MT India Newsletter - http://www.MTIndia.info/

Dec 09, 2006
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MT Salary Takes a Dip?

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Dear Friends,

2006 Salary Survey Results as reported in ther Advance show a dip
in the transcription pay scale over the last 2 years. I quote:

"In 2004, MTs reported an average pay scale of $32,847. In 2006,
the average went down to $25,408. With so much focus on
transcription within the last 2 years and a growing need for MT
skills, why would the pay scale go down?

Possibly, as an indication of what's to come - a sign of the times
if you will - our editor title (new this year) averaged a more
anticipated $32,000 salary. "The editor role has changed what MTs
are doing, so the pay is being structured differently," Hurley
offered as an explanation. "In services, we get paid by line by our
clients vs. a salary pay scale; it's a very precarious position for
services when adopting the new editor role. We struggle with
compensating them in a fair manner. So it's good to see editors are
being paid above the average, and people will notice there's a high
skill level; I think that's important," she emphasized.

Another reason why the average transcriptionist salary is much
lower this year could be a result from the low percent of
credentialed MTs who filled out the survey.
"Many MTs have not embraced seeking credentials as a means for
launching their career," explained Susan M. Lucci, RHIT, CMT,
FAAMT, vice president, MedScribe Information Systems Inc. But Lucci
wondered why, especially because "there are a number of employers
who will pay more for certified MTs and will help reimburse them to
maintain those credentials."

In addition to the lack of credentials held by this year's
respondents, the majority of them are working from home, which
could be an indication of MTs working part-time. The home-based
office work setting came in second to the always popular
hospital/acute care setting for the entire HIM profession."

To read the entire feature, go to:
http://health-information.advanceweb.com/common/editorial/editorial.aspx?CC=8026\
5&CP=2

To discuss this issue, go to:
http://mtindia.info/forum/

It may be moot to point out that this salary survey is not
representative of trends in the Indian Industry, nevertheless, it
could serve as a reality check on growing salary expectations! :o)

Cheers!

Dr Amit Chatterjee, SM
Strategist / Founder ~ mailto:amit@...
MT India ~ www.mtindia.org
"The Community of MT Professionals"

"It takes years to become an overnight success! Inch by inch, it's
a cinch."

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NEWS AND VIEWS :
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1) Stepping up the wooing

Medical transcription company Spheris India Ltd organises
activities through the year ranging from sports to cultural and
literary events. So popular are these events that the company
measures their monthly fun quotient.

There is a documented procedure to measure fun. Parameters such as
number of active/passive participants, type of event (sports,
literary, cultural), nature of the event (in house or
inter-corporate) and prizes/awards won are rated by employees. A
total of these ratings is the fun for that month and recorded in a
`Fun-O-Meter' that is displayed in the office.

Employees set the benchmark for fun. To maintain or improve fun,
new events may be introduced depending on the cost, event
production time and employee preference. A combination of low
participation and high participation events is devised to ensure
that the fun quotient is high. "By now we know what kind of
activities employees like and accordingly plan a fun calendar for
the year," says Manoj Kumar G, Senior Executive - Human Resources,
Spheris India. The company invests about Rs 30 lakh a year in fun
events and Kumar says such events have kept employees happy and
reduced attrition.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/ew/2006/12/11/stories/2006121100040100.htm

2) Attitude that makes a lot of "cents"

In my almost 13 years of exposure in the medical transcription
industry, the entire spectrum of the peaks and troughs, recession
and recovery cycles, is a reality that faces every business. Of
course, there has to be an observable growth trend especially when
a company engages in more than one business unit. I have also seen
trends when employees shift from one MT company to another, hoping
for a greener pasture, only to learn they have made the greatest
mistake of their lives, although there are some whose moves did
wonders to their careers, but this does not always happen to
everyone. I have also seen entry-level MTs bloom in the very same
companies that nurtured them.

Many graduates of MT schools are asking for tips on what to
consider when applying for an entry-level job. As "budding" medical
transcriptionists, you should be able to expect the following:

- Entry-level Medical Transcriptionists are closely scrutinized by
MT companies. Put your best foot forward and make sure you come
prepared for a transcription test. Of course, you will have to
start off with a reputable training facility to make sure that you
will bag that obstacle.

- Never ever discuss compensation until you reach the job-offer
stage. Remember, you will be accorded your appropriate value once
you have convinced your employer that you are the right person for
the job.

