Showing posts with label HIPAA/HITECH transcription. Show all posts
Showing posts with label HIPAA/HITECH transcription. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Medical transcription services: Gastroenterology

Medical transcription is the process by which audio records of a patient-healthcare professional encounter are converted into text format.  Medical transcription is a service closely associated with medicine. And medicine is a vast field having numerous branches and specialties. The needs of each specialty are entirely different. It is required that the medical transcriptionists providing this service are oriented with the terminology associated with the branch of medicine they are working on.

TransDyne understands that the needs of each specialty of medicine are unique. Therefore the medical transcription requirements of each specialty are different. Knowing this and the importance of creating accurate and timely records, TransDyne has created a unique training program for its medical transcriptionists. Under this program medical transcriptionists are trained to become expert transcriptionists in one or two specialties of medicine.

This means that they are taught the terminologies, drugs and procedures associated with the specialty. The specialty medical transcriptionist teams are also kept constantly updated on the latest developments in the field, as medicine is a dynamic field with new developments and discoveries.  Work is allotted to medical transcriptionists based on the specialty on which they are trained.

Gastroenterology is the branch of medicine focusing on the digestive system. Medical professionals specializing in the field of gastroenterology are called gastroenterologists and are trained to treat and mange patients with gastroenterological disorders.   

TransDyne has a team of specialist medical transcriptionists who are well trained for providing professional medical transcription services for healthcare professionals practicing gastroenterology.

How does specialist training in gastroenterology transcription affect accuracy levels?
Medical transcriptionists, proofreaders and editors are familiar with all the requisite terminology, procedures and the drugs used in gastroenterology due to the training program aimed at familiarizing the medical transcriptionists with this specialty. This ensures that the error rates in transcripts are drastically reduced and the accuracy levels are high. The team is able to produce high quality reports from the very beginning.

How does specialist training in gastroenterology transcription affect turnaround time?
Due to the training methods used the medical transcriptionists are very familiar with the specific terminology used and are able to produce transcripts with requisite accuracy in optimum time.

How does specialist training in gastroenterology transcription affect cost per line of transcription?
Due to the reduced error rate and reduced turnaround time the need for multi level quality checks is reduced and the productivity of the medical transcriptionist is enhanced this helps keep the cost of production under control and the benefits of this are passed on the healthcare facility.

TransDyne provides gastroenterology medical transcription that is cost efficient, speedy and accurate. Moreover gastroenterologists can benefit from the other features of medical transcription services by TransDyne like:

Data Security: TransDyne ensures data security of medical transcription by incorporating security measures like 128-bit data encryption, multi-tiered application architecture, design level security, safeguards, firewall protected networks, sterilized e-mail servers, denial of access procedure and multi modal alerts. TransDyne also ensures data security by ensuring that the data doesn’t leave their premises physically. To ensure secure medical transcription all the transcription is done in the company’s own premises and the premises are secured through appropriate security measures. TransDyne meets and exceeds all HIPAA/HITECH regulations that apply to electronic exchange of information.

Technology: Considering that time is one of the most precious commodities for healthcare professionals, TransDyne believes in using technology that provides multiple features with ease of use. Some of the features of the software and tools used by TransDyne are as follows:

  • Smart upload: TransDyne offers doctors the choice of using modes of dictation they are already comfortable with. Then these files can be uploaded to the servers to be made available for transcription. Smart upload enables transfer of dictation files from the healthcare facility’s server to TransDyne’s server by checking for new dictations at pre-fixed intervals.

  • Web Delivery: TransDyne’s web delivery system tackles all issues related with tracking dictations, receiving documents and finding old files form the archives.

  • Smart Delivery: Smart delivery is an automated program that addresses the automatic downloads, saving files and printing needs of a healthcare facility.

  • HL7 integration: TransDyne can configure and send healthcare information as HL7 messages to the client’s EMR with no additional costs. 
To avail gastroenterology medical transcription services from TransDyne, click here.

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Medical transcription: Outsource the right way!

