Part - V

(To read Part IV, click on the �Previous Article� link, on the left)

If the U.S. client has unrealistic expectations of what is going to be delivered, who created those expectations? �Faster, cheaper, better� have been the mantras of marketers for services from the subcontinent, whether the service was two years in the business with 100 trained transcriptionists or just starting out with five transcriptionists straight from a three-month training course. Although it is the responsibility of any business to test the claims of a contractor, distance works against accurate assessment. Bait and switch techniques have been common � throwing all available resources into the test period to assure best possible performance, a performance which is not sustainable over a long period of time after a contract is obtained. When accurate transcription is not delivered, all time and cost savings fly out the window with it.

However, lack of trust in dealing with overseas companies has a far more serious impact and that relates to compliance with U.S. regulations, such as HIPAA. The penalties to be imposed on covered entities will be significant, and civil action liabilities will only add to the cost. Unwilling to take a chance that the overseas business associate is trustworthy in its assertions of compliance, and with the logistical difficulties involved to bring a foreign entity into a domestic lawsuit, U.S. companies will be very cautious as HIPAA regulations are finalized and scheduled for enforcement. Any litigated breach involving an overseas company will reverberate throughout the industry.

Success strategies for medical transcription from the subcontinent countries will not be significantly different from those in the U.S. No start up business is for the faint-hearted or poorly capitalized. Success will be built over time, slow and steady will win the race. Performance and productivity will contribute to profitability. Customer satisfaction will be based on trust. In the end, what buyers look for is value, stability, consistency, security and service. Successful businesses capitalize on their strong points. They acknowledge limitations while working to overcome them. They build a solid foundation and make a commitment to core values and best business practices. The best part of globalization is realized from cooperative efforts, understanding cultural differences, and creating new ways of doing business that benefit everyone.

Concluded.

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Julianne Weight has owned and operated AlphaBest, a consulting and transcription service in Los Angeles, since 1983. She is an active member in AAMT and AHIMA and has held a position in the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) Southern California chapter. She taught medical terminology at California State University, Long Beach from 1999 to 2001. She has numerous published articles and is a frequent speaker at professional conferences.


Julianne Weight
CEO
AlphaBest LLC