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For a byte of success
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Homemakers are making the medical transcription profession their very own and having lots of fun doing it, writes K. Jeshi
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OUT-OF-HOME EXPERIENCE Fulfilling PHOTO: R. RAGU
Welcome to the world of new age women. They are married, have understanding husbands, children whom they care for and a career they are passionate about.
Getting their career back on track or looking for a job after being a full-time mother is no longer an impossible task.
S. Kavitha, mother of three daughters, now a medical transcriptionist (MT) at Pradot Infosolutions (P) Limited, will tell you how she did it. After matrimony and motherhood and a sabbatical of 14 years, she's now back with a bang.
"I aspired to become a doctor but that dream didn't came true. When my children started going to school, I had enough time at my disposal. So, I enrolled for a training module in medical transcription and it has proved to be a turning point in my life. My job of transcribing medical records by doctors gives me the satisfaction of getting close to my dream," she says.
Economic independence, learning experience, career growth and a vibrant working atmosphere in health care business process outsourcing has found many takers in Coimbatore.
Hard work, meeting deadlines and having the drive to go that extra mile is all what you need, say the housewives who have taken up jobs as medical transcriptionists after a long break. It is a process where one accurately and swiftly transcribes medical records dictated by doctors, including history and physical reports, clinic notes, operative reports, consultation notes, discharge summaries, evaluations and laboratory reports.
"All along, I have never carried a wallet; all my needs were taken care of. Now, apart from economic independence and building confidence, my status as a working woman inspires my children too. The work atmosphere is home-like. I feel like I have got back to my school days where I am making friends with a lot of housewives. In terms of career advancement I have moved on to the second level as junior MT in a matter of six months," Kavitha adds.
Says Surya.V. Sriram, Vice-President, Human Resources of Spheris India Limited: "Our workforce is 450 in Coimbatore. Out of this, 70 per cent constitutes the under-30 years category while the crucial 30 per cent is an emerging segment of housewives and men with 10 or 15 years of industry experience looking for a change in career, mostly people in the 30-50 years category. Some come here after taking up voluntary retirement."
Apart from a fixed pay and other benefits, bulk of the earnings comes as variable pay which is linked to quality of job done and, in turn, productivity.
"Housewives with grown-up children taking up MT jobs are on the rise. We take them through a seven-month training period to teach them the process, so that they are able to achieve quality work. Catching up with productivity will then be just a matter of time. A good transcriptionist can easily make an average of Rs. 25, 000 to 30,000 a month within two years in the industry. There is also grow to become proofers, team leaders, quality coordinators, production manager and general managers," he explains.
For many, the work atmosphere in itself is a new experience. Says Janani. R, a BBM graduate, who is now a senior MT: "Working in a group with people from different age groups helps in moulding your overall personality. It also hones your leadership skills."
Surya says the flexible work culture that allows employees to address the CEO by his first name is a welcome change from working in a textile mill or equipment manufacturing unit. "Besides, the fun elements on the floor like family get-togethers, quiz and dance events, exercise regimen creates a completely different atmosphere. This serves as a motivating factor apart from the big earnings," he adds.
C. Manjunathan, manager — HR and admin of Pradot Infosolutions (P) Limited, says that the positive energy pumped into the work atmosphere by the youth, who are more in number, motivates others in a big way.
"Compensation is another vital factor. For housewives it is more than a job — it is an opportunity to develop inter-personal relationships, mingle with a larger crowd and have loads of fun and frolic. Though they dream big after their education, their world changes once they get married and their sole pre-occupation is nurturing their growing family. Once the children are grown up, they have free time from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. So, they take up jobs to make their dreams come true," he says.
Another advantage is the option to work as a Home Transcriptionist (HT) after a couple of years of experience.
"We have five to six people working as HTs. We give the option only when they are absolutely confident about the work, right from converting sound files to word documents, editing, proof reading and from the proof reading table to quality control," says S. Divya, proof reader and quality analyst with Hykon Transcripts (P) Limited.
"What is required is correct awareness to help them understand the nuances of the job. Individuals should be prepared to take on the stress because quality is at the top," says Surya.
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