The Utility and Cost Effectiveness of Voice Recognition Technology in Surgical Pathology

Abstract

Voice recognition (VR) technology in computer systems converts speech directly into electronic text. In pathology, VR holds promise to improve efficiency and to reduce transcription delays and costs. We investigated the utility and cost effectiveness of targeted VR deployment in surgical pathology. A VR system was deployed for entry of gross descriptions of biopsies and of low to moderate complexity specimens and for entry of final reports for specimens not requiring microscopic analysis. Templates for VR were developed for all reports. Free-text speech entry was used to enter information not covered by templates. Voice converted to text by VR crossed over an interface into the anatomic pathology laboratory information system. Tallies were kept of whether individual specimens were entered by VR or by conventional dictation. Pathology reports consist of observations and interpretations recorded as words and numbers in electronic and paper form. A transcription step is typically necessary for dictated observations and diagnoses to be typed as text into an anatomic pathology laboratory information system (APLIS), from which reports are produced. Voice recognition (VR) technology in computer systems offers the capability to convert human speech directly into electronic text.In VR systems, a microphone converts human speech into an analog electrical signal that an electronic circuit board within a computer then converts to a digital signal (1-3). Speech recognition engine software then uses acoustic, language, and vocabulary models as well as complex statistical algorithms to transform the digital signal into words and punctuation marks. Language and vocabulary models specific to pathology have been developed and are available in commercially available VR systems. Such pathology-specific language models and vocabulary models improve the accuracy of word recognition and word prediction in the context of the language used pathology reports. Earlier generations of VR systems were termed "discrete" because the speaker had to separate each word by a short pause. VR systems now available allow "continuous" voice recognition in which a speaker may speak more naturally without pausing between each word.In surgical pathology, voice recognition (VR) technology holds promise to improve efficiency of workflow and to reduce transcription delays and costs. Dictation in pathology that a VR system converts directly into electronic text does not require transcription into the APLIS if the VR system is either interfaced to or integrated as part of the

Use of Voice Recognition Software in an Outpatient Pediatric Specialty Practice

“…Most successful implementations have been performed in radiology or emergency services. [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] The primary reason for this observation seems to be the fact that, within these 2 medical specialties, there are several highly repetitive phrases that can be well understood by the computer. This is not the case in pediatric subspecialty practices.…”

Review of health information technology usability study methodologies

“…For example, although helpful for medication management,18 barcode systems do not support free text to allow the entry of rich clinical data (change in task). In addition, speech recognition systems work well when vocabularies are limited and dictation tasks are performed in isolated, dedicated workspaces, such as radiology or pathology,19 but are much less suitable in noisy public spaces, where performance is poor and the confidentiality of patient health information is threatened (change in environment). Tablet personal computers are generally accepted by physicians; however, their weight and fragility reduce acceptability by nurses (change in user) 20…”

Voice Recognition Technology Implementation in Surgical Pathology: Advantages and Limitations

“…[2][3][4][5][6][7] However, there have been only a few studies comparing the use of voice recognition software with transcription services for surgical pathology. A study from the Cleveland Clinic 8 (Cleveland, Ohio) in 2002 reported the potential financial benefits and its experience with the implementation of VRT into surgical pathology. In 2003, a group in Ontario 1 reported that VRT had a lower accuracy and required more editing time than use of their human transcription service.…”