Constructive feedback is ...
Posted By: sm on 2008-01-02
In Reply to: Can anyone please tell me what constructive - feedback from QA/mentor is?
providing commentary and suggestions on improving the MT's work process (i.e. 'hearing' ESL's better or maybe a more refined search process, etc.) in a professionally worded fashion. Most times when an MT leaves a minefield of blanks in a report it's because he/she because of their lack of experience wasn't able to 'hear' what the dictator was saying.
A true QA person of excellence can recall their own journey on the road of transcription, remember that type of frustration and lack of experience, and translate solutions and suggestions to the MT in a manner that the MT can draw upon that experience and going forward incorporate the QA's suggestions into their work process, correcting any deficiencies they may have in putting out a quality document without a lot of blanks.
In the case of where you work, sometimes constructive feedback is as simple as just filling in the blanks. You can use the document that's been returned to you as a sample for training your ear to better hear what that particular dictator is saying when you get him/her again. In this way, you continue to improve and are more autonomous in the work that you do.
I hope this helps.
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THAT is when constructive feedback helps, not being a jerk about it.
QA should remember how it felt to be MT and struggling to get it right.
I have found no matter how constructive my feedback is... SM
most MTs either don't read it or read and immediately send it to the recycle bin literally and figuratively. So when I send feedback, it is basically a list of their errors, my corrections, and quoting chapter and verse from the BOS if necessary.
Quite frankly, I'm tired of hearing MTs gripe. I used to try to educate and mentor MTs, but it is a thankless job. Someone below said that QA people try to insinuate their egos, but in my experience it is the MTs ego that is getting in the way. So many MTs think they are "excellent MTs" and so many of them are not. At one point, I decided to keep a running log of unacceptable errors that even the most remedial MT should not be making and start posting it here because I'm so sick of MTs posting that QA is unreasonable or big meanies.
So here is a very unacceptable mistake I've seen this morning and I've only been on the clock for an hour...
"pressure ulcer on the left heal"
Of course, when I sent feedback to this MT, she emailed me saying "ha ha, oh it's just a typo." Problem was she did it repeatedly throughout the entire report -- not just once but every instance the dictator talked about the left heel ulcer, she typed "left heal ulcer."
Now, MTs, tell me that I'm not supposed to roll my eyes and be a little irritated that I had to spend fifteen minutes listening to her entire report because such a basic error sends up warning flags, when I should have just had to fill in her blanks.
She didn't say she put "no-no" in her feedback and used baby talk in her constructive criti
I wish she were on my QA team. She sounds wonderful!
Constructive
No one likes being corrected, even in a nice way, especially if doing the same thing the same way for years. Us QAs out here are just like you, employed by a company, we are not the almighty rulers of the world. We are employed to do a job which is not easy and many feelings get hurt along the way. Many MTs just want to be left alone to do their work even if it is incorrect. Thats not an option these days, the work must be correct and quality is mandatory, not an option.
Can anyone please tell me what constructive
I have been following the discussion below about impolite QA and some of you have mentioned receiving constructive feedback from QA and/or mentors. Would someone please tell me what this constructive feedback looks like? Where I work they just fill in the blanks, but I never receive any comments. I often ask questions but receive no response. What am I missing? I hope for some sort of feedback from the QA people and/or my manager but it never happens. Maybe I have been spared the rudeness that some of you experience because they never comment. Which companies offer feedback, tips, constructive criticism? What does the feedback/mentoring look like? Thank you for your responses and help.
If you have nothing constructive to say, then
xx
The answers have been constructive. sm
What I don't understand is why you think they're not. People are stating the truth--the employer calls the shots, not the employee. Just because the truth isn't as comfortably "warm and fuzzy" as you want it to be, doesn't make it less true. It seems that this point is missed very frequently on this board and to try to convince this person that it is the employee who decides the working terms is both cruel and non-constructive. (There are so many cliches that I could use right now I'm not even going to start.)
There have been several posters who lament the loss of jobs to overseas competition but instead of laying blame at the feet of workers who want to call the shots, they instead try to blame the people who are hungry for jobs and are willing to work at getting and keeping jobs that are "too demanding", "too demaning", "not family-friendly" for US workers. Employers are also to blame when their biggest concern is the bottom line and not upholding the society that allowed them to become employers in the first place.
