In-House vs. Outsourced: The Differences in Medical Transcription Services

Healthcare facilities across the nation have handled their medical documentation through typed medical transcription. However, there is a myriad of choices to select someone to provide transcription services. Depending on the size and preference of the facility, some choose to employ medical transcriptionists located on the premises (in house) of the facility while others choose to outsource these transcription services to medical transcription companies. In both instances, the medical transcriptionists receive the physician's dictated material and type (transcribes) the report for the physician. Although the mechanism to use documentation is the same, the outcomes may be very different.

In-house transcriptionists are usually paid an hourly wage, including benefits and time off. The healthcare facility may feel it is beneficial to have a person located within the facility - enabling them to contact those transcriptionists directly for any STAT reports or changes to a document. However, this service does not come without its disadvantages.

Facilities with in-house transcriptionists do not have the flexibility it takes to handle varying volumes. The fact that a transcriptionist may be on a vacation or calls out sick leaves potential for back-log of reports and a delay in delivering timely, accurate patient care. Contrarily, if report volumes begin to dwindle, the facility has the burden of paying a transcriptionist to be on stand-by. This juggling act of report volume to transcriptionist personnel ratio leads to more frustration than the convenience of having a person within the facility for transcription services.

Outsourced medical transcription services are typically charged on a per-line basis. The workflow operates in the same manner; however communication between the physician and the transcriptionist is typically done electronically. Additionally, reports are sent back to the facilities electronically and can be integrated with existing Health Information Systems or other workflows. In comparison to in-house medical transcription services, there are many advantages.

Medical transcription charged on a per-line basis eliminates unnecessary volume to transcriptionist ratios - meaning you're only paying for the service and not an hourly fee. In the event that report volumes begin to vary, it is on the responsibility of the medical transcription company to accommodate the changing needs. Reputable medical transcription services companies will provide reports that are electronically sent back to facilities and have the same turn-around time as if there was an in-house person. Above all else, the medical transcription service provided by a company can offer better organization of reports facility wide.

Although some facilities may feel there isn't a difference in the service, there is a growing gap between the two types of transcription services. It is becoming clear that outsourced medical transcription service is the most reliable and cost effective way to manage medical documentation for the future.

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