Medical transcription is an important contributor to the smooth running of a healthcare facility. It is important for medical transcription be accurate, timely, reasonably priced and transmitted through secure channels. Outsourcing medical transcription to the right service provider can make this possible.

However while outsourcing such a vital function as medical transcription, care needs to be taken to prepare the groundwork for outsourcing. Preparing the groundwork for outsourcing: Outsourcing a vital part of the healthcare process to a service provider is essentially like taking on a long-term business partner. Thereby it is important that the decision to outsource
 is based on inputs from every department affected by the decision.

What are the factors to be considered before outsourcing medical transcription?

Consulting staff: The services of the medical transcription service provider are going to be used by not only healthcare professionals, but also support staff, billing department and Information technology department. It is important to get inputs from all the people who are directly or indirectly affected by medical transcription so that the right service provider is selected.

Drawing up objective criteria for evaluation: It is important to have a clear objective for the outsourcing plan; this enables the healthcare facility to evaluate the medical transcription service provider thoroughly. The criteria for outsourcing could be varied, it could be cutting costs, streamlining transcription flow, reducing turnaround time or improving quality. Sometimes it could be a combination of one or more of the objectives.

Follow up references: instead of taking the promises/claims made by the service provider it is important to check the references provided by the medical transcription company to ensure that they can deliver the promises made by them.

Analyze quoted price thoroughly: The billing methods used in medical transcription are varied and are subject to manipulation. The price quoted by the medical transcription service provider cannot be taken at face value, it is important to know the components of cost to be able to compare the prices quoted by different providers in an equitable manner.

Focus on factors beyond price: Medical transcription plays a long-term role by documenting the patient data. This information could be called upon in the future for various purposes, including litigation. It is important to weigh factors like the capability of the medical transcription service provider in providing similar services, quality of reports, the skill set of medical transcriptionists, adoption to EMR and archiving capabilities in addition to the cost factor.

Consider future requirements: It is important to choose a service provider who has the capability to grow along with the future requirements of the healthcare facility. Factors like increasing volumes, adding on new specialties will affect the level of service required. The service provider needs to be evaluated on the basis of their ability to service future requirements

Consider technological compatibility: Technology has changed the way medical transcription works. Information Technology (IT) has made the process simpler, quicker and more secure. It is important to evaluate the medical transcription company on the basis of technological capabilities and whether further investment is required on the healthcare facility’s behalf before availing the services.

Avail free trial: It is important to test the services of the medical transcription service provider before actually signing the agreement. 

Contract evaluation: The contract is the document that specifies the service level expected. It is important to study the contract carefully for clauses that are binding and consider their impact before signing.  Points like use of subcontractors, provisions for HIPAA compliance need to be included in the contract document.

TransDyne is a leading provider of outsourced medical transcription services that has anticipated the needs of healthcare facilities and designed their services accordingly. 

TransDyne offers medical transcription at reasonable prices, done by expert medical transcriptionists with a very quick turnaround time executed through secure HIPAA compliant channels, with very high levels of accuracy and all this with technology that is advanced but easy to use.

To benefit from outsourced medical transcription services by TransDyne, click here.

Friday, March 1, 2013

Medical transcription outsourcing : Providing high quality services

Medical transcription is an integral part of the healthcare process by creating patient records from the dictation provided by healthcare professionals of the patient- healthcare professional encounter. Patient records have a dual role to play in the smooth running of healthcare facilities supporting both the diagnostic as well as the reimbursement process. However medical transcription is not part of the core competencies of the healthcare facility; therefore outsourcing medical transcription has proven to be an efficient solution.

Outsourcing medical transcription ensures that healthcare facilities can benefit from high quality services.

How does outsourcing medical transcription provide high quality services?

Outsourcing medical transcription to a professional medical transcription service provider ensures high quality services as medical transcription is the core business of the service providers and they can provide services with the following attributes:

·       Service with expertise: Medical transcription is a service which requires expertise like the right combination of people skills and technology to render services that meet the accuracy and turnaround time standards. Outsourcing to the right service provider ensures that process of creating patient records is executed with expertise.

