Saturday, December 10, 2011

Medical transcription: Improving communication and information sharing

The recent reforms proposed for healthcare are aimed towards the creation of an US-based health information network with the expectation that adoption of EMR/ EHR and investment in newer technology will reduce errors, bring down costs, ensure privacy and save lives. As the healthcare sector is preparing to move towards the attainment of this goal one of the key factors for the success of this that emerges, is the need for clear and secure information sharing among all the stakeholders involved in the healthcare process.

Keeping this in mind it becomes important for healthcare facilities and healthcare professionals to have proper support to ensure good results. Medical transcription has been one of the services that have supported the healthcare especially in improving communication and information sharing. The role of medical transcription in this move towards adoption of EMR/ EHR is undeniable given their vast resources of experience and expertise.

Given below are some of the stakeholders in the healthcare process that medical transcription services aid in improving communication and information sharing:

Healthcare professionals: As healthcare professionals have an important role in the healthcare process it is vital that they have access to accurate and timely information regarding patients. Medical transcription companies ensure that legible, clear and accurate patient medical records are created on a timely basis from the dictation of healthcare professionals regarding the patient encounter. This essentially ensures that all the key points of the patient encounter including the narrative portion are captured in the transcript.  Not only do medical transcription companies help in creation of patient medical records but they also ensure easy access and sharing.

Support staff at the healthcare facility: The process of care involves several people including the support staff. By creating proper records medical transcription companies ensure that timely information regarding the care instructions provided by healthcare professionals is available to the staff for administering the right care. This especially essential for long term care or during shift changes

Coders and billing staff: The record of the care process provides the base for coding and billing. By ensuring accuracy and turnaround time, medical transcription companies aid in timely and proper coding and billing

Insurance payers:  Insurance payers require the complete patient medical record to establish eligibility; quality transcription ensures that this is possible

Pharmaceutical researchers:  Experimenting with new drugs/ protocols etc require careful monitoring and record keeping to track the efficacy. Medical transcription companies ensure that the patient medical records reflect all the details

Public health officials: Detailed patient medical records are useful for keeping track of epidemics and other public health related issues. Medical transcription companies ensure that this data is easily available by creating and archiving records, which are easily searchable using various criteria

Risk managers: Risk managers require detailed information regarding the patient encounter, diagnostic and treatment process as a defense against malpractice litigation. Medical transcription companies aid in this by creating accurate and timely patient medical records that includes the narrative.

Health information manager: Medical transcription companies aid health information managers by providing software and tools for medical transcription that not only meet and exceed HIPAA and HITECH regulations and other operational aspects but also in adoption of EMR/ EHR using HL7 interface

Patients and their family: As the most important participant in the healthcare process, patients need access to their personal health records in a form that is easily understandable by them. Medical transcription companies ensure this by creating accurate reports that include the narrative.

It can be concluded that medical transcription services have a large role to play in the healthcare documentation scenario helping in communication and information sharing with all the participants.

TransDyne, a leader in the outsourced medical transcription industry has used their extensive background in information technology and their experience in serving the needs of the healthcare sector to provide affordable and integrated medical transcription solutions.

Among the software and tools offered by TransDyne for transcription, the smart delivery system has a large role to play in easing the path to EMR/EHR adoption The Smart Delivery system, which has features like User defined folder paths to enable easy imports to EMR systems is the suggested mode of document delivery where pre-defined file saving would help import documents to EMR systems.  Apart from this TransDyne also offers discounted rates for those healthcare facilities that provide demographic data entered in the EMR rather than through other modes.

Along with medical transcription services involving multiple level quality checks to ensure accuracy, the use of the right technology for ease of use, turnaround time and security, at reasonable rates, TransDyne also provides discrete reportable transcription and editing & proofreading services for adoption of EMR/ EHR 

To avail complete medical transcription services from TransDyne, click here

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