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Serving Over 20,000 US Medical Transcriptionists

All clear and no ESLs, only wish

Posted By: VR on 2007-11-08
In Reply to: Is all the dictation clear and non-ESL to get great - lines like this? nm Impressed

I would be in 7th heaven if this were the case. I have my share of ESLs but the ones I have the VR picks them up much better sometimes than our English ones. I have no clue why? One English physician I think really good, the VR fails on this one??? I have some dictators (as probably all do) who talk with speaker phones, snort and go on but I am very pleased with VR and really love.


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Don't think most of us are blessed with the clear sound, repetition, and few ESLs that you must
s
can we clear this up once and for all?

What does pulling number XX mean ?  I noticed now it also says "click on the reply by email link" whereas before it said "click on the blue link" which had me confused also.  There were quite a few blue words but no blue link except back to Main Board. 


 


Just to be clear
I have been using NCMT as my screen name on this site for quite some time. I don't know who the other NCMT is that made the post above, but it wasn't me. I personally do not care for Kikki and her negative outlook on everything.
Since it is very clear--sm
That the beloved Ms. Kikki is back and really trying to cause havoc again on this board with her rude comments to everyone, I can only suggest that we do not take her bait and give her fuel for fire.  She seems to have it is for a select few on this board and also seems to love to  attack what people eat.  Maybe if we do not acknowledge her rude comments, she will get tired of it and go away again.  Either that, or we all stop posting anything for a day or two and she will have nothing to make rude nasty comments on.  Just a thought.  If we stick together, maybe we can get her to leave.
yes there are some that don't even try to be clear

and you can get really fed up sometimes. On the other hand, there are plenty of native speaker doctors who make me mad too!  Some of the ESLs are really good. Better a good ESL doc than an American mumbler


Also, was it not clear that...
the site was resold again to someone else?  This is old news...
Well that;s clear as mud. nm

Clear something up for me, please...sm
Do you mean editing as in QA, or editing voice/speech recognition work?  I thought QA positions were paid hourly.  Someone correct me if this is wrong.  If you mean editing voice recognition work, then that pay is too low.  Actually, it is too low for QA, too, IMO. 
You are not clear at all. Look around for what?
She is looking for a macro and you're telling her "it's" a setting somewhere in options or customize. ????? Before you get your dander up again, you might try explaining exactly what she should be looking for.
I would rather do some ESLs that some of the
sloppy southern drawls that you cannot ever understand. Wish those people would learn that not everyone is in love with a southerner.
ESLs
What is an ESL ..... and I agree with you completely about the time spent on GRAMMAR!!!!

They can take the smallest so-called "errors" and put a black check by your name. We are medical transcriptionists, NOT English teaches.

Any GOOD MT has equally good grammar. Plus there should be less emphasis on grammar and more emphasis on the medical terminology. Do you REALLY think the doctor cares if a comma was put in or left out? NOT !!!!

I wasted a lot of time agonizing over GRAMMAR when I could have been getting in more lines and doing what is best for the patient .... accurate medical terminology.
Bad ESLs

Wouldn't it make sense for companies with bad ESLs, to hire US MTs who speak the dictator's mother language to do the transcription? 


ESLs
If it makes you feel any better, I once worked part-time for a doctor in his office. I wanted to get back into a hospital setting so I gave him my notice. He couldn't understand what I loved about being an MT. He said, "At least I have the benefit of reading their lips." AND I was once transcribing for this absolutely miserable ESL one day, pretty much the way you described, and waiting for him to hang up. Instead he was chatting with someone when I heard "I don't know how they do it, but I give them a lot of credit." I had to rewind to make sure he was talking about transcription and he was. Not all of them are that sweet. I once had to show an English book and the BOS to an extremely arrogant ESL oncologist. I hope you had a little chuckle here and feel better!
ESls
That's why AAMT is no longer a valid entity for us. The standards have been lowered to accommodate the ESLS because they can't make a decent sentence and don't know how to convey what they did or did not do to the patient. How the hell are we supposed to read their minds???? Those who can speak English and demand verbatim get what they deserve. Just the other day, the doc gave a female who had a vasectomy. He was a verbatim ESL and he got exactly what he dictated. When enough of them get sued or reprimanded, maybe standards will return, but I have no doubt in my mind that ESLs have lowered the standards at the hospitals and that's why we no longer change the dictation to make it sound like they at least passed English class. When I started it was not verbatim. We edited to change context and not content. Hospitals should make it clear they either speak clearly, or write clearly, and failing both of those, they should hire a PA or someone who can dictate like it should be, and some of the PA's aren't much better.
ESLs sm
Once they know you're good at it, expect them to send you nothing but!
ESLs
Hey, we all were horrible at ESLs (and I have to be honest that I often still struggle myself), so don't feel bad about that is how it goes. :) Good luck to you.
Had it up to here with ESLs....
I used to be one of those conscientious MTs who went back and re-listened sometimes 2 and 3 times, because I hate to send blanks to QA. After this morning, NO MORE !!!! This particular ESL doesn't even say the complete word, only the first syllable which is mumbled and scrunched into the first syllable of the next word. From this moment on, I go through it once, proof it and off it goes. If it's shot full of holes, then so be it!!! I'm telling ya, Wal-Mart is looking better and better. UGH !!!!!
What about ESLs
who dictate 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 10, etc.? These people are prescribing medications and they can't even COUNT in English? I can see messing up and missing a number, but totally messing up like that? On more than one report?
If only the ESLs would be more
organized, be briefer, and pay attention and use normal phrasing instead of these long, awkward sentences they put together. They are strangely worded whether they are routine or made up on the fly. If only they would notice which phrases we can't understand and study the non-ELS dictators' short reports. If they could keep their reports short, we could knock them out much faster and be done with them.
ESLs
Speed up the dictation and listen carefully..then repeat by slowing down the speed. Think in terms of how the ESLs would transpose certain leters. What nationality is the dictactor? Example: S might actually be a T. Hope this helps. Good luck!
ESLs
I can totally relate.  I get SO fustrated with some of these ESL dictators because like you say they cannot speak decent English.  And yes I wonder how do they understand their patients?  If they can't speak English properly can they just understand it when spoken to them?  I cannot believe they actually have MDs either.  I swear sometimes I sit and just curse when trying to figure out what they are saying.  I am glad I am not the only one.  I just feel like saying if you can't even speak where I can understand what you are saying then you don't need to be a doctor.  I know being a doctor entails much more than speaking properly but geez they are terrible. 
I do a lot of ESLs too and I can actually take

