Method and system for generating a medical report and computer program product therefor

A method and a system for generating, with the assistance of a computer system(12), a medical report (18) suitable for automatic billing, wherein an electronic template (39) suited for a specific patient's condition is selected out of a plurality of given electronic templates stored in storage means (15); personal data of the specific patient's and previously stored in storage means (11) are automatically entered into the selected electronic template; and medical report text passages and instructions are entered into the selected template by dictating and using a speech recognition system (13); additionally, condition data are automatically entered on the basis of condition information as far as stored in storage means (7 ) into the selected template, and code data associated with these condition information are automatically embedded in the selected template; and when entering medical report text passages, at least one predetermined voice macro stored in storage means (16) together with code data embedded therein is called in; the code data thus embedded in the medical report (18) being applicable when coding the medical report for automatic billing.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method for generating, with the assistance of a computer system, a medical report suitable for automatic billing, said method comprising:selecting an electronic template suited for a specific patient's condition out of a plurality of given electronic templates stored in storage means;automatically entering personal data of the specific patient as previously stored in storage means, into the selected electronic template; andentering medical report text passages into the selected template by dictating and using a speech recognition system.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a system for generating a medical report suitable for automatic billing, said system comprising:storage means for storing personal data;storage means for storing condition information of patients;storage means for storing a plurality of predetermined electronic templates;means for selecting an electronic template suited for a specific patient's condition;means for automatically entering personal data of the specific patient as stored in the storage means into the selected electronic template; andmeans for entering medical report text passages into the selected template by dictating and using a speech recognition system.

Moreover, the invention concerns a computer program product comprising a computer-readable medium bearing computer executable instructions for carrying out such a method for generating a medical report.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the field of medical healthcare, it is usual to generate medical reports where a respective physician dictates the report to generate a speech file in a computer system, which speech file is then automatically converted into a text file by using a speech recognition system; the transcribed text file usually is manually corrected and checked to create the final medical report document.

After a medical report is completed, it is often necessary, or even prescribed, that the report “is coded” according to strict guidelines so that e.g. an insurance company or a government organization can be billed for payment. Each type of medical service provided, prescriptions made, referrals cited must be identified from the report text itself accordingly. The coding guidelines are strict and very complex.

Delivering quality healthcare depends on capturing accurate and timely medical data. Medical coding professionals fulfill this need as key players in the healthcare workplace.

At present, health information coding is the transformation of verbal descriptions of diseases, injuries, procedures etc., generally referred to as “condition information” in this context, into numeric or alphanumeric designations. Originally, medical coding was performed to classify mortality (cause of death) data on death certificates. However, coding is also used to classify morbidity and procedural data. The coding of health-related data permits access to medical records by diagnoses and procedures for use in clinical care, research, and education.

Since the implementation of automatic billing on the basis of coded medical reports, there has been much more emphasis placed on medical coding. Currently, reimbursement of hospital and physician claims for medicare patients depends entirely on the assignment of codes to describe diagnoses, services, and procedures provided. To overcome the problem of healthcare fraud and abuse, as the basis for reimbursement, appropriate and accurate medical coding has become crucial as healthcare providers seek to assure compliance with official coding guidelines.

There are many demands for accurately coded data from the medical record. In addition to their use on claims for reimbursement, codes are included on data sets used to evaluate the processes and outcomes of healthcare. Code data are also used internally by institutions for quality management activities, case-mix management, planning, marketing and other administrative and research activities.

Currently, the coding process is either manual, or it is done in an extra processing step semi-automatically using a text parsing tool (also using a “natural language processing” (“NLP”) or “semantic web” technology), compare for instance U.S. Pat. No. 6,915,254 B1 where a system for automatically assigning medical codes using NLP is described. Of course, manual coding is very cumbersome and lengthy and expensive, since properly trained coding personnel is very scarce. On the other hand, the text parsing system using NLP is error prone since it has to analyze human readable text, which is often vague. Additionally, it is to be considered that there is a shortage of certified medical coders in hospitals, physician practices, and other healthcare facilities. According to the United States Bureau of Labor, employment of medical record and health information technicians is expected to grow much faster than the average field.

From US 2003/0154085 A1, it is already known to use predetermined electronic templates to be filled out when generating medical reports under the assistance of computer means. In particular, a specific, suitable template apt for the specific patient and his condition is selected by the physician, and personal data of the respective patient, as name, address, age, sex etc., are automatically inserted into this template, such personal data being already available from a hospital information system (HIS). Then, the physician dictates his specific text using an interactive voice interface of the computer system, for describing a particular diagnosis, procedure, medication etc., as appropriate. This speech file is automatically converted into a text file by speech recognition.

During dictation, the system compares the speech input with predetermined terms or phrases stored in a database, to match the audio input with such terms and phrases, that is to determine whether the audio input would be apt for later automatic NLP coding; in the case of a lack of match, the physician is requested to repeat or clarify his audio input, to arrive at a match.

