A community of 30,000 US Transcriptionist serving Medical Transcription Industry

For those with your own clients... - HIMT

Posted: Jul 27, 2011

I am wondering when you started soliciting clients if you already had a platform in place or did you wait to see what the potential clients were already using. I want to start trying to get my own accounts as there have been a lot of practices open up near me recently, but not sure of the steps to take in the beginning. I am thinking of using Emdat Inscribe as I am already familar with it, but not sure if that is something I need to set up first or is that a waste if the clients wants to use something else. How did you handle this in the beginning?

about the platform you mentioned - my own clients

[ In Reply To ..]
Unless you get a large practice willing to pay at least 12 cpl or more, Emdat will be unaffordable for you. There are different platforms to consider and expenses related to each, so you should research those before deciding on one.

For Emdat, you should expect to pay 2-1/2 cents per line to lease the platform and it would include a call-in system.

For ByteScribe, you could get the $30/month FTP system for up to 5 dictators, but pay various amounts per minute for them to call in their dictation.

I'm not recommending or advising against using either of those platforms. I'm just pointing you in different directins and hoping to make you aware of different features with their associated costs.

Most clients will want to stay with their current way of handling things, unless you were to get something with multiple offices that would justify the investment of a highly technical platform. I would suggest you keep costs nominal until you get at least one client.

Thanks - HIMT

[ In Reply To ..]
Thanks for the ByteScribe recommendation. I already have one that I use an FTP for, but a couple of the clinics I would like to try to get are large with multiple doctors, which would mean I would have to subcontract some of the work and I would rather have a system where they could just log in and work versus me having to waste time sending the work out manually to each MT daily. That is why I was thinking Emdat. But it sounds like I should just hold off on anything until talking with the potential clients. Just thought it would be more professional to be prepared and have a system already in place. Do clients usually give you time then to get set up before taking on an account?

Have a meeting with a potential client next week! - HIMT

[ In Reply To ..]
I have just set up my first meeting with a potential client next week! I am still unsure about the platform issue, but guess I will use this as a learning experience if nothing else. Just hoping for the best. Sounds really positive!

potential client - lmj

[ In Reply To ..]
Have you already researched your "security officer" information? Do you have you HIPAA compliance information printed to give to your potential clients so they can see you are on top of that aspect?

Most clients realize it takes some time to get set up and get things in place before you begin transcribing, but you have to have a lot of your ducks, as they pertain to the client, in order BEFORE you walk in the door.

Cost. Insurance. Billing. TAT. Mode of transmission both to receive work and to upload work. How will you handle stats? Will you be storing their work so they can call and ask for a report you did xx days/weeks ago? If so, how will you maintain that work as secure?

As the EHR is moving forward, they will need to have a system in place where they can enter not only the traditional MT data, but lab studies, phone calls, scheduling etc. So it's no longer as simple as - they dictate, you transcribe and return.

Good luck with your meeting!!

Yes, I already have most of this... - HIMT

[ In Reply To ..]
I already have my HIPAA compliance information and contracts ready. I am meeting with them to go over TAT, billing, negotiating rates, etc. As for storing the info and security, that is one reason I was looking into Inscribe as then they would store it and the client would be able to access their own work anytime they wish.

Hmmm... - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
I have never had a HIPAA "security officer" other than myself. I also have never had insurance in my 20 years of having my own clients. All of my clients and two potentials that I have recently had a meeting with still want to and do e-mail the reports back and forth. There are secure email services out there, as well as PC Anywhere or anything along those lines where it is a direct line from your computer to theirs - can't get much more secure than that, and you can set it up for your employees that way as well. Keeping it simple is the most cost effective way to do business. Why complicate things more than they have to be?

Just because - lmj

[ In Reply To ..]
you've kept it simple, doesn't mean you've kept it legal.

You are required as a "business entity" to have a security officer (which would be yourself and you would, of course, be educated in HIPAA and HITECH).

Doing things the way you have, doesn't mean it's right or mean that it's going to fly should any of the offices you service ever be audited.

gloomsday forecast - my own clients

[ In Reply To ..]
That was a good check list for anyone soliciting clients. Unfortunately it was a little over the top, not sure why.

A person working for his/herself at home does not need a separately designated security officer. S/he can desiginate her/himself to fulfill the role.

Some physicians still simply want to send you their dictation and have it returned, as simple as that, without expecting more from the MT.

Fortunately the platforms referenced in the other posts comply with HIPAA/HITECH regulations. It is only how the ICMT handles information provided to/from the physician that would need to explained in writing to the client.

I got a new client today and the new work starts coming next Wed. I have until then to send them the printed version of the agreement we reached over the phone (he is out of state and we will never meet in person).

I truly wish you well with your new endeavor.

Thanks and congrats on the new client! NM - HIMT

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

Metroscript - SM

[ In Reply To ..]
Might meet your needs. It will allow you to shuffle work to other transcriptionist and it is pretty user friendly and cost effective.

Thank you! Will check that one out too. nm - HIMT

[ In Reply To ..]
NM

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