MS Global takes open source path

In keeping up with the increasing volume and pace of job orders for transcription at rapid turnaround time, Multi-Scribe Global Outsourcing Inc. has embraced open source software technology.

The company is currently developing a Linux-based voice recognition software to aid its medical transcriptionists in the initial phase of transcribing voice files, said Malu Simeon-Florendo, MS Global president and CEO.

Simeon-Florendo said they plan to demonstrate it at the American Health Insurance Management Association (AHIMA) Expo this October.

"MS Global is committed to delivering accurate, fast, customized electronic solutions that are efficient and cost-effective to meet customer standards," Simeon-Florendo said.

MS Global has also started to teach its apprentice-applicants the basics of open source soft-ware technology.

"To ensure that, the MS Training Center is at the forefront of providing quality on-the-job-trainings. The company has in its stable one of the best Linux Open Source programming authorities in the country," said Rolando Disini, MS Global chief finance officer.

A medical transcription and business outsource processing organization’s decision to utilize free/open source technology, particularly Linux operating system-based computers, is to reduce acquisition cost of OS, proprietary software and office productivity software and "also to discourage software piracy," Disini said.

MS Global, which boasts of full-service capabilities to medical schools and potential partners, opened the doors of its MS Global Training Center and Placement Agency last month as it marked its first anniversary.

MS Global engages in medical and legal transcriptions and computer services such as data encoding, software develop-ment, and website development.

Potential medical transcrip-tionists undergoing month-long on-the-job-training at MS Global, according to Disini, are trained in open source technology from the onset to prepare them for handling live files on Linux OS-based computers in the production floor.

Organized in May 2005, MS Global’s 100-percent HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)—compliant operations are based in Quezon City.

The types of voice files it works with are mp3, dss, wav, mpeg, and ogg. The transcription software it utilizes is MS Global proprietary software: Global Client, Global Talk, and Global MT Linux-based word format, text format.

MS Global Client, a Web-based ASP system, allows transcription clients, e.g. doctors, lawyers, businessmen, and entertainment industry execu-tives, to take advantage of monitoring job lists anytime, anywhere, 24/7, by just using their computers and the Internet. They can put a desired turn-around time for the transcription, and may choose from over 52 standard templates.

With the Web-based digital dictation system Global Talk, using an I-PABX and a specialized proprietary system attached to the Voice over Internet Protocol, the client can just pick up any phone, whether landline or mobile, dial the local or 1-888 number and start dictating. The client’s digital dictation goes straight to the MS Global’s HIPAA-compliant server.

With the current 130 medical transcriptionist workstations, Simeon-Florendo said MS Global can transcribe 150,000 lines per day and can handle almost any type of file.

At present, MS Global serves the United States through its outsourcing partners.