·       Service with experience: The medical transcription requirements of each healthcare facility is diverse. The experience of the service provider in serving the diverse needs of different healthcare facilities would benefit the healthcare facility by ensuring seamless transition to outsourced services.

·       Committed service: Medical transcription is the core business of the service provider and all the resources of the service provider would be committed to ensure accurate, speedy, secure and cost effective medical transcription services. The healthcare facility can benefit by the commitment of the service provider by enjoying immaculate services that meet their specific requirements.

·       Professional services: Outsourcing medical transcription to a professional medical transcription services ensures that professionally trained medical transcriptionists who are experts in the specialty they are transcribing in work on the dictation to produce high quality transcripts

·       Service with integrity: The information in patient records is vital for the treatment process; it is important that this information is captured accurately and  confidentiality of this information is ensured. Outsourcing to a professional medical transcription service provider ensures that the integrity of the information is preserved both in terms of  accuracy and security.

·       Thorough services: The patient medical record is the basis of further treatments, reference for future course of action, basis for referrals, as evidence in case of litigation and the foundation for the reimbursement process. It is important that all the details are captured thoroughly. Outsourcing medical transcription ensures this.

·       Reliable services: Outsourcing medical transcription ensures that the process of creating medical records is a continuous and reliable process regardless of variation in the volume of transcription or transcription for holiday and weekend medical transcription requirements.

·       Service based on technical expertise: The medical transcription process relies on technology to ensure speed and security. Moreover technology also adds to the productivity of healthcare professionals  and support staff by providing numerous easy to use  benefits like flexible modes of capturing dictation, varied modes of document delivery, archives, HL7 interface and various other features

·       Timely services: Outsourcing medical transcription  ensures that not only are transcripts created in an accurate manner but are also made available to healthcare professionals within the turnaround time required by them.

·       Cost effective services: Outsourcing medical transcription  ensures substantial cost savings to the healthcare facilities by reducing both the direct and indirect cost of transcription. 

Outsourcing medical transcription to a professional medical transcription service provider provides healthcare facilities complete medical transcription solutions.

TransDyne offers quality medical transcription at reasonable prices, executed by experienced and qualified 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 high quality medical transcription services from TransDyne, click here.

Friday, February 22, 2013

Medical transcription outsourcing: The importance of turnaround time

Medical transcription has been a part of the healthcare process providing valuable support to healthcare professionals and support staff by creating quality patient records.   Apart from the accuracy of the data captured in a patient record one of the other most important factor that defines the quality of medical transcription is turnaround time. Turnaround time is the period of time between the completion of dictation to the delivery of transcripts to the healthcare professionals/ healthcare facilities.

 Turnaround time has an impact on the following:

·       Clinical decision making and the quality of patient care
·       Completing the documentation process as part of risk management
·       Starting the reimbursement process

 The factors that  affect turnaround time are:

1.     The volume of work
2.     Staff
3.     Changes in transcription needs
4.     Implementing new technology/ method of working
5.     Varied turnaround time expectations

To meet the turnaround time requirements of healthcare professionals and healthcare facilities needs, a dedicated team, equipment and process are required. And more over it is not possible to predict the volume of transcription required at any given time as the transcription requirements depend on the patient inflow  which is impossible to predict.

Given that it is not possible to predict the medical transcription requirements at any given time and the fact that medical transcription is not part of the core business of the healthcare facility, the best option available to healthcare facilities is to outsource medical transcription. Outsourcing medical transcription ensures that the patient records are made available to healthcare facilities and healthcare professionals within the specified turnaround times.

How do outsourced medical transcription services ensure prompt  turnaround time?
Medical transcription is the core business of the service provider and the medical transcription service provider ensures prompt turnaround time by addressing all the issues that affect turnaround time like:

·       Well trained staff: The medical transcription service provider would have a process in place  by which they would recruit and train the best talent ensuring that there is adequate manpower to cope with varied volumes of transcription work while still maintaining accuracy.

