Off The Record
Posts Tagged ‘Best Medical Transcription Companies’
Earth Day has come and gone, but we think it’s sort of like Christmas. Shouldn’t we have a “green” spirit all year long?
Practicing ecologically sound and sustainable policies are garnering continued interest across the healthcare marketplace. Have you been introduced to the Healthier Hospitals Initiative (HHI)? This collaborative effort between hundreds of hospitals, the Center for Health Design, and Practice Greenhealth seeks to improve environmental health and sustainability in the health care sector in 6 key areas: engaged leadership, healthier food, leaner energy, less waste, safer chemicals, and smarter purchasing.
Going green is far from today’s flavor of the month – it’s propelling to “new normal” status faster than a Silicon Valley coding competition.
IT departments can lead the charge, too. How do your efforts to reduce “e-waste” – or electronic equipment that is nearing, or at the end of its useful lifecycle - stack up? According to a recent blog post in Earth911, “In 2009, about 2.37 million tons of discarded TVs, computers, peripherals (including printers, scanners, fax machines), keyboards, mice and cell phones ended up in the waste stream in the U.S, according to EPA facts and figures.”
How does your medical center or business recycle, re-use or upcycle electronics that are no longer in play? Currently, there is no Federal mandate to recycle e-waste. There have been numerous attempts to develop a Federal law, but to date – no surprise – consensus hasn’t been reached. There are however, guidelines to follow within each state that rival the stringency of any Federal mandate.
Electronic products are made from valuable resources and materials – metals, plastics, and glass – all of which require energy to mine and manufacture. Donating or recycling consumer electronics conserves natural resources and avoids air and water pollution and greenhouse gas emissions caused by manufacturing brand new materials.
The problem is, some electronics, such as color CRTs computer monitors, color CRT TV tubes, and smaller items such as cell phones and other “hand-helds” may test “hazardous” under Federal law. If so, they are subject to special handling requirements under Federal law, subject to certain exemptions. Still, the EPA does encourage the reuse and recycling of used electronics, including those that test “hazardous.” For those regulatory requirements, visit EPA’s website.
Responsible Stewardship of e-waste is a Health Matter
It’s in our local and global interest to dispose of e-waste carefully to prevent the exploitation of those in impoverished countries where much of the e-waste from the U.S. has historically been disposed. Media coverage of companies that transferred e-waste overseas where unsuspecting workers scavenged through potentially hazardous material to forage recyclable metals exposed the problem our e-waste caused. This spurred many states to pass e-waste recycling laws that help to ensure responsible recycling and disposal of hazardous materials – check out your state’ s policy here.
Of course, a great deal of electronic components relegated to “e-waste” status isn’t waste at all, but rather could serve as readily marketable for reuse. It’s why companies such as Bitlist.com have emerged to turn one man’s e-waste into another man’s aftermarket treasure. At iData, we recycle all of our electronics locally, and we’re always searching for new ideas and resources. What’s your organization’s policy? Check out EPA’s site for ideas on recycling electronics. And share your resources with us; let’s all work together to make every day, Earth Day.
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Last week’s heartbreak in Boston was one of those moments when the frenetic pace of life comes to a screeching halt. A moment that inspired us to stop and grieve, chime in across the social media chorus, reflect on our blessings and lament the fragile world in which we live.
We could despair – and we all do at some level. But in the days that follow, those of us who serve or work in the healthcare marketplace can use the moment to glean some new perspective. To consider what we really do – visualize who we’re really helping. It’s not just our hospitals and managers and clients, it’s doctors and nurses. (Or the “Helpers,” as a popular Mr. Rogers’ Facebook meme reminded us.)
It gives us pause to consider that the programs, hardware, software and data we’re working so relentlessly to manage, repair, design, analyze, code and protect serves the needs of heroes dressed in faded blue scrubs, and the sick and injured for whom they often sacrifice.
Here at iData, we’ve stopped for a moment to think about those medical records that now include lost limbs and shattered bones. With the physical and emotional trauma associated with what has historically celebrated as a joyous event marked by legendary Boston pride. At the end of the day, the data we work so hard to capture and report belongs to people.
It’s why we, and so many across our industry, should take pride in what we do. The infrastructure and processes we empower ensures that healthcare data is captured and delivered efficiently. Which means clinicians can work more smoothly. And that means something to the injured runner who will now count on his specialists to be able to access and share information seamlessly.
It’s the least we can do.
For a bit of inspiration, remember on those days when the project seems never ending, when you’ve pulled an all-nighter to repair a glitch, when you’re struggling to decipher a physician’s verbiage – that the hard work contributes to something meaningful. People’s health. What’s more important than that?
So on that fateful day, what started as triumph turned into tragedy. But then, it turned to triumph again as stories trickled in showcasing doctors, nurses, first responders and many spectators who jumped in to help. And as always in the face of trauma most of us can hardly fathom, medical center personal deftly, calmly and compassionately navigated the chaos and the carnage.
