How to Outsource Medical Transcription

Outsourcing medical transcription is avaialble if you can't do it in-house.

Medical transcription is a growing field, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The BLS predicts an 11 percent increase in employment opportunities for this field through 2018. While many companies are adding jobs in this particular niche, some medical facilities don’t have the resources to handle medical transcription in-house. Instead they choose to outsource it to an individual or company who completes it before sending it back to the health-care organization. If you don’t have the resources to do your medical transcription in-house, either, you can learn how to outsource medical transcription.

Instructions

1. Determine your outsourcing options. Review how you currently house your audio files that need transcribed. Files stored on your computer can be outsourced to local companies or businesses located across the country since the files can be sent electronically. However, if the transcription is on audio tapes, it is often easier to outsource to local individuals and companies that have the opportunity to get the tapes by visiting your physical location.

2. Accept bids and applications. Advertise your outsourced medical transcription work to companies that specialize in medical transcription as well as independent and freelance medical transcriptionists. Encourage them to submit bids or applications to be considered for the work. Review the bids and applications to narrow them down. Select a few to interview and check references on them before choosing one to outsource the work to.

3. Sign a contract. Write up a legal contract that discusses the details of you outsourcing your medical transcription. Include the time frame for the outsourcing in the contract as well as the responsibilities of each party involved in the contract. Detail the payment amount and how payment will be dispersed. Once both parties agree, sign and date the contract before giving each party a copy of it.

4. Cover confidentiality. Make sure that you express the importance of keeping information from transcriptions confidential. When selecting a company to outsource to, choose a company that has a thorough understanding of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), a set of regulations that address patient privacy rights. Include a clause in your contract about confidentiality to protect yourself should any problems arise.

5. Begin outsourcing audio files. Once the contract has been signed, begin sending audio files or tapes to the individual or company for them to transcribe. Have them complete a few and check the final document to ensure it appears just as you want and is accurate. Continue outsourcing the medical transcription until it’s time to renew the contract or a problem arises.

Tips & Warnings

• Consider India for your contracting work. India has a vast pool of English speaking medical transcriptionists who are college graduates, mostly as science majors, says the website Outsource2india.com. Plus, wage levels of medical transcriptionists in India are considerably lower than those in the United States, according to Outsource2india.com.

• Since India is several hours ahead of America and Europe, Indian medical transcription workers can offer quicker turnaround time, the website notes.

• Do not be timid about replacing error-prone transcription contractors. The well being of the patient and the professional standing of the health care provider depend on thorough and accurate transcriptions.

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Medical Transcriptionists
• Outsourcing Medical Transcription to India

Resources

• U.S. Health and Human Services: HIPAA Information