Outsourced medical transcripts prompt privacy concerns

The Hospital Employees' Union is asking BC's privacy commissioner Elizabeth Denham to investigate outsourced medical transcription services in the greater Vancouver area, citing concerns over the privacy and accuracy of patients' medical information.

"Right now, highly trained and skilled medical transcriptionists are employed by health authorities and work onsite in secure office spaces," said Bonnie Pearson, HEU secretary-business manager.

 

"This in-house service ensures direct access to electronic medical records, physicians and other members of the health care team to verify patient information, tests and procedures, diagnoses, medications and treatment plans.  Our members are charged with handling highly sensitive data.  It's imperative that work be done on internal information systems with secure internet connections.  This system makes sense and provides greater quality assurance for patients' medical charts."

 

She said outsourcing medical transcription would make it "virtually impossible" to guarantee privacy when the work is done by a nationwide network of home-based workers.

 

A significant portion of Vancouver-area medical transcription services is outsourced to Accentus, Inc.  By 2014, all medical transcription in the area is to be transferred to M*Model Canada.

 

Lay-off notices have been issued to more than 130 in-house medical transcriptionists.