10 Things to look for in a Transcription Service

1 Quality
One of the most common mistakes you can make while choosing a transcription service is to place a very high emphasis on cost and features and relegate quality to the background. If you aren't lucky this results in an inordinate number of corrections and errors. Often you might need to go through several transcription vendors before you find one who meets your standards. Needless to say this results in a lot of wasted time, effort and money. Look for the following:
Process : Always ensure you pay attention to the processes the transcription vendor follows to achieve quality. Most vendors outline their transcription processes on their websites. Others will be glad to explain if you call and ask them about it. Accuracy : Enquire about the initial percentage of accuracy of the documents the vendor transcribes. Keep in mind that the average rate of accuracy in the transcription industry is 98.5%. Your transcription vendor should have an idea as to where they stand when compared to this number. Corrections : A transcription vendor should never charge you for corrections and should have a clear process for handling corrections. If the vendor does not seem to have a clear process for handling corrections then something is amiss. Patient Name errors : These are the most common errors in transcription. Ensure that the vendor has a clear process for avoiding and correcting such errors in documents.
2 Turnaround Time
A 24 hour Turnaround time suffices for the majority of medical organizations. While several transcription organizations offer shorter turnaround times, they usually come at additional cost. Caveat: A shorter turnaround time is not necessarily always a better thing. It is more important that the documents you get are of high quality and do not need corrections. Pick a turnaround time that works for you instead of the shortest turnaround time at the lowest price.
3 Reputation & References
No matter how established the transcription vendor seems, asking for references never hurts. A five minute call could save you a lot of effort and heartache in the future. When asking for references, instead of specifying your specialty, explain your dictation speed and accent and ask the vendor if they currently service such clients. Medical Transcriptionists are trained to understand terminology for every kind of medical specialty. When in doubt, they also use various look-up tools for medical terminology. However there is no substitute for experience with different accents and styles when it comes to comprehension.
4 Contract Terms & Conditions
Gone are the days when you had to sign a term contract of 1-2 years for transcription services. For obvious reasons this is a very fortunate development. However, there are still some transcription companies who offer lower rates in exchange for term contracts. Resist the temptation and look around. You are bound to find a vendor who will offer the same low rates without the burden of a term contract. Avoid locking yourself into an unfortunate future position.

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