Does speech recognition really give you less typing?
Posted By: Michele on 2007-01-22
In Reply to:
TTS, LLC says that you really only have to proofread. Does anyone know if this is true?
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ASR = automatic speech recognition
which is the same thing as basically any other voice recognition system. It all sucks and still takes just as long, sometimes longer, than standard transcription and the system is never as good at doing its job as the makers try to make people believe. Therefore, it is the MT who has to get in there and clean up the mess. That can be anywhere, not just an MQ issue.
As far as the rest, it just sounds like the company made some changes that ruffled the feathers of a few MTs. Clearly, some talk-the-talk of leaving and may do so, it's a free country. But, others still stay. The confusion is about how bad is bad. If I were in my 20s and felt like the company I was working for was jerking me around - I'd be gone in a New York minute. But, I am a whole lot older than that and have built up a buffer of sorts over time and feel that many things I thought were so important (or infuriating) in my 20s is pretty petty and lame now. So, it's hard to tell what is real and what is just gossip and pot-stirring.
I've read some compelling posts. Some quite interesting. Some insinuate the company doesn't care about the MT. How much caring do you need? When I'm hired to do a job, that is my focus. I do not want nor expect my employer to nurtur me and tuck me into bed at night. Just let me do my job and leave me alone. What's wrong with that? I am, however, concerned about this uneven workload where some MTs have little to no work, while others have an abundance. That's just poor management.
If no one wants to give the "real deal" of what it is like working there, that is fine. All I could do was ask.
So, thanks anyway.
4 cents per line for speech editor/voice recognition
Is this a decent pay?
Orion Transcription/Vital Lines/Speech 4 Me
I am a newbie and have been dealing with these three companies about the possibility of working with them. Does anyone have any information on any of the three companies? Good or bad.
Voice Recognition
Hi everyone, I have a general question about voice recognition. Is it worth the investment to buy a voice recognition program for a medical Transcriptionist working from home? I ask because I have only been doing this for about 2 months, recently graduated from a MT program at Kennesaw State in Georgia, and I feel as if even after I get the experience and even being a fast typer like I am, I am never going to be able to earn enough doing this where I can move out on my own. I live with my mom right now. So I had the idea of a voice recognition program in combination with my own typing. I realize that voice recognition is not perfect so I would edit as I typed. I know there are a few hospitals going this route now so I figured why not me. I would love opinions on this. Thanks.
Voice Recognition
No! No! No! Voice recognition is nowhere where it needs to be right now. Very few dictators enunciate clearly enough for the system. It is very expensive and we just got it in our hospital and are very very disappointed with the results. Out of over 1000 doctors, only about 10 of them speak clearly enough to produce good results. In about another 5 years, hopefully things will improve. By the way, we have Dolbey Voice.
VOICE RECOGNITION
I am new entrant in the MT field and find typing long hours real punishing. I want to share the experience of anyone who has tried voice recognition technology and its practical use in reducing typing work load and speeding up work. I have tried it myself and find the process of correcting the output to be as time-consuming as doing it manually.
ASR, VR or other voice recognition
programs. Does anybody have any advice on how to zip through these reports like we are apparently supposed to be doing? I find editing often takes much longer than it would have taken me to type it straight out. It's not so bad when dictators are really good, but most do present daily challenges. It is so frustrating. I am open to whatever advice you have to improve my editing skills.
God bless and thank you in advance.
VR = Voice Recognition
Also referred to by other similar names. Basically, what it means is that dictated reports are run through software systems that are supposed to recognize the speaker and speaker's words and transfer them to a transcribed report. Then that report is supposed to be lightly and quickly edited for correct wording, punctuation, etc. What none of these VR systems can do is ignore background noise and extraneous sounds or even understand the dictator who is talking while chewing gum, eating or for Heaven's sake anything else. VR cannot determine the difference between the identified MD and the PA, NP or whomever is actually dictating the report for that MD. VR will not necessarily get the correct word when it does understand the correct word (ex: 2, to, too, two or fair/fare, or by/buy, etc.) VR cannot think or reason. It cannot go back and change anything the dictator requests to be changed or added. It never knows what to do with "um, next, a, and stuttering."
All VR software will add and leave out words. I've never worked on any VR report that did not require just about as much work as standard transcription. They all need something. In fact, some are so bad that it is just easier to delete everything the system puts in and retype the whole thing from scratch. And companies want to pay rather poorly for us to edit these reports. VR is a mess everywhere.
US real MTs or US voice recognition?
x
Voice Recognition/ Dying Breed????
Hello!
