BLANK KILLING

Blank Killing Blank Killing? Blank Kill? Nice term…. Blank Kill, Kill Blank, close sound alike to Kill Bill? If only it was that easy to turn into Uma Thurman at the drop of a hat and finish them all off! (the blanks in the files is what we were talking about!)

Blank Killing Any experienced Medical Transcriptionist/Editor can teach you a few tricks about how to turn into Uma Thurman when the need arises. When you transcribe a file, especially of a difficult doctor, you are likely to end up with a few (if not more!) blanks Is there a way to crack/kill these blanks so your documents are perfect?

Well Begun is Half Done!  The mantra is to start with a positive mindset…“I can kill every blank - I can get it”. Say this in your mind.  Next, when you transcribe the file for the first time and you can’t hear the word, put in a blank.  Put in a blank even if you are 1% unsure of the word.  Go ahead and transcribe the rest of the file, do not worry about the number of blanks.  Just ensure the words/phrases you transcribe are perfect.  In MT parlance this is called a “skeleton” and just like the human body a good document is prepared on the strength of this skeleton.

Continue the Good Work!  Now, when you are done with transcribing the file for the first time, go over it the second time and the words/phrases you could not hear clearly, earlier, will be clearer now. Howzzat?  If you still have a few blanks left, go ahead and use reference tools such as Stedman’s, Quicklook, Random House and Google, and try and get those blanks.  Good referencing should help you reduce the number of blanks drastically.  If you are still left with a few blanks, no sweat…..try proofreading the file now. – (take off your headset and read the file.)  You will find that you are able to understand most of the possible words for the blanks you have.  Now listen to the blanks with headsets, you will find that magically most of the words are now audible!

Continue the Good Work!  While proofreading the file, check for context, relate every word, phrase, and medication, to the file.  Proofreading again would help you further reduce your blanks.  The Golden rule is – Do not Guess!  When you receive feedback for your file, make note of the word/words which are filled in, go back and re-listen to the file again.

Hard Work has no Substitute!  In the medical transcription profession, there is no end to learning. Every file presents a new case, a new word, or a new drug.  A consistent effort to upgrade your Medical and English vocabulary will help you get better while working on files.  A difficult dictator, gradually, becomes not so difficult anymore.  This is a tried and tested method many medical transcriptionists would tell you.  Would it still be very difficult to turn into an Uma Thurman when you want?  Just like with English, or any other language, the rule is simple, “if you know the word you will hear it!”

Practice makes a man perfect! Try it!