Thursday, April 19, 2012

How to Acquire a Medical Transcription Job


Do you want that special feeling of being a medical transcriptionist working from home? There are many general transcription jobs available though you do have to get trained at first. You can also work at the company that trains you for a stipulated time before you set out with confidence and dexterity to becoming a home-based medical transcriptionist. Some of the medical transcription companies allow you to work for however many hours that you wish, while other organizations stipulate the working hour period. Though the pay scale may be less for a beginner, you may want to look at the experience that you will garner while improving your skills and delivering work with quick turnaround time. You should be able to build up your typing speed, improve accuracy and have good grammar skills.

In the meantime, work towards setting up your own future as a home-based medical transcriptionist. You may be able to start off with general transcription that involves letters, voice-mail messages, memos and any other short medical documents. There are different types of recordings that may go on for many hours and it requires speed, skill and specialized aptitudes. The companies that offer these short messages are open through the whole week and you can pick any time of day or night to transcribe messages which would be convenient for a beginner or fresher. The medical transcription job that pays more would be downloading and transcribing audio files that are larger. You can fit your computer with a foot pedal and use a FTP program to download the files. Make sure that your resume comprises of all the attributes, skills and experience that would impress the medical transcription company and get set to becoming a home-based medical transcriptionist. 

For more information, visit http://www.usmedicaltranscriptionservice.com/ or call 1-800-723-4308 

HIPAA 5010 6-Month Contingency Plan


With various statements and difficulties in implementing the HIPAA Version 5010, the Medical Group Management Association or MGMA has requested for a HIPAA 5010 6-month contingency plan. These proposed health plans should accommodate HIPAA 4010 transactions and be able to judicially settle HIPAA 5010 claims that do not have the necessary data. Susan Turney, MD, MS, FACP, FACMPE, MGMA-ACMPE president and CEO said, "Our main concern is that the failure to implement Version 5010 by the compliance date will impact payment to practices for the services they provide. We oppose requiring the submission of a transition plan and timeline as a needless bureaucratic exercise that adds to the workload of the providers who have to produce them and the government employees who have to review them. HHS should immediately allow physician practices to continue submitting Version 4010 transactions”.

Only a few healthcare providers were ready for the Version 5010 and the MGMA conducted a survey of 140 MGMA members according to the Health Data Management. The results showed that only 32% stated that they had completed internal testing and that the practice management system software had been upgraded to the HIPAA Version 5010 standards. Another 32% declared that they had completed testing with their Medicare contractors. 25% of the providers said that their software had not been scheduled or tested. 17.9% had finished testing their Medicaid plans. 22% declared that they had not scheduled testing with their Medicare contractors. 30% and more providers had not scheduled testing and that Medicaid plans were not accepting test claims. 23.5% admitted that they had not planned their testing with any important commercial health plans. 79% declared that their testing schedule was incomplete with commercial health plans. 23% of the providers stated that their contingency plans would be based on paper claims.13.9% said that they had completely finished implementing HIPAA 5010. Susan Turney, MD, MS, FACP, FACMPE, MGMA-ACMPE president and CEO said, "The serious challenges in meeting the Version 5010 mandate and the need for a comprehensive contingency plan from HHS call in to question the ability of the industry to transition to ICD-10 by the Oct. 13, (sic) 2013, compliance deadline".

For more information, visit http://www.usmedicaltranscriptionservice.com/ or call 1-800-723-4308 

HHS Extends a Meaningful Use Deadline


Extending health IT as a leveraged platform to integrate quality standards for the use of electronic health records by doctors and hospitals, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has introduced incentive payments in 2011 and 2012. Encouraging quick adoption of health IT would enable hospitals and doctors to meet the new deadlines in 2013, or if they have not participated in the program, they would still be eligible for the same incentives in the year 2014. The HITECH ACT offers the Medicare EHR Incentive Programs to eligible professionals to use health IT in a meaningful manner so they can qualify for incentives.      

As a result of quick adoption of health IT to underline the meaningful use of electronic health records, HHS or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has reported good progress that has bettered patient care in a methodical and organized manner as compared to past record-keeping technology. HHS has made it easier for Medicare eligible professionals by providing training and education so they can contribute to the EHR incentive program and meet meaningful use requirements. HHS has endeavored to create jobs in the healthcare industry across the country to improve health standards and offer incentives to eligible professionals who adopt meaningful use of electronic health records.

