT, usually working on orthopedics and plastic surgery cases, as well as doing general clinic notes. Around five years ago, there were only 2 small MT firms doing business in Davao; At present there are around 8 to 10 I guess, and more perhaps are planning of setting shop here. In becoming a good MT, one is required to possess not only a sound comprehension of medical terms and practices, but also the patience of a monk, since there are occasions when you, the MT, will find your doctor's voice to be dreadfully inaudible at times. He or she could be dictating and brushing his/her teeth at the same time, and outright tricky sometimes, but the rewards pay off for those who have the virtues of patience, perseverance and enthusiasm firmly embedded in their brains, and ears as well.

Written by: Charles Joven

Being An MT Editor

I had been an editor for just a short time; I’d say months, and it was quite an experience. I would start my day assigning voice files to my medical transcriptionist (MTs), the type of dictation, the length of the voice files, and their quantity. I would then tally them into my tally sheet, both on paper and in the MS Excel sheet. I then would sit and discuss the instructions with my MTs before they would begin transcribing.

During the day, from 9am until 1pm, I would sit with my MTs while they transcribed. Sitting with them means I would be listening with them while they are transcribing. How is this done? We have a “Y” or “jack” or “splitter” wherein 2 headsets can be plugged in so that 2 people could listen simultaneously. I would just listen with them and let them do their own stuff, i.e. their customized flagging of terms, their auto correction functions, etc. I would take down notes and later, after they’re done with their files, I would give my feedback. T At 2pm, the files would then be submitted for final editing. The process could be put this way: transcribing, editing, and proofreading. The first one is basically transcribing (encoding/typing) what had been dictated in the voice file. The second one is simply re‑listening to the voice file and correcting some misheards (terms typed differently from what were heard or terms typed wrongly). The last one is basically reading the transcribed document for correction and errors, i.e. grammar, punctuations, inconsistencies, redundancies, misspellings, etc.

At the end of the day, I would review the transcribed files with the MTs. I would also create a list for the voicefiles that came early in the morning or during the day for accountability purposes.

6th MICT Congress

6th MICT Congress

What would you want to do or suggest to improve our very own ICT? Or should I say, what do we need to do so that Davao will be known and that "Silicon Gulf" phrase would be used?

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