ASTM E2502

This guide provides recommended guidelines for the essential elements to be included in the design and implementation of an efficient, secure, risk-free work environment for medical transcription and health information documentation.

4.1.1 Improve and increase production.

4.1.2 Reduce healthcare costs by minimizing injury/illness.

4.1.3 Increase retention and professional longevity.

4.1.4 Ensure regulatory compliance with state and local government requirements as well as federal privacy and security regulations.

1. Scope

1.1 This guide identifies ways to improve the medical transcription workstation, including, but not limited to, the work environment, which encompasses ergonomics and security issues, equipment, references, and tools.

1.2 This guide will assist healthcare managers, vendors, medical transcription service owners, and individual medical transcriptionists to make informed decisions related to the design of an efficient medical transcription work environment compliant with federal regulatory agencies.

1.3 This guide does not address the medical transcription process or training.

This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

2. Referenced Documents

E1130 Test Method for Objective Measurement of Speech Privacy in Open Offices Using Articulation Index
E1869 Guide for Confidentiality, Privacy, Access, and Data Security Principles for Health Information Including Electronic Health Records
E1902 Specification for Management of the Confidentiality and Security of Dictation, Transcription, and Transcribed Health Records
E1988 Guide for Training of Persons who have Access to Health Information
E2117 Guide for Identification and Establishment of a Quality Assurance Program for Medical Transcription
http://dohs.ors.od.nih.gov/ergonomics_home.html
American Association for Medical Transcription, HIPAA for MTs, July 2005
Backrelief.com: www.backrelief.com/prevention/work_erg.html
Cornell University Ergonomics: http://ergo.human.cornell.edu/CUVDTchecklist.html
Department of Health and Human Services-Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: www.cdc.gov/od/ohs/ergonomics/compergo.html
Guide to HIPAA Privacy Rule, Lippincott Williams Wilkins, 2006
HealthyComputing.com: www.healthycomputing.com
National Institutes of Health-Division of Occupational Health and Safety: http://dohs.ors.od.nih.gov/ergo_computers.html
Occupational Safety and Health Administration: www.osha.gov
Office Ergonomics Training: www.office-ergo.com
Public Law 104-191 Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)

Index Terms

connectivity; ergonomics; HIPAA; medical transcription; medical transcriptionist; peripherals; security; workstation; ICS Number Code 11.020

Citing ASTM Standards

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