Pay with DICT8 extra

[Gally123]

Hello Ladies - hopefully a new thread for you... @Carosel2 @Whitestar55 @Chrissols @danblack87 @flutterby18 @wfh21 @workingfromhomenow @cherryblossom114 @Lovemydaxie @homeworkmum and anyone else I have forgotten.

@Meha5a : When you get those dictations - starts off okay then blah blah blah "forget that, sorry" puts in the new bit but you don't know what bit you have got to delete to make it fit!!! GGGGGrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

I no longer waste too much time on deciphering the undecipherable and as much as I hate the notes box, I use it. It just isn't financially feasible to spend ages trying to understand/guess bad dictation/recordings and as for the long messages to the secretary, I listen out for those at the end of the dictation first now and cancel it, and chose another task instead, if there are any.

I'm sick of that too, I used to worry about getting everything right and would try and explain everything in the notes box, but it just started getting ridiculous, if the dictators can't get it right, how can we, so I now don't worry so much and edit it as I think it should be. I want to be paid for working, not using my time for explaining other people's mistakes for nothing.

@Whitestar55 Well I had enough today --- the starting/the restarting/the back-tracking/gender changes all through several letters ... is it a he or she - name sure is female/male then they change he/she all the way through/The long notes coming in the middle of the dictation - at my wits end going for some much needed sunshine and a cigarette - I think that is me pretty much done for the day. :(

Hi all
Had an early start but gave up around 12. Mowed the lawn as it was less painful.
For 8p a line its not worth my mental torture ...🤯

Just wondering, does anyone who has been on the other side of this (NHS client for example) know how much the clients actually get charged per line of dictation (I read somewhere on the website that is how they are charged)? We are constantly told our rate can't be increased because of competition, but I wonder if the clients are still paying the same rate as they did around 15 years ago, as it seems unlikely.

So glad it's not just me today !!! Gave up and have been internet browsing as have had the same day @danblack87 errrr, emmmmmmmahhhh, chomp, chomp 👿. I think @Whitestar55 you hit the nail on the head

"I want to be paid for working, not using my time for explaining other people's mistakes for nothing" absolutely agree.

My attitude now is to ALT N the words I cannot decipher and leave it to the proof reader (I know how much they love to send the "we managed to get the word you couldn't email so who am I to ruin their one-upmanship) besides it's irrelevant to me as I don't remember the task anyway 😂I have also decided if these bloody doctors don't have any respect for the typist then it's vice-versa now.

That's annoying isn't it, I think if I come across that again I'll type he and she as dictated, 8p a line to be tormented like that, no thanks, stuff it.

I remember once while working in the NHS there was a dictation in which a doctor called a male child a 'she' and the letter went out with this mistake, the mother complained, but it was the transcriber who was reprimanded.

@Whitestar55 : I think it is harder to know these days if a patient is a he/she as certain names could be either like Francis/Frances OR Tony/Toni any other Unisex name; therefore, the typist is reliant on the dictator not dictating "I saw this patient today" and then moving through the dictation saying "he/she" - It would be helpful if such names could be spelt out at the RE: Name to give us a fair chance ... ALT N: please confirm the gender of the patient and check the task??!!

@danblack87 Hi, yes I agree. Under normal circumstances in a salaried job it wouldn't be such a problem, but DICT8's rate per line no longer compensates for the ever increasing non-productive work we are expected to do.

@Whitestar55 : I totally agree with you too, but sometimes I have to do the necessary in order to move forwards with any tasks ... pain in the butt. If we were in the working environment we would have the patient's notes, electronic patient record and a clinic sheet to refer to. I think the hospitals outsourcing forget that we have no reference to look to for help.

@danblack87 Yes I understand having to plough through those tasks sometimes if you have no choice. The clients probably haven't got a clue what really goes on with outsourcing, it's sold to them as an efficient time and money saving process carried out by dedicated, experienced medical secretaries who can put everything into context for them.

So, a reasonable day today (not best by far but reasonable), commenced early but had to wait for 2 hours before anything literate came through. Tired, got a headache, giving up for today. Work is still there but my MOJO is not LOL

I've started to type in word and paste into the dict8 box, I find it much easier that way.

Today has been the start of a good day it's proof there is consultants out there who can speak clearly and in English!! Was getting frustrated with the poor quality of dictation. And I'm only 4 days in!!!

When I rang with an issue it was very apparent it was "my sound and settings". Has anyone else rang and flagged this as they seem to be oblivious.

@Knitmum2022 their oblivious to everything unless you make a minute mistake and then - wow !!! 🙄

@Knitmum2022 I don't know your age or circumstances and this is just my experience/opinion, but if you are young enough, I would honestly not put all your time and effort into medical transcription, the rewards are few and you will be left without benefits such as sick and holiday pay, and very importantly a work based pension. It's ok as a sideline or for a few years depending on your situation, but don't end up older like me and regretting it :(

Hi everyone

Hopefully I'm not being a pain with all these questions- is there generally much work at the weekends?

Thanks

Hi all

Could I ask, if not too cheeky, how many hours per week you all do with Dict8 on average and what this equates to in monthly pay?

Thanks 😊

@deflatedbirthday :I sit at my computer most days starting around 7 am finishing around 4-5pm. There are gaps where you can't type bugger all/or I am busy with my grand-daughter . I am lucky that what I do is a side line. In monetary terms I aim for £400 a month, sometimes if the tasks are rubbish it will drop to £300/per month .. on a good month I can reach £500/per month. I suppose it depends on any other income coming in/or not. I aim for £20 a day and weekends are a bonus.

@Knitmum2022 : I find work at weekends can be quite lucrative and the tasks are of higher quality ... depends on your specialty/specialities I suppose. I have 4 specialties.

@Knitmum2022 It's difficult to say how much work will be available at weekends. Generally the more specialties you have the greater the chance of work being available at any time. It's unpredictable and changeable, but recently it has been picking up. It's quite stressful if you're relying on it as your only income as there's no security and you are competing for the tasks, but as a sideline it can be a God send.

@deflatedbirthday I only type a few hours a day these days and usually earn £8-15 an hour, depending on the quality of the dictation. I have to say I try not to pick up the worst ones these days. When I started working for Dict8 and typed full-time I could make a decent amount but it's tough typing all day (and that was about 14 years ago, and the pay was exactly the same as it is today!). Of course, there's no holiday or sick pay. I went to Gozo for the last two weeks so earned nothing. Years ago you could log on overseas and I would do a couple of hours of typing whilst on holiday, but that's not been possible for a long time now.
@Knitmum2022 I'm finding quite a bit of weekend work recently - 90 tasks this morning - but I do have 4 specialities so that helps.

@deflatedbirthday I don't sit 9 - 5, I go on for 30 minute stints then come off (I find I type faster this way) at random times during the day/evening/weekend. I get bored quickly and my attention goes and I make mistakes and this suits me. I would say I am roughly between £11 - £15.00 an hour.