Apparently, also this prior art system is cumbersome, lengthy and expensive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to improve the report generation as well as the post-processing step with respect to coding the report, by using explicit information already available while creating the report using keywords.

According to a first aspect, the present invention provides a method for generating, with the assistance of a computer system, a medical report suitable for automatic billing, said method comprising:selecting an electronic template suited for a specific patient's condition out of a plurality of given electronic templates stored in storage means;automatically entering personal data of the specific patient's and previously stored in storage means into the selected electronic template; andentering medical report text passages and instructions into the selected template by dictating and using a speech recognition system;

wherein condition data on the basis of condition information as far as stored in the storage means are automatically entered into the selected template, and code data associated with these condition information are automatically embedded in the selected template; andwhen entering medical report text passages, at least one predetermined voice macro stored in storage means together with code data embedded therein called in; the code data thus embedded in the medical report being applicable when coding the medical report for automatic billing.

According to a second aspect, the invention provides a system for generating a medical report suitable for automatic billing, said system comprising:storage means for storing personal data;storage means for condition information of patients;storage means for storing a plurality of predetermined electronic templates;means for selecting an electronic template suited for a specific patient's condition;means for automatically entering personal data of a specific patient as stored in the storage means into the selected electronic template; andmeans for entering medical report text passages into the selected template by dictating and using a speech recognition system;

wherein the system further comprises means for automatically entering condition data on the basis of condition information of the specific patient as far as stored in the storage means into the selected template, and for automatically embedding code data associated with these condition information in the selected template; andstorage means for storing predetermined voice macros having code data embedded therein, at least one of said voice macros together with code data being called in when entering medical report text passages;

the code data thus embedded in the medical report being applicable when coding the medical report for automatic billing.

Then, in accordance with an third aspect of the invention, there is provided a computer program product comprising a computer-readable medium bearing computer executable instructions for carrying out the method according to the invention.

The present invention is based on the fact that the respective report generation system or tool which is used to create the electronic medical report document is usually connected to an imaging station (PACS—picture archiving and communication system) and/or the RIS/HIS system of the hospital, so that it knows what kind of image or examination or visit is being reported (i.e., for instance, ultrasound of the kidney, MRI (magnetic resonance image) of the brain, CT (computer tomography) scan of the spine etc). Also, by using the specific location in the selected template as called in for dictating, the report generation tool knows what is being dictated (for instance, discharge summary, medication / prescriptions, measurements and units and what type etc). Therefore, it is possible to combine information from the RIS/HIS/PACS about examinations, images, procedures; information from the report text (voice macro) during dictation (speech recognition) about procedure, medications, prescriptions, allergies etc., as well as about which images were relevant etc., and to embed corresponding code data immediately in the report being generated, in particular with the use of hidden tags (e.g. xml-based).

All these code data can be passed then to the post processing step for coding, without any loss of accuracy due to inference or guessing, so that the overall accuracy of the system will be improved. The information can also be fed back to the speech recognition (SR) engine to improve recognition accuracy thereof, so the benefit is in both directions.

In the post processing step, the code data embedded in the respective medical report can be checked, and if necessary, can be converted in prescribed final code data unless the embedded code data are the prescribed code data. Furthermore, in this coding step, possible ambiguities still present can be cleared automatically or manually in a manner as known per se.

However, it should be mentioned here that the present invention makes it possible to check the code data already at the side of the physician dictating the medical report; here, possible ambiguities as to the code data in the dictated medical report may be ruled out automatically by checking the patient's personal data, as for instance sex, age, and excluding code data which are not consistent with such personal data. Thus, it is possible to exclude for instance code data as to a prostate issue for a female patient, or breast cancer for a male patient. Furthermore, possible ambiguities can be ruled out by automatically checking previous condition information, for instance with respect to an earlier examination result confirming high cholesterol so that now, a specific heart condition is likely. Furthermore, the actual medical examination information as established by the physician can be used, too, to rule out possible ambiguities as to the code data; for instance it is not necessary to include neurology codes in the case that the examination refers to a chest X-ray imaging or the like.

The code data may be linked to the respective condition information, as for instance CT images, X-ray images, MRI-images and so on, already during creation of said images, or such code data can be assigned to such images at the site of the physician, when examining such images, where the code data can be assigned automatically on the basis of the type of the images, too. Then, by the use of voice macros having code data, too, embedded therein, it is possible to embed further code data in the medical report automatically by calling in or downloading such voice macros.

The code data can be embedded in the medical report with hidden tags so that, when the medical report is e.g. printed or viewed on a terminal display, only the text of the medical report can be seen whereas at the post processing step, the code data which are embedded in the medical report, and are hidden for the human eye, may be checked, or converted in the final code data, if so provided.

