Twenty years ago, Linda Manderfeld moved a single typewriter into a closet that she used as office space and started Lee-Perfect Transcribing Company, Inc. Today, the business that she established as a way to earn extra money to support her son has become a well-respected national company employing more than 200 medical transcriptionists.
“I started the business out of need,” explained Manderfeld, who was widowed not long after her son was born. “I was working full-time, but it wasnt enough, so I started doing transcription services for my husbands oncologist. I just kept getting busier and busier.”
Today, Lee-Perfect has clients in almost all 50 states, and serves more than 1,500 physicians in practices ranging from solo practitioners to huge hospital systems. “There is no practice too small,” said Manderfeld , who added that medical transcription is the companys primary focus. “If they only dictate one note per week, thats fine. We still make them a priority.”
Larger clients include hospitals that may provide up to six million lines of transcription per year, as well as non-medical clients such as advertising agencies, telecommunications companies, authors, law firms, insurance companies, market research firms and hotels requiring conference transcription. “We transcribe anything,” said Manderfeld of her staff, who work out of the business corporate headquarters in Chicago, as well from offices in Indiana, and from homes throughout the U.S.
Clients can choose from a range of transcription services, as well as have Lee-Perfect customize a program for their business. Traditional services include the use of cassette recorders which are then mailed or couriered to Lee-Perfect where they are transcribed, printed and returned to the client by courier or via a secure Internet site. Digital Dial-In services allow a client to log into a Dictaphone system over a phone line, and then access the completed transcription over a secure FTP server. Internet-based services enable clients to use a handheld digital recorder that once docked, uploads dictation to Lee-Perfect. The finished document can be viewed, edited, printed and electronically signed on-line through the use of a Web browser.
“Some clients call us and ask if we can get them up and running by the end of the day, and we can, if they are looking for one of the more simple solutions, such as the use of an FTP server,” said Manderfeld. “Some of the more sophisticated systems may take a little longer to set up.”
When a client requests an Internet-based installation, for example, Lee-Perfect staff goes to the clients office and not only installs the software, but trains the client on its use. “Our motto is service isnt everythingits the only thing,” said Manderfeld of the state-certified woman-owned business. “While most companies will provide phone support after an install, well actually fly to the clients business and stay there until they are familiar with the technology and comfortable with the system. Its unusual, but were all about service.”
Manderfeld has also established a Quality Assurance Area within the business that reviews all transcriptions before they are sent to guarantee that clients are receiving the best possible product. In order to ensure that the work is done well, Manderfeld requires transcriptionists to have a minimum of three years of medical transcription experience in acute care, and to pass an exam before being considered for a job.
“One of the most important aspects of this business is hiring competent staff,” said Manderfeld, who adds that all transcription is done in the U.S. “I want to continue to grow and to move into other states, but I want to do it slowly, making sure that the staff I hire will continue to provide clients with the highest quality transcription services.”
