| Many healthcare facilities may not be aware that | | | | provider. |
| outsourcing their medical transcription needs can | | | | But the decision to outsource transcription needs |
| actually reduce their capital outlay in | | | | should not be taken lightly, and one needs to |
| non-healthcare related areas. | | | | carefully evaluate the service provider in terms |
| Healthcare business is ever changing and needs | | | | of: |
| huge investments in the latest equipments to give | | | | · Accuracy: This means the percentage of |
| the best possible care to patients. This means | | | | accuracy in the transcribed document with relation |
| having to stretch limited money resources to | | | | to the audio files. Minimum of 99% and above |
| cover all needs. Investing in capital equipment not | | | | would be acceptable |
| related to the core business, like medical | | | | · Turnaround time: Turnaround time refers to |
| transcription can stretch the already over worked | | | | the time taken to revert the transcribed report |
| budgets to the limit. | | | | to you. A Turnaround time of not more than 24 |
| What is the Capital investment required for | | | | hours for normal reports and 4-12 hours for |
| medical transcription? | | | | STAT reports would be considered ideal |
| Capital investment for transcription could be in the | | | | - Data security: The service provider being |
| following areas: | | | | outsourced to should be HIPAA/HITECH compliant. |
| · Computer systems for transcribing including | | | | The service provider has to have adequate |
| monitors, headsets, foot pedals, keyboards etc. | | | | security measures so that the confidential data |
| · Software for the transcription systems | | | | transmitted back and forth is safe and secure |
| · Server for centrally uploading dictation files and | | | | - Fair pricing: Pricing should be fair and reasonable |
| downloading finished transcripts | | | | for the services rendered. Pricing method should |
| · Furniture used by in-house transcriptionists | | | | also be transparent and simple so that concerned |
| · Software for integration of the finished | | | | parties can verify the same at any stage of the |
| transcripts from various transcription sources into | | | | process |
| the healthcare facility's central system. | | | | - Technology: The technology used by the service |
| Though not directly related to the core business, | | | | provider eases the life of healthcare professionals |
| transcription is vital to the smooth running of a | | | | and support staff by providing multiple benefits |
| healthcare facility and so cannot be ignored. In a | | | | and making the transcription system easy to use |
| situation where too many demands are made on | | | | Above all the medical transcription service |
| limited resources, one easy fix is to outsource | | | | provider should offer services to take care of all |
| transcription needs. This then shifts the onus of | | | | transcription needs without involving any additional |
| major capital investment on to the service | | | | investments on the healthcare facility's part. |