Not my cup of tea but tolerable

I was in the same boat 6 months ago, 28 years on regular transcription and then in a position to have to accept the reality of the pervasiveness of VR these days.  The pay is often half, occasionally two-thirds (at best) of the regular transcription rate. 

The theory is that you don't have to do as much and can complete reports faster so that the pay evens out.  Unfortunately, there is often a good deal of editing on some reports, and you end up taking as much time, or more, to edit as it would for straight transcription, thus making less money. 

Supposedly, the computer "learns" as more and more reports are edited for a particular dictator and less MT editing is required, eventually.  Some programs seem to learn better than others, tho. 

Formatting requirements are also a pain in the neck and time consuming, and even the best VR programs have difficulty with formatting unless the dictation is done in a particular way.  It's even more difficult for a dictator to "re-learn" how to dictate.  Well, maybe the word isn't difficult, but I'm not holding my breath that many dictators will change their ways to accommodate VR.

Even if the pay rate ended up being the same, as I said, it's just not my cup of tea.  A bit boring and lots of maneuvering around on the screen.  I've had more problems with my right hand and wrist in the short time I've done VR than in 28 years with regular transcription.  

VR is more tolerable for me if it isn't a steady diet.  If I get maybe one-third VR and two-thirds regular, I can deal with it.  But there have been times when I have been on VR 100% or close to it, and I'm ready to throw in the towel after pulling my hair out.

I wish you well, hope you have a good VR program and trainer, and try to keep an open mind.  It may not be my cup of tea, but it might be yours.  In any case, it seems inevitable that VR is here to stay, so if we want to stay in the MT biz, it's just a fact of life these days, at least with the larger services and acute care.

• VR editing questions - Lucinda
  • Not my cup of tea but tolerable - CalMT
  • Hi, Lucinda. If you search on editing, you'll find SM - MissIndigo

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