In the US it is mandatory for medical professionals to keep an accurate medical record of all aspects of a patient. The medical professionals gather the data related to the patient in audio format by using a dictaphone or voice recorder. The details of the patient are then transcribed in text form. This process of transforming dictation of physicians and other healthcare professionals from audio format to written text is known as Medical Transcription (MT). This written text may be stored as printed and/or electronic data. The preferred means of data storage are electronic medical records, which allows medical professionals the ability to access information, regardless of the geographical location.
Medical transcription is an ancient process. In olden times, Vaidyas (medical practitioners) in India used the services of their disciples to record the process of treatment in text form. It was a fully manual process. It has evolved now to digital form and speech recognition technology. The person who undertakes the process of transforming (transcribing) medical data from audio to text is known as Medical Transcriptionist and to a lesser extent, a Medical Transcriber.
Medical Transcriptionists are essential in all hospitals. They document patients' healthcare information for their permanent medical records. Physicians or other healthcare providers dictate this information to them through the use of hi-tech tape recorders. Medical transcriptionists are highly sought after and when they become certified, they have invaluable knowledge that provides a lifetime of job options. Its possible now for the medical transcriptionists to work from home using the internet. The digital recordings of a doctor's notes are downloaded from a central source and transcriptionists transcribe them on computers in their own homes. They can then be uploaded back after completion of the transcription.
Completion of a 1 year certificate course or a 2 years associate's program is usually required to work as a medical transcriptionist. It is increasingly becoming a highly-paid career, though not without its share of difficulties. Long sitting hours often lead to back pain, eye strain and headaches in addition to the stress of concentration needed to provide accurate transcription. The accuracy in medical transcription is of paramount importance as the future treatment strategy of the patient is decided based upon this data in text form. The poor quality of some of the audio files further adds to the woes of the transcriptionist. However, people are still flocking to this career due to the high levels of salary.
The process of transcription is usually outsourced overseas. South-East Asian countries are the main beneficiaries of these outsourcing jobs. The primary reason for outsourcing to these countries is the low cost and availability of educated personnel. One other aspect is the time factor. And the winner in this aspect is India. There is approximately a 12 hour time gap between the US and India (more than one time zone is followed in the US). A medical professional can gather data from his patients all day long. He can then upload data at the end of the day to India where it is early morning.
The data can then be transcribed during the day in India. The transcribed files in text format can then be uploaded back to US at the end of the day, where it is early morning. Thus the gathering of data being done in US, while night time in India, can be transcribed in India, while night time in the US, which creates an ideal cycle, beneficial to personnel both in the US as well as in India. It is a win-win for both. The medicos don't lose a single day and the transcription firms in India can work during the day. All this can be easily achieved due to the time factor. In this way the time factor plays the role of a catalyst in furthering of trade relations the two countries and both the countries are mutually benefited.
Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Transcription