The "write" choice: a primer on outsourcing transcription services: deciding whether to outsource transcription services and then, if you do, picking the right vendor are not decisions to be taken lightly. The consequences of a too-hasty decision can affect the entire revenue cycle

Healthcare Financial Management, Feb, 2006 by Bryan F. Smith

AT A GLANCE

> In the absence of universal quality standards that can be applied to all transcription service outsourcing vendors, different vendors are best compared on the basis of their transcriptions and billing practices.

> Key factors that should be considered when assessing the current state of an in-house program include cost, turnaround time, quality, physician satisfaction, and technology.

DON'T FORGET HIPAA

When outsourcing medical transcription, compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act is an important concern. For information and insights on HIPAA's various provisions regarding security, transaction standards, national provider identifiers, and privacy, visit HFMA's online Resource Center, www.hfma.org/resource/HIPAA@Work1.htm.

About the author

Bryan F. Smith is a senior consultant, Phase 2 Consulting, Austin, Texas.