an Asian with a very thick accent and do him without any blanks at all, but then I get the fast talking, slurring, nonenunciating American born doc and I have problems.  Even if I had a copy of his physical exam that he says the same every time I still would not be able to hear it because it is so slurred.


I recently started a new account and I have doctors with 13 or more letters in their last name and I just take a deep breath and prepare to have a difficult report, but they have no accent at all and then I get a Dr. John Smith and his accent is so strong that I have a headache and am cross-eyed when I get through his dictation. 


Like it or not the ESLs are here to stay and you can learn to do them or you will find your options limited, especially if you do acute care. 


ESLs
Yeah she made the comment let his own people figure out what he is saying. She said this out of fustration. I for one know how fustrating it is when you are struggling to understand what a dictator is saying. You just get so fustrated. It is our job to transcribe no matter if it is an ESL or American, that is true. That doesn't mean we can't get fustrated when we have to struggle to transcribe what they say.
Also I think she meant the MTs in India are the ones doing it for 3-4 cpl. That's why alot of outsourcing goes over there because they work much cheaper. I guess what I am trying to say is I understand your point. It is our job. But I understand hers too. It is very fustrating. :)
ESLs
You know that is a great way to look at it. I hope I gain something for all the struggle I have to go through to understand them. At least I will have gained some experience.
Not only the ESLs
We're being awful hard on ESLs, and alot of the defense for them is they are no worse (or possibly better) than poor-speaking English speakers. The bottom line is that if you are speaking for other people, you should speak clearly, regardless of where you are from.
ESLs
I have had a real difficult time with some ESLs too. But I was on an account where basically I could do them or not work. So I pretty much had to just do it. It got a little better the more I would hear the accents. And I mean a little. Do they provide you with samples for these ESLs? That often helps alot. Good luck!
ESLs
I totally agree with you. It is just as important to know how to speak it as write it if not more so in medicine. There is no excuse. It doesn't matter what nationality -- Latino, Indian, European, or Asian. It makes no difference. They should learn the language fluently to practice medicine. An accent is one thing. But just flat out not being able to communicate clearly. There is no excuse. And no you don't see ESL lawyers. At least I haven't. I am sure you will get some posts telling you you are racist or a bigot. But it won't be from me. And by no means do I have a problem with ESLs who are fluent speaking in English.
ESLs
I have one who says "please use inverted commas," which means (to you and me) quotation marks.
ESLs
I have also heard them refer to blood pressure as 120 by 80 for example. I don't know.
ESLs
You know you are just preaching to the choir.  So what if they say 120 by 80.  You are a professional.  You should know what to put down.  If you want to gripe about something, make it something that matters. 
If ESLs want our $, should be able to
x
A lot of ESLs
I was told that they have a lot of ESLs so if you are ok with them you will probably like them. 
You said VR does not get ESLs
but the platform I work on does them better probably than I could. I am totally amazed it can but it does.
ESLs
Well, fortunately for me, ESLs were my specialty because of my strong background in foreign languages, so I loved them when I was working. BUT I've known many excellent MTs, including my own sister, who had an extremely hard time with them and would literally weep, wail and gnash their teeth! And you're right, on some accounts, the great majority of dictators are (or were) ESLs. Why, I don't know. I retired at about the time when everything was starting to be sent offshore, a few years ago. I'm glad I was able to retire before our whole profession had gone down the tubes.
ESLs
Well, fortunately for me, ESLs were my specialty because of my strong background in foreign languages, so I loved them when I was working. BUT I've known many excellent MTs, including my own sister, who had an extremely hard time with them and would literally weep, wail and gnash their teeth! And you're right, on some accounts, the great majority of dictators are (or were) ESLs. Why, I don't know. I retired at about the time when everything was starting to be sent offshore, a few years ago. I'm glad I was able to retire before our whole profession had gone down the tubes.
Probably best for ESLs.
Or really anybody who can type better than they can dictate.

