| Quality is an important criterion in any decision | | | | categorized as follows: |
| making process. Assessing quality becomes even | | | | Error 1. Medical Word misuse-Point 1.00 |
| more important when it comes to availing service | | | | This is considered one of the most serious errors |
| as critical as medical transcription as it is the | | | | as it can affect every aspect of treatment |
| process of converting audio records of a patient- | | | | administered to the patient. Even billing information |
| healthcare professional encounter into a text | | | | is affected by this error. Guesswork or making up |
| format. | | | | of words when dictation is not understood is also |
| This accuracy/quality is critical as this forms the | | | | included in this error category. |
| basis of: | | | | Error 2. Omission- Point 1.00 |
| - Permanent patient history | | | | This is also considered an equally serious type of |
| - Present and future treatment plan and basis for | | | | error as it reflects on the ability and |
| monitoring progress of the patient | | | | professionalism of the transcriptionist. |
| - Referrals/tests/procedure | | | | Error 3. Medical word misspelling- Point 0.75 |
| - Statutory requirements | | | | This is the incorrect spelling of medical |
| - Evidence in case of disputes/litigation | | | | terminology. |
| - Accounts receivable processing | | | | Error 4. English word misspelling or Misuse -Point |
| It is important that records that play such an | | | | 0.75 |
| essential role be of the highest accuracy/quality | | | | This includes misspelling of English words nouns, |
| possible. While making the decision to outsource | | | | verbs, qualifying adverbs etc, which could have a |
| transcription needs it is vital to ensure that the | | | | serious consequence. |
| service provider has HPI guidelines in place for | | | | Error 5. Inappropriate blanks- Point 0.75 |
| assessment of quality. | | | | These refer to blanks that are left unfilled, and |
| What are HPI guidelines? | | | | those, which could be filled up by extensive |
| The concept of Quality Assessment (QA) began | | | | research by the transcriptionist. |
| in 1990 when a format was developed by Judy | | | | Error 6. Grammar errors- Point 0.5 |
| Hinickle to assess quality of transcription. This was | | | | Grammar errors include incorrect use of medical |
| followed by presentations made to thousands of | | | | abbreviations, misuse of words, misuse of parts |
| transcription supervisors and educators around | | | | of speech, misuse of subject-verb, singular/plural |
| the country by Health Professional Institute (HPI), | | | | misuse, etc. |
| American Association for Medical Transcription | | | | Error 7. Punctuation errors- Point 0.5 |
| (AAMT), American Health Information | | | | Include errors with regard to punctuation like |
| Management Association (AHIMA), and Medical | | | | coma, colon, semi colon etc that change the |
| Transcription Industry Association (MTIA). | | | | meaning of the sentence if misused. |
| Health Professions Institute then adapted and | | | | Error 8. Typographical errors- Point 0.25 |
| promoted this for its standard-setting SUM | | | | Minor grammar, punctuation or capitalization errors. |
| program for medical transcription. This QA | | | | Error 9. Formatting errors- Point 0.25 |
| method is the basis of most programs and is of | | | | This error refers to the prevailing departmental |
| most thorough and effective nature, embracing | | | | physician guidelines for placement of certain |
| true Continuous Quality Improvement concepts. | | | | information within the document. Example: |
| What do HPI guidelines consist of? | | | | Headers, Footers, templates as defined by the |
| HPI guidelines consist of quality check parameters | | | | client. Having these quality guidelines in place |
| and computing system for quality satisfaction and | | | | ensures that everybody in the team is guided by |
| highest accuracy levels. HPI guidelines are | | | | the same principles. |