Need suggestions on how to improve quality.

Is there something that I could buy that could help improve my quality?  I have been taking tests here and there and everyone keeps saying that their QAs don't have the extra time that is needed to spend with my work.  I know I don't have the 98% accuracy that is needed.  Whenever I do a test I look whatever I don't know up and then relisten to the file.  I do all my transcribing when everyone is asleep so I don't have the distractions.  Thank in advance for the help.

• Need suggestions on how to improve quality. - NewMT
  • What school did you go to? - Dee
  • What to do (sm) - Redpen
  • If you don't have them already, get a set of SUM tapes - and practice, practice, practice.
  • Quality - new MT too.
    • You misunderstood - NewMT
      • sorry about that. - new MT too.
        • Mentor/MT friend - TheMTmom

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I am a recent graduate of Gatlin's MT certificate program and have recently started working as a part-time IC. According to my estimates I'm only making $4-5 per hour for my work. I have been complimented on my reports, so I believe I'm putting out quality work.

Now I understand there are better schools out there. When I enrolled into the Gatlin program I wrongly (?) assumed that because it was connected with my local community college that it was good program. I also called a local MT service who said that the education was sufficient to obtain employment with them. I thought I did my homework.

Anyway, what is done is done. I can not afford to re-enroll in another program so I am looking for ways to be more productive. I have added a bunch of terms to the auto-correct feature in Word, and I am looking at Instant Text. I realize speed will come with experience, but is there something else that I can be doing to increase my line counts? Any suggestions are welcome.

I appreciate any help you can offer. Thanks.

Thanks so much,

I will look into them all. I appreciate your taking the time to let me know which ones will give me a good start, so I don't waste my time, effort and money on another one that isn't highly thought of.

My sincere thanks!

Are you a student or have you graduated from Career Step? If you are, I believe you should have access to a list of companies that work closely with Career Step. I would then apply with one of these companies first. There is a list of companies that hire newbies on here somewhere that somebody compiled a while back.

Whenever you do apply, make absolutely sure that you have a professional e-mail address and that your cover letter and resume have no typos, no errors at all.

Some companies do not respond right away, and some might never respond. You can always send out a followup e-mail, though.

A lot does depend on how testing goes, and you will see that each company does everything differently. Never guess on any test. It is always better to leave a blank, and do follow instructions. Some companies only respond if you pass a test. Some do phone interviews before you test, etc. The more you test, the better you will get.

 Getting that first job can be a hurdle, but if you truly want to work as an MT, you will find a job.

Do you have all the required word books for the specialty that you type? I mainly type OP notes and have the current Stedman's books, Google links, etc.  My advice is to type the report and put in a blank for the words that you don't know or question.  Then, go back, relisten, and look the words up after you have finished the report.  Be sure listen for the little words that are often missed.  Also, after your reports have been through QA, go back and review the report.  Some MTs can go back and relisten, which is a great option.  I would also save my copy and then compare it to the QA copy.  Maybe someone here would offer to mentor you and offer suggestions?  My method is somewhat time consuming but this has helped me.  I hope that helps you a little.  Good luck! 

I am a new MT as well.  However, I have learned that quality is better than quantity.  In the begining you may want to do thousands of lines per day.  However, make sure that this is quality work.  You don't want to make mistakes because you want to get high production to get money and then they may fire you because your accuracy rate is terrible.

So, take your time and always deliver the best report to your ability.  Do not be afraid to leave a blank if necessary.  It is always better than guessing.

What is your line pay rate?  Is it an editing or transcription platform?  Are you an employee or an independent contractor? 

I have recently completed a Medical Transcription Certificate Course at a local community college (made A's in every single class including Anatomy and Physiology prior to) and even have a letter of recommendation from the Head of Centralized Transcription, which was my instructor, also.  Anyway,  I was really hoping to secure an at home/online job and, even with over 1 year of legal transcription/dictation and the 5 months of transcription classes, I'm wondering if I just wasted all that time, effort, energy, money, and memory for nothing.  Does anybody have any suggestions?  I'm tired of looking at ads, only to find out afterwards, that most at home work offers are scams and most employers on here require many years of experience and won't even give a "newbie" the time of day.

I'm getting really discouraged.  I understand the importance of experience, but there are some people who actually can catch on pretty quick without a ton of experience.

Can anyone give me an idea on how much QA/editors make?  Do they charge per 65 character line with spaces, without spaces, per word, etc.?  I have always been curious about this.

I finished Meditec's MT course in March and have been looking all over the net and in my local area for a job and no luck! My local hospital and the local doctor's offices all sent their dictation out to one co. and when I interviewed there, they were actually getting ready to lay off most MT's because the hospital and dr.'s were going to a paper form and would no longer be using a service and they employ no in-house MT's. The next nearest city that would have jobs is over 50 miles away and I am unable to travel that far being a single mother with a child who is home schooled. (with gas prices the way they are right now, I'd be working just to get the gas to go to work!)

I am looking for part-time MT work that I can do from home. I have a good computer system, there is no broadband or DSL in my town at this time so that could make it harder to get a job. I am flexable on my hours and days that I can work. I have a bytescribe wav pedal, numerous reference books both from my course and from having taken college courses at Davenport University for Medical Transcription.

Any suggestions? any other ideas on where to apply?

Thanks!

It appears that everyone can agree on M-Tec or Andrews School--by the way is that Linda Andrews and not Andrews/Holbrook?

I want to get started with training soon and I'm having difficulty deciding.  I've taken both their tests and they both seem like good choices.  Decisions, decisions...