TMMT
09-28-09, 20:01
Vallejo Police Outsource Report Writing
Police department in cash-strapped Bay Area city has third-party firm taking down notes
Vallejo, which went bankrupt after revenue proved less than costs for the Police and Fire departments as well as other city services, might just be able to save a little money.
The Police Department is now using a transcription service based in Tennessee, Nashville-McLintock Transcription and Consulting Services, to write up police reports.
The reports are dictated into a digital audio file, then sent via a secure connection to Nashville-McClintock, where retired law-enforcement officials write them up.
The practice is less expensive than hiring new personnel, and possibly elicits more details from officers who might otherwise be brief if doing the typing themselves.
The drawbacks, however, include both security and privacy issues.
The University of California at San Francisco learned that the hard way when a transcriptionist in Pakistan threatened to release confidential patient records in order to force an employer to make good on wages.
Besides rogue transcriptionists, the secure connection could be compromised and an unscrupulous third-party contractor could sub-contract the work to a cheaper, and less experienced outfit.
But at least department morale should get a boost, since nobody likes typing.
Jackson West really hopes witness statements, victim details and other confidential information doesn't go walkabout.
http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local-beat/Vallejo-Police-Outsource-Report-Writing-jw-62428102.html
Police department in cash-strapped Bay Area city has third-party firm taking down notes
Vallejo, which went bankrupt after revenue proved less than costs for the Police and Fire departments as well as other city services, might just be able to save a little money.
The Police Department is now using a transcription service based in Tennessee, Nashville-McLintock Transcription and Consulting Services, to write up police reports.
The reports are dictated into a digital audio file, then sent via a secure connection to Nashville-McClintock, where retired law-enforcement officials write them up.
The practice is less expensive than hiring new personnel, and possibly elicits more details from officers who might otherwise be brief if doing the typing themselves.
The drawbacks, however, include both security and privacy issues.
The University of California at San Francisco learned that the hard way when a transcriptionist in Pakistan threatened to release confidential patient records in order to force an employer to make good on wages.
Besides rogue transcriptionists, the secure connection could be compromised and an unscrupulous third-party contractor could sub-contract the work to a cheaper, and less experienced outfit.
But at least department morale should get a boost, since nobody likes typing.
Jackson West really hopes witness statements, victim details and other confidential information doesn't go walkabout.
http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local-beat/Vallejo-Police-Outsource-Report-Writing-jw-62428102.html