I have been scriping and saving to afford going to MT school. Now two ladies that I know, wives of doctors, have warned me not to spend my time and money on MT school because MTs are a dying breed and voice recognition technology is taking over the MTs work, all that is needed now are people to do data entry which pays very little. Is this true??? Something to worry about in the future or are they just uninformed about what it is that MTs do? Any imput would be greatly appreciated!!!
Thanks in advace,
~Kate
Editing, Voice Recognition, Mentors
I need some information please. Can someone fill me in on Editing, Voice Recognition (I know what it is but don't know how about it in terms of a transcriptionist's duties), and also, can you find someone to mentor you to become a Transcriptionist and how would you find such a person?
Line requirements in Voice Recognition
For those of you that do VR, I was wondering what your hourly or daily line requirments are, if you work part-time or full-time, and how many hours you work per day. Newbie in the field and I was just wondering what the "norm" out there was. 
Only if you'll get into voice recognition and editorship. Look at how many hits a job on the job
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Typing on a lap top
I too type on a lap top. I use a wireless keyboard. I prefer it to a desk top.
typing speed
So, what is the required typing speed for someone who is looking hired? Or should I say the minimum.
typing programs
I used this website www.typingtutor.com and it was very helpful. You said you were using a MAC? I don't believe you will be able to use that once you are working, and I think that is a problem with training with M-Tec because of the software they use.You can check with them, but I'm pretty sure I saw that on their website.
typing lab values
Can someone please help with ponters on how to type lab values in H&Ps. Which ones are commonly dictated one way but meant to be typed using decimal point values? thx in advance for your help.
The typing program I have is .......
Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing, which I have had for years. It doesn't cost much and allows you to practice your typing and improve typing speed.
Also, used to get a lot of headaches sitting in front of the computer but since I bought a radiation shield/screen to hang in front of my monitor, that has relieved a lot of my eye strain and headaches. It tones down the brightness of the monitor, which I didn't realize was so bright and how it affected by eyes until I put the filter screen in front of it. But I also wear glasses now for nearsightedness as a result of sitting in front of computers for years in previous jobs.
Anyway, hope this helps.
$5....but what the heck are you typing about? :) nm
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typing test?
I am testing for jobs, and they want a typing test sent to them. My comment... why? I type what I hear not what I read. The brain is trained in a different way. I can only type 60 wpm without my shortcuts and stedmans smart type. They want 80 wpm. I dont know if I should test or not?
typing tests
Don't understand the reason either.....I just take the test...
First you aren't typing 150 lph, you are
transcribing 150 lph - big difference. That lph isn't bad for being a newbie and you can't compare yourself to an MT with 10 years of experience.
You can make more macros, use more expansions. If you are trying to work around kids you probably aren't working as much as you think you are. There is a free program you can download called Time Stamp (I think) and you use it to clock in and out to show the time you are actually transcribing. You'll be surprised how much time you think you are working and how much you are actually working.
Try to get up early before kids and work 2 hours. If they are young enough to still take naps, work when they are napping, or give them at least an hour of quiet time in their rooms so you can work. Work after dinner when your husband can look after them.
Don't get on the internet unless you are researching and do your research and don't visit other websites or check your e-mail. If possible make a note about what you need to look up and save it for when you take a break and you can look up several at one time.
I've been doing this for 20 years. I'm not a fast typist, I can't transcribe with the speed ramped up. I know people who can turn out the lines, but I have also seen some of their work and it isn't a quality product - not saying that it isn't possible to do both, just that fast isn't always good.
typing speed
I am starting school the end of this month and only type about 25 wpm just concerned and wondering if anyone else started out typing this slow and how it went for them and if school really help to pick-up their speed...or should
i just forget it and move on to something else.
You aren't going to be typing 60 wpm. You are going to have to
look up words, format, spellcheck, etc. so just because you can type 60 wpm doesn't mean a thing. You also have to figure it the difficulty of the account, how lines are counted .........
typing error
Who are you, the typing police? Do you get pleasure out of insulting people? Or are you the perfect typist who never makes any errors? Don't think so!!!!!!!!!
typing test
It was a timed typing test.
I was not fast or accurate enough to pass, but I am improving. Have you worked online without taking a typing test?
Typing tests
I've never seen a typing test, timed or untimed, as part of any medical transcription application process. Transcription tests, yes, but not TYPING tests.
If I had ever been asked to take one, I'm afraid I would have gotten up and walked out. I would have assumed that the employer didn't understand the nature of the work they were calling "medical transcription." If they didn't understand that, they wouldn't be likely to understand much else about it, either, and that would be unfortunate for everyone.
