Medical transcription can save doctors' time.
A medical transcriptionist is an individual that converts voice recorded tapes and notes into a text format. These individuals are used in the medical field to transcribe doctor notes, patient histories and surgical records for charting purposes. Though medical transcriptionists can save doctors time and money, there are disadvantages as well to using transcriptionists for patient files.
Advantage: Saves Time
A physician is typically busy throughout the day seeing patients and providing consults. It can be easier to dictate notes into a tape recorder in between the patients they visit than writing notes. Rather than transcribing those notes into text format at the end of the day, tapes can be sent to outside transcriptionists to be completed for the physician.
Advantage: Saves Money
A physician's time is valuable. When a physician has to spend her time transcribing notes, that is time that she does not have to spend seeing patients. Though transcribed reports do cost a specific amount of money per report, the cost of a physician losing out on patient time is not comparable.
Advantage: Formatting
Every hospital and doctor's office has its own way of formatting when it comes to charting and taking notes on patient files. A physician has to conform his notes and formats to meet the expectations of the facility he works for. Rather than worrying about formatting a physician can outsource notes to a medical transcriptionist who is well versed in the different formats for medical facilities.
Disadvantage: Omitted Details
A medical transcriptionist is not a physician; therefore specific details and notes of medical importance may be omitted. Physicians can also neglect to dictate specific notes immediately after a patient visit; therefore leaving out details that will not be transcribed.
Disadvantage: Delay in Reports
Reports that are transcribed will not be readily available to the physician or medical facility. This is due to the fact that physician notes and tapes are sent out to another service or separate department and can be queued for several days prior to being transcribed and formatted.
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