Speech recognition systems. Are they up to the task?

Abstract

Clinical speech recognition systems record speech input from a physician and translate the acoustic data into text output that forms the basis of medical reports. These reports can then be edited by physicians either during or after dictation. Speech recognition systems have received a lot of attention as potential time-savers. But when we looked at four of these systems, we found their accuracy to be low enough that it will take most physicians 20% to 30% more time to produce a report than is required using traditional transcription methods. Even so, these systems offer enough benefits that you should at least investigate their use. For one thing, they're considerably less expensive than using a transcription service. For another, despite the additional physician time required, a report can be turned around far more quickly than with transcription--a matter of hours rather than days. With proper planning, most facilities should be able to implement these systems successfully.