Multi-Layer Clinical Documentation Interface for Audio-Report Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current automated clinical documentation systems face challenges in efficiently processing and navigating audio encounter information to generate accurate medical reports, particularly in integrating audio signals, transcripts, and medical reports, which hinders the accuracy and efficiency of clinical documentation.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method that processes audio encounter information by generating a user interface with multiple layers, allowing navigation through audio signals, transcripts, and medical reports using peripheral devices, enabling selection and annotation of portions for review and editing, thereby synchronizing audio playback with report editing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If automated clinical documentation systems process audio encounter information to generate medical reports, then productivity is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to difficulty in accurately mapping audio segments to transcript and report portions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclinical documentation efficiencyVSAvoidaudio-transcript-report alignment accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the audio encounter information into discrete segments and creates multiple navigable layers (audio layer, transcript layer, report layer), allowing reviewers to examine and align specific portions of each layer independently. This segmentation enables precise mapping between audio segments and their corresponding transcript and report portions while maintaining high productivity through automated processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Measurement precision

If multiple layers of audio encounter information are integrated for review, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to the need for multi-layer navigation and synchronization

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedocumentation accuracyVSAvoidmulti-layer interface complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges audio signals, transcripts, and medical reports into a single integrated user interface with multiple synchronized layers. This consolidation allows reviewers to navigate and review all layers simultaneously through a unified interface, improving measurement precision through comprehensive information access while avoiding the complexity of multiple separate systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an automated reviewer as an intermediary component that facilitates navigation and synchronization between the multiple layers. The automated reviewer processes user inputs and coordinates the display and playback across audio, transcript, and report layers, simplifying the interaction model and reducing the perceived complexity for end users.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If manual review of audio and transcripts is performed, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time increases due to the lengthy review process

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereview accuracyVSAvoidreview duration

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary automated processing of audio encounter information to generate transcripts and draft medical reports before the manual review stage. This preliminary action prepares the materials in advance with proper segmentation and alignment, allowing reviewers to focus on verification and correction rather than initial processing, thereby improving measurement precision while reducing review duration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables continuous navigation and playback across the multiple layers during the review process. Reviewers can seamlessly move between audio segments, corresponding transcript portions, and report sections without interruption, maintaining a continuous workflow that improves review accuracy while minimizing idle time and reducing overall review duration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS12176080B2System and method for review of automated clinical documentation from recorded audio

Publication Date: 2024.12.24 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

A method, computer program product, and computing system for obtaining, by a computing device, encounter information of a patient encounter, wherein the encounter information may include audio encounter information obtained from at least a first encounter participant. The audio encounter information obtained from at least the first encounter participant may be processed. A user interface may be generated displaying a plurality of layers associated with the audio encounter information obtained from at least the first encounter participant. A user input may be received from a peripheral device to navigate through each of the plurality of layers associated with the audio encounter information displayed on the user interface.