| Gone are the days when the medical industry is | | | | that is able to generate reports using templates |
| bugged by the usually tedious and winding practice | | | | and macros in an effort to make the long |
| of documentation. WNL or within normal limits that | | | | process efficient and to reduce recognition errors. |
| are scribbled across chart entries could bid | | | | Voice recognition technology could effectively |
| farewell. Transcription voice recognition has | | | | make the keyboard and the mouse less needed. |
| emerged as a promising technology used for | | | | This is because such software products usually |
| documenting numerous clinical encounters. The | | | | are able to directly convert dictated voice |
| technology is not actually new; in fact, it has been | | | | recordings into text format, which is more useful |
| around since the 1980s. But it is now that the | | | | in medical documentation. Some transcription |
| medical transcription technology is getting more | | | | software are more sophisticated, while others still |
| popular. | | | | need human input as to assure overall reliability |
| In the past, computer-based transcription had | | | | and accuracy of data inputs. |
| been thought of often in the context of futuristic | | | | Voice recognition in medical transcriptions could be |
| science fiction. It had been thought that the | | | | a solution to the usual medical transcription |
| potential technology could facilitate conversation | | | | conundrum. It could be useful as well in small |
| between robots, computers, and their human | | | | practices even if there is a relatively small report |
| masters. Fast forward to reality and the | | | | volume. Of course, in the bigger settings, |
| technology could predate development of digital | | | | transcription technology could be more useful and |
| computer. The past half a century has witnessed | | | | reliable as it could surely make transcription jobs |
| significant developments in the areas of general | | | | easier, faster, and more accurate. |
| vocabulary size, accuracy, integration with | | | | Yes, it is true that investing in transcription |
| telephony, and ability to manage natural language | | | | technology in medical transcribing could be costly. |
| versus single word recognition. | | | | But it surely is one major investment that could |
| For medical transcription purposes, the most | | | | be helpful and advantageous in the long run. |
| significant advances in transcription voice | | | | Medical practitioners would surely appreciate the |
| recognition technology have been revolving around | | | | help and major benefits that the use of the |
| availability of large vocabulary, affordable, and | | | | technology could bring about. One-time costs could |
| natural language recognition system. Needless to | | | | be offset in the long run by overall cost savings. |
| say, the technology's most common incarnation is | | | | It is time medical and healthcare facilities invest in |
| a local computer-based voice-recognizing engine | | | | voice transcription technology. |