Slashdot Mirror
Transcriber Threatens Release of Medical Records
talboito writes "David Lazarus of the San Francisco Chronicle reports on problems subcontracting sensitive data to outside firms. An unpaid Pakistani transcriber threatened to release medical records of patients at UCSF Medical Center on the internet. The article notes: 'U.S. laws maintain strict standards to protect patients' medical data. But those laws are virtually unenforceable overseas, where much of the labor-intensive transcribing of dictated medical notes to written form is being exported.' Most frightening, UCSF was unaware that its records were being sent overseas. The article traces their path backward through a chain of three different subcontractors."
Any time you pass on potentially sensitive data onto a third party there is the opening for abuse of this nature. When you outsource you are at the mercy of the contracted party and their security measures (if any) become your security measures. Add to that sub-contractors... Big freakin' mess.
Certain information should remain in the USA and not be contracted out. Ever. Looks to me that this whole fad of out-sourcing overseas has just come back to bite people in the ass. Maybe now some of the fools will learn that the old addage "Charity begins at home" is a good idea: keep those jobs here; the costs aren't in just dollars saved or wages paid.
Even worse! They SELL the info to drug companies!
I once mentioned a certain problem (side effect of a drug) to a doctor. 7 years ago or so. I was not being treated for it, but he wrote in in his notes. Lo and behold, a month later, I start getting ads in my mail from drug companies for this problem. Not something common. I told the doctor and he was in shock. He agreed that the transcription company must have sold the info. He refused to follow up on it, as did I. In retrospect, I could have caused a stink, but I'm not at all convinced I would have gotten any satisfaction.
I strongly suggest taking your lawyer with you on all doctor's visits. I now review doctor's notes completely (after transcription) and force them to make corrections. It is amazing what sorts of errors the transcription companies make in the notes. And this is what insurance companies look at when you apply for insurance.
In all, I'm pretty frightened of the medical system after a couple of incidents. I avoid the system at all costs. The funny thing is that it is this fear of the system, not of disease, that has actually prompted my very healthy lifestyle. I don't ever want to have to depend on that system for anything. Even the "nice good" doctors who are a part of it are to blame for idly sitting by and letting it all happen. They like to pretend that they are just pawns in a bigger game. Not!
"If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid." - Epictetus
I know of a particular BIG insurance company here in Texas that outsources a LOT of their core work overseas. This company happens to cater to members of the US armed forces and civil service employees. When people get deployed or move, they have to call this company to have all their addresses changed.
To think... now India and Pakistan probably now have a good listing of where a lot of our US service members are located. It's glad that India and Pakistan are our "aliies" or we'd really be in the shit now...