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Please see article below that was published in 2003. Does anybody know if the law it mentions was ever passed in California?

Following news that a Pakistani medical transcriber threatened to post UCSF Medical Center patient records online unless she received more money,

a state senator said she will introduce legislation barring all California hospitals from allowing medical data to leave the country.

Sen. Liz Figueroa, D-Fremont, said she will introduce the bill in January when the state Senate returns for its next regular session. (A special session on financial matters is likely before then.)

"California already has the strongest medical-privacy laws in the nation, " Figueroa told me. "But not strong enough. There's always something you didn't anticipate."

What she and other framers of the state's medical-privacy laws, which prohibit the sharing of medical information unless for clear medical purposes, didn't see coming is the explosive growth of the $20 billion medical- transcription industry.

U.S. hospitals have such a huge need for help transcribing doctors' dictated notes into written form that the work is routinely farmed out to private transcribers throughout the country. Those transcribers, in turn, frequently subcontract with other transcribers.

In the case of UCSF Medical Center, three separate subcontractors were involved in handling the facility's records. The last link in the chain was a woman in Karachi, Pakistan, who sent an e-mail to UCSF earlier this month demanding help in resolving a financial dispute with the Texas man who'd hired her.

The Pakistani transcriber said she'd post UCSF's files on the Internet unless the medical center assisted her. She backed up her threat by attaching actual UCSF patient records to her message.

This was the first time an overseas transcriber had used confidential records to threaten a U.S. medical institution. The transcriber withdrew her threat only after receiving hundreds of dollars from another subcontractor in the case.

Figueroa said her bill would prohibit anyone possessing information involving California patients from sending that information abroad.

State hospitals would likely be barred from outsourcing transcription work unless they could guarantee that all related files remain within the country -- a move that would make hospitals accountable for any subcontracting that ensues.

"We're not banning the practice of overseas workers doing transcription," Figueroa said. "But we can regulate the practice of medicine within California. "

The law, at least on the health care front, may be on her side.

In most instances, federal law would trump state law, and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 outlines rules for safeguarding medical data. Anyone doing transcription work for a U.S. hospital would be required to uphold HIPAA standards, although the law is virtually unenforceable overseas.

A unique aspect of HIPAA, though, is a provision that if a state adopts more stringent restrictions, state law will prevail.

"If there were a statute that no health care information in California could be disclosed outside the country, HIPAA wouldn't have a problem with that," said Paul Smith, a San Francisco attorney specializing in health care issues.

"The state has a clear interest in protecting health information," he added. "This would seem a legitimate exercise of state regulatory authority."

At the same time, though, Matthew Nakachi, a San Francisco lawyer who specializes in trade issues, said it's unclear how the proposed legislation would square with federal laws related to commerce. A hospital might argue, for example, that it has a right to do business with whomever it pleases.

"If California decides to do this," Nakachi said, "it would probably go into the courts and take years to fall out."

For her part, Figueroa expects the health care industry to fight the legislation, just as the banking industry opposed state restrictions on the use of customers' information. But she thinks that in light of the public's increased sensitivity toward privacy matters, her bill would eventually pass.

"The interesting thing will be to see where our new governor stands on privacy issues," Figueroa said. "At this point, we don't know."

Mystery woman: The Pakistani transcriber at the center of the case involving UCSF is still something of a mystery.

In her e-mail to UC officials, she identified herself as Lubna Baloch, "a medical doctor by profession." Beyond that, little is known of her.

In May, however, an interesting little exchange occurred on MT Stars, an online network for medical transcribers. Baloch, using the same e-mail address she used in her threatening message to UCSF, posted her resume at the site in hopes of attracting work as a subcontractor.

Sheri Steadman, who runs MT Stars, of Phoenix, said she's against U.S. transcription work going abroad and routinely deletes postings from overseas transcribers. In Baloch's case, she said she was concerned by the vagueness of Baloch's resume, especially as to her whereabouts.

Steadman wrote to Baloch to say that MT Stars is only for U.S. job seekers.

