Canadian Health Systems Proposing To Outsource Medical Transcription Services
Over the past several months I've had the opportunity to present my "Top 10 Trends In Medical Transcription" presentation at a number of AHDI venues, including the 2011 ACE conference in Phoenix. One of those trends is the outsourcing (both domestic and offshore) of medical transcription services by institutions which have thus far maintained in-house transcription departments. From Vancouver, Canada comes word of a major outsourcing initiative by four health systems, including Fraser Health, Providence Health Care, Provincial Health Services Authority and Vancouver Coastal Health. The proposed shift to outsourced transcription services is estimated to save over $3 million annually.
Expect to see this trend continue across North America as CFOs and HIM directors realize that in-house transcription departments are significantly more expensive than outsourced transcription services.
Jay Vance, CMT
AHDI Lounge Administrator/Moderator
That's not always the case, Jay. Our hospital outsourced last May to the "monster" of all MTSOs and our turn around time has dropped dramatically, the quality of work is beyond poor, and the cost is significantly more. This was a corporate mandate that our hospital had to abide by, and I can tell you that no physician in this large hospital is satisfied with the "product" this MTSO is producing.
Saving over 3 million dollars is one thing, but what about the medical issues that come up because of incorrect (or none at all!) documentation in a patient's record? I believe VR is going to be one of the major reasons for the collapse of the medical system as we now know it.
I never thought I would see the day that money and greed would be the driving factors in the medical field, but that day has apparently arrived.