Multi-cursor transcription editing

Abstract

A device, for use by a transcriptionist in a transcription editing system for editing transcriptions dictated by speakers, includes, in combination, a monitor configured to display visual text of transcribed dictations, an audio mechanism configured to cause playback of portions of an audio file associated with a dictation, and a cursor-control module coupled to the audio mechanism and to the monitor and configured to cause the monitor to display multiple cursors in the text.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]Healthcare costs in the United States account for a significant share of the GNP. The affordability of healthcare is of great concern to many Americans. Technological innovations offer an important leverage to reduce healthcare costs.[0002]Many Healthcare institutions require doctors to keep accurate and detailed records concerning diagnosis and treatment of patients. Motivation for keeping such records include government regulations (such as Medicare and Medicaid regulations), desire for the best outcome for the patient, and mitigation of liability. The records include patient notes that reflect information that a doctor or other person adds to a patient record after a given diagnosis, patient interaction, lab test or the like.[0003]Record keeping can be a time-consuming task, and the physician's time is valuable. The time required for a physician to hand-write or type patient notes can represent a significant expense. Verbal dictation of patient no...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0016]Various aspects of the invention may provide one or more of the following capabilities. The cost of medical transcription can be reduced and / or the accuracy of medical transcription increased. The expediency and turn-around time of medical transcription can be improved. Editing of transcriptions can be performed faster than with previous techniques. Transcribed text can be edited during playback of transcribed audio. Text other than that associated with audio currently being played can be edited without stopping playback of audio associated with a text document. Transcribed text can be selected and its corresponding audio played, e.g., regardless of a current portion of audio being played or having last been played. Transcriptionist productivity can be improved. Transcriptionist fatigue can be reduced.

Problems solved by technology

Record keeping can be a time-consuming task, and the physician's time is valuable.

The time required for a physician to hand-write or type patient notes can represent a significant expense.

Even at these prices, these centralized systems save healthcare institutions vast sums of money over the cost of maintaining records in a more distributed fashion.

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