HHS in its statement has said, “Today, we are making it easier for health care providers to use new technology to improve the healthcare system for all of us and create more jobs.” Helping to increase the employment rate, HHS has estimated more than 50,000 healthcare IT jobs that pass the HITECH Act with the Bureau of Labor Statistics speculating that the jobs would increase by 20 percent from 2008 to 2018 as a fast-growing industry as compared to all other US occupations per industry. HHS meaningful use policy changes is followed by a report from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention or CDC that displays adoption of meaningful use of EHR by physicians with a hike from 17% to 34% and the adoption rate of health IT among primary care doctors increasing from 20% to 39%.

Holding the accolade of a quarter of the federal expenditure, HHS offers a bigger share of grant dollars as compared to other federal agencies. As the nation’s largest health insurer, HHS Medicare program handles over 1 billion claims per year and works in close tandem with local and state governments. With over 300 programs ranging over various activities, HHS provides incentives for eligible professionals, the latest treatments for patients and other health data.

For more information, visit http://www.usmedicaltranscriptionservice.com/ or call 1-800-723-4308 

General Timelines, Results and Effects of the HIPAA Audit


With the HIPAA audit due to start shortly, the OCR would inform the selected covered entity in writing introducing the audit contractor, explain in detail about the first document that is needed, describe the process of the audit, the expectations of the compliance and request for information. The notification would also involve the stipulated time and the means to return the information of the audit to the auditor. The requested information should be described as per the prescription of the audit and returned within 10 working or business days. The covered entities and business associates selected for the audit by the OCR should provide all details in accordance with the protocols of the audit.

The covered entities will be informed 30 and 90 days prior to on-site visits with these visits evolving over 3 to 10 working or business days according to the size of the chosen organization and the time taken by the auditor with regard to the approachability of information and the concerned personnel. Once the necessary work is completed by the auditor, the organization or the covered entity would receive a draft of the final report. The covered entity and business associates are given 10 days to go through the report and send back a written report to the auditor who will in turn provide a final report of the audit written by the covered entity and submit the same to the OCR.

The OCR would review the reports sent by the auditor so they can ascertain the efforts made by the covered entity and business associates to comply with HIPAA Rules. If there are changes to be made, the OCR would then determine the right course of action with corrective measures, technical aid and other means of assistance. If there is a crucial issue, the OCR would find ways to address the problem involved. The privacy of all selected covered entities and business associates will be protected by the OCR. The benefits of the compliance with HIPAA protections of health information are many. If there are any breaches made by the covered entities and business associates in health information, the OCR will extend help with the necessary tools, improve the security and confidentiality of patients’ medical records and generate technical assistance to attain the best practices. Consumers have the right to complain to the OCR about security breaches and the covered entity is bound to accept these complaints regarding HIPAA Rules as well as apply the necessary changes.

For more information, visit http://www.usmedicaltranscriptionservice.com/ or call 1-800-723-4308 

5010 Conversion Deadline for EDI Health Care Claim Transaction

Implementing efficiency with excellence in keeping with the demands of the healthcare industry in order to deliver healthcare with reduced costs has become a major criteria. Designed in mid-August 2001, the new federal Electronic Data Interchange or EDI standards have declared that all clearinghouses, health plans, hospitals, doctors should use mandated HIPAA standards for all healthcare data transmissions. With the approaching deadline for the 4010 to 5010 EDI Health Care Claim Transaction set, there are many vendors, providers and payers who are still responsible for non-payment of claims at the beginning of Q2 2012. Every healthcare organization which transfers, stores and processes patient health information covered by HIPAA and those modules who submit Medicare claims should adhere to ICD-10 or the International Classification of Diseases. ICD or the International Classification of Diseases is the international standard diagnostic classification for health management purposes, general epidemiological and clinical usage. The ICD-10 was endorsed in May 1990 by the Forty-third World Health Assembly and was deployed in 1994 by the WHO Member States. 

The new extension of the deadline from December 31st to March 31st encourages all vendors, providers and payers to submit claims with payments as this ensures cash flow and excellent business operations. Electronic Data Interchange or EDI claims include authorizations, premium payments, referrals, eligibility, claim enquiry, remittance, claim submission and enrollment are covered by the 4010 to 5010 conversion. Being a long-term conversion that would be established completely in 2013, the Version 5010 will replace Version 4020 as it covers the necessary entities in the processing of electronic transactions. Extending its capabilities for the growth and inclusion of any complex issues of ICD-10-CM/PCS codes, Version 5010 has more benefits than Version 4010.

