| Often when someone is interested in becoming a | | | | can it catch dictation errors when, for example, |
| medical transcriptionist they are curious about | | | | the wrong dosage is dictated for a medication. |
| what the future of medical transcription is going | | | | Most hospitals and large transcription companies |
| to be. They want to be sure, understandably, that | | | | that use SRT have simply transitioned their |
| there is a solid future awaiting them in this field. | | | | medical transcriptionists over to being MT editors. |
| Their main concern usually involves Speech (or | | | | This recently happened to me, and I have to say |
| Voice) Recognition Technology (SRT). | | | | I really enjoy editing work! It is fast, it is |
| There are two main types of voice recognition: | | | | interesting, it is varied, and there is always at |
| Front-end voice recognition and back-end voice | | | | least one good laugh each day. Today I really |
| recognition. In both cases the doctors are dictating | | | | appreciated the software turning the patient's |
| into a microphone fed into a computer. The | | | | name into a medical condition. It was quite |
| "microphone" could be their PDA (personal digital | | | | hilarious! |
| assistant), a telephone, or an actual microphone at | | | | Many MTs actually would rather do editing work, |
| a computer station. The computer then converts | | | | as it can be much easier physically (especially on |
| their spoken words into written words and stores | | | | the wrists) to listen and correct a report than to |
| them in an electronic document. | | | | listen and type every word spoken. |
| With front-end voice recognition, the doctor | | | | The wonderful news for the person investigating |
| knows that this is being done and is able to see | | | | becoming a medical transcriptionist is that the |
| the report being transcribed by the computer. | | | | training is still the same. You still need to know the |
| She can edit and sign the report without it being | | | | basic medical terminology, pharmaceutical terms, |
| seen by an MT if she wants to have it processed | | | | and speed techniques, because they will all still be |
| that way (few do!). A second option is for her to | | | | involved should you end up doing editing work |
| be able look at the report but then have an MT | | | | rather than straight transcription. The other thing |
| edit it before she signs off on it. | | | | you should know is that it is very, very rare for |
| With back-end voice recognition, the doctor often | | | | anyone to ever do 100% editing work. Even the |
| isn't aware the software is in place. It is invisible to | | | | best back-end voice recognition software |
| him. He will speak into a microphone like he always | | | | packages for physicians are only able to |
| has, never knowing that the computer is turning | | | | accurately transcribe 70% to 80% of the voices |
| his spoken words into written ones. These | | | | in any given system. A lot of doctors simply |
| reports are then sent to an MT for editing | | | | move around their text too much and are far too |
| purposes and then they are returned to the | | | | disorganized in their transcription style to even |
| doctor for his signature. | | | | begin to allow SRT to create a semi-decent |
| Software in this field is advancing rapidly, but for | | | | report! |
| the most part it is still unable to handle the wide | | | | In summary, the smart, educated, well-equipped |
| variety of doctors' accents combined with the | | | | medical transcriptionist rarely has a hard time |
| extensive medical vocabulary they use. In addition, | | | | finding a good position. The future of medical |
| SRT does not correct typographical errors, nor | | | | transcription is still very bright! |