Why are Medical Transcriptionists in Such High Demand?
Insurance companies will not pay hospital or physician invoices until a medical transcription report is completed and submitted. Therefore, a backlog in transcription equates to an inability to collect accounts receivable on the part of the hospital or clinic. Also, a medical facility can actually lose its accreditation if their medical documents do not meet industry specifications.
One concern spreading throughout the health care industry involves the paper-based record. Paper-based records are fast becoming inefficient and burdensome in the increasingly cost-conscious health care marketplace. A wide variety of hospitals, outpatient treatment centers, physicians' offices and outside laboratories are generating patient care information that must be complete, timely, and accurate. Further, this information is being used not only by medical professionals, but also by administrators and data managers responsible for reimbursement, outcomes measurement and provider knowledge bases.
The health care industry cannot continue to rely on paper to record patient care data and still expect efficient storage and transmission to the ultimate users. The electronic capture from medical transcribers and delivery of free-form dictation are key components in the increasing implementation by health care providers of electronic medical record systems.