With the main aim being to improve and leverage the collection of types of data and transmission in the process of transaction, Version 5010 would improve payment processes and claims submission that are connected to the ICD-10-CM/PCS conversion. Bettering the existing standards for processing of refunds, recovery of payments, claim corrections and reversals, Version 5010 as a crucial factor urges timely adoption and offers organizations quality management, ensures smooth workflow, improved efficiency and accuracy besides meeting HIPAA standards and the deadline for EDI healthcare claim transaction.

For more information, visit http://www.usmedicaltranscriptionservice.com/ or call 1-800-723-4308 

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Fortifying Healthcare with Medical Transcription Outsourcing

With emphasis on quality, timely delivery, accuracy and integration of the latest technology, medical transcription outsourcing has done much to strengthen and fortify the functions of the healthcare process. Medical personnel and healthcare facilities undergo much pressure in not only catering to the various needs of patients but also in handling the demands of stakeholders and other authorities. As a result, medical transcription outsourcing has been a well of innovation, flexibility and versatility that would quench the thirst of the ever-increasing needs of the world of healthcare. Strengthening the foundation of support services, medical transcription companies have catered transcription services that comply with HIPAA standards and the HITECH Act with intense training and a skilled team of professional transcriptionists. 

With stringent measures, medical transcription companies have selected their personnel to suit their needs and who can cater to the accuracy and timely delivery of clinical documentation and multi-specialty medical transcription. Fortifying the healthcare process with the latest in technology, medical transcription companies would adhere to 3 levels of quality control, confidentiality and privacy of patient medical records. Being aware and implementing state-of-the-art technology with its sophisticated levels of software and tools for medical transcription is a must in the rendition of medical transcription. As part of reinforcing the healthcare process with support services, medical information must be safeguarded at all times to provide privacy and security.

Adding on the advantage of being cost-effective while delivering timely medical records also helps medical personnel to concentrate on their core business of providing quality care to their patients. Creating a versatile aspect by providing 24/7 customer support services and expanding accessibility with delivery modes and the benefit of easy reach to older transcripts with archived files would make medical transcription companies the cornerstone to one of the many facets of the healthcare process. This should include STAT options, TAT options, easy to manage templates and formats and speedy turnaround time. In order to give clients time to attend to pressing matters, a medical transcription company should be flexible and ensure that urgent medical records reach the healthcare facility on time and in accordance to their specifications. Medical service providers who can handle volume, customized and multi-specialty medical transcription can strengthen healthcare thereby enhancing the productivity of healthcare professionals.  

For more information, visit http://www.usmedicaltranscriptionservice.com/ or call 1-800-723-4308

Medical Transcription Outsourcing Leverages Improvement of Clinical Documentation

Medical Transcription outsourcing has crossed horizons to lend expertise, excellence and effective methodology to expand and improve services to leverage healthcare. To ensure convenience and ease-of-access, medical transcription has offered cost-effectiveness and timely delivery with the advancement of technology and effective functioning with IT applications. This has not only reduced the burden on healthcare professionals, but has also improved accessibility to patient records with the documentation process that state legible and detailed patient records. Recording dictations of doctors and other healthcare professionals with toll-free dictation has refined clinical documentation and the timely delivery of patient records has helped immensely in providing the right diagnosis and care.

Besides evaluating the current status and symptoms of the patient, the medical professionals can delve into the archives for the previous records of the patient for medical decision making and diagnostic procedures. The records for the family history will display any surgical diseases, risk factors for the patient, reviews of the patient’s systems and the social history. Giving medical and clinical documentation a strong platform, medical transcription helps psychologists, physical therapists, nutritionists, healthcare specialties and medical professionals to draw conclusions that would lead to quality healthcare. Blending technology with skilled resources to deliver timely and customized medical records, medical transcription companies have retained precision in the clinical documentation process. As a specialized skill, medical transcription leverages the various strata involved in providing clinical documentation such as accuracy, cost-effectiveness, transcribing specialty medical records, using the latest technology to give clients the best transcription methods and 24x7 support. 

With knowledge and expertise evolving over the different transcription services, a professional medical transcription company also supports the healthcare infrastructure to concentrate on patient care and focus on their core strengths to achieve results that would better healthcare in general. Enabling trust between the caregiver and the patient, flawlessly transcribed clinical documentation produces quick diagnosis, immediate care, confidentiality and security of medical records. Healthcare facilities can be assured of secure information besides optimizing quality care and cutting down costs. Besides being economic in nature, medical transcription provides timely documentation of the care process with precise and efficiently transcribed medical records to deliver accurate clinical documentation, smooth healthcare facility workflow, lowering risks and improving reimbursement.

For more information, visit http://www.usmedicaltranscriptionservice.com/ or call 1-800-723-4308