Identifying Errors, Protecting Patients
The past several months medical transcriptionists have been contributing to the project identified as “Identifying Errors, Protecting Patients.” In a post today at the MT Inner Circle, the findings of the data that has been collected have been released and are being discussed.
These findings, while no surprise to MTs, provide us with some data that we can now share with others outside of our profession. The intention isn’t to say that we don’t want technology (because we do see value in technology), but to call for a process that requires quality checks in clinical documentation. Without that process, we run the right of patient’s records having serious errors that could impact patient care and safety.
I invite you to read the report and join in the discussion.
Kathy Nicholls, CMT, AHDI-F
Kathy,
Your study adds to the increasing argument that technology is a tool, not an end-all. The role of the MT in traditional transcription extends to double checking the information dictated, because we all know doctors are humans and humans make mistakes, especially after a 24 hour shift, seeing 40 patients in a day, etc. The life of a physician is prone to slips - we are all human, we all do it.
Now, with technology, shouldn't that service be even more of a requirement? After all, computers are only as 'smart' as the people who program them. When you can't simplify common sense into an algorithmic expression, then you can't teach it to a computer, no matter how many resources you throw at it. Technology, whether it is SRT or NLP, is going to slip up, and the likelihood is far greater, as your study testifies, than if the documentation had been completed from scratch by a human.
How do we make physicians realize the need for human involvement for this process? Sad to say, but for many that point may not hit home until it's too late and an error isn't caught in time, leading to a court case, or worse, patient death. Maybe that has happened, but hasn't made national headlines?
Great points. From this post, I've already been contacted by one physician who is taking the information to her EHR meeting this month because she has a project manager who wants to rely solely on SRT! It's about having the data so we have a story to share. Because MTs were willing to take their time to contribute to this project, we now have something to share to explain why it's important.
In addition, I've had another organization that focuses on patients start talking about this. It's a start and the more we can share it, the more we can make an impact.