Thus, advantageously, a method and system as well as a computer program product for computer-aided generation of medical reports are provided which allow for automatic “coding” in a highly efficient, time-saving and accurate manner. Further the invention makes use of the given resources available in a HIS (hospital information system) or RIS (radiology information system) or the like, in a hospital's computer system, to obtain accurate code data.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1shows a schematic block diagram illustrating a system1for generating a medical report based on medical images of a patient according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. Modern medical information systems use so called picture archiving and communication systems (“PACS”) for storing, observing and analyzing images obtained in medical applications. Such a PACS2is shown inFIG. 1as a part of a computer system3, and is used with several technologies for observing the interior anatomy of a human being. Imaging systems may include X-ray equipment or radiography4, ultrasound equipment5, computer tomography equipment6and/or other imaging systems (not shown), such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), position emission tomography, mammography or endoscopy. Different images of a patient or of parts of a patient are stored in a database7as storage means of the PACS2.

Usually, the PACS2comprises a server which e.g. is connected to clients8(only one client8being shown inFIG. 1) which provide or utilize the images. The PACS2is connected to a radiology/hospital information system (RIS/HIS)9having associated therewith input means10and storage means11which contain additional information about the patients, namely, in particular personal (demographic) data, order information, exam information and the like.

A physician, particularly a radiologist D1, uses the client computer8for viewing the images of a respective patient during generation of a medical report. The author of the medical report, particularly a radiologist D1, further uses a dictation system12, e.g. a PC, a notebook, a laptop or the like computer comprising a usual speech recognition tool or system13for generation of the medical report. During generation of medical reports the radiologist D1is examining images on the screen of at least one client8of the PACS2. When dictating the medical report, the radiologist or physician D1may effect inputting of such images to his computer or dictation system12, generally entering of condition data which are received from the PACS2. Here, such condition information, in particular X-ray images, US-images, CT-images, MRI-images or the like, have already linked thereto electronic code data, and usually, such condition information together with associated code data is already stored in the storage means7. In the case that code data are still missing in connection with such condition information, it is possible to automatically assign such code data to the condition information on the client8via the computer12through a code assigning unit14(which may be part of the computer/dictation system12, too). It should be mentioned that this code assigning unit may be part of computer or dictation system12or of the client computer8, as it would be apparent to persons skilled in the art.

Furthermore, computer12is connected to storage means15having stored therein predetermined templates for respective types of medical reports, depending on the respective condition5, as well as storage means16for voice macros (text blocks) which may be used as part of the text of the medical report to be established by the physician or radiologist D1by means of the computer12. Such templates and such voice macros have been established previously, and may be selected in accordance with a respective patient and the respective condition, thus in accordance with a medical report to be generated. Accordingly, the physician D1can “trigger” the certain template, for example a template for a mammogram, and he/she can further use suited voice macros apt for this purpose. The templates have various areas or locations for the specific text and data ports, as will be explained below in more detail by way of example. The voice macros again have code data embedded therein which may be used for automatic billing, as will be explained below in more detail, too.

During dictation using the dictation system12, the speech file is automatically converted to written text by means of the speech recognition system13, and as schematically shown at17inFIG. 1, a transcriptionist may correct the report and send the report back to the author, particularly to the radiologist D1, for review. After possible corrections, the reporting radiologist D1finally signs the corrected report and the final report18is stored and delivered. A referring practitioner D2or the respective patient receives the final report18, for instance by mail, by fax, or via internet, by using a terminal being connected to the system where the final reports18are stored, e.g. the system1.

As mentioned, the final report18has to be provided with special codes e.g. for billing purposes, usually demanded by an insurance company. In general, coding can be done manually or computer-assisted in a coding system19having database means20connected thereto. Within a billing system21the invoices are generated and sent to an insurance company22, to the patient etc. The generated billing documents can be stored in a database23being connected to the billing system21.

The coding system19is often separate from the system1, but can receive the medical reports18with the code data which have already been embedded therein during generation of the report at the site12. The code data embedded in the respective medical reports may already be the final codes or code data, as prescribed, or may be temporary code data which are converted into the final codes at the coding system19, by using tables or the like stored in the database means20.

With a system as shown inFIG. 1, the following work flow when generating a medical report may be established.

At the beginning, the patient is admitted to hospital, and a patient record is created or updated using input means10to the RIS/HIS computer system9, and the respective patient's personal data are stored in database means or storage means11. Furthermore, an initial consultation or diagnosis may be carried out or established, and the results thereof are again stored in storing means11.

Then, the patient moves to the relevant department, as for instance radiology, orthopaedy or the like, and if needed for further diagnosis, the patient is sent to some imaging department, as for instance, radiology department, for producing a corresponding image. This order is again inputted to computer9and stored in database means11.

