Healthcare is a complex process, which requires a lot of judgment and skills on the part of the healthcare professional, apart from all the other inputs like the right mix of equipment, education and infrastructure. One other important input to the healthcare process is information from patient records.
Patient records make it possible for healthcare professionals to make the right decisions regarding the patient's treatment. Patient records are basically a culmination of all the information of the patient's health history. They provide valuable information regarding demographics; lifestyle habits, allergies and also include earlier symptoms, diagnoses and treatment availed. This information is not only valuable in providing further treatment, but is also invaluable when treatment is stretched over a period of time and there are frequent changes in the healthcare professionals and support staff attending to the patient.
Medical transcription is the process by which patient records are created. Medical transcription basically involves the conversion of audio files of the healthcare professionals regarding the patient-healthcare professional encounter into text format. This is a very simplistic definition of medical transcription.
Medical transcription is a service that extends beyond being just a typing service; medical transcription is a service, which provides healthcare professionals with content and context in the patient's medical records enabling the process of healthcare.
Medical transcription is a skill that requires:
- Good language skills
- Good listening skills
- Knowledge of medical terminology
- Typing skills
- Ability to multitask
- An eye for details
- Research abilities
To effectively provide content, the medical transcriptionist has to be able to listen carefully and capture the information as accurately as possible. Where needed the medical transcriptionist has to refer to the Internet to fill in the appropriate words.
To effectively apply context while transcribing patient records, the medical transcriptionist has to listen carefully to the words of the healthcare professional and make sure that the record is consistent in terms of details. For example: The gender of the patient or the left/right side injury etc.
One of most economical, effective and efficient options available to healthcare facilities for creation of patient records is to outsource to a professional medical transcription service provider.
However while outsourcing medical transcription, it is important to assess the medical transcription service provider on the basis of the following:
Accuracy: This means the percentage of accuracy of the completed transcripts vis-à-vis what was dictated. A minimum of 99% and above would be acceptable.
Turnaround time: Turnaround time refers to the time taken to revert the transcribed report to the healthcare facility. A Turnaround time of not more than 24 hours for normal reports and 4-12 hours for STAT reports would be considered ideal.
Data security: The service provider should be HIPAA/HITECH compliant. The medical transcription service provider has to have adequate security measures to ensure that the confidential data transmitted back and forth is safe and secure.
Pricing: This is one of the main benefits that a healthcare facility hopes to have, from the outsourcing option. Pricing should be fair and reasonable for the services rendered. Pricing method should also be transparent and simple so that both parties can verify the same at any stage of the process
Technology: The technology used by the service provider should not only be secure and offer advanced features but should also be easy to use, without having to require extensive training.
TransDyne offers quality medical transcription at reasonable prices, done by expert medical transcriptionists with a very quick turnaround time executed through secure HIPAA and HITECH compliant channels, with very high levels of accuracy and all this with technology that is advanced but easy to use!
To avail medical transcription services from TransDyne, click here.
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