Webmedx Reacts to News of Confidential Medical Records Being Sold on the Black Market
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Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:01:15 GMT |
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Reports in The Economic Times and The Daily Mail attest to the sale of UK citizens' personal medical records which were sent to India for transcription. ATLANTA, Oct. 28
ATLANTA, Oct. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Atlanta-based Webmedx, the fourth largest medical transcription company in the World, cites the news of black market sales of medical records in India as further proof that the Webmedx's 100% domestic workforce is the most reliable way to maintain standards of privacy and security. In an era when the HITECH Act is demanding more stringent rules for protected health information, the onus on transcription service providers is at an all-time high.
The example of records being sold in India is a perfect rationale for the fact that sending medical records offshore for transcription is not in the best interests of the healthcare industry and its patients. "It is unrealistic to think that U.S. laws can be effectively enforced outside our borders sufficient to deter the misuse of information or breaches of security," mentions Sean Carroll, CEO of Webmedx.
According to Carroll, the new healthcare privacy and security regulations have sharply increased responsibilities and penalties for healthcare providers and their business associates when it comes to medical record security. As a result, Webmedx has heightened its training compliance practices for its entire staff to keep pace with the HIPAA regulations detailed in ARRA's HITECH legislation.
"At Webmedx, we simply believe that, on balance, patients and providers will receive more secure, higher quality documentation of their care through a domestic, credentialed and engaged workforce operating on a 100% U.S.-based infrastructure," says Carroll. "Keeping patient records onshore is an important measure in protecting ourselves, our clients and the millions of patients whose medical information is vulnerable in situations such as what recently occurred in India."
About Webmedx, Inc.
Webmedx, Inc. is the 4th largest medical transcription outsourcing company in the World and the only service provider within the top ten U.S. companies offering a 100% domestic workforce. Providing workflow technology integrated with transcription services to produce, distribute, access, and control clinical reports, enables its clients to focus on the business of patient care. The company's combination of software and services improves turnaround time, quality, and access to patient information and clinical applications.
For more information call:
Beth Friedman, President
The Friedman Marketing Group
770.335.8570
beth@tfmgcom.com
SOURCE Webmedx, Inc.
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Outsourcing to India
By:
Vinayak Shankar ,
Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:53:50 GMT
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I was rather disheartened by his comments on outsourcing to India.
While I do not wish to go into the details of that particular event, I would like to state the following:
1. Companies in the United States have been outsourcing medical transcription work to companies in India for over 15 years now.
2. Both the companies sending the work from the US, and the ones receiving and processing the same in India are aware of the stringent privacy requirements and follow the “rules” faithfully, to say the least. Both have invested heavily in terms of money, time and efforts to develop a good partnership.
3. There were two instances of breach of privacy that I can recall – one where disgruntled staff of a US-owned company in India tried to put out patient details on the Web, and another where a disgruntled owner of a small MT company did the same, when he was not paid by the US client.
4. There has also been an instance in Pakistan on the same issue.
5. Compare the above instances to the millions of records already processed in India, and many more coming in daily.
6. Would the above instances term the Indian and the US companies as being reckless and callous?
7. What about the thousands of work staff who conscientiously churn out medical charts without an iota of insincerity?
8. Having invested millions in such businesses, all business owners take utmost care to ensure that everything is done right and with utmost care.
9. Business around the world is done based on complete faith and trust, and when one recognizes that, the business is successful. People sitting thousands of miles across the globe trust one another and bring out a profitable venture together.
10. Why would Mr. Carroll send out RFIs to numerous companies in India and the Philippines looking to see if he could outsource to them? I was also the recipient of such an RFI from his company in 2005.
11. Why would he even make a visit to the Philippines to search for a good partner there?
12. Would I be wrong to assume that Mr. Sean Carroll was unsuccessful in finding a partner in India or overseas; and so now resigns himself to using domestic staff only?
13. If he was against outsourcing, why did he, as President of the Medical Transcription Industry Association some years ago, woo Indian companies and urged them to become members?
Mr. Carroll states that his MTs are placed in secure environments, and they follow the best in HIPAA regulations. I would certainly hope so, but how can he assume that such an environment is non-existent in India? Our company, as are many others in India, is certified as HIPAA compliant, and we have been servicing clients in the US for over a decade now. We have classes conducted regularly to update our staff on the requirements and changes in HIPAA. In fact, I feel we work in a more secure environment. We have our staff come into a general work area that is completely secure, safe and guarded 24/7/365. The computers never leave the premises. Can we say the same about his home- based MTs , where their computers could possibly be hacked into, or even viewed by anyone visiting them in their homes? Many of our clients have visited our site and have found everything in proper order. Do they also not respect the privacy rules for them NOT to outsource to us? They successfully outsource to us day in and day out, as do many others.
Is it safe to assume that such breaches have not occurred in the US? I can recollect an incident where an MT sent out medical records of a VA hospital in the US, not too long ago. And what does it take to have an employee do such a thing? Nothing much…! Any disgruntled employee can be a hazard.
Talking of patient record safety, I recall an incident where a friend of mine had to undergo an MRI scan, and came out with a paper band, on which was printed that patient’s SSN, etc. Is this safe? This piece of paper would have been accessible by anyone.
I do not think Mr. Carroll should stoop to such levels to gain publicity for his company, and should refrain from making such statements. Does he mean to say that the companies outsourcing work to India are not adhering to privacy matters or maintaining strict measures?
I request Mr. Carroll, whom I consider a good friend and mentor, not to take such a view of things.
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Outsourcing to India
By:
Vinayak Shankar ,
Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:45:12 GMT
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How come the same person contacted many Indian companies, sent out RFQs and even visited the Philippines to search for alternatives for US MTs? Moreover, what happened in India is something that could happen anywhere. There have been many instances of data abuse in the US, UK and other countries. Just not fair to blame an entire country for this.
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