Medical Transcription is the practice of converting medical files or records from a digital (or analog) audio from into a formal written document, as required by the HIPAA.

Medical Transcriptionists (MTs), also called medical transcribers and medical stenographer, listen to dictated recordings made by physicians and other healthcare professionals, and then proceed to transcribe these into medical reports, correspondence, and other administrative material. They generally listen to recordings on a special headset, using a foot pedal to pause the recording when necessary, while keying in the text into a personal computer or word processor. An editing and proofreading process follows to ensure correct grammar usage and clarity.

The documents that MTs produce include discharge summaries, history and physical examination reports, operating room reports, consultation reports, autopsy reports, diagnostic imaging studies, and referral letters.

Medical transcriptionists return transcribed documents, which eventually become part of the patient's permanent medical files, to the client source.

Currently, most healthcare providers transmit dictation to medical transcriptionists using either digital or analog dictating equipment. With the emergence of the Internet, some transcriptionists receive dictation over cyberscpace, and are able to quickly return transcribed documents to clients for approval. With confidentiality issues no longer a concern with today's rapidly advancing technology and high security standards, the process of transcription via remote access is increasingly becoming more common.

THE PROCESS

As a fully professional Medical Transcription establishment, we assure all our clients of a smooth document management process that begins from the initial, pre-production testing period (for new clients), all the way to the final stage of uploading the completed and edited documents.

For new accounts, the VisionQwest work process begins with a Test Period, which includes an initial study of new files. As part of the familiarization process, a test performance of new client files is conducted, followed by documentation of client specifications, peculiarities or distinct characteristics of each file. All this is done by the most experienced MTs and editors to ensure quality, until the transcription pool is well-prepared to handle the new account.

For regular accounts, the process begins in the Transcription Stage. You, the medical practitioner, first dictate a particular patient’s medical records (which may include his or her clinical diagnosis, medical history, details of surgery, treatment records and follow-ups) into a recording device through a variety of methods. It may be through the use of hand-held digital recorder or PDA device which records in a readable computer (PC) format as a digital file.

A file transfer process then moves this digital file from your home or office computer into our highly secure servers. Once stored in these servers, our transcriptionists will now be able to access and download your recording, and proceed with the actual transcription process.

In the MT workstation, the work is distributed for transcription and editing via a document management system developed in-house.

Before reaching the final stage, the document goes through Quality Control, a key group of proofreaders and editors who make sure the document is complete and final. Only then will the final product be returned to the client source as an actual, permanent medical document.