Pay with Dict8

[Chrissols]

Good Morning all Dict8 ladies

I think DICT8 should specify how long a note should be although the flip side of the note box for us maybe character count with pt names (especially the long ones).

@Whitestar5 - yes, I noticed this long ago about giving the doctor the chance to rate the transcribers work, so to me this means they do allocate certain doctors to certain transcribers, which makes me wonder about rubbish dictation. If you manage to fathom out their tasks, they are going to rate you good and you are going to be lumbered with them . I have noticed I get the same doctors though dictating, good or bad and the total rubbishy ones are doctors I haven't heard before

.....I also wonder with the handful of docs I have why I don't type for more. I find it hard to believe with 3 (supposedly busy specialties) across all the Trusts/private practices, GPs etc in the UK that are their clients that I only have a handful of docs in these specialties, surely there must be hundreds especially when you count the registrars, SHO etc that do clinics

@carosel2 - I think transcribers that can make out some of the rubbishy dictators (or been rated as being able to) are then given the others anyway on the basis that they are more likely to be able to fathom out what the person is talking about regardless of whether that transcriber has typed their work before; if you can do one rubbish task you must be able to do all rubbish tasks and those that fail only get given the nice easy jobs, as DICT8 would not want to upset their clients by having typists not up to the job type their work, would they? The usual story, those that can get all the cr*p thrown at them while those that cannot get an easy life and earn more money potentially.

@Gally123 - that's true, of course they need to keep in with the hospital dont they as other specialties that I dont do may have better dictation so they wouldnt want to lose their business full stop, so yes I can see that. Seems then the only way round it is to avoid them but at the moment I'm having to take the crap because nothing else is coming in. I get one doctor who is shocking and have had their work for a couple of years. I dont even attempt him as I really cant understand most of the dictation, even the simple admin letters. I just wonder after all this time why no one has said anything abt the dictation. Those letters come in clinics one after another because others must be avoiding him. They do eventually get done (not by me) but I still get his work thats why I wonder if we are allocated certain docs. This theory of every transcriber in their field looking at the same workload is a mystery to me because of all the transcribers out there working for them surely we should be seeing more work regardless of lockdown

....that should have read " all the clients on their books" not transcribers [smile ]

@carosel2 - we are not seeing more work because DICT8 gave hospitals their software for free so their secretaries could type at home, and without the distractions of other people to chat to (I once worked in a very chatty office), no patients on the phones etc they must be typing lots, plus doing mainly telephone clinics generates shorter letters. Hence there is less left for us.

As to the cr*p dictators I occasionally get one lady who I never, ever type as cannot understand a word she says. I am honestly amazed some of these people passed interviews to get jobs; they must take more care with their diction when working and do not bother much for the likes of us. It was noticeable last week when typing for TPro that there was a new doctor following six monthly rotation and all his letters were being left until last as once you had tried one, no-one picked up a second one. This was VR and the gibberish it created was unbelievable.

I suspect that those secretaries who have been working from home, (who work for the NHS etc) having been using Dict8's software may now also decide they enjoy doing some work from home and apply to Dict8 when lockdown is over!

This of course will leave even less for the regular transcriptionists, ie us! I hope I am wrong but I can definitely see this happening as an extra income for them, now that they have been given the idea.

Very quiet again today! But then it will be wont it if the secretaries are working from home again. Just wish some sort of update from DICT8 would appear. I'm sure it will get better when this virus has settled. I did notice a difference last year when we came out for a while.
Well hey ho, here we go again to refresh, refresh for the day!

Yes, extremely quiet today, up to now anyway. I have actually had a few face to face hospital appointments lately for myself, none have been cancelled which I have found quite surprising. Some hospitals insist on a covid test before you go, other's don't.

Frankly, the decision by Dict8 to give the hospitals free software so that could work from home is probably the worse thing they could have done. This was totally unnecessary as the secretaries do not need Dict8 software to be able to do this. The hospital secretaries are being paid in full without having to worry plus now an additional income doing Dict8 at home to their heart's content with no-one looking over their shoulder. I was so angry when I saw Dict8 had done this. Re the quality of transcription, it's such a pleasure when you occasionally pick up a file with a lovely clear voice and recording. You can sail through it and actually enjoy the content without struggling to decipher the dictation. Unfortunately, they are few and far between at the moment.

@Lovemydaxie I wonder if this software is now with them indefinitely?

@Chrissols Exactly, I wonder that too. I can't imagine Dict8 asking for its return when we get back to normal. I honestly cannot see why they felt the need to do it in the first place. It served no useful purpose, other than removing much needed work from its dedicated transcribers.

@Lovemydaxie - Absolutely!! right on the ball there.

Hi All. Just had a look through my old emails and the last update I can find from Dict8 was June 2020. Have we had one since then that I have deleted, or is that really the last communication we have had?!

@Poppy379 that's the last one I had, don't think there has been anything since, although I'm really not sure what they can update us with as this is all down to covid isn't it?

Turned out really busy this afternoon 😀

Does everyone type exactly what is dictated regardless of whether it makes sense or not? I have just typed the biggest load of rubbish I have ever heard........I hope the secretaries understand we have to type what is heard

@Chrissols - yes, since DICT8 instructed us to type exactly as dictated, with nothing missed out (or added), I type exactly what I hear, unless of course they make an obvious change of mind. However, I find it quicker not having to try and make sense of some of the rubbish. That is now the responsibility of the secretary. For once something in our favour!

@Gally123 It is just so embarrassing sending something back which does not make any sense at all, I am just hoping the secretaries realise. I wonder if the secretaries using Dict8's loaned system do the same.......bet they don't go for proof reading 😂🤣🤣😂

Typed verbatim - not my problem to sort out (been told off too many times by DICT8) I look upon myself as a transcriber first then medical secretary in this job.

I see the Uber drivers have won their court battle to be classed as workers and not self-employed, and so are entitled to minimum pay as well as sick and holiday pay - with people looking now how this affects other similar workers. The thoughts are for them to stop employing more drivers so those that are currently working can earn decent money. I hope DICT8 takes note!.

@Gally123 in a way I hope Dict8 don't as if they did that, yes they would need to stop taking new transcribers on, but on the other hand they would probably need to get rid of some they have already got and who knows how they would decide who goes. To be honest, for me personally, I don't mind the no holidays and sickness as have been self employed before it was my choice to give up being employed, and usually manage to scrape through the minimum pay rate. That's just me personally know and I know a lot with disagree with me

@Chrissols - I just think they should update the pay to a more reasonable level - to include payments for leaving notes, esp notes to the secretaries, and also allow us access to more dictations than just the five they offer now. There should be transparency on the dictations not just the decent ones offered to favoured typists - all tasks should be open to all typists - as they appear to be on Tpro.

@Gally123 Oh I couldn't agree more with that, the level definitely needs increasing, and the notes......don't get me started. Yes Tpro certainly seem to just let it be a 'free for all' and just remind everyone to take the top first.