According to the Boston Globe, “More than 13 hospitals treated some 180 victims, many in critical condition; at least 10 of them were children. Speaking to the press, trauma surgeons and emergency room doctors from the largest hospitals — including Mass. General, Brigham and Women’s, Boston Medical Center, and Children’s updated the public regularly with detailed casualty reports, describing emergency amputations, shrapnel wounds, fractures, ruptured internal organs, and severe burns. In doing so, they supplied some of the first clues as to what could have caused the injuries they were treating.”
These are the professionals we serve. They are why we get up every day to do it all over again in the midst of setbacks and struggles. Their grace and grit and immeasurable contributions can inspire us to push through. We’re helpers, too after all.
Are doctors really in love with the Electronic Medical Record (EMR)? Or are they just making the best of a rocky relationship?
We’ve talked a lot about the EMR – whether the promise of cost effectiveness, increased efficiency, or decreased liability truly delivers. We know full implementation for many medical practices is still a long way off as administrators adapt to such a radical, costly, time-consuming change.
And, what about the doctors and other medical professionals who actually use an EMR system? What are their experiences? What are their responses to this massive shift in data capture and analysis? (more…)
You’re in the middle of a serious negotiation with the hospital’s CIO, and you hear a muted (but insistent) knock on the door of your home office. But wait – you told the kids not to disturb you unless it was an emergency.
With calm (sort of) urgency, you put the call on hold and swing open the door to find 2 sheepish eyes staring at the floor. No blood or fire in sight. Ugh. You dig out the lollipops and buy yourself some silence, because desperate times call for desperate measures!
According to the Telework Research Network, a 2010 study discovered that slightly more than 2% of America’s employees (or 2.8 million people, not including the self employed or unpaid volunteers) work from home. If you’re one of them, you know the plus-sides, and the inevitable drawbacks. Sure – you get to work in jeans and maybe set your own hours, but then, is your work ever really done? (more…)
Professionals who burn the candle at both ends are often rewarded for their blistering pace. But do we really want harried, sleep-deprived people making critical decisions, negotiating deals, and nurturing employees?
Our corporate culture prizes – even encourages – a relentless work ethic. But overstressed multi-taskers are often less productive. The body needs regular rest to perform at optimum levels. (I don’t have to tell you that. Your body does the talking, if you just listen carefully.)
The forthcoming 4th of July holiday is a timely reminder to take time to recharge, replenish and renew. To rest. There’s no crime in it – actually, it’s a gift you give to your employer. At iData, where our staff members face constant pressure to deliver reports on time with unyielding accuracy, we understand the consequences of stress. So we encourage taking time off. (It’s one of the reasons we can deliver – because we avoid burn-out.) (more…)
From the desk of Donna Dannessa, Senior VP of Operations and COO, iData Medical Transcription
What happens when quality standards are lax in medical transcription?
Well, it’s as simple as considering the difference between a milligram and a microgram. Consequences will abound with a misinterpreted dosage; an incorrectly cited diagnosis; the left hand designated for surgery instead of the right. Mistakes can mean a potential breach in compliance, or possible litigation. (Cue the spine-chilling music.)
The patient’s health record is a document on steroids. It underwrites medical history, coding and billing. Medical transcription, in other words, is serious business.
Just ask JD Thankamony, our resident VP of Operations. Don’t let his good nature mislead you – underneath his friendly demeanor lies the heart and soul of a Six Sigma Quality ninja. An industry veteran, his signature commitment to Quality at iData has been underwritten by a fierce personal code of conduct. Perfection’s the goal. From that passion, he’s built a career around creating a culture of Quality. (I wonder if that makes life difficult at home?) (more…)
Theirs is an unlikely relationship. Not exactly like Demi and Ashton, but still.
If you placed a Physician (Doc, for today’s purposes) alongside a Medical transcriptionist (MT), it’s likely you couldn’t find two people with less in common. So you think.
It’s true, our imaginary Doc and MT probably hail from very different backgrounds. One holds advanced degrees, commands a top-dollar salary and enjoys peer respect, and patient gratitude. (Hopefully.) The other may hold a college degree, but often learns on the job, earns an hourly wage and mostly completes his or work under the radar. Very often – at home, staving isolation and the jeers of dishes and laundry. (more…)
From the Desk of Kendall Tant, CEO, iData
With the continued migration toward the almighty EHR, it is incumbent on the CIO to make sound, cost-effective choices in Clinical Documentation choices. Oh, and 98% isn’t good enough. Accuracy is still King. You’ve heard the chattering about Speech Recognition (SR) – and you’re wondering if it merits a closer look.
As always, iData’s here to sort through the clamor and offer some direction.
Of course you’ve already encountered SR technology. Your own voice was captured and directed to the appropriate desk when you called the bank today and spoke your selections. It works – right? Fair enough. But the stakes are high here. There’s a big difference between, “no history of heart attack” and “blisters on his back.” You’ve got to work with a partner you can trust. (more…)
