Local Transcription Services using outsourcing

How many times have you heard your friendly, neighborhood transcription company make tall claims about how his service employs only local talent due to the “security hazards” of sending sensitive medical data to offshore locations? More than a couple of times, for sure. As an outsourced medical transcription company, we are used to such persistent censuring on data security issues. The fact that we have the toughest data security safeguards implemented as per guidelines by HL7 EHR Security and Privacy Issues and JCAHO, emanates from our respect for the well meaning intentions of such critics.

But the truth about most of these “holier than thou” transcription services is that they themselves outsource their medical transcription services (to companies like ours) to avail of the tremendous cost savings involved. The difference between us and them is that they do it on the sly to keep the savings to themselves. We pass on the entire benefit to our clients. Our only advice to you is, do not be taken for a ride. You may be receiving outsourced transcription services in the garb of “secure” local services, while the savings you deserve on account of outsourcing would be pocketed by the local service provider.

If you don’t believe this, then listen to Brian Kearns, the CFO of MedQuist, USA’s larger medical transcription provider, admit how "only a little" of MedQuist's work is outsourced to Indian transcription companies.

The outsourcing of medical transcription services began with the contracting out of transcription to companies close to medical centers. With the growth of the internet and high speed communication links, transcription started being outsourced to low cost destinations like India. In spite of all bogeys raised, the fact remains that there is not a single case of confidential info leaked by a transcriptionist. Yet, data security issues are being looked upon seriously in India and strong steps have already been taken in this regard, both by the companies and NASSCOM, the governing body of IT and ITES companies.