A very good book to read for more on this subject is The World Is Flat by Thomas Friedman. It is a long book but if you're really interested in understanding what is going on in the world today and being prepared for the reality of tomorrow, it's worth the read. Of course, it also requires a mind willing to see the problems that both workers and employers have created.
EXACTLY! Constructive input is always welcome;
nm
First of all, you did not come here looking for constructive advice. SM
You came here to whine and moan about QA and you wanted people to pat you on your head and said "poor little MT, you were right." When you didn't get that, you started throwing a tantrum and telling everyone what big 'ol meanies they are.
By your own admission, you have been an MT for three years. You are in no way qualified to tell QA or the QA supervisor that you like or dislike changes made, account specs, or anything of the sort. Your job is to type according to the account specs and according to whatever other BOS rules QA imposes. Like it or not, this is the job! MTs are called upon to be flexible. Personally, I abhor the BOS, but I like money, I need money to live and feed my kids, so if my employer says do by the BOS book, then that's what I'm gonna do.
I going to go out on a limb here and guess that since you said some of the mistakes you made were "stupid mistakes" you shouldn't have made, then you probably look inexperienced to QA and aren't going to be taken seriously when you complain. When you've become a seasoned MT who makes very few mistakes and then want to complain, you might be taken a bit more seriously.
I have 20 years under my belt. My last QA score (which happened to be yesterday) was 99.5% and that is my consistent score. If one day I get a QA score say below 98%, then I may question it diplomatically. I probably have more experience than the QA person proofing my work, but being condescending is not the way to go. Here you are 3 years experience and you are condescending and go above your QA's head to her boss. Good thing you're starting a new job, sounds like you're going to need it.
That's my 2 cents.
Constructive remarks in message
I have a couple of constructive things to say. First take it to a blog where you can whine to someone who cares. Where you can all wallow in your self-pity while your bills add up and your kids starve and nothing changes the situation. Next, get another job. Stay at MQ if you must, but get another job, be it MT or whatever, that will pay your bills while you whine. Third, get some ambition and help yourselves. Whining to each other will accomplish nothing. Why would I be MQ management when I am offering suggestions to help your plight. I am sure MQ management is very happy with the way things are. They have you whiners that are still there for them to scrape their feet on and not doing a thing about your situation.
LOL. I told you, it's a pet peeve. It was constructive
Personally, I don't like to have errors in any of my writing, personal MB or not, and I would rather have someone tell me on a MB than make a fool of myself elsewhere. To each his/her own.
FWIW, I was not proofreading, just reading. After seeing it the incorrect way umpteen times, I felt compelled to mention it.
Take constructive criticism and LEARN...
I worked for this company and the only reason I quit was I needed a job where i worked 4 hours and that was it. I absolutely LOVED my job with them. They were encouraging yet at the same time made me aware of what I needed to correct, as quality is of utmost importance in medical dictation. I made notes and reviewed the corrections sent back to me in order to undo my errors. The Editor (Rose) taught me so much by giving me these corrections cause it has helped me become a better MT. It is so important in this field to be accurate and have good grammar and spelling skills. Maybe this field isnt for you, but definitely even look into getting perhaps a used grammar/english textbook or the AMMT Book of Style to review, as that might be less expensive than going back to school. I have talked to other MTs who have been in this field for 35 years and said they STILL learn something new every single day. Keep an open mind on this job and learn all you can. In the long run you will be a better MT for it.
Yes, thanks for a thoughtful and constructive comment. SM
Much too rare on this board. I'm shocked by how many people still don't use Expanders and use them very extensively. People need to understand and accept that today's much higher standard of production is set by those who do.
Yeah...let's not try to do anything constructive because everybody is contributing to the problem
I think most of us hear this all the time...let somebody else clean up the mess.
Thank you, that is certainly constructive. How about 17 years, you want me to just change to accomm
nm
Would it kill you people to give constructive advice instead of insults and insensitivity?!?
