Tips for VR Success (what worked for me) - Multi-MTSO MT

Trust me, I understand the agony of going from transcription to editing.  If you have a great dictator, it’s not so bad but fewer accounts and fewer dictators fit that bill any more.    Doing editing on a heavier basis daily also begins to make it more of a concern if you are not making up the difference in your production compared with your transcription line counts.

Here’s how I worked my skill set up to where I needed it to be.   There are several things to keep in mind about this type of work:

1.  Remember:  As with all other types of work and careers – not everyone will have the same level of skill and expertise.  Some people are great at sales; others are horrible at it.  Sometimes those who want to do it the most are simply just not cut out for it.  It is the same with medical transcription.  Some will be great at it, some so-so and some are just not good at it.  Even with the best attitude,  a lack of skill just prevails.  So, to be good at it, you will really have to be a good solid MT in the first place.  Not the best, but solid and steady in your work. 

2.  Being productive on editing is most difficult for newbies.  This is because you will have to be as effective on ESLs and difficult dictators as you are on the great ones.  If you are a newbie, you simply do not have enough expertise in the world of medical transcription to concentrate on editing and to truly translate. 

3.  Control your attitude:  You have to WANT to be good at editing. You have to recognize that editing is pretty much like doing QA – you are editing/checking/proofing work that has already been transcribed by a system. 

4.  Understand the resources necessary:  Editing requires FAR more brain work and concentration than transcription ever will.  You will have lots of key work, too, but it is more brain/concentration work than anything.  Fast thinking is necessary.   It takes a great deal of concentration but you will have to also learn to relax.  The keystroke combinations you use to keep the voice and transcription matched so you can immediately insert/change/delete need to be so second nature that you do not even think about them!  You just do it!  You must keep up with the dictator at all times.

5.  Know your software!  Understand completely what you need to do to correct mistakes, how the engine learns (you WANT to help it learn!) and the best ways to “keep up” with the voice while scanning the transcribed file. 

All that being said, here is how I truly worked myself up to making as much or more (per hour in pay) doing editing versus transcription:

1.  Take any classes you can again and again (every week or 2 weeks if you can)  - as many times as it takes.  No one remembers or learns 100% of what is covered in any class.  You have to take it over and over again.  Consider it an investment in your skills and your ability to earn!

2.  I had to set myself up on goals to progress each week for a few weeks and then daily goals that progressed to the end fo the week.  Look at your average production right now on VR.  Add 10% to that and your next shift, make it your goal.  Hit it hard your first hour; lighten up a bit on your 2nd hour.  Take a break - ALWAYS take your breaks completely away from your desk and transcription!  Then alternate your hours so that you push hard an hour, light up the next hour. 

3.  Once you can keep the goals you have set easily, time to increase it by 10%.   Do it the same way.
 
For me, I gave myself 3 months to get to where I was averaging the same in production pay (not in production - obviously, I have to produce much higher on VR to get same average pay).  I've been doing VR now for about 14 months.  I've been able to meet and surpass my transcription hourly averages (in pay) now for about 7-8 months.
 
Hope this helps some of you.  I don't mind if you write me - I will help all I can.  I know how it feels.