My PCP has a point-and-click system and during my visits the PCP spends most of the time typing comments into the space provided. I have a feeling that a lot of providers may quickly grow weary/frustrated with the constant typing/spelling/grammar when they should be seeing patients. I'd hate to see what their medical records look like.
ESLs
I have had my share of hard ESL doctors, but by far the worst dictators are English and just go too darn fast or speak sloppy.
What are you talking about? Be a bit more clear.
IC?  New pay?  QA?  WTF?
LOUD AND CLEAR
and let us not forget the nonresponsive e-mails when one does inquire as to where their lines are going. Take the old server down here and there and lose 300 LINES A DAY. YES, WE LOVE IT! NOT
Do you want everybody to clear the board for you? sm
Jump in and bring up a topic. :)
I should've been more clear.
I'm saying I'm okay because I have several plans I'm working on and several people are helping me. All it took was calling my parents. My Dad gave me so much confidence and made me remember who I am or used to be. I am going in for some counseling and more planning will take place then. He sold his truck a few weeks ago, so we are down to my truck. He stated that he won't leave without a vehicle. I going to be pushing very hard for him to find one and that will give him more incentive to leave. He has come to realize that we are not a good match. I have neglected to mention that when he is calm, he is actually okay. He was stirred up lately because I contacted my daughter's family for the first time since she was born. I knew this would upset him, but I didn't care. She needed that. I realize that you are all just trying to look out for me and that is why I posted originally. It seems some of you are turning on me and that's okay too. I think I was in panic-mode when I posted the first time and the finer points of what I was saying were missed. The emotional abuse has been worse on me and my kids than the physical. They were not even here yet last time it happened. The incident two weeks ago was because I was forcing a trip to see my daughter's family. He doesn't handle the step-father part very well. I will stop posting if it will make everyone more comfortable, but I did want to acknowledge those of you that helped me clear my head. I will be going to church this weekend. He will be speaking to the minister. He will be on his own if things don't improve with counseling. I may not have all of your support, but the support of my grandparents and my parents is much more important to me. Thanks again. Sorry if I offended anyone's sensibilities. I obviously have. Bye. Jodie :)
Please Clear Up Questions
What brand keyboard do you actually have? I was looking at the Kinesis Maxim and it does not completely come apart but stays hooked at the top.
The problem is when it's not clear

whether it applies to you or not. Such as the statement: "You are leaving too many blanks." How many blanks are "too many?" In what circumstances?


I think it is just a lazy way of supervising - just send it to everyone instead of dealing with the individual culprits.


And, no, I don't consider that "communication."


Isn't it pretty clear?

You say you'll have set hours to work.  If your baby needs a didee change or a bottle during those hours, or if he/she's just cranky and needs to be picked up and loved, what are you going to do?  If you're a normal mother, you're going to stop working and take care of your child.  So that pretty much answers your question, doesn't it. 


I will never understand why some people think they can work at home with an infant.  After all, if you worked outside the home and took your infant with you and he needed attention, you'd have to stop your work and tend to him there, so the fact remains, unless one is superhuman, they cannot work and take care of a child at the same time.  Pretty clear cut!


 


your post is not clear - what exactly are you trying to do?
x
Thanks for making that clear
I wouldn't want to offend the wrong person. So sorry. but to the other NCMT, I meant every word. :^)
I wasn't clear about that - what I mean was that - sm
more likely than not, they'll get ripped off on their minute-counts, dinged for nonexistent 'mistakes', or have some of their pay 'skimmed', as has been complained about in so very many posts throughout this website, and by too many companies to count. I suppose the truly honest employers in MT can probably be counted on half the fingers of one hand.

You're right about 'weighted' dictators, and it's actually a good thing. I think if a doctor is a difficult dictator to transcribe, he should be weighted, and in addition to paying the MT more to type him, the hospital should be charged more to transcribe him. If it cost them more to have the garbage-work transcribed, maybe somewhere down the road all those ESL doctors right off the boat from somewhere else won't look like such a good deal, after all.
He would have mentioned it so it was clear it
x
Did you clear your cookies? nm

The first thing I would get clear on
dictators = more than one dictator.

dictator's = belonging to the dictator; e.g., the dictator's accent.

dictators' = belonging to the dictators; e.g., the dictators' inability to spell.
Your remarks are about as clear as mud. MT from CA nm
nm