Where does your health care provider have their transcriptions done? You may think that is a silly question. One that is not important to you, but read on – you might just change your mind.
I believe the best people available to do a job should be those hired to do the job. That being said, I believe that if there is work in the US, and a need for workers in the US, then it should be US workers filling that spot. They are trained, they are dedicated, and they are familiar with the demand that is placed upon them.
I believe that to be true for all countries. If you have jobs, and you have citizens, then offer training to your citizens, offer the job to your citizens…don’t send work somewhere else just because it is cheaper – you end up getting what you paid for – substandard work. If your citizens need work and your economy needs help, why not spend time training and getting the work done within your borders by people who understand what it is you are looking for and who are dedicated to doing a fantastic job because they needed the job in the first place.
The US Transcriptionists are fighting for their jobs!
For example – the US Transcriptionist typically spends THOUSANDS of dollars for their training. They live day-to-day searching for work, and are told they must have 2 to 5 years experience. Yet gaining that experience is difficult because much of the work is sent over seas to be transcribed by others who do not have English as their first language and who are mills churning out low quality work in bulk, because they are “cheaper” than a US transcriptionist.
Where is the logic in that? You send your audio over seas, you get it back and spend your own time correcting the transcripts, and at the same time, risk your information being unsecure and shared with others. I would think your time is more valuable than that – having paid for a service only to have to edit because of language barriers. Have you read the article about the women over seas who threatened her US client that she would post his information on the web because he was a little late in paying her? Or what about the language barriers that cause major problems for doctors and their patients. http://www.zdnet.co.uk/news/it-strategy/2004/08/26/when-indian-transcriptions-head-awry-39164629/
Many US transcription companies state they do not offshore their work, but I am here to tell you that many, many of the larger companies do. With a little investigation, just checking out their website, or even some of the transcriptionist forum sites, you will find that more and more of US work is being off shored, leaving these skilled US transcriptionists out of work. It can be as simple as the contact page or e-mail address they set up on their website, or affiliations they note. Many use off shore companies to subcontract their work to, but hide it from their clients.
Identify theft is a big problem!
In addition, identify theft is a scary situation. A prospect every US citizen should be worried about.
Did you know that some researchers feel that up to 78 percent of identify theft begins off shore? Criminals are finding more and more ways to get your information because more and more work is being sent offshore – http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/banking/financialprivacy/p90682.asp
Of course we have issues within our borders, but at least here, the laws are enforceable and we as citizens can demand protection from abuse and misuse of our information.
Why does it matter where your doctor has his transcripts completed? Here are some scary thoughts:
When you go to your doctor’s office, you are expected to give them all of your information, including family, medical and social history. Now maybe just having your social security number and insurance information is scary enough, but when you add-on the medications you use, the family history, your social history, it becomes easier for those with less than honest intentions to “become” you. In accessing credit card information, one of the questions a credit card company will ask you for security reasons is “what is your mother’s maiden name’. when filing an insurance claim, the criminal has all the past information to validate who “you” are.
Think about what your doctor knows about you. Think about all the information he obtains from you at every visit.
Lets not forget, that due to increasing malpractice suits and the ever rising cost of malpractice insurance, more and more doctors are dictating even more information to cover themselves and validate their care of your medical needs. The fact that they have to do this is another blog – but imagine, every phone call you make to them, every illness you discuss, every change in address, phone number, insurance, etc – being dictated and transcribed off shore, where there is no legal recourse if someone were to take it and use it with malicious intent. Even your child’s name and those of your extended family is oftentimes dictated by your doctor.
Do they know?
Some doctors, due to the ever-increasing costs to run their office have thought that off-shoring their transcripts can save them money. Some are not aware that the hospital or facility they are affiliated with, or even the transcription company they utilize, sends the work off shore. They just forward the audio and wait for it to be returned.
Those that off shore directly, typically have a person they pay to review and edit the transcripts – how is that saving money? Paying sick days, holidays, taxes etc for an employee to correct what they already paid for? Wouldn’t having it done right the first time by a person trained in the profession and who speaks your language be more cost-effective in the long run? Those that send their transcripts to a US company who sends it off shore just have not researched enough to know any better. They simply looked for the cheapest rate.
These US companies that off shore their work may be “saving” you money, but they do it for selfish reasons. They charge you one amount, send the work off shore and pay pennies to have that work transcribed, allowing them to pocket a big chunk of change themselves. In the long run, the only one who wins is them.
There are people all over the US looking for work. Looking to make money. Needing to make money. Why not allow them to do the job they spent time and money to be trained for? Think about how that helps that nation’s economy. Your information will be safe and if not, they are legal ramifications that can be sought out.
Again, I am not against people working and earning a living. I am for the people of a country that has work to offer being able to train and gain that position.
Transcription of medical and non-medical reports is a growing business with growing demand. It documents conversations, and is used as ‘proof” of events. It allows paperless tracking of events and discussions, and aids many individuals and companies every day. your information is important enough to document, isn’t it important enough to safeguard and have accurate as well?
How not to hire American!
A few years ago I came across a conference, held here in the US at a Hilton Hotel. It was all about how not to hire American – even if they could do the job – all in the name of saving a buck. These were US companies, US jobs, at a US hotel discussing this topic. SHAMEFUL if you ask me. Here is the link to that video, still seen on the web. http://www.jonesreport.com/articles/190607_avoid_hiring_american.html
Whatever happened to the days of being proud to display “Made in the USA”?
The next time you visit your doctor’s office or other health facility – ask them – who does your transcripts? Even EMR information is being of-shored, so demand to know where your information is going. Who has access to it? Can they assure you that their transcription company does not offshore. Does your insurance company offshore their medical reports?
The next time you have an audio to be transcribed – think American. The next time you deal with a US company, ask them – do you off shore any information at all? Safeguard your information. Be proud to say your transcripts were Made In The USA.
www.clktranscription.com We NEVER off shore our work, and we can show you how using a US transcriptionist can save you time and money. Contact us today for information on how we can assist you with your transcription needs. The US transcriptionists will appreciate it and work harder to meet your demands.