If you're applying to legitimate MT employers, I don't think they will ask you to take a typing test. I do not believe our students have reported having to take a typing test, either.
You might want to check what MT services actually require.
That being said, you should . . . of course . . . improve your keyboard speed. That isn't achieved by going faster, but by keying slowly enough that you don't make any typos, but just keep going on and on. Eventually, you'll speed up. Try keying medical reports and books. There are lots of them on the internet.
In order for you to work comfortably as an MT, you'll need to be able to keyboard a whole shift, or about 7 hours with a 10 minute break every hour and a half-hour to an hour break in the middle.
You can do this if you start now and work at it gradually and without causing yourself stress. :)
Typing Tests
I have applied to several online companies and I haven't found any that don't require a typing test. Do you know of any? Also, as a newbie with no working experience, it's extremely to get my foot in the door anywhere. Thanks.
typing test
I agree, when I first started radiology I had to look up every 30 seconds or so - and I'd been doing this for 10 years. If you want you can take a quick typing test at www.typingtest.com, It would be purely for your own knowledge but it is kind of cool to see your improvement.
I remember seeing a job posting that said (this job is not worthwhile unless you can type 75 WPM) which I thought was very stupid. But they pointed out this website and I was at 73 wpm - when I started 10 years ago I was only at 45 WPM.
WPM doesn't matter as much as your knowledge - this is true - so consider that before you apply for a job that even mentions WPM!!
If you need extra practice typing itself...
goodtyping.com
COOL!
I was typing 150lph my first week. sm
It certainly isn't impossible. No, it isn't great pay for someone who has a skill that is needed and is good at it, but you do need to start somewhere. I don't think companies are willing to start newbies out at 7-9cpl because they can and do hire experienced MTs at that rate. Why should they take a chance on someone unproven when they can get someone who has been in the industry 5+ years at the same rate? That doesn't happen in any profession that I know of.
I've been a working MT now for just under a year and can type 300 lph doing acute care and more if I am doing podiatry. Even at 6-7 cpl I can make a decent amount of money. I'd love to be getting more money, but that just isn't happening. Look at the job boards, most companies are advertising for 3-5 years experience starting at 7-9cpl, any higher than that is not the norm. Is it fair? Probably not, but it is the reality of this industry. Those who don't love their work, are not good at it, or are only in it for the money will be getting out and finding another profession. That will leave less competition and eventually the wages will begin to go up again.
I think there has just been a huge surge in new people entering MT in the last few years because of all the 'get rich quick' ads out there, but people are starting to realize this isn't an easy job.
Who knows, maybe I'm just too optomistic. 
From my typing school days
I recall learning that a word consists of five characters, spaces, symbols, etc., so it seems to me that they are asking for a 65-character line rate.
How do you increase typing speed?
I am a fairly new MT who can type approx 150-170 lines per hour. I work p/t approx 500-1200 lines per day but it seems like I work f/t hours because of my typing speed. I have kids at home so when I get an hour long report I tend to try to hurry and that means I make more errors and slows down my typing speed.
My problem is I am constantly working so I can't find the time to work on my typing. I have only been working for about 3 months and am at 150-170 lph. How long should I give myself to get up to 200-300 lph like many can type?
what type of reports are you typing?
I do alot of psyche and some of my reports range from 150-450 lines per report. So when you look at it like that it is not bad. On the other had if you are doing radiology that would be totally different. Again some of mines average from 15-30 lines. That is with a 65 character line.
Typing speed is no guarantee of success
as an MT. If you haven't had any MT training, you will fail rather spectacularly. Get some training. Get GOOD training, not some matchbook-cover school. Andrews, M-Tec, Career Step--those schools will provide the training that will get you a job. Don't try to cut corners with a cheap school. If you get the right training, and if you have the talent for the job, you will not lack for work.
looking into a typing CD to increase speed before school...
I'm planning on learning online with either M-Tec or CS, but need to wait until January to do so. Meanwhile, I thought it would be wise to do two things: 1. learn my Mac computer inside and out (I only know enough to get around plus alittle extra. This includes Word) 2. increase my typing speed
I recently bought Mavis Beacon typing 16 deluxe (I think that's what it's called) to help w/ typing speed... should arrive soon. Did anyone else do something similar to "ramp up" for MT school? Was there a need? Did it help you? Anything else I could be doing between now and January to get ready to go back to school?! (I'm 44 w/ four teens at home. Been a full time mom, and am alittle "rusty" when it comes to studying! But I'm up to the challenge, and family is very supportive.)