"I am US based," Baloch replied.

"Not enough info," Steadman responded. "Where?"

"Santa Monica, LA," Baloch wrote back.

For Steadman, this wasn't a very good answer.

"Santa Monica isn't in Los Angeles and it's not in Louisiana," she told me. "It was pretty clear that Baloch wasn't in the country."

Steadman confronted Baloch with her suspicion. Baloch never wrote back.

"She was trying to gain work in any way, shape or form," Steadman said. "She was trying to sucker U.S. medical-transcription services into sending her business."

It didn't work that time. A few months later, though, probably using a different online service, Baloch was more successful in her efforts.

That would turn out to be a very dark day for UCSF.

David Lazarus' column appears Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. He also can be seen regularly on KTVU's "Mornings on 2." Send tips or feedback to dlazarus@sfchronicle.com.

Hi:

To anyone who has taken the CMT exam, I was wondering how many years of experience one would need in order to pass this test.  I have been transcribing a little over 2 years.  I have transcribed mainly multispecialty clinic.  During the first year of transcribing, I had about 6 months experience with doing ER transcription as well.  I know that money wise, the cpl rate of pay doesn't go up that much, but I would like to at least show that I am serious about my profession by taking the test. 

Thank you in advance for any response or information.

Paulette

I could kick myself -the company I am working for keeps saying it will pick up and I keep staying, meanwhile I have put on hold a job I should have taken-MDI in Maryland. I have learned my lesson! I am finally ready to move on-anyone looking for an IC who can do 1300 lines a day?

I want to transfer my shortcuts (expansions) from DocQScribe to Microsoft office word.  Is it possible to do this?  Can anyone tell me where to go for instructions/guidelines on doing this?  Please help!

is there a way to include the headers/footers on reports in the line count program free download here in MT? 

I was rather surprised to not see this on here sooner....

HAPPY MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTION WEEK!

I feel kind of sick mentally, someone recently hurt me and in my childhood things happened so i've developed this habit of cutting myself or punching myself.  I just cannot handle my emotions sometimes they get so overwhelming, and truthfully it helps get my mind off of it, but then later I see what i've done to myself and I feel guilt and sick over the whole thing and the cycle starts again.  Just wondering if anyone has ever had the urge to do this? 

Just feeling badly today, I would post on the depressed board but no one ever goes there.  I don't feel like I  can talk to anyone in my life about my problems either, so I just needed to vent that out a little bit.

I must've hit something, but I've no idea what.  My upper toolbar is all messed up and my font keeps going from big to small when I scroll!  Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Anyone know what the penalties are for docs violating HIPPA?   I know of a case where a person was damaged from a new nonsurgical cosmetic procedure and about to settle with a company to pay for the surgical repair.  Prior to the settlement this patient saw a physician who sells these same nonsurgical services with a possible financial interest in the company.  This physician filled the patient's face full of temporary cosmetic fillers to cover the damage and then WITHOUT THE PATIENT'S PERMISSION released the patient's records to the company and wrote a letter stating there was nothing wrong with the patient.  The company subsequently canceled the pending deal to pay for the damages.   The temporary fillers wore off and the damage returned and this patient is now suing the company AND ALSO  the physician that released her records.  This physician has caused an already traumatized patient much more stress (a subsequent long legal battle) from this HIPPA violation.   What are the penalties?   Any criminal charges?

Thanks!!!

I know this is a legal question but just curious as to individual experience.

Briefly, I know someone who will be filing for a divorce.  In the meantime, she bought another house (out of state).  She is hoping that her future ex-hubby does not find out so he does not get 1/2 ownership. etc.  It is my understanding that LEGALLY she MUST hand over ALL financial documentation up front for the attorneys. Her banker told her it was not necessary?  (I question his integrity)Personally, I think she's nuts and could get into a lot of trouble.  Thanks everyone.