·       Technology: Technology used by the medical transcription service provider would have an impact on the turnaround time. Some of the software and tools that positively impact the turnaround time are:

1.     Portable dictation devices: This enables the healthcare professionals to narrate the patient- healthcare professional encounter on the move ensuring that audio files are available for transcription promptly

2.     Automatic upload of audio files: Medical transcription service providers would have options in the dictation system  to check for dictation files at preset intervals for automatic and prompt upload of audio files to the server at the service provider's end for prompt transcription.

3.     Multiples modes of document delivery: The medical transcription service provider would use the right technology to ensure that transcripts are delivered speedily and securely  to healthcare professionals in the modes specified by them.

4.     Easy access to audio and text files: Technology used by the service provider enables easy access to audio files for medical transcriptionists and support staff and text files to healthcare professionals and support staff.

·       Process: Outsourced medical transcription service providers would have a process for medical transcription typically involving transcription, proof reading and editing that transcripts are accurate and prompt.

Prompt delivery of transcripts is  vital  as they impact both the operational as well as commercial aspects of  healthcare facilities and outsourcing medical transcription provides the right solution for meeting the turnaround time requirements of healthcare professionals and healthcare facilities.

TransDyne, a leader in the outsourced medical transcription industry, has used their extensive background in information technology to develop software and tools for medical transcription that save on time, efforts and money.

TransDyne offers quality medical transcription at reasonable prices, executed by experienced and qualified 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 prompt and speedy  medical transcription services from TransDyne, click here.

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Medical transcription outsourcing: Get the best deal!

Outsourcing medical transcription has several advantages when done right. It is an important decision that is bound to have a long-term impact on the working of healthcare facilities. Medical transcription is the process of creating patient records from the audio files of the patient-healthcare professional encounter. It is not a one-time service, but a continuous process that supports both operational and commercial aspects of healthcare.

Considering the role of medical transcription in the smooth running of healthcare facilities it is vital for healthcare facilities to choose the right medical transcription service provider to partner them in their documentation needs. The process of choosing the right medical transcription service provider would involve two stages:

Analyzing the current scenario:

  • Current source of medical transcription:  This could consist of in-house medical transcriptionists or independent contractors or a combination of both

  • Current turnaround time: Turnaround time could vary depending on the source of transcription as well as the patient inflow at any given time

  • No of medical transcriptionists employed: This would depend on the expected medical transcription requirements

  • Overheads for medical transcription: The overheads required for in-house medical transcription would comprise of: 
a)    Real estate
b)    Computers, furniture and equipments
c)     Utilities, like electricity, Internet charges etc.
d)    Consumables
e)    Taxes and benefits for employees
f)      Management, human resource, Information technology and other assorted staff
g)    Working capital

  • Cost per line of transcription: The cost per line of transcription needs to be calculated including the apportionment of the above listed overheads used for medical transcription

  • System for handling overflow/holiday/weekend transcription requirements: Considering that the volume of medical transcription required cannot be predicted due to the varied inflow of patients, the idle capacity during slack times and the overtime paid during busy times needs to be calculated. 
Once healthcare facilities have taken a look at the current scenario regarding medical transcription, the next step would be,

 Listing out the expectations from the outsourcing decision:

  • Minimum or no investment: Outsourcing medical transcription should require very little investment so that healthcare facilities can optimize their limited resources to develop their core business

  • Saving on cost of medical transcription: One of the main expectations from the outsourcing decision is the enormous savings on cost that healthcare facilities hope to make, in terms of both direct and indirect cost of medical transcription

  • Minimum resources required: Outsourcing medical transcription should ensure minimum requirement of resources like management staff, administrative staff, support staff etc.

  • Good quality accurate medical transcription: The accuracy of the information captured in the patient records needs to be as close to 100% as possible to enable healthcare professionals to provide quality healthcare

  • Fast and efficient turnaround time: Healthcare professionals depend on information from patient records to make healthcare plans and the information from patient records is also vital for billing and coding, therefore the turnaround time commitments provided by the medical transcription service provider should suit the specific needs of healthcare facilities

  • Secure Medical Transcription: Security of confidential patient information is one of the major concerns that arise during the outsourcing process. It is vital for the service provider to have adequate measures with regards to people, processes and technology

  • Minimum training: Healthcare professionals and support staff are starved of time, the systems used by the medical transcription service provider should take this into consideration, so that the systems used for medical transcription should be configured so as to require minimal training

  • Allowing flexible modes of dictation: One of the desired outcomes of the medical transcription outsourcing process is that of healthcare professionals being allowed to retain familiar modes of dictation allowing them optimum use of their limited time. 

