Author: Sunrise Transcription

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Physicians: When Time is of the Essence

The life of a physician can be fast-paced and demanding. Depending on which discipline they are in, they may hold office hours, or they may be on call twenty-four hours per day, several days per week. Either way, they work on strict timetables and require things to move along at an expedited pace.

Time for a physician can be precious, while that same time for patients can be life-saving. Any time that a doctor can save waiting on test results, lab results, or transcripts can be more time they spend with a patient. That time spent face-to-face can help the doctor gather more details by giving him or her more time speaking with (gathering a medical history), or looking over (physically examining), their patient.

Here at Sunrise Transcription, we take physicians’ time very seriously. We recognize that having an accurate transcript can be of the utmost importance, but also having that transcript returned in a short amount of time can be just as crucial. This is why we offer a 24-hour turn-around time for transcribing, and we will have it triple checked before sending it back to the physician.

Along with an accurate and expedited transcript, physicians can also rest assured that their information is protected with strict security protocols. We go the extra mile for our clients because we know our clients go the extra mile for all of us. We will be happy to answer any questions, or address any concerns you may have. Please contact us and let’s talk about how we can be of assist to you and your practice!

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HIPAA: Mind the PHI

A staff member of a medical clinic approaches a patient in the waiting room. Without moving, he explains a medical procedure that he is recommending for the patient. Other people in the room are within earshot of this highly personal communication.

You are probably thinking, what a blatant violation of HIPAA! And you would be right. The staff member broke the Privacy Rule, a part of HIPAA, when he disclosed the patient’s Protected Health Information or PHI to everyone in the waiting room, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which uses this incident as a case example.

The government required the rule-breaking medical clinic to create procedures and policies to safeguard PHI. As a result, all staff members received training on how to protect PHI and to take steps to prevent future violations.

Medical clinics must adhere to the Privacy Rule. This means that staff members do not share PHI with anyone unless it is necessary for facilitating a patient’s care.

The rule also covers Business Associates of medical clinics. According to the HIPAA definition, Business Associates are not employees of the clinics, yet the clinics give them access to PHI so they can carry out their services.

Medical transcription services are Business Associates as defined in the HIPAA Privacy Rule. As they transcribe medical records, they must protect the PHI, just as good medical clinics do. Here at Sunrise Transcription, we take our responsibility to protect your patient’s PHI seriously. To learn more, contact us.