Let's start with a few southern places and see how many would actually meet in spring next year:

1)  Memphis, Tennessee

2)  St. Louis, Missouri

3)  Kansas City, Missouri

4)  Atlanta, Georgia

5)  Dallas, Texas

Anyone interested in getting a group in for 2-3 days in any of those places next spring?

Made me think of "I AM SPARTACUS!"

I have to entertain myself somehow while I work!

There are two of us here in Delaware so far that would like to get together and have lunch.  We are planning on meeting at the Ruby Tuesdays in Middletown (Rt. 299) at 12 noon on Tuesday, April 3rd.  We would love to have others come and have a nice day out.         

Anyone have thoughts on voice recognition that has worked on it?  I am working for a company now. The work is extremely easy but I am only able to do about 350 lines an hour and I only make 4.5 cpl.  I normally can type more than that and make a much higher line rate.  I don't want to give up, but I cannot figure out how I can go faster.  I am not even spending much time rechecking the charts at this point.  I might be able to get up to 400 lines an hour but I don't see going much higher than that. 

Any thoughts? 

has changed from CTRL+P to Shift-CTRL+F12.  What can I do to get it back?

What a way to start a Monday- I just started working for a hospital in October-They are in PA, I live in WV.  They called to tell me I am layed off- My question:

1.Do I file for unemployment in WV or where I work at in PA.

2.I do a side Dr. on the side, in Ohio, how to I do this.  I am going to be losing him at the end of the month-he is moving out of the area, but I may be on call to pick up a Nurse Pract. dication. (not much maybe 100.00 a month) How will this all go down. Do I need to get rid of this account?

Thanks

Does anyone else have this problem?

When working in Word, there are TONS of ~WRL0000.tmp files that are created (the 0000 are just placeholders for random numbers) and being used by Word. These files eventually cause the program to crash, close and restart, always giving the message that the normal file has been changed and asking if I want to reload. This can helps SEVERAL times a day and I'm just tired of the aggravation.

I have looked high and low for an answer to this question and I have yet to find one other person that has had this happen. Microsoft is NO help at all. Their KB only says that the normal.dot is corrupted. I have recreated normal.dot and that hasn't fixed the problem, either. I've done the same for the soap.dot that I use for notes--no luck.

The only thing that I can figure is that these .tmp files are copies of the actual note/file I'm working on (I've opened them up and looked at them). Most can be deleted but there are always one or two that can't be deleted because they're being used by another program (or so the computer says). Closing Word and rebooting Windows is not helping either. BTW, I'm working on XP OS.

If there is anyone out there with either the same problem or, better yet, an idea on how to get this stupidity to stop, please let me know before I go totally bananas!

For the clinics you transcribe for?  I've gained some new clinics so will be sending out a holiday gift and was wondering if anyone had any ideas.  I've done the tins of Hershey's mixed chocolates and thought maybe some of you might have some different ideas.  Can we brainstorm?

Please tell me how to run my linecount.  I really need some help with this.  Started with a new company and asked but have not received an answer yet...maybe they don't want to discourage me??  Thanks in advance

I am fairly new to the business.  I am currently transcribing part-time for a local clinic. I learned that the clinic will be accepting bids for a new contract position.  I have never drawn up a bid.  Do not know the first thing about it.  I have someone who can help me with that.  What I would appreciate any suggestions or advice on are:

1.  What to charge per line?  Will picking up and dropping off tapes at 3 sites.  Will be transcribing outpatient clinic and radiology reports.

2.  Turn around time?  Current contractor has 3 days.  The contract in place states 24 hours but they have been lenient lately.

3.  Would it be accurate to figure 30% for taxes and 20% for benefits? 

I appreciate any and all advice.  Anything I have forgotten, please let me know!

Thank you for suggestions. 

My hospital is switching over to E-scription and I have heard you can type more lines with this system than a regular system.  My question is how?  I figure typing is typing, why can you produce more with this system than something else?  We haven't had training yet, and maybe once I go through that I will see how it is possible, but I thought I'd ask those of you who already work on it first.  Thanks!