A Simple Guide About Medical Transcriptions

Doctors, surgeons, and other healthcare providers have extremely vital and stressful jobs. They are constantly on their feet most of the day, ensuring that they help and provide proper care for their patients. One of the tasks that overeat of their precious time is transcribing their notes, including most of everything, from surgery notes to clinical summaries.

One effective solution that several healthcare providers had turned to is medical transcription, wherein they use voice recording to take down notes and have that manually transcribed and transformed into text formats. Indeed a genuine relief for most healthcare providers as it eases their workload and burden, even just for a bit! 

What Is A Medical Transcription?

Medical transcription is a manual transcribing of medical information from voice or audio files into text format. Healthcare providers voice records their notes and hands them over to a medical transcriptionist — a professional transcriber with medical knowledge.

These transcriptions include transcribing any dictated medical information or material — from lecture content to case notes. There are certain instances that the healthcare provider will dictate over the phone. Though, given the technology today, practitioners’ dictation is mainly provided as voice files through smartphones or the internet.

Why Is It Important?

These transcriptions make it easier to keep precise and accurate medical records and information for patients. As stated and required by law, doctors and healthcare providers must keep accurate patient records.

These records indicate the health information and medical history of patients. This helps give them the proper care they need when they see other practitioners. 

Also, several hospitals nowadays have switched to electronic health records. Practitioners can directly save the transcribed files to their cloud or the hospital’s servers since they are always available in text documents.

Is It Cost-Effective?

The idea of hiring a medical transcriptionist sounds expensive. In reality, though, working with qualified agencies can be cost-effective. Working with a medical transcriptionist saves the doctor or healthcare provider time they can use for other things, like seeing their patients.

Having a transcriptionist can save them from losing time and money over administrative work. It allows doctors to save money in the long run. 

Is It A HIPAA Violation Risk?

One of the first questions that probably pop into health providers’ minds is if medical transcribing is a security risk or not. The simple answer is that it would not be a risk if they choose a reputable, trustworthy agency with strict security and safety protocols. These agencies understand and comply with the requirements of HIPAA.

The HIPAA, which stands for Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, protects patients’ sensitive information and data. It applies to all who deal with health information, including those who transcribe medical data. It means that those who provide medical transcribing services must have appropriate network security set in place. 

Medical transcribing can be performed online as long as it is done through secure connections. The practitioner can also have an in-house team come to their office to transcribe the voice files there. It can put them at ease knowing that it didn’t leave the premises and was done securely.

Medical transcribing began in the early 20th century. As a wave of technological advancements erupted, medical transcription also continued to improve and develop gradually. It is now at its peak as it continues to help ease the burdens and workloads of healthcare providers around the globe!