Transcriptionists Profiles – Lou Lapso

Lou Lapso

Archie: Welcome to The Transcriptionists Profiles, a series of interviews with people who are working as transcriptionists. My name is Archie, the author/administrator of Transcription Blog. Today, I’ll be talking to Lou Lapso. Hello Lou, welcome to the interview. It’s nice to have you.

Lou Lapso: Thank you for having me.

Archie: First, please tell me what is your profession or job now (current designation, e.g. senior MT) and where are you located?

Lou Lapso: I’m currently working weekends as a Shift Manager for an American Transcription Company: eVoice. eVoice is the transcription provider of Recovery Database Network. I basically edit voice transcription.

Archie: How did you end up being in your profession or job (as a transcriptionist) now? How long have you been working in that job (transcriptionist)?

Lou Lapso: Back in May 2006, I was invited to take a vacation in San Pablo, Laguna by my friend Claire. She is then a Shift Manager for Pennsylvania Data Company. She encouraged me to try transcription. A day after, I applied as Trainee. After two weeks I was employed as a part time home based transcriptionist. On June 2007, Pennsylvania Data Company was replaced by eVoice as Transcription Provider of Recovery Database Network. eVoice then promoted me to Shift Manager. This year due to recession in the US, eVoice cut back working days that’s why I ended up working weekends. 

Archie: If given a chance, do you like to work home based or office based? Why (briefly)?

Lou Lapso: Given a chance I would like to work as home based transcriptionist because I want to maximize the use of my Internet Service. It is also more convenient working home based than commuting to and fro to work.

Archie: Given the type of transcription to work with, which one do you prefer: Medical, General (Business, podcasts, interviews), or Legal Transcription.

Lou Lapso: I prefer to do General transcription. I’ve been doing business transcription for 4 years now.

Archie: Give one trait or quality to become effective or productive transcriptionist?

Lou Lapso: To become an effective transcriptionist, one must have a keen eye for details.

Archie: Lastly, what advice can you give to aspiring transcriptionist (or your profession)?

Lou Lapso: Be willing to learn and be trained. Exercise common sense at all times.  Be disciplined, work independently and meet deadlines.  Give your best at all times for a good quality transcription.

Archie: Thank you for your time today.

**

You have been reading the Transcriptionists Profiles, part of the Transcription Blog, available in archiedelara.com, the online resources for transcriptionists. Thanks for reading.

Transcriptionists Profiles – Eunice Esther Tiu

Eunice Esther Tiu

Archie: Welcome to The Transcriptionists Profiles, a series of interviews with people who are working as transcriptionists. My name is Archie, the author/administrator of Transcription Blog. Today, I’ll be talking to Eunice Esther Tiu. Hello Eunice, welcome to the interview. It’s nice to have you.

Eunice Esther Tiu: Thank you Mr. Archie.

Archie: First, please tell me what is your profession or job now (current designation, e.g. senior MT) and where are you located? (If possible, you can write your present company)

Eunice Esther Tiu: I am currently employed at Audio Dicta Transcription Corporation at Basement 2 Health Tower Bldg. University of Perpetual Help DALTA Medical Center, Alabang -Zapote Road, Las Piñas City as a transcriptionist. I started there last May 2010.

Archie: How did you end up being in your profession or job (as a transcriptionist) now? How long have you been working in that job (transcriptionist)?

Eunice Esther Tiu: I have been working as a transcriptionist at Audio Dicta Transcription Corporation for almost two months now. I had training for 160 hours at MTC-Cavite under the PGS-TESDA Scholarship Program for Medical Transcription.

Archie: If given a chance, do you like to work home based or office based? Why (briefly)?

Eunice Esther Tiu: I would like to work home based because I handle my own time and I could work comfortably at home.

Archie: Given the type of transcription to work with, which one do you prefer: Medical, General (Business, podcasts, interviews), or Legal Transcription.

Eunice Esther Tiu: I prefer medical transcription because I am also a nurse that is why I have background in the medical field.

Archie: Give one trait or quality to become effective or productive transcriptionist?

Eunice Esther Tiu: An effective transcriptionist should have good time management. He/she should handle his/her time efficiently to produce good quality work.

Archie: Lastly, what advice can you give to aspiring transcriptionist (or your profession)?

Eunice Esther Tiu: Those who want to be a transcriptionist someday, they should be hardworking and patient especially to the dictations that are hard. They should also love their work.

Archie: Thank you for your time today.

You have been reading the Transcriptionists Profiles, part of the Transcription Blog, available in archiedelara.com, the online resources for transcriptionists. Thanks for reading.

Nature Stress and Health Problems – a Transcriptionist’s Viewpoint

Stress

We live in a busy environment.  Being a transcriptionist, just like any individual, nature stress can happen and it contributes to health problems.

Every day, we are prone to stressful activities. Stress usually is one factor that contributes to health problems. Once our body experienced stress, our health is at risk. Thus, our productivity as a transcriptionist suffers.

Daily heavy traffic. Since transportation is a part of life and is connected to our all movements, it is the first in the list of nature stress. When we are caught up in a heavy traffic, it affects our overall health. We tend to be annoyed when we listen to bad dictation. Then, we tend to tap our foot pedal violently. One way to prevent nature stress is avoiding delays and negative thoughts that lead to stress.