I understand your frustration. I think you just need to sit down and have a talk with your employer. Find out exactly what they want your status to be. As an employee, yes they do have the right to dictate your hours, where you work, etc., but they do not have the right to jerk you around. If they want you to work at home, then they need to provide for that, not you! Anyone who says otherwise is wrong! In any industry, if a company wants you to commute, they pay for gas/mileage. If they want you to have a cell phone/pager, they either pay for it, or they provide an allowance for it. If they want you to work at home, they provide equipment. It sounds to me like they want way too much and are giving very little. Just because a person/company is the employer, it does not give them the right to treat people like dirt, sending them on wild goose chases, interfering with their life, schedule, expenses, etc. I am sorry you have received such critical and insensitive comments. I hope this works out for you. Blessings!
MQ feedback from QA???
Are you kidding???
Feedback on e-MTS
Does anybody know anything good or bad about this company? I am looking for a good MT employment position, and I have been burned before (by Voice Systems--they don't pay!).
e-MTS (Electronic Medical Transcription Services
Contact: Recruiter
2836 N. University Dr., Coral Springs, Florida 78065
jobs4mts@yahoo.com
Telephone: ., Fax: .
More MDI-MD feedback, please?
Well, I just got offered a statutory position at MDI-MD, but the huge packet of policies, acceptable acronymns & abbreviations, etc. (8 attachments!) plus having to set up a specific testing time with proprietary equipment and specific tech help is a bit daunting, not to mention having to submit a schedule 2 months in advance!
I have satellite as my only option, so that limited my choices of accounts, too. I am apparently going to get an account with a high percentage of ESL dictators.  . I can't TELL you how tired I am of thick accents and having to edit the grammar of ESL dictators.
In addition, I must learn to use their BayScribe with its own word Expander instead of being able to use Word with Smartype.
Is this all worth it?
I would appreciate any feedback, good or bad (hopefully with details) on MDI-MD.
Thanks for the feedback sm
Talking about teens. I heard on the radio the other day that some teenager, I don't know the age skipped school so the father made a sign that said I skipped school and my father is making me stand here. He made her stand on high traffic road for 30 minutes. Most callers said they applauded him.
I feel better that I am not the only. I starting to think that she is getting cold feet about going on to college.
thanks, all, for your feedback.
I will be trying the B&L bifocal contacts next week.
Thanks for the feedback!
I've checked in with my LT colleagues, and they're echoing what you are saying as well. I'm considering it a gross error and landing those applicants in my Delete box.
Thanks!!
Thanks for all your feedback...
At least I know I'm not alone - and yes the "attitude" is what REALLY bugs me. Thanks again.
Looking for feedback
on my job situation at the current time. I underwent major foot surgery (right foot) on 04/10/07. I was off on surgical leave from then until 07/16/07. My doctor did not want to release me back to work until 07/16/07, but my FMLA ran out on 07/02/07. My place of employment gave me the run around about extending my FMLA but they did. I have been back to work transcribing (I am the supervisor and senior Transcriptionist at a local mental health facility) now since 07/16/07. Every evening my foot swells so bad that I cannot sleep. It throbs and hurts.
I asked if I could work just 4 hours a night for the next month to transition back. My supervisor said she did not care; however, my HR person stated that it would affect my insurance, which is based on fulltime status.
Here's the main problem. There are rumors that they are going to get rid of in-house transcription (I have been here for 15 years). They have already hired a service "to help us", etc.
I would like to just work 4 hours a night, or maybe even have my doctor write me an excuse, but with having used all of my FMLA for the year, my job position is not secure, especially in light of what is going on.
Here's the cincher, I have an FMLA person who calls off all the time, and she seems to be protected (insurance, etc.). This woman is just dead weight in my department, but I can do nothing about it because she is protected under FMLA. I had to use all of my 12 weeks of FMLA up at one time due to my surgery. She takes hers here and there, and every pay period receives one day of PTO; so, her FMLA never seems to run out. I am feeling as if I am being treated unfairly here.
I need insurance as does everyone, so I do not want to jeopardize my job position, but my foot is absolutely killing me. Again, this was a major surgery and I do not want to mess my foot up working for these ding-dongs that do not seem to care, that I sit with my right foot up on my desk with a pillow underneath it and an ice pack on top of my foot, while I try to transcribe with my left foot.
