Voice recognition technology implementation in surgical pathology: advantages and limitations.

Area of Science:

• Pathology
• Medical Technology
• Health Informatics

Background:

• Voice recognition technology (VRT) has advanced significantly, making it suitable for consideration in surgical pathology.
• Traditionally, medical transcription has relied on transcriptionists, but VRT offers a modern alternative.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility and impact of transitioning from transcriptionists to VRT in surgical pathology.
• To evaluate VRT's effect on key performance indicators within a surgical pathology setting.

Main Methods:

• A phased evaluation of VRT was conducted for general and subspecialty surgical pathology case sign-out, following a pilot study.
• Key metrics analyzed included turnaround time, workflow efficiency, staffing adjustments, typographical error rates, and VRT adaptability.

Main Results:

• Stepwise VRT implementation led to real-time case sign-out and improved average turnaround time from 4 to 3 days.
• The proportion of cases signed out within 1 day increased from 22% to 37%, with decreased amendment rates for typographical errors.
• VRT facilitated the use of templates and synoptic reports, enabled staff reassignment, and positively impacted resident education through direct case sign-out involvement.

Conclusions:

• Voice recognition technology integration enables a seamless surgical pathology workflow, enhancing turnaround times.
• VRT positively impacts competency-based resident education and offers potential practice-wide benefits.
• Surgical pathology practices can evaluate and implement VRT to optimize various aspects of their operations.