Pollution. In any place we go, pollution is always there. Our body is prone for this direct stress that can lead to various diseases. If we listen to audio files with stuffy nose or congested throat, it affects our transcription output. Proper hygiene is the best proactive prevention. Keep away from too much pollution as much as possible. Not only it prevents is from certain illness but also total body wellness is preserved.

Social stress. It generally contributes to body stress. It is a nature stress that is very common.  If we do not acquaint well with our fellow transcriptionists, then we tend to be annoyed with bad audio files.  One way of proactive prevention is by psychological preparedness in order to combat this kind of stress to our body.

Proactive prevention to nature stress is better than treatment. As a transcriptionist, once we avoided or minimized nature stress that causes health problems, we can live our way out of any disease. As always, the general rule follows that is prevention is better than cure. Just continue a less stressful life and you can achieve a healthy body and a more productive transcriptionist ever.

Transcriptionists Profiles – KATH

Archie: Welcome to The Transcriptionists Profiles, a series of interviews with people who are working as transcriptionists. My name is Archie, the author/administrator of Transcription Blog. Today, I’ll be talking to KATH. Hello KATH, welcome to the interview. It’s nice to have you.

KATH: Thank you.

Archie: First, please tell me what is your profession or job now (current designation, e.g. senior MT) and where are you located?

KATH: I am currently helping my mom with her tutorial at home and just doing some home-based transcription work on my free time.

Archie: How did you end up being a transcriptionist now? How long have you been working as a transcriptionist?

KATH: Well, my uncle encouraged me to study medical transcription and I graduated from that course. Now I’m doing home-based because I and my husband are planning to start a family.

Archie: If given a chance, do you like to work home based or office based? Why (briefly)?

KATH: For me, in my present situation, I’d like to work home-based. It’s convenient for me since we’re planning to start a family. Though I know the compensation is not big enough, but it’s better staying at home doing transcription than nothing.

Archie: Given the type of transcription to work with, which one do you prefer: Medical, General (Business, podcasts, interviews), or Legal Transcription.

KATH: General and legal transcriptions are my options. Medical transcriptions are difficult because you really need to be very careful. A lot of medical terms that needs to be studied and understand.

Archie: Give one trait or quality to become effective or productive transcriptionist?

KATH: I guess having the right attitude towards work is the best quality for the job.

Archie: Lastly, what advice can you give to aspiring transcriptionist?

KATH: Be patient and persevere in whatever you do. Give everything you have for a good quality transcription.

Archie: Thank you for your time today.

Transcriptionist’s Work as Defined by a Non-Transcriptionist

Tosca on Mon, May 3, 2010 at 6:40 PM

While looking up into a job search database, I stumbled upon ads for transcriptionist, editors, and so on… It came to my senses that this could be a very easy work, until I heard from an old friend about his experience in applying to a transcription company.

I believe that a transcriptionist should be very keen about details. The work involves listening to a voice file regarding conversations, discussions or dictation, then encoding or typing whatever he/she is listening to, at the same time.  A transcriptionist requires the skill of being familiar basically with language (grammar, comprehension, punctuations, literature) a good sense of hearing and ability to understand diction or voice inflections, especially if you will be listening to an audio file with a Western accent. A fairly fast typing skill is also a must. Not only these but also being familiar with the topic of what he or she is transcribing, like for example a medical transcriptionist should posses and extent knowledge regarding medical terms/vocabulary, abbreviations and other matters regarding the medical field in order for one to transcribe effectively and precisely.

I believe that the transcripitionist’s work entails a cycle of understanding, technical skills in writing and knowledge about grammar – one must understand the meaning and context of whatever he/she hears to be able to transcribe it effectively and obtain a quality work. You have to input data accurately and must capture the flow of discussion from what you are hearing into what you will be transcribing. I think that it is a system of listening, writing or encoding and editing work for precise result and obtaining a quality work.

That is how I see the work of a transcriptionist. I am sure that in order to be a good transcriptionist, one must be analytical, learn how to make good use of language, and can multitask, since you are listening and writing at the same time. A transcriptionist must also be committed to work, and be able to meet set deadlines and have the passion to accurately focus in listening and transcribing. Now I came to realize that it is not an easy job – one need to have a handful of talents and skills but could be easy, as long as you have the heart and passion for work and commitment.

***

Genda on Mon, Apr 26, 2010 at 11:47 PM

As I look around and check the available jobs online, I chance upon the word “home transcriptionist.” It sounds interesting. As I read on and learn more about this job offer, I became more interested about the prospect of using my free time at home into good use by typing a variety of audio materials.

I checked the qualifications and I think I have them all. To start with, transcribing audio materials involves a good listening skill in English. After working for 5 years in the call center industry, I have been so familiar with the foreign language. Couple it with my wide vocabulary in English, I really think this job suits me best. Words or phrases that might be unfamiliar to some people are no longer foreign to me. Besides, I learned multitasking through my job as a customer service representative before. I can type and listen at the same time. Not to mention my typing skills ranges from 35-40 WPM, so I really think I am very much qualified for this home based kind of work. Since I have decided to go home based all the way, I have much free time to accommodate other kinds of jobs that will hone my skills. The skills I have learned in the outsourcing industry have prepared me for a job like this.

What attracts me more is the home based type of work offered to this kind of job. This job will allow me to earn well at the comfort of my home. I will have a more balanced life with the kind of job like this. Earning well and living well.