Medical Transcription

When it comes to using a transcription web based service, are you sure that what you are receiving from them is secure? Because the billing costs for using offshore companies is much less than it would be for using home based ones in the US, many professionals are now turning to these companies to provide them with their transcription services.

Currently in the USA alone, around 10% of all medical transcription work is carried out in either India, Pakistan or the Philippines... the reason being that many of these people now speak English and will work for a lot less money than their US counterparts. Although the number of businesses that are using outsourcing to carry out essential roles within their business are increasing, the chances of their information being accessed by sources who do not have the authorization to do so is also increasing.

Also there is the problem of using those people abroad who become disgruntled with their employers and who may threaten to pass critical information onto other sources. In recent months in the US, there have been a number of cases where transcriptionists in both Pakistan and India have threatened to divulge patient information because they say they have not been paid.

Because of this, several states in the USA have now brought in legislation where personal information that is being sent across the internet is protected. There is one bill that they are trying to enforce where any confidential information can not be transcribed outside of the USA. Whilst the other bill is asking that all transcription web based services will need to disclose if they are actually sending their work (files) to companies that are considered to be offshore. In fact, in California, they are trying to introduce a law which would force companies that provide services in this state to agree to adhere to the states' privacy laws, and will therefore make them come under the jurisdiction of the state courts if anything untoward should occur.

Unfortunately there are many transcription companies who are unwilling to reveal that they employ either subcontractors or foreign employees to carry out their work. Whilst there are some companies who just do not know where there work is going at all. So bringing in such legislation decreases the chances of the information that these companies have being provided to illegal sources. However, many experts believe that the only real way to ensure that the extortion threats as mentioned above do not become a regular occurrence is for the business to have the right security practices and technology in place.

The reason why so many people are using transcription web based services for carrying out this role for them is because they are cheap and often provide a fast and efficient turnaround time. Certainly when using an offshore business that is based in India, a doctor or healthcare professional can carry out their dictation work and have it sent to the service by closing time each day, and know that by the time they get into work the next morning it will be there ready for them to review.

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