RULES AND REGULATIONS TO BE FOLLOWED BY MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTIONISTS

Medicaltranscription business is a highly demanding affair which deals withprotecting the personal information of patients in a highly secure manner.  The codes of ethics have been designed insuch a manner that they are applicable to healthcare in general and medicaltranscription in particular.

The Association for HealthcareDocumentation Integrity (AHDI) initially developed these codes of ethics forits members. Now these guidelines work as a framework for medical transcriptioncompanies.

Let us now look at some of therules and regulations laid by AHDI which help medical transcriptionists inproviding quality services to the clients:

• Confidentiality of patient information: Confidentiality of patient information is of paramount importance to medical transcription companies. It includes peer reviews, quality improvement and risk management protocols with special effort to maintain data security in electronic communications.
• Maintain standards of professional transcription practice: Proper implementation and maintenance of standards for professional transcription practice.
• Accurate and timely information: Always strive to provide accurate and timely information.
• Compliance with rules and regulations for patient documentation: Compliance with all laws, rules, regulations and standards governing practice of patient documentation.
• Exercise integrity in professional practices: Always strive for professional practices including work or professional experience, credentials, affiliations, productivity reporting, billing charges and payment practices.
• Respect the rights and dignity of all individuals: Every individual has a unique thing to offer. Hence; it is very important to understand the needs of every individual and respect their rights and dignity.
• Encourage work environment which promotes integrity and professionalism amongst employees: Create a working environment where employees are thorough professionals facilitating integrity and protecting personal information of the patients.

Medical transcription business ismore than just converting voice files into typewritten documents. A simpleerror can even cause death of a patient. Hence; it is very important for medical transcriptioncompanies to train their employees beforehand so that they can providethe services as per the guidelines provided by The Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity (AHDI).