This is just utterly ridiculous - - any suggestions as to what I can do here!
I'm tired, !@#%#% off, and just plan fed up.
Thanks everyone for the feedback! sm
This helped tremendously! Have a great weekend.
Thanks for feedback everyone
All of your responses REALLY helped. I feel better about my decision to move on. I am not going to say anything to the PT office. I am looking for more acounts and aleady have interviews with 2 companies. I have learned a very valuable lesson - Be cautious and cover your back!
I ask for and get feedback
and even though I have done this for years and years now, what I do is use what I get back and put in spellcheck several different ways to help me with a term that may not be one I use on a daily basis but may run across again; therefore right there for me.
Thanks for the feedback
Thanks so much for the feedback on Amphion; I'm definitely going to contact them as they sound great! Do you know of people who've worked for them or have you had any first-hand experience?
I realized in my posting that I made an error. I meant to ask about any companies that pay by the PAGE (not the line). Would you happen to know of any that compensate by the page?
Thanks for all of the feedback.
I don't feel so alone now.
Thanks for the feedback!
Ok, so most of you put in 8, but also have a minimum line count that you can do plus some within your 8 hours. Makes sense!
I don't have a minimum assigned to me per se. If the work is heavy, they expect more. If the work is slow, you can do less or take days off, etc.
I do get incentive pay for anything over 1200 lines a day (M-F average through pay period), but did not sign a contract to a set amount.
I think that is part of my issue as well. It is open-ended, so I am not sure how much to give them as far as lines.
I want to go completely to pool work beginning in January and I greatly appreciate this. I am just going to have to turn phone off, get my 8 in for the pool work company and call it a day!!
Anyone have any feedback
on the suggestion to slow down and listen ahead. Not only do I have trouble doing it, but is seems fruitless, as so many of my dictators change their minds several times and other such nonsense.
I would love to hear from those who have tried (or continue to make it work) and any suggestions or thoughts on it.
Thanks! 
Have you given this MT quite a lot of feedback?
Just to make sure your not my STM :)
I have gotten feedback from some errors occasionally or blanks that I missed, but nothing more the last couple of months when compared to the last 9 months that I have been with the company.
How much feedback do you give your MTs whether good or bad? Just curious if you don't mind answering.
Thanks.
Feedback...sm
No, I haven't heard anything like that with the Kensingtons, but that sort of thing does happen, apparently more so when using a desktop transcribe unit like a C-phone.
A problem like that might be managed by inserting a "pocket equalizer" (like the equalizers on stereo equipment) between the headset and the source. These are usually battery driven. Koss makes the EQ50, for instance - about $20 online.
Or, you can get a device that amplifies the signal and cleans it up, like the Boostaroo. The amplification from the Boostaroo lets you turn the volume from the source way down. Minimizing the drive (power) coming off your source can sometimes eliminate or minimize these unwanted audio signals in the new amplified signal that gets sent to the headset from the Boostaroo. Unfortunately, for any given situation there's no way to predict whether either the equalizer or amplifier will help.
feedback please!
I don't think the original posted so I am going again. Sorry if it posted twice.
I am new to being an MT and have only worked for 9 months now. I absolutely love this job, but I am falling out of love with the small company that I work for. I have little to no support and it is not uncommon to even get a response within the week. My work is dwindling and so is my paycheck. It is all very disorganized and I have been lost in the shuffle.
I work hard and am good at what I do. I am very accurate and am getting faster. I am just lost at what I should do next. I need more income than this and I may be very independent, but a little support would be nice.
I guess the point of this post is to get some feedback on my next step.
Should I stick it out with the company to get more experience time before I start looking elsewhere?
Since I have never worked for any other company, what type of company is the preference for most MTs? Large or small? IC or employee?
Also, does anyone have any recommendations on a good place to start looking?
Thank you so much!