  • Reports in specified formats/templates: Different specialties/healthcare professionals require patient records to be created in specified templates/formats, it is important to source a medical transcription service provider that can create patient records as per specification. 
TransDyne, a leader in the outsourced medical transcription industry provides customized solutions to the medical transcription needs of healthcare facilities. TransDyne offers quality medical transcription at reasonable prices, executed by experienced and qualified 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 complete medical transcription services from TransDyne, click here.

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Medical transcription outsourcing: Smart business decision

Healthcare has always played an important role in defining the quality of life. In fact it is considered one of the basic necessities of life along with other essentials like air, water, food, clothing and shelter. Though healthcare is one of the necessities of life it is also a business. Like any other business the goal of healthcare facilities is to improve the bottom-line.

The process of healthcare depends on a lot of inputs that help in delivering quality healthcare. Of these inputs some inputs are part of the core skills that are essential to the process of healthcare like the education, skill and experience of the healthcare professionals, the support staff skills, the surgical implements, laboratory facilities etc. But there are also other factors that affect the delivery of quality healthcare, one of them being information in the form of patient records. The process of creating patient records by conversion of audio files of the patient- healthcare professional encounter into text format is known as medical transcription. Though medical transcription plays an important part in the delivery of healthcare and quickening the reimbursement process, it is not part of the core business of the healthcare facility. In fact medical transcription is an expense head.

Outsourcing medical transcription is a smart solution to ensure that patient records are created in a speedy, accurate, cost-effective and secure manner. Outsourcing medical transcription is not only an effective, efficient and economical way of creating patient records it has many other advantages. Some of the advantages of outsourcing medical transcription are as follows:

  • Increased focus on core business: Outsourcing medical transcription allows both the healthcare professionals and the support staff at the healthcare facility to focus on the core business of providing quality care

  • Curbs capital investment: The process of medical transcription requires capital investment on computers, servers, furniture, earphones and other transcription equipment. This can be avoided by outsourcing the entire process of medical transcription

  • Controls costs: Outsourcing medical transcription ensures that the cost of transcription is not only reduced dramatically, but also ensures that the cost is restricted to the cost per line of transcription

  • Improved efficiency: Outsourcing medical transcription ensures that the flow of audio files being converted to patient records is automatic and speedy. This improves the efficiency of the healthcare professionals and the support staff in providing timely treatment

  • Lowers the cost of overheads: Outsourcing medical transcription ensures that the cost of overheads like rent, utilities, cost of information technology, and even resources like management and administrative staff is reduced

  • Benefits from best practices of the service provider: Medical transcription is the core business of the service provider, this means that the healthcare facility can benefit from the experience and the best practices of the service provider

  • Reduces payroll: Outsourcing medical transcription helps the healthcare facility lower payroll costs. The salaries and other benefits paid to the transcription team can be avoided

  • Creates value: The systems used by the medical transcription service provider adds value to the service by enabling the healthcare professionals and the support staff to maximize the use of their time and providing service with additional benefits like flexible modes of dictation, remote printing & faxing etc.

  • Reduces burden of support staff: By having systems in place that enable tracking of dictation and finished transcripts, the medical transcription service provider reduces the burden of the support staff to a great extent

  • Benefits from the technology used by the service provider: The technology used by the medical transcription service provider can lessen the burden of the healthcare facility to a large extent by enabling a huge number of features including integration with the EMR system. 
Medical transcription can play an important role in the smooth running of the healthcare facility in many aspects, both operationally and commercially. Therefore it is important to choose a medical transcription service provider who can provide maximum benefits in a cost effective manner.

