Why Outsourcing Your Medical Transcription Might Be Your Best Solution

Whenever physicians interact with a patient, they need to record the details of the encounter so they or other healthcare providers can review the symptoms, complaints, diagnoses, prescriptions, and whatever else occurred during the visit. Typically, they will dictate their notes into a recording device. The task of getting those notes into the patient's permanent record is the job of a medical transcriptionist so that the healthcare provider can focus on patient care and other essential tasks. Some practices use in-house transcriptionists, but there are many reasons why using a professional transcription service may be a better solution.

More Cost-Effective

In-house transcriptionists are typically considered staff; therefore, the healthcare organization must pay their salary and benefits like any other full-time employee. Often, they will be required to perform various other non-transcriptionist duties such as receptionist, medical billing, or other administrative tasks that could be carried out by less-trained, lower-paid staff. The transcribers might hurry through their transcribing duties so that they can get back to other job functions, which can create mistakes and inaccuracies. An in-house team is always on the clock, which means you pay them the same whether they are overburdened and stressed or when they have very little work to transcribe. When you use an in-house transcription team, you also need to purchase the necessary equipment for the transcribers, as well as pay for their training. When you outsource your transcription services, the transcribers are not considered employees; therefore, you pay a fixed rate for only the amount of work they complete. You also don't have to purchase the necessary transcription equipment.

Assured Accuracy, Security, and Compliance

When you outsource your transcribing to a third-party transcription service, you get a team of workers who have been fully trained and dedicated to only one task. They come to your hospital or practice, transcribe the documents or recordings you request, and leave. They are also educated in rules and regulations to keep your organization HIPAA-compliant and have regular training to keep up with medical jargon, industry changes, and new regulations.

Practitioners can upload their voice or text files to the transcription company's secure, easy-to-use online platform. The company can provide easy access to transcribed medical records as soon as they are completed. Many transcription services will use voice-recognition software to translate a physician's words into a digital file, then the transcriptionist will go through the file for mistakes and inaccuracies that often occur with this type of technology. This reduces the overall time to completion and lowers your transcription expense.

For more information, contact a medical transcription service in your area.