A is for Accuracy
There is perhaps no more important trait in medical transcription than accuracy. The medical transcriptionist produces a document that tells the patient’s story, and accuracy is at the top of that list.
Medical transcriptionists tend to be quite focused on the accuracy of the reports they produce. We stress about it, we wait for that monthly or quarterly quality report from our employers, and if we miss even one thing, we tend to beat ourselves up for days.
In the business world, companies tout their “98% accuracy rate” as if it’s a good thing. Let’s take a look at that for a minute. Just suppose that 98% accuracy is acceptable. What would that really mean?
- Of the 4,315,000 babies born every year, 86,300 would go home with the wrong parents.
- Of the 48 million mammograms that are done every year, 960,000 of them would have the wrong results.
- Of the 193,000 hip replacement surgeries done annually, 3,860 would have a bad result.
- Of the 92,000 cesarean sections done each year, 1,840 of them would have a bad outcome.
- Of the 3.8 million prescriptions that are written annually, 76,000 of them would have errors. It is interesting to note that estimates show this percentage could actually be much higher than the 2% error rate.
- What if our cars’ brakes worked 98% of the time? In the 7,667,066 cars sold every year, that would mean the brakes failed on 153,341 of them!
When you look at the above list, that 98% accuracy doesn’t sound so good, does it?
Accuracy is a critical factor in what medical transcriptionists do. Without it, the reports we transcribe have the potential to negatively impact the patient’s story. Yes, we can only do with what we are given, yet let’s be sure that we make the most of the dictations we are given and stay focused. Don’t let yourself get caught typing “mindlessly” in anything you do. Stay focused and be sure that you can be proud to put your initials at the bottom of each and every document you transcribe.
What tips can you offer for your fellow MTs about staying focused on accuracy?
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Tagged with: accuracy • accuracy in healthcare documentation • medical transcription
Filed under: ABCs of Medical Transcription
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VERY good points!! I hadn’t thought about it quite like that.
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Kathy Reply:
January 25th, 2010 at 1:38 pm
It does make us stop and think about things and what the “norm” is considered in our industry!
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I thoroughly enjoyed the analogy; this certainly puts things in a new perspective. Sometimes we can lose sight of the impact of the transcribed document, be it an op report, H&P, or … Tips: Proofread, proofread, proofread, and make an extra effort to research that “mystery term” or “you’ve got to be kidding” phrase; remember, it is important to the patient. I know time is money, especially for those whose salaries are production based; but, would you accept 98% of your earned income?
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Kathy Reply:
January 26th, 2010 at 7:31 am
You are so right. In addition, what if one of the 2% of those babies who went home with the wrong parents was someone in our family? It wouldn’t be acceptable!
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P.S. It should be important to you as well.
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Accuracy…if the report was your mother’s or father’s ..would you settle for anything less than 100% accuracy?? I try to look at each one that way..even those tough ESLs.
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Kathy Reply:
February 6th, 2010 at 6:18 am
Theresa, that is absolutely true! If we look at each thing we transcribe as a report that could be on someone in our family, it gives perspective about the value of quality work.
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