TransDyne offers smart solutions for medical transcription needs by providing quality medical transcription at reasonable prices, executed by experienced and qualified 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!               

For more details about the advantages of outsourced medical transcription services by TransDyne, click here.

Friday, December 21, 2012

Medical transcription: Nephrology

Nephrology is a branch of internal medicine and pediatrics dealing with the study of the function and diseases of the kidney. Nephrology concerns itself with the diagnosis and treatment of kidney diseases, including electrolyte disturbances and hypertension and the care of those requiring renal replacement and hypertension and the care of those requiring renal replacement therapy, including dialysis and renal transplant patients.  Many diseases affecting the kidney are systemic disorders not limited to the organ itself. Healthcare professionals who have been educated and trained in kidney diseases, kidney transplantation and dialysis therapy are known as nephrologists.

Medical transcription is the process of converting the audio records of healthcare professional-patient encounter into text format, which then forms a permanent part of the patient’s health record. This ensures the continuity of care by ensuring the patient’s detailed health history is available as reference.

Medical transcription for Nephrology requires the skill level of medical transcriptionists to be high. The medical transcriptionists need to be well versed in the terminology, techniques and procedures that form part of Nephrology.

TransDyne acknowledges that the field of medicine is vast and has many specialties; therefore medical transcription for a particular specialty requires the team providing medical transcription support to have in-depth knowledge about the specialty. This ensures that the audio records dictated by the specialists are fully understood by the medical transcriptionists and the records are transcribed with maximum accuracy and within the requisite turnaround time.

TransDyne has a team of specially trained medical transcriptionists working on Nephrology medical transcription. This team has been extensively trained on the terminology, techniques and procedures related to Nephrology.

How does specialty training in Nephrology in medical transcription affect accuracy?
Specialist training in Nephrology medical transcription ensures that the teams working on the transcripts are domain experts. This ensures familiarity with the “language” used by the nephrologists, improves accuracy and reduces errors dramatically.

How does specialty training in Nephrology in medical transcription affect turnaround time?
Turnaround time of the finished transcripts is dependent on the skill level of the medical transcriptionists. Specialty training in Nephrology transcription helps develop the skill level of the medical transcriptionists, thus enabling them to meet turnaround time commitments.

How does specialty training in Nephrology in medical transcription affect pricing?
Specialist training in Nephrology increases the productivity of medical transcriptionists and also minimizes errors. Both these factors help bring down the cost per line of transcription.

TransDyne gives healthcare professionals in Nephrology the benefit of specialist transcription maintaining high levels of accuracy, turnaround time and reasonable prices.

Not only that, availing medical transcription services from TransDyne has the following benefits:

Data Security: TransDyne ensures security during the process of medical transcription by incorporating security measures like 128-bit data encryption, multi-tiered application architecture, design level security, safeguards, firewall protected networks, sterilized e-mail servers, denial of access procedure and multi modal alerts. TransDyne also ensures data security by ensuring that the data doesn’t leave their premises physically. To ensure secure medical transcription all the transcription is done in the company’s own premises and the premises are secured through appropriate security measures. TransDyne meets and exceeds all HIPAA regulations that apply to electronic exchange of information.

Technology: Considering that time is one of the most precious commodities for healthcare professionals, TransDyne believes in using technology that provides multiple features with ease of use. Some of the features of the software and tools used by TransDyne are as follows:

  • Smart upload: TransDyne offers healthcare professionals the choice of using modes of dictation they are already comfortable with. Then these files can be uploaded to the servers to be made available for transcription. Smart upload enables transfer of dictation files from the healthcare facility’s server to TransDyne’s server by checking for new dictations at pre-fixed intervals.

  • Web Delivery: TransDyne’s web delivery system tackles all issues related with tracking dictations, receiving documents and finding old files form the archives.

  • Smart Delivery: Smart delivery is an automated program that addresses the automatic downloads, saving files and printing needs of a healthcare facility.

  • HL7 integration: TransDyne can configure and send healthcare information as HL7 messages to the client’s EMR with no additional costs. 
To avail Nephrology medical transcription services from TransDyne, click here.