Reasons To Choose A U.S.-Based Medical Transcription Service Provider

Keeping the labor force for businesses within the US borders is a national focus, and the medical transcription industry is no exception. In selecting to outsource internationally, hospitals and private practices risk choosing cost over quality as the demand for transcription and editing services increases. Below are a few reasons to consider a U.S.-based medical transcription service provider.

Protected Health Information

One of the primary concerns when outsourcing medical transcription services is the threat to the patients’ Protected Health Information (PHI).  Sending patient information from the US, where security and confidentiality are considered a part of “best practices” and everyday life, to a country where international law and practices’ are less stringent should be a concern for those considering outsourcing.

 

Quality Of Services

The quality of transcription services outside the United States is often below industry standards. Many overseas transcriptionists lack the fundamental skills necessary to ensure accurate transcriptions, as well as occupation-specific medical terminology. A large number of offshore transcriptionists have language barriers and don’t understand some of the expressions and slang that physicians frequently use in their notes. This results in less qualified staff and fewer quality reports than you can find in the United States.

Up-To-Date Technology

The healthcare landscape is rapidly changing, and the ability to keep up is increasingly challenging. Having a U.S.-based medical transcription service that has access to ever-changing medical documentation systems and altering technology is crucial. At Fast Chart, we use technology that creates highly accurate, structured, encoded, and shareable medical documents using the following technology:

 

• Speech Understanding™: M*Modal allows physicians to dictate in a more normal, “conversational” mode by not having to memorize and call out specific terms to verbally cue the speech engine. 
• Speech for EHR/EMR: Make it simple and intuitive for physicians to dictate, review and electronically sign their reports in a single pass.
• Automated Transcription: A powerful speech recognition engine that quickly converts audio files to text, and then automatically routes them to the right editor.
• Computer Assisted Coding: Eases the tension of ICD-10 while boosting the accuracy and productivity of ICD-9 today. 
• Intelligent Imaging: A comprehensive, intelligent imaging, radiology reporting solution that improves the speed and accuracy of findings by uniting three critical applications; intelligent Speech Understanding™, a consolidated vendor-neutral worklist, and advanced departmental business analytics. 

 

Up-to-date technology is yet another reason to opt for a U.S.-based medical transcription service provider.

Training And Certifications

In the United States, becoming a medical transcriptionist requires a minimum education standard of a high school diploma or GED. Additionally, they must complete a course to earn their medical transcriptionist certificate. There is no guarantee that medical transcriptionist providers overseas are equipped with the same level of education as those in the States. Moreover, overseas providers may not offer their employees the same level of training, where their employees may lack a working knowledge of transcription standards, medical terminology, and HIPAA requirements.

 

Signs Your Medical Transcription Company May Be Outsourcing Overseas

If you’re unsure if your current medical transcription provider outsources their work overseas, here are some clues that might tip you off. These are also risks that must be considered when choosing cost over quality. In the long term, the benefit of cost reduction may not actually be achieved when considering the risks below:

1. Misspelled words and multiple blanks in transcriptions
2. If the company has difficulty verifying pricing and/or hidden costs
3. Consistently missed or delayed turnaround times
4. Lack of automated technology to make the process more efficient
5. Lack of communication (difficulty contacting client services)

Here at Fast Chart, we are committed to only hiring domestically located medical transcriptionists that meet our rigorous standards and training. This is why Fast Chart has an accuracy rate of more than 98.5%.

Fast Chart prides itself on providing innovative, accurate, and affordable clinical documentation solutions as well as being a U.S.-based medical transcription service provider. Feel free to contact us or call our office toll-free at 1-800-334-6606 with any questions.