Medical Transcription and the Accuracy of Medical Documents

The technique of medical writing is different from other writing as seen in literature or while writing essays or articles for publications. How is it different? Some of the typical features seen in medical writing:

• Has lots of abbreviations
• Have brief forms
• Shortcut language /word coinage

Medical transcriptionists do not have to bring out a polished document, or rewriting it several times like done by other writers, especially as they always have to work at a fast pace with a high level of accuracy. It is not expected of them to do any creative form of writing at all. However it is essential that a medical transcription should produce a clean and accurate transcription of the source document /dictation.

Adherence to prescribed or suggested stylistic guidelines as prescribed by the agency is very important. These can be vendor specific instructions with regards to editing, punctuation, or the grammar. However in the absence of any specific guide lines transcriptionists can follow the general rules as followed by other transcription professionals.

Challenges in transcribing mainly are seen because dictations are never ever close to being perfect. While dictating, doctors may even make mistaken or contradicting statements due to slip of tongue. Here it is up to the transcriptionist to be alert to all such issues and correct all such dictation mistakes done by the physician.

A sound knowledge of all medical terms and by listening and handling a wide variety of such dictations make a transcriptionist becomes experienced to face all types of audio files. But if a transcriptionist can keep listening to any particular physician on a regular basis and works on the same voice files then he/she can get quite used to a physican's personal style of dictation and can quickly produce a very accurate transcript.

The secret of the art of medical transcription is not in being aggressive but to be as subtle and careful as possible. Also it is very essential to have an attitude to impress and always get a favorable response from the dictator. Having a keen sense of awareness/ alertness to the possible mistakes in dictations along with good listening skills will go a long way in becoming a successful MT professional. However while editing a dictation one must also know where to draw the line and must be careful never to overdo it.

Contact Outsource Strategies International (OSI) a US based medical transcription company that offers highly accurate services in medical coding, billing and transcription at affordable rates.

Medical Transcription and the US-India Time Difference

Doctors and other medical professionals across USA treat diseases and take care of the sick all day long. But just treating or curing is not enough. The why, what, how, and when details of every single patient that walked into a hospital has to go on digital record as is required by law. So after finishing every single process /procedure doctors are seen talking in and recording into Dictaphones.

Who will listen to these miles of hi-tech tapes? Well that is the medical transcription professional's job who must transcribe every uttered word into text to be stored as printed or electronic data and to become accessible in the future worldwide if required. Actually medical transcription has always been there since ages. The medical transcribers of yesteryears were usually those who assisted the doctors and manually made note of the patient and the treatment details.

Outsourcing of Medical transcription to Asia is very favorable. Of course primarily because Indian labor is good and cheaper and also because of the low TAT (Turn Around Time). All voice recordings are sent can get transcribed by the next day morning itself. Is it that someone sits all night and transcribes those tapes? Yes and No. Let me explain. The days audio files are daily sent by evening to India where it is now day break. (due to the natural 12 hour time difference) The data is then transcribed during the day (Indian day) and uploaded back via the Internet to the US in the evening (Indian evening) where it is going to be dawn. So the doctors are happy when they come in next day and see all there yesterday's dictations in print or as transcripts. Now isn't that naturally convenient?

Outsource Strategies International (OSI) is a US based medical transcription company that offers professional outsourced services in medical billing, advanced medical coding and all types of medical transcription for clinics and hospitals in all the US states besides the UK, Australia and Canada.

The Growing Need for Medical Transcription Outsourcing

Why it is that medical transcription outsourcing has become a big business today? Well it is just because one thing leads to other. In the earlier days medical secretaries just had to type out the reports dictated by the doctor after the rush time. Now it is different. For one so much more documentation is required and that too in such less time that a secretary will have time for nothing else. It has become mandatory for hospitals to keep digital records of all the patient details. Why?

Because every time a medical bill is being made there is the possibility that some insurance company is actually paying the bill. So unless we have perfect documentation of the disease the process of diagnosis medicines etc how can the billing be done? And with so much of growth in the volume of health care clients and hospitals /specialties, either a full time transcription team has to be arranged within the hospital premise or the transcription work has to be outsourced. Work is being sent to offshore locations for purely economic and turnaround time reasons. Thus today we have the fully evolved transcription outsourcing industry.

According the United States department of Labor, the world wide demand for medical transcription is set to reach 20 billion dollars. So if looking out for a career in Medical transcription now is a good time. What are basic requirements to become a good medical transcription professional? It is actually quite simple. One must have,

• A good knowledge of basic to advanced medical terminologies
• Good verbal communication and memory skills
• Ability to be accurate with numbers
• Skill in office equipment/computer
• Good listening skills
• Good verbal and written comprehension
• Ability to maintain records
• Above-average typing skills
• Good grammar/punctuation skill
• Proficiency in certain or multiple medical specialties

For availing of cost effective and highly professional medical transcription outsourcing services, do contact Outsource Strategies International (OSI) a US based company and BPO leader offering services in medical transcription, medical billing and coding.