Decision-makers in many professional fields, including healthcare, are still leery of voice technology despite vast improvements in recognition accuracy. The renewed desire to lower operating costs has inspired facilities and organizations to take another look at voice-based options. Some hospitals have reported significant benefits from implementing the new technology.
Digital Dictation Dominates
Dictation software is by far the most established and well-documented form of voice technology in the healthcare sector. Two large urban hospitals share their quantifiable results:
- According to Healthcare IT News, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center saved $1.5 million in 2008 by using by using digital dictation software instead of a traditional transcription service. Total savings since deployment are estimated at $5 million.
- Children’s Hospital Boston reports similar success (also via Healthcare IT News). After implementing digital transcription, the hospital has seen a 50% increase in productivity, measured as the rate at which medical reports are produced.