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TechRadar
Jonas P. DeMuro

ZyDoc Medical Transcription review

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ZyDoc Medical Transcription established in 1993 in Islandia, NY, aims to enhance physician efficiency through technology and services. Dr. James Maisel, an ophthalmologist, founded the company and continues to serve as its Chairman and CEO. ZyDoc's notable achievements include developing one of the first multimedia electronic medical records (EMRs), which was later acquired by the US Department of Defense. ZyDoc's customer base includes prestigious organizations such as the Surgical Arts Centre, Aetna, and the Island Eye Surgicenter.

ZyDoc Medical Transcription: Features

ZyDoc's dictation feature is a cornerstone of its functionality, streamlining clinical documentation transcription for physicians. With clinicians dictating at an average rate of 100 words per minute, as indicated by ZyDoc, and considering that few physicians can type at that speed, dictation emerges as a superior method compared to typing. ZyDoc reports a significant increase in speed with dictation, representing a notable 61% improvement.

One of the most essential factors to consider when using dictation is accuracy. ZyDoc stands out in this aspect as each file undergoes a two-step process. The first step is transcription, followed by editing. It's important to note that these steps are performed by different professionals, and all editors are based in the US, which contributes to this service’s impressive accuracy rate starting at 98% even on their lowest tier. 

(Image credit: ZyDoc)

Another key distinction is that the transcription is done by real medical transcriptionists with a "Closed-Loop Feedback and Quality Assurance Process," not just relying on computer voice recognition like some services use to cut costs. This process ensures the removal of "filler words" such as "Um" during transcription, resulting in a polished and accurate document.

With ZyDoc, users can choose from several dictation methods to accommodate their preferences. These methods include a toll-free number, a handheld digital voice recorder with included submission software, or a smartphone dictation app compatible with both iOS and Android platforms.

Additionally, the entire process adheres to HIPAA compliance standards, ensuring that files are encrypted to 128-bits and audio files and transcribed documents are securely stored at an online data center.

ZyDoc Medical Transcription: Drawbacks

Generally, user reviews of the ZyDoc Medical Transcription Service are positive, though there are some criticisms. One of these is that the ZyDoc server can sometimes be overloaded and busy, leading to delays in uploading documents. Additionally, there is a request from one office for some form of notification, such as an email, when a dictation is completed, rather than requiring the user to log in and search for that information. 

Another complaint is that when office staff using ZyDoc are interrupted—a common occurrence in busy multitasking environments—is that they lose their place in what they were doing, such as downloading completed dictations, as they get logged out. 

ZyDoc Medical Transcription: Support

ZyDoc offers 24/7 support through either a toll-free phone number or a contact portal. For self-help options, there is a FAQ and a blog. While both direct and self-support options could be more comprehensive, the basics are covered. 

(Image credit: ZyDoc)

ZyDoc Medical Transcription: Pricing

Unlike many competitors that provide no pricing info, ZyDoc eagerly shares this information, and offers a great choice among four tiers of plans.

At the most basic level, SpeechDoc offers a 98% accuracy rate for dictations under 15 minutes with a 24-hour turnaround time. This service is fully HIPAA compliant, with typists located offshore and editors based in the United States, with all editors undergoing background checks. It includes a single letterhead and allows for up to four templates. The cost is a straightforward $0.14 per line, with no faxing surcharge. However, there is an additional $0.10 per minute surcharge for using their toll-free number for dictations, and additionally, STAT dictations incur a surcharge that doubles the cost.

The SpeechDoc Standard plan offers enhanced features compared to the basic plan. With an accuracy rate of 98.6%, two letterheads, and up to 8 templates, it provides more customization options. The key differentiator is the Automated EHR Section-Level Insertion, which effortlessly integrates documents into your EMR, making it worth the higher cost of $0.165 per line. Additionally, the STAT dictation surcharge is reduced to 75%, offering a cost-effective advantage.

Moving up to the next tier is SpeechDoc Professional, with the higher cost of $0.20 per line. This tier raises the guaranteed accuracy rate up to a lofty 99%, and a key benefit is that both the typists and the editor are both US based, and background checked. The turnaround time also drops to 12 hours, and the STAT surcharge also drops to 50% additional. The included letterheads increase to 4, the templates rise to 12, and there are no surcharges for toll free number dictations.

At the top tier is SpeechDoc Enterprise, which costs $0.25 per line. This tier includes all the features of the lower plans, along with more templates and the highest accuracy of 99.6%. The significant advantage of this tier is that there is no additional charge for STAT dictations, with a maximum turnaround time of less than 4 hours.

Regardless of the plan chosen, clinicians have the flexibility to dictate accurately from anywhere, at any time. Furthermore, a 14-day free trial is also offered.

(Image credit: ZyDoc)

ZyDoc Medical Transcription: Final verdict

If a facility is in the market for a medical transcription service, ZyDoc offers various features that may be appealing. These include a selection of dictation devices, tiered plan options, professional transcriptionists, and readily available support. However, some potential drawbacks to consider include additional charges on lower-tier plans, particularly for using the toll-free number, offshore transcription at lower tiers, and a lack of notifications for completed documents. Ultimately, ZyDoc provides an affordable solution, and the free trial allows facilities to assess its suitability for their needs. 

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