SRT Course, Credential in the Works

AHDI is working to create an SRT/editing course, as well as a new credential.

By Sherry Doggett

Background speech recognition technology (SRT) has been touted for the past few years as the "best thing since sliced bread" for the transcription industry, but what is fact and what is fiction?

Recently, the Medical Transcription Industry Association formed a task force, headed by George Catuogno, president of Sten-Tel. When asked why the task force was created, he stated: "Originally the task force was put together to research the validity of certain claims concerning the economic benefits to consumers stemming from purported productivity gains well in excess of 100 percent. From a one-dimensional perspective, you could say these types of gains are possible. When you temper that perspective with an understanding of the impact fast production may have on quality in the presence of technology that inherently introduces some degree of errant translation, then one could argue the cost savings associated with productivity gains are overstated. At the very least, one could argue a new risk factor is introduced that must be managed, and there is likely a cost, if not risk, associated with that. Statements such as 'SRT will cut your transcription costs in half' are misleading, yet exist in the industry. Even if productivity gains of 100 percent are typical with no adverse impact to quality, there are still technology costs, that when added to production costs, do not result in a 50 percent reduction in total costs. The task force was brought together to examine these issues and dispel the misrepresentations. As we began the effort, we quickly realized there was much more than just this issue that needed to be addressed. To educate consumers, we would need collaborative effort by all stakeholders driving at corroborative perspectives." More ...