MT India Digest - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MTID
Moderated MT Discussion List, Since 1999

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Moderated by: Published by:
Amit Chatterjee, SM MT India
amit@... www.mtindia.org

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June 8, 2003 Digest #105
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.....IN THIS DIGEST.....

=============NEW=================

=Employee retention policies=-

~Name witheld on request
"I've seen many places in Mumbai, which practically expect you to
sit "till the work is done,"

~Vineet
"What steps should management take for employee retention"

===========CONTINUING============

-=MT Week celebration=-

~Edwin Thomas
"The MT community in India should also have celebrated MT week"

-=MT India Newsletter=-

~Amit Rao
"keep the good work going!!!"

===========BILLBOARD==============

-=Virtual Phone number=-

*****************************************************
Are you a lead QA with:

* 4+ years of total MT experience (excluding training period)
* 2+ years as a QA/Proofer, in a reputed company
* Present salary over 18,000 pm

Excellent opportunity for career enhancement at Bangalore
Email Anusha at anusha@...
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

From: [Details witheld on request]
Subject: MT jobs

Dear Major Chatterjee & MTIDers:

I thought I would just introduce myself before I get to my subject.
I am a QC working in Mumbai for the past 3 years and have been a
member of your group for one year or so now. I was just wondering
as I continue to receive many insightful newsletters from you
regarding the phenomenal changes that have taken place in the
Indian MT industry, there seems to be more lacking when it comes to
our working conditions, don't you think? Surely we have covered a
great distance in reducing the gap in quality and proficiency when
it comes to work but it's definitely not the same when it comes to
how people get it done. I've tried a lot in my own company in
getting my management to look at MTs and QCs too not just as
machines but humans and though this is a well-paid job, it just
doesn't mean you can put the pressure and expect them to deliver.

I mean somewhere along the line while we were improving quality,
the human picture of it got sacrificed. Many MT companies in
Mumbai believe that if they pay you should deliver without giving
the slightest of thoughts to where you draw the line. I mean if a
company was to provide me Rs. 10,000 for 1000 lines then it equates
to being able to do 3000 lines for 30,000/-, seems pretty simple
but don't they wonder if it is possible for the person to do so and
with no regard to timings and breaks or other such humane
conditions which are normally offered in other IT sectors??????
I've seen many places in Mumbai, which practically expect you to
sit "till the work is done," and yes they do pay (some definitely
don't) but is it truly possible and if so then for how long?
Putting in 8-10 hours 6 days a week I'm sure is definitely going to
catch up with you sometime, if not now, and the lack of trained
personnel is just another nail in the coffin, leaving the few to
take on the job of many. I can find no solution and I don't quite
know if I'm just overly concerned or do you feel I have a point in
this. Don't you think that we should be setting not only standards
of pay but working hours and schedules. One company I know of only
provides you money for the lines you do and even if you complete 2
years of service it's the same, meaning loyalty to the company has
no value. No paid leaves, no PF, no medical, nothing, zilch!!!!!

I don't really quite know how it works in other cities, but this is
definitely the way it works in Mumbai. Please let me know what you
think and if you have any suggestions as I'm trying to change some
of the conditions in the place I'm working, though its one tough
battle. However, I would like my name confidential if you do
decide to get the MTIDers pulse on this.

Thanks so much.

Name witheld on request
Comment? mailto:MTID@yahoogroups.com?Subject=MT_Week
++++ new post - same topic ++++

From: Vineet
Subject: Growth Issues

Hi All,

I have been a part of MTID for a while now but been a viewer more
than a participant. I am part of a MT services company with a
center in Kolkata, India. As we are approaching critical mass in
terms of revenues and team strength, a number of
issues relating to growth management and exceeding industry
standards have come forward. To this extent, I am looking answers
to questions below and initiate a discussion as well on some of
these:

1. What steps should management take for employee retention (From
your experience, what has worked and what has not?)

2. What are/should be the key performance metrics for MT
Professional Services?

3. What % of revenue is typically paid to an agent who procures
orders for you (typically from USA? Or is there some other
metric that is used?

4. Also, does anyone know what the industry average is for
utilization rates? According to Gartner it is 65% and at Ernst and
Young the benchmark was 70%. However, for SMEs in this sector,
what is a more realistic/practical utilization rate?

