The need to implement electronic health records is pressurizing present day healthcare practitioners, especially those who are used to and comfortable with the traditional dictation and transcription practice. Medical transcription outsourcing can really help individual practices attain greater efficiency and sustainability, especially practices that are short of resources and sometimes, supporting staff. There is just a lot to do. If you are wondering how transcription can be relevant in this EHR age, the answer lies in EHR integrated transcription. Physicians can record their notes and send it to a chosen provider. These recordings are transcribed by skilled and experienced transcriptionists and populated into the corresponding fields within the EHR. This streamlines documentation, leaving the physician with more face-to-face time with patients. Now let us get back to solo practices and practitioners.
In this age of complex healthcare, it may sound crazy to think of going solo. Running a solo physician practice needs a lot of smart management, but it still can be done. At least that’s what one doctor realized, as mentioned in Physicians Practice.
The Lure of Solo Practice
Why would a doctor leave secure employment to start her own practice? Why take up the tension and associated issues involved in drawing patients to the practice, handling the myriad non-core responsibilities, recruiting staff and managing their paychecks and benefits, and managing the business and legal side of matters? And why take the risk of not being able to go on a vacation without thoughts about the practice in one’s mind all the time? Perhaps it’s the sense of having achieved something, which may not come with employment. But that satisfaction of achievement could be elusive if things aren’t planned well, right from the start.
Researching Before Taking the Plunge
This doctor began her research long before she took the plunge, which involved getting opinions and insights from physicians in private practice, gleaning information from articles and books, attending seminars, and getting to know the non-medical side of running a practice – something which, she points out, can never be received in medical school. This equipped her with something to expect. She did realize what she’d be sacrificing for this – a fixed paycheck, benefits, retirement plan, and freedom from the responsibility of managing a practice.
Settling Down
But she did reap the benefits – she got to see patients at her office around 30 hours each week instead of the expected 40, but it still is a great showing. She also spends anywhere between five and ten hours each week on seeing patients in hospital and around 10 hours on phone consultation and administrative tasks including filling out forms. She also gets to relax during occasional no shows. Great vendors made the experience better and helped contribute to greater sustainability of the practice.
For such solo practices, an efficient medical transcription company can significantly help in lessening the documentation strain. EHR integrated medical transcription is a great option that allows physicians to make the best use of EHR capability and traditional transcription assistance.
This physician has finally tasted success with her solo practice though there were sacrifices involved and a lot of hard work.