Your grammer seems good, and with your typing speed.....
you should have no problem. Wish you were in California.
There are several free typing sites online.
goodtyping.com is one of them I know. It uses a series of typing tests to improve on quality and speed. It helped me.
You typing on downloaded templates or something? Sounds like someone
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More important than typing speed I hope
you chose a good school. Doesn't matter how fast you type if you can't get a job because she chose a more "affordable" school that didn't give you the education you need to get a job.
Plenty of jobs out there w/o typing tests. Haven't
s
Don't Give Up!
I graduated in March of 2005, and I thought I would never find a job. I eventually had to take another job to supplement income, but then out of the blue my prayers were answered and I got a job working at home with my kids. So don't give up, it is possible to work out of your home out of school.
No one is going to give you something for nothing.
Life just doesn't work that way. You will need good training to have any reliable prospects, regardless of what line of work you decide to go into. If you want to be an MT, get the best education you can. The better your training, the more options you will have and the better your income will be. There are two schools that are universally recognized by MT employers as turning out job-ready employees: Andrews and M-Tec. With an education from one of those two schools, doors will open for you. Don't waste your money or your time on one of the cheap schools or allow yourself to be taken in by someone who offers to "mentor" or "train" you "for free", then just keeps you working and working for nothing. Andrews or M-Tec, period.
Don't give up
Rainbow...your post goes to show that it is not EASY. Some people think we just sit and type. There is so much more involved. The only way to get the hard words is through experience. If you try using Stedman's Smartype the words come up if you can get the first few letters. It helps a lot.
Hang in there.
Don't give up...
I also took the PCDI course. What a waste of money! However, before I even finished the course, I tested with a company and was hired and received a job offer from another company. Both companies were small and local. I think your best bet is to check with local transcription companies, check newspaper classifieds, and check with any MTs in your area. Another MT gave me a list of several small MTSOs in my area that I wouldn't have known about otherwise.
Good luck! You can still find a job even with the education (or lack of) that you got from PCDI.
Don't ever give up!!
I was pregnant when I graduated from my program at the community college. So I waited until I had the baby before I started looking for work. After I had the baby, I started pounding the pavement (or keyboard for that matter). It took me four months, but I finally landed that first job!! I love it!!
Keep looking, you'll find your match when the time is right!!
Don't give up!!
As a new MT, I understand your frustration. It took me 3 months to find a job. I work at home for a local dermatology clinic with 2 wonderful dictators. They hired to me so they could free up the in-house MT to work on insurance stuff. I've been doing all the typing since my 2nd week.
The only advice I can offer is to make sure your resume looks awesome and apply and test everywhere possible.
It will happen for you. Don't give up. We have to prove to everyone that we can do it.
Good luck!!
Don't give up!
I have been in this field for over 7-1/2 years and never have taken a course...my mother has taught me everything and basically I worked for her. I have so many people that want to do this profession, but basically they want people with experience...and that is it. I got into it in 1998 with a BS in Biology and after working as a retail manager...I was lucky. My first on-line job, I cried, even after working with my mother on local accounts for over a year. It is tough. I will even say I lied and told them I had worked for a major hospital in order to get jobs...you do what you have to do and hopefully you can just pull it off. This is the only advice I can give you...and good luck! Also..if you can narrow down your expertize, that is a HUGE help...I personally do ophthalmology, which is truly simple, but not many people out there can do it and that narrows the focus for employers. Find something you really like doing and focus on that subject...Radiology is another good one. :0)
Don't give up!!
I went to community college for my MT degree. I was pregnant when I graduated and waited until I had the baby before I started looking. I had some voice files to practice on to keep my ears in "tune." But once I started looking, I found a job working at home for a local dermatology clinic in about 4 months. I love it and don't really care to work for a national. From what I read on here, there aren't any "good" nationals to work for.
Keep plugging. You'll find your opportunity.
Good luck!!
Don't give up...
Don't give up. I started out without any training at all and never worked in house. I actually had a BS in accounting. I convinced a local doc to let me do his transcribing. Because he was so difficult to understand and it was oncology none of the other transcribers would take him on. Three years later and I have worked for Spheris and now a local hospital. Just remember, don't give up.
Don't give up.
All I can tell you is to keep taking those tests. I too graduated from at home professions. I don't think they adequately prepared me and sadly I have experience doing transcription. I has been years since I was actively working though. Good luck and don't give up. It can take up to 5 months to get a job in this field. You might also want to consider trying local doctor's offices/hospitals where you could work in the offices. I am wishing I would have had the money to take a different course.
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