- Do not believe agencies or training facilities that promise
unrealistic, high-paying jobs if you are an entry-level medical
transcriptionist. Established companies have a structured
compensation package that is often performance based. Training
certificates do not really create much value these days especially
in the absence of a credible certification process for MT.

- You must have at least understood by now, after graduation, that
established MT companies may require a 24x7 schedule, so get ready
to be assigned to any shift, like that in call centers. Jobs in
medical transcription are more round-the-clock and the possibility
that you will be working on shifting schedule is very high. This is
an indication that the company is getting a positive growth trend,
as the clients are more becoming "real-time," and the company
becomes more competitive in the services they offer. There are also
companies that can still accommodate a 6-day work week especially
when most of their clientele profile are clinics and do not require
a 24-hour stand-by staff. Companies with 5 days, and regular office
shift work are often start-up companies and may have low-volume
work at this stage.

- There is no harm in starting your career with a start-up company
for as long as you see positive potentials of growth.

- Most often, the career path of successful Medical
Transcriptionists starts off in very humble beginnings. Learn all
the dirty tasks to your advantage-expertise on understanding
accents and difficult dictation, typing fast and smart using word
expanders, understanding the technology and how to manage it,
learning from your mistakes, have the right attitude and dedication
to your job and company-the rest of the good stuff will follow.

http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2006/dec/10/yehey/mt/20061210MT1.html

3) Reprieve for UK med secs?

Plans by Bedford Hospital to sack medical secretaries and replace
them with call centre staff may be scrapped because it will not
save any money. So plan B is to have a typing pool. In September
Bedfordshire on Sunday exclusively reported that the hospital was
planning to get rid of up to 20 of its medical secretaries to save
money. They were going to be replaced by an American company,
Medquist, which would use staff in New Zealand and India.

Secret documents leaked to this newspaper reveal there would be
savings of around £40,000 but these would be eaten up by redundancy
payments. The documents say the hospital is now looking at having a
typing pool, which would be cheaper mainly because the people doing
the work would be paid less. By being centralised it would also cut
down on cover for holidays and sickness.

Anne Buck HR directoe at the hospital, said: "The transcription
service is still in a period of consultation, which will last
another three weeks. "During this time alternative options are
being explored. After that a decision will be made in the best
long-term interests of the Trust."

http://www.mk-news.co.uk/news/bedford/2006/dec/1/reprieve%20for%20secs.lpf

4) NGO provides succour to the blind

An NGO, run by some ex-students of the Narendrapur Blind Boys
Academy of the Ramakrishna Mission, is contemplating start of a
Medical Transcription course for visually handicapped youths in
2007 at Sheoraphuli in Hooghly. Secretary of The Society for the
Welfare of the Blind, Mr Biswajit Ghosh said.
An NRI has already given his permission to set up the centre in his
house at Seoraphuli. The course is expected to commence by June
2007. Visually students will be imparted computer training required
for medical transcription with the help of a software known as
JAWS. Blind students can hear what they are typing on the computer
with this Microsoft built software. A hostel for the blind persons,
who have come to Kolkata either for studying or job but are not
wealthy enough to afford living cost in the city, will be also set
up in the house at Seoraphuli.

The south Kolkata based NGO, set up a school for training visually
handicapped youths on the basics of computers and increasing the
computer literacy level among them on Anwar Shah Road. The school,
a collaboration with another NGO - National Forum of Social Action,
was inauguratedwith three computers equipped with JAWS software and
few students. Two such schools are already being run by the NGO in
Majerhat and Bangur in South 24 Parganas.

http://www.thestatesman.net/page.arcview.php?clid=6&id=166879&usrsess=1

5) Medical transcription firm opens in Sultan Kudarat

A MEDICAL transcription company recently opened its doors in Sultan
Kudarat, the first of its kind in the province, officials said
Monday. Sam Acosta, information officer of the Department of Trade
and Industry in Central Mindanao said that IQ Scribe recently
started operations in Tacurong City, about 90 kilometers northwest
from here.

Ramil Garcia, IQ Scribe administration and human resource officer,
they already have direct clients in Florida in the United States
and also do subcontracts for a Manila-based medical transcription
company.

http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/gen/2006/12/11/bus/medical.transcription.firm.o\
pens.in.sultan.kudarat.html
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The MTIndia Team
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