Thanks and looking forward to replies to as many questions as
possible. I have some thoughts on these as well, and would be
interested in discussing these as well.

Regards,
Vineet

===========CONTINUING============
From: Edwin Thomas
Subject: MT Week celebration

Hi Amit,

The MT community in India should also have celebrated MT week. MT
India should have taken the lead in the celebrations, like MTDaily
did in the US.

Edwin Thomas
Comment? mailto:MTID@yahoogroups.com?Subject=MT_Week

[MODERATOR COMMENT]

Hi Edwin & All!

I am not sure if "MTDaily took the lead in the USA," nevertheless,
a brief History of the "National Medical Transcriptionist Week" is
warranted here. The then President of the United States of America,
Ronald Reagan, Proclaimed in 1985:

<Because of the work done by trained medical transcriptionists,
patients can be assured that the history of their medical care is
portrayed accurately and legibly. Medical transcriptionists have
therefore become a vital link between the physician and the
patient.

It is appropriate for our Nation to recognize the contributions of
medical transcriptionists. We should encourage hospitals, allied
health education programs, and community colleges to provide
appropriate courses of instruction recognizing the high standards
that must be met by medical transcriptionists and the vital
function they perform.

In recognition of the need for medical transcriptionists in today's
society, the Congress, by Public Law 98-609, has designated the
week beginning May 20, 1985, as "National Medical Transcriptionist
Week" and authorized and requested the President to issue a
proclamation in observance of this event.>

I am quoting from our newsletter dated 20 May 2001:

<We do hope their will be an International Medical Transcription
Week celebrations in the near future, to enable all MTs to share
the pride they have in their profession!>

The "National Medical Transcriptionist Week" declaration was a
tribute to USMTs from their nation, for their role in creating
health care records. If a "World Medical Transcription Week" is to
be declared and celebrated, I do not see why we should usurp the US
MTs privilege and recognition, and insist on claiming it as our
own. Moreover it should have the concurrence of US MTs who are a
majority by any statistical count - otherwise it is relegated to
being "Indian" not "World". I am quoting a piece from the San
Francisco Chronicle:

<Last month, for example, India celebrated World Medical
Transcription Week. "India has become the favorite country for
outsourcing in the U.S.," Prasenjit Ganguly, vice president of Max
HealthScribe, told the Times of India.>

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2
003/06/08/BU133949.DTL&type=business

MTIndia would be more comfortable to celebrate an "Indian" Medical
Transcription Week or Day for that matter, with such dates being
derived from history of MT in India e.g. it could be the first
Indian MT company going into production OR the first set of Indian
MTs joining the workforce - which would be relevant to Indian MTs.

To the best of our knowledge, there is no such thing as "World
Medical Transcription Week" - yet. A matter of opinion, some might
say..:)

Enjoy!

Amit
amit@...
http://www.mtindia.org/
Comment? mailto:MTID@yahoogroups.com?Subject=MT_Week
++++ new post - different topic ++++

From: Amit Rao
Subject: Good work guyzz!!!

Hi Amit and all,

I am into MT for the last 7 years now, and I frequently get your
mails and I truly treasure those as it keeps me in time with
whatever is happening in the industry. One thing is for sure.. with
the help of the reviews and the amount of research that you guys
really do, it shows how well and eagerly your work has been
welcomed and accepted.

Though this is my first mail to you, the main intention is to let
you guys know that you all are doing a tremendous job and keep the
good work going!!!

Regards
Amit Rao
Bangalore
===========BILLBOARD==============

Subject: Virtual Phone number

Dear Amit,

I have attached a writeup on how MT companies who have a reasonably
good bandwidth can have an economic phone tariff and have a US
number so that thier clients can call directly (the call lands in
india into thier office).

World Phone combines domestic US local, long distance, and Canada
calls for one flat price because it runs over your high speed
Internet connection. Say goodbye to confusing bills and surprising
charges. With World Phone, you get unlimited local and long
distance calling, Canadian calling, plus great features like Caller
ID, Call waiting and Voicemail. Best of all you only pay one low
price!

WORLD PHONE PLATINUM (BEST OPTION)
. Monthly subscription of Rs 6,995 only
. Includes UNLIMITED calls to USA and Canada
. One-time setup fee of Rs 2000 only
. Save an additional Rs 0.50 per minute on all international calls

I can help companies get the connections - No charges from my side.

Rajesh
adssol@...
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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