The healthcare industry is constantly looking for ways to lessen the workload on physicians as they are often overwhelmed with excessive documentation that continually takes their time and attention from taking good care of their patients. Yet, because of the nature of their practice, they need to be accurate and effective when documenting every step of patient care.  


One of the solutions that will relieve the stress that healthcare providers and their administrative staff go through is using software that can turn their spoken words into written text. This speech-to-text technology in healthcare is used to document patient information, order tests, prescribe medications, and deliver the human touch in patient care. The good part is that it can seamlessly be integrated into their electronic health record (EHR) system. 


The speech-to-text software has been a blessing for many healthcare providers as it has been helping them simplify their medical process. These technologies handle time-consuming tasks while automating and improving processes that are prone to error when completed manually. It also eliminates mistakes that could affect the medical billing of healthcare providers. 


Continue reading as Unify Medicraft explains speech-to-text technology in healthcare, how it is used by providers to streamline clinical documentation, and its importance in the industry. Let's get into all the essential details! 

What is Speech to Text Technology in Healthcare? 


Speech-to-text technology in healthcare is simply the ability of an electronic device to understand spoken words and translate them into text. They make use of speech patterns to record notes, observations, diagnoses, and treatment plans. Its algorithms will then convert the speech into text, save it, or send it to the practice’s EHR system.  


Speech-to-text software works by recording a person’s voice with hardware and then converting the signal from analog sound waves to digital audio. The software then interprets the sound as individual words. 


This unique feature has helped healthcare providers identify Parkinson’s disease at an early stage and access health-related data digitally. 

The Documentation Problem Faced by Healthcare Provides  


Many healthcare providers face a lot of challenges with accurately documenting their patient's information and treatment process. Documenting patient records traditionally requires manually filling or writing all the information entries.  


This process has been shown for many years to be full of human error that often leads to medical billing claim denial. Let's look at some of the most common challenges faced by healthcare providers when documenting patient processes. 

Typing Errors 


According to statistics errors in patient information are commonly associated with typographical or spelling errors. Many medical staff often make mistakes when manually entering patient's information and medical records. They can also make mistakes while interpreting written doctor's notes or records.  


At the same time, they might also forget the correct information when they discover the error as they record thousands of patients' information daily. With this error, healthcare providers are prone to claim denial, wrong patient treatment or prescription, and a decline in revenue growth. 

Incomplete/ Inaccurate Documentation 


Medical staff could miss vital details about the patient's treatment journey by recording inaccurate or incomplete information. This could cause misdiagnosis, treatment, and repeated medical tests. Missing any information at any step of the patient's journey will complicate medical billing claims and insurance coverage. 

Takes More Time  


Healthcare providers have to always take time to document the interaction they have with each patient. This reduces the number of patients they have to see daily and the maximum time they can spend with them. Also, they can make many errors while in a hurry to see their next patient. 

Less Staff Burden 


The administrative staff working with healthcare providers are always working round the clock to make sure everything works smoothly. This can make them tired, stressed, and burned out easily, leading to mistakes in documentation. This process also takes the time of both staff and patients as they have to wait in line and answer multiple questions before they are able to meet their doctor. 

Lack of Standardization 


There should be a standardized step of documentation in every practice to ensure quality and accurate medical information. When these standards are not in place, it can lead to miscommunication, and disruption of workflow, increasing the possibility of errors and claim denials. 

The Benefits of Speech-to-Text Technology in Healthcare Documentation 


Efficiency in Healthcare Practice 


With speech-to-text, doctors are able to record their diagnoses, treatment plans, and prescriptions. This saves the time that doctors would have used in writing notes and manually typing their observations about each patient.  


At the same time, it allows real-time documentation without any delay, enabling doctors to attend to their next patient faster. This process increased productivity, and better time management, and allowed them to see more patients per day. 

Enhanced Accuracy and Efficiency 


One of the amazing benefits of using speech-to-text technology in healthcare is its documentation accuracy. This software ensures every medical discussion is correctly interpreted into text, ensuring faster data entry when compared to the traditional method of typing. Consequently, providing healthcare providers with time to focus on patient care instead of paperwork. 

Complete Documentation 


According to statistics, there are many misplaced notes in busy hospitals and health systems. However, the introduction of speech-to-text technology allows doctors to automatically create transcripts during each patient's appointments, ensuring medical records are complete. The text also reduces the risk of errors and the chances of missed diagnoses or poor treatment plans. 

Compliance with Regulations 


Accurate medical billing and staying compliant with industrial regulations are essential to run a successful practice. Speech-to-text ensures healthcare providers record all relevant information about their patients.  


With this, problems associated with incomplete medical records are taken away completely. Medical coders also use these texts to find diagnosis and treatment clarifications without having to contact the doctor, allowing them to meet all insurance regulations. 

Reduce Administrative Stress 


Speech-to-text technology in healthcare reduces the strain that is always on the administrative staff of the healthcare industry. Now, they do not need to constantly write down every medical record after every patient visits the doctor. This process reduces stress and leads to more positive work experience. 

Fewer Human Errors 


Speech-to-text technology in healthcare makes every documentation extremely accurate. Using them eliminates typos and inaccurate errors in medical descriptions. This creates a flexibility that the traditional documentation process can only dream of and also maximizes reimbursement. 

Improved Patient Care 


While documentation is an important process in healthcare practice, the problem most providers face is the time it takes to manually achieve the process. This prevents them from focusing on caring for their patient. Therefore, speech-to-text software makes physicians listen and connect with their patients more, leading to healthier patients and better results. 

The Bottom Line  


Healthcare providers no longer have an excuse to be using speech-to-text software as part of their technology strategies. With this software, providers are able to deliver better care for their patients than ever before. It also streamlines their documentation processes, saves time, and reduces errors while preparing for the future of digital healthcare. 


Unify Medicraft offers custom medical billing services that meet every insurance regulation and HIPAA compliance. Our software is designed to handle medical billing, supervise denials, and manage any rejections, maximizing reimbursement. With us, you get streamlined claim submission while eliminating errors.