Speech Recognition Enhances Mobility

We’ve noticed an interesting trend lately as hospital call centers have increasingly come to us to replace their legacy operator console systems. Many want to add superior speech recognition to their communications platform. This technology has come a long way.

Doctors, specialists, nurses and other members of their care teams truly recognize the value of being able to reach each other quickly, no matter where they are. Just think—mobile caregivers might not have everyone’s contact info and preferences in their heads or in their contact lists, so the ability to call into the on-call directory, tell the system a name or department, then quickly get connected, can help make these busy people’s lives “hands-free” and “hassle-free.”

A cardiologist can call the hospital from her office, a clinic, or even from her car, ask for a colleague by name and within seconds—without involving the call-center staff—reach the patient’s on-duty nurse, a specialist, or their GP. The nurse can reach any doctor or their on-call back-up without searching. He or she can just call the speech system, ask for the doctor or specialty and the speech engine quickly makes the connection.

These are great new use cases. Let us know how you’re using speech technology in your hospital. What successes and challenges have you experienced?