Nuance’s Voice Recognition Software Saves Healthcare Time and Money

A San Diego medical group has determined that using voice recognition software has lowered costs and improved efficiency.

Rees-Stealy Medical Group adopted Nuance’s Dragon Medical voice recognition software two years ago and has since reduced operation costs by almost 90%.

Before Dragon Medical, hospital staff would spend ridiculous amounts of time and money deciphering countless medical transcriptions. However, voice recognition software has changed all of that.

Rees-Stealy Medical Group is spread across 19 locations with more than 2,000 personnel and offers primary and specialty care along with several ancillary services such as laboratory, physical therapy, radiology, pharmacy and urgent care.

Healthcare IT News reports that within 10 months of implementing the software, the group went from recording 6,182 progress notes per month to 19,020 notes. Paper chart usage declined from 102,000 per month to 4,000 per month. The group lowered transcription costs by $800,000 to $900,000 annually.

“It took me less than one-half hour from the time I first opened Dragon Medical to the time I was using it,” said Richard Gwinn, MD, director of urgent care. “It’s been a life changing application. I go home earlier. I don’t have stacks of charts on my desk and the swelling has gone down in my fingers (from typing).”

Article Topics

healthcare  |  software  |  voice biometrics  |  voice recognition