foreground_speech_recognition

Laval, September 1, 2006 - Crescendo today announces the launch of front-end speech recognition as a module of its MD Center-XL application. "Foreground speech recognition is an invaluable alternative to transcription or back-end speech recognition in environments where a high level of "normal" reports, short dictations and form fill dictation typically occurs - i.e.: Radiology, Pathology, ER," explains Costa Mandilaras, President, Crescendo Systems Corporation. "It is also ideal on week-end and night shifts, when the transcription department is off."

With the launch of this foreground module, MD Center-XL now allows physicians to oversee the entire documentation workflow, from dictation and correction to sign-off and final report distribution, using one single interface.

Front-end recognition workflow
When a doctor dictates, corresponding text is produced automatically as they speak. Once the dictation is complete, they can use voice commands to navigate, edit, format, spell, play, fast forward, rewind, select and sign-off the report without using the mouse or keyboard. Personal voice glossaries can be created for word expansion to further accelerate the correction process. The saved voice glossary expansion can support any formatting, including numbering, attributes and positioning.

Automatic template fill-in further shortens the entire report creation process to a few clicks or voice commands. When a doctor creates a new dictation, the system creates the database record, recalls the template, populates the demographics and displays information on the screen in less than second; the system then populates the database record accordingly. This feature is particularly useful for "normal findings" and is configurable by work type.

Front-end or back-end?
"The ability for users to use any mode (back-end or front-end speech recognition) with one license is unique to Crescendo," highlights Costa Mandilaras. "It allows healthcare facilities to leave their document creation options open: switching from back-end to front-end recognition may compensate for transcription resource shortage or periodic peaks of activity. A facility may also decide that short reports can be reviewed by Authors in foreground mode, while more complex and detailed work can be routed to transcription for correction as a standard or on the fly."

Speech recognition modes supported by Crescendo
1. Front-end speech recognition	In this mode, the Author is in charge of the correction process.
1.1. Visual mode	Text is produced on screen in real-time while the Author dictate
1.2. Non-visual mode	Dictation results are processed on the local computer and hidden, displayed on the screen only once the dictation is complete.
2. Back-end speech recognition	This mode is entirely transparent to Authors, who may not even be aware that speech recognition technology is being used. Once the Author has finished dictating, recognized text is produced in the background and sent to the Transcriptionist for correction.

Authors can switch from front-end to back-end mode while logged in, so users don't have to exit the application and log on again. If they lack time or are interrupted in the middle of the correction process, they can save ongoing work for later completion or simply decide to send the report to transcription. Authors can sign off the report using the same application once the correction phase is complete. Finally, even once a job has been sent off to transcription, it is still possible to edit it using voice commands.

Report distribution
Automatic and predefined distribution occurs after the report has been signed off, and is configurable by work type, author, department and facility. "MD Center-XL thereby allows authors to gain complete control over the entire report creation process through one single application," notes Costa Mandilaras.

A true enterprise solution
"Like all Crescendo products, MD Center-XL is designed as a true enterprise solution and thereby meets the needs of the entire facility/firm as opposed to one department," insists Costa Mandilaras. "This results in significant cost savings while enabling patient/client data to be delivered wherever and whenever it is needed." And like all Crescendo products, the front-end speech recognition module supports the Citrix Presentation Server^TM 3.0 and higher and thin-client terminals such as Wyse Windows Terminals.

About Crescendo
From digital dictation and speech recognition (powered by SpeechMagic^TM) to transcription and report distribution, Crescendo develops systems that enable the fast, cost-effective creation and management of medical documentation. As a pioneer in open standard technology and an international HL7 member since 1990's, Crescendo has allowed over 2,000 single and multi-site healthcare installations to achieve the cross-system integrations that are so critical to the quality of patient care. http://www.crescendo.com/  

Press contact
Claire Betis, Marketing Manager
1800 724 2930