You actually get POSITIVE feedback
nm
feedback Now you can check
reports yourself, when you check your line count choose detailed report and then when report numbers are shown you can click on them and look at report...... might help you out some for feedback
Thanks for the feedback and well wishes
I am preapproved for a loan but the payments scare me. I've never owned a home on my own before. I'm also cashing in my small 401k to use for it. I'm young yet, under 35, and know that that is not the smartest of ideas, but my NOT-darling, boyfriend, father of my youngest (2) (have 3 total) is prone to violent behavior. I've put up with his rantings for 3 years, NOT anymore. If I can just get through the next couple weeks .......the house is empty.....so hoping if things go okay, I can move in, maybe before closing. PRAY for me!
Feedback on B.I. (right now on MTjobs.com)?
Does anybody know anything bad or good about this company? I am looking for a good MT employer.
B.I.
Contact: Robin Loatman
105 Paul Mellon Court, Suite 15, Waldorf, Maryland 20602
rloatman@earthlink.net
Telephone: 301-843-9380, Fax: 301-843-7744
Feedback on Spheris
Does anybody know anything good or bad about this company? I am looking for a good MT employment position, and I have been burned before (by Voice Systems--they don't pay!).
Spheris
Contact: Recruiting Dept.
720 Cool Springs Blvd., Ste 200, Franklin, Tennessee 37067
www.spheris.com
Telephone: 000-000-0000, Fax: 000-000-0000
Feedback on SoftScript
Does anybody know anything good or bad about this company? I am looking for a good MT employment position, and I have been burned before (by Voice Systems--they don't pay!).
SoftScript Inc.
Contact:
501 Colorado Ave.; Suite #206, Santa Monica, California 90401
Feedback about Medware?
Okay, gang, here is one more. I see that they are listed as the 2005 and 2002 AAMT Employer of the Year, and I am scheduled to test with them tomorrow.
Any feedback, good or bad, on Medware?
Honest feedback. SM
Personally, I would be very willing to relocate as I plan to do that soon, anyway. Just haven't decided where yet. Plus, if your particular location is on the east coast, that would be a definite bonus for me (personally).
Keep us posted, please?
Feedback on Proscript?
Hi, again, O mighty MTs!
I don't know where I found it, but somewhere I ran across a company called ProScript out of Florida. Does anybody know anything about them, good or bad? Enquiring minds want to know...
Oracle feedback?
Any input on working for Oracle, positive or negative, would be appreciated! Thank you!
Thanks for the very valuable feedback. nm
x
What kind of feedback have you been getting? I would never
ever knock an MT down. You have to give positive feedback. That's part of being a good QA person. I have seen some QA that were rather harsh in their words and I do not feel that is the way most QA are. There are a few though.
Thanks for the feedback, y'all.
Didn't think it was only me. One national company, I did three months, worked until I got my bonus, figured I had deserved it. The next company I went with I lasted six months, six months too long, not wanting to change, hoping it would get better. The fourth national, I lasted two weeks, two weeks too long, and by that time, I knew what I was looking for, so the last company was 2 days. Got wise! And as another poster stated, I HATE to change jobs, but in this business, it seems to be forced on you. When will these companies wise up? But then, again, they have nothing to lose.
That's why all QA staff should cc their feedback to the
entire QA staff! QA needs to be on the same page. By cc'ing the QA staff (blindly of course), QA can get on the correct page. That way, if one QA has a question, bat it back and forth to determine the answer. QA people have a good rapport with each other for the most part and are very accepting of the correct way a company does things. If someone challenges something, then we just find the correct answer and that is that! Also, the QA staff I most recently worked with had an updated frequently most common errors and the correct answers that they passed out to the MT staff and it included the reasons for the correct response. It does work.
Your feedback was wonderful
Thank you
I'd love more feedback.
Thanks for the emails but could use some more! All responses are kept confidential. The more details the better.
QA workload/feedback
As a former QA I can tell you that it was different before they gave us a quota to produce a certain number of edits per shift. It used to be quality was the important issue and then it got to be quantity and at the same time they cut back on the staff in QA and, to me, this just spells greed. We no longer had the time to provide proper feedback on each report and still achieve the quantity they wanted. It is sad. The situation only seems to get worse over time. Greed is the root of all evil and will be the cause of demise in this industry.
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