From Across the Ocean

Wow, how inspiring! Thanks Diomar and Gerard for those first posts.
This will be brief, but don't worry I'll be a regular poster here (is that an acceptable blog term?).
There is a lot to learn. The more I learn, the more I realize how much is out there. I recently rediscovered a couple of magazines like FOr The Record, a mag for MTs. And I just subscribed to an enewsletter written by an at-home MT here. I'll pick out some stuff from those publications and post it here in the next few days.

For now, good luck with the files today, Kelly just told me we have about 125 to transcribe.

Medical Transcriptionist and Call Center Agent Differentiated

In my two years of experience as a medical transcriptionist, every time people ask me regarding the nature of my work the endpoint would always be disappointing. It is because after a detailed explanation, the person I am talking with will always say “Ahhh murag call center….” It seems that the mentality of a person who doesn’t know what a medical transcriptionist does would always compare a medical transcriptionist to a call center agent.

A medical transcriptionist’s work is totally different from that of a call center agent. The only similarity is the resources being used i.e. computer and a headphone, which may be the reason why they would think that we are like call center agents. But we are not.
First and foremost medical transcriptionists deal with medical records while call center agent usually does telemarketing.

The following are some of the differences between a call center agent and a medical transcriptionist:
1. Call center agents TALK to people live while a medical transcriptionist LISTENS to a pre-recorded dictation of a doctor.
2. Call center agents usually does telemarketing while medical transcriptionists transcribes or translates dictated medical voice files into electronic data using word processing systems.
3. Call center agents must have good COMMUNICATION skills while medical transcriptionists must have good LISTENING skills.
4. Call center agents are making and receiving calls while medical transcriptions are inclined with medical terms, patient’s diseases, medical history, diagnosis, prognosis and other health related informations.
5. Call center agents must have clear speech, and good telephone manners while medical transcriptionist must have proofreading and editing skills, knowledge of medical language, disease processes, medical procedures, medical and laboratory instruments, pharmacology, laboratory tests, medical reference, and material techniques.

We can go on and on with the differences between an MT and a call center agent. I hope the next time somebody ask me about my job he/she will not say “Ahhh! Murag call center!?” (I’ll faint if he/she does). Hope this will help you in understanding what medical transcriptionists do. (Or maybe after reading this, who knows, you would think of choosing a career for medical transcription) Best of luck!

Thank you for taking time to read. God Bless…

The Customary First Post

Hi Moztranscription guys and gals. Gerard, your CTO here.

No, I won't really be a regular poster on this blog; that honor goes to Diomar, on the high recommendation of Kelly and Riza. Isabelle will also be sharing the great new stuff from across the ocean too.

Now why are we going through all this trouble to set up a blog? Well, the origins of this thing is that over dinner with Ms. Gan, Kelly, and Riza, we came up with the idea that someone should keep an alert eye on the developments in the industry, and Diomar's name came up. So, Diomar, you're elected. But others are invited and encouraged to put their comments.

It is my fervent hope that this blog will serve as a rich repository of ideas for Moztranscription. What what I've seen so far, ideas are a crucial element to our reaching top status in the game. So let there be no shortage thereof.

I look forward to reading this blog and seeing your insights on it.

Welcome, all, and non-stop to the top!