Transcription in the EHR Age

Recently a colleague of mine forwarded me an article by Ken Congdon of Healthcare Technology Online, "Transcription in the EHR Age." He stresses the pitfalls practices experience while implementing an EHR primarily because of how drastically it changes a physician's behavior and recognizes challenges with respect to quality and data accuracy. Ken suggests that transcription in conjunction with the EHR can address many of the challenges associated with implementation. Using the technology transcription companies have available now, dictated information can be converted to text by a Medical Transcriptionist and inserted directly into an EMR. R+B Sten-Tel offeres such a solution today with EntriPoint. In other words, Medical Transcription can be a catalyst for EMR adoption.

Medical Transcription - The Future

As I meet with prospective clients I am coming across a question which is growing in it's frequency: "Isn't medical transcription going away?" Folks marketing voice recognition and EMR technology have done a good job professing that their solutions are the nail in the coffin for outsourced transcription services.

I tell my prospective clients that it depends on the practice and physicians. Voice Recognition technology has become a tool which helps improve productivity, but it doesn't replace human intelligence. There is still a certain percentage of each document which needs to be edited. A study by the AC Group finds that traditional EHR data-entry is 9 times longer than narrative dictation/transcription. Users come to a crossroad where they need to weigh the balance between the cost of transcription and the loss of productivity.

Even with EMR and Voice Recognition technology there is still a need for human intelligence. Specifically, a practice that needs to remain productive and not lose patient visits due to productivity shortfalls will continue with dictation/transcription. Furthermore, although in it's infancy, Discrete Reportable Transcription - DRT is the answer many are looking for by combining the efficiencies and quality gains of medical transcription with the value of discrete data.

Bones of PA - Orthopaedic Administrators

R+B Sten-Tel will be participating at the Bones of PA annual conference at Mount Airy Casino Resort in Mt. Pocono, Pennsylvania. Bones of PA is a State Society of Orthopaedic Administrators. In addition, R+B Sten-Tel is a Preferred Vendor in providing medical transcription services to it's membership.

Why Outsource Medical Transcription?

In today's environment there is a growing need for accurate clinical documentation produced in a timely fashion. By outsourcing the medical transcription function, a practice can focus on managing the daily operations and not worry if they have enough qualified transcriptionists to get the job done. Companies like R+B Sten-Tel provide total outsourcing as well as overflow outsourcing, but most of all offer peace of mind knowing that the job is going to get done.

If you haven't given thought to outsourcing the MT function in your practice, it may be time to investigate this further. In many instances, outsourcing will save you money and lead to higher quality reports with faster turnaround.

R+B Sten-Tel is a Pennsylvania based company offering medical transcription services and other record management solutions to clients nationwide.

Benefits of DRT

Discrete Reportable Transcription (DRT) is a solution which addresses EMR usability issues. It reduces time spent documenting patient encounters, consults and assessments by supporting narrative dictation with results delivered directly into an EMR/EHR. This affords clinicians more time and intimacy for quality patient care, leaving the clerical work for a trained EMR transcription staff.

DRT allows physicians to use their preferred method of clinical documentation and reduces time spent documenting encounters. It ensures better patient care by allowing a clinician to practice using their natural method of working and increases accuracy with a proven dictation-transcription process by allowing Medical Transcriptionists to be a “second set of eyes.”

R+B Sten-Tel achieves these benefits for clients through their EMR portal, EntriPoint™.

Is Medical Transcription Going Away?

In the age of EHR technology and with almost $20B dedicated as an incentive to physicians who adopt this technology as part of the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA), one would think the medical transcription industry doesn’t have much life left. This holds especially true when thinking of a widespread view initiated by the EMR community as part of their value proposition that transcription can simply be replaced with this technology.

However, that view is not held by everyone, including several influential industry leaders who believe that Discrete Reportable Transcription (DRT) can actually help accelerate the adoption process of EMR technology while alleviating some of the pitfalls which in many instances lead to an unsuccessful implementation. Mark Anderson of the AC Group explains in this video clip he did for MTIA.

AHDI & MTIA Advocacy Summit

In February 2009 the Obama Administration passed the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA), which was inclusive of the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH Act). Through this legislation, physicians will receive incentives if they prove “meaningful use” of EHR technology. The Department for Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Office of the National Coordinator of Health Information Technology (ONCHIT) have yet to determine the criteria for “meaningful use.”

Members of both the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity and Medical Transcription Association organized on Capitol Hill this past June advocating how medical transcription can and should play a role in the qualifications for “meaningful use.” Studies show narrative dictation/transcription method is a proven productivity tool and increases accuracy of clinical documentation.

To learn more read Medical Transcription : A Proven Accelerator of EHR Adoption, a white paper explaining how Medical Transcription can help meet some of the usability challenges physicians face with EMR implementation.