The patient is then received in the technical—radiology or the like—department, and there, the requested image (e.g. X-ray, see radiography station4; ultrasound see station5; CT, see station6, etc.) is produced, and a corresponding examination report is created. Thereafter, these examination results are designed to a specific physician, for instance the physician D1inFIG. 1, in the radiology department. There, the physician D1receives the images over the PACS system2(server) and the client8, or in film form, and he/she studies these images as well as the further information received from the RIS/HIS computer9with respect to personal data, previous condition information or the like. The physician D1then starts to read the study, and dictates the medical report to the digital dictation system or computer12comprising speech recognition. As explained, usually a transcriptionist then corrects the report and sends it back for review. The corrected report is signed by the physician D1and is delivered as final report18. The final reports18are stored in storage (database) means24which may also be a part of the hospital's database.

In the past, coding took then place after this stage in the coding system19. There were two ways to carry out the coding, namely the manual way where a coding specialist read the final report text and coded it, and the computer-assistant coding where the report text was fed to a software program which analyzed the text using complex algorithms (based on NLP, semantic nets or similar).

According to the invention, to minimize human involvements, and to make the final result more accurate, it is intended not to use just the report text for the evaluation and coding but to gather all available information possible in a previous stage, namely during the dictation of the report or still more previously. As may be seen fromFIG. 1and the description given above, there is much information already available from the beginning, when the patient is admitted to the hospital, and corresponding personal data and the like are entered in the system1, the production of images, until dictation of the medical report, and that information is available electronically in the system1.

This information first includes patient's personal data, which may be used as hints to rule out ambiguities the system may run into when assigning code data. This data can be:patient's sex (to rule out possibilities e.g. for a prostate issue for a female patient, or breast cancer for a male patient)previous conditions (it is more likely to be dealing with a heart condition if a previous condition is high cholesterol etc.)exam information: there is no need to include urology codes if the exam is of the chest or the left arm, or MRI of the brain.

More importantly, the combination of all this information can help very much;

for example; a patient is a 65 year old male with high cholesterol, and the exam is of the chest, with family history of heart issues—it is then very much likely that there is a heart condition, but no breast cancer condition.

Another source of information is the report generation tool. With the present system1, the doctor does not dictate into a clean sheet, but uses a pre-prepared suited electronic template which is selected, and uses generally automated voice macros to aid reporting.

More in detail, depending on the exam and diagnosis, the doctor can “trigger” a certain template for the report. As an example, for a mammogram, the doctor (or the system, depending on configuration) can generate a report template (outline) that looks like this:

All the doctor has to do is to dictate between the brackets, [. . . ]. Here, he may use voice macros to fill in the text between the brackets.

From the report template, and also from the voice macros, the system knows when the doctor is dictating a previous condition (if he is dictating under “previous history”) or when he is prescribing medication (if he is dictating under “medications”). The main diagnosis is most likely under the section “impression” or “findings”.

All this information is available to the report generation tool, which also knows when a specific section of the report begins and ends.

In addition, another source of information is, with almost negligible effort in configuration, to “embed” explicit coding information in the voice macros the doctor is using. For example, if the code for a category-2 breast exam is XYZ0000142, with a recommended follow-up exam coded XYZ000144, and a prescribed medicine YYYY with code XYT0000454-->, this code information can be embedded explicitly to the voice macro with a hidden tag (xml-based) and can be made available without parsing or any other algorithms.

This way of processing is also illustrated in the schematic illustration ofFIG. 2where different areas or stations31,32and33(31—HIS/RIS/PACS;32—report generation;33—coding station) or shown. For instance,FIG. 2shows at block34that patient data are entered or updated in the HIS/RIS computer9by using imputing means10and are available thereafter in the system1, that is, corresponding demographic infos, as name, sex, age, as well as previous info, as exams, conditions, diagnosis, medications, are stored then in storage means11, and may be read out from there.

It should be mentioned that general storage means are possible which may comprise at least the storage means11and7, preferably also storage means15and16, as mentioned above in connection withFIG. 1. Furthermore, initial consultation is done at the side of the HIS/RIS computer9, and the result is entered using imputing means10; and is stored in storage means11.

Then, the processing steps at a special center follow, e.g. in the radiology department or the like as illustrated, and procedure details as well as detailed diagnosis data and images are stored in storing means7, compare blocks35,36inFIG. 2.

During production of images, preferably, the respective code data are directly assigned.

Finally, block37refers to previous examination information as may be gathered again from storing means11through computer9.

At station32ofFIG. 2, the medical report is generated, as is schematically illustrated at block38. Here, the personal or demographic data of the patient are downloaded, and the necessary data are automatically filled in, as far as necessary, in a specific template49which has been selected from the plurality of electronic templates as stored in storage at database means15inFIG. 1. Furthermore, image information as received from blocks35,36, in particular, in combination with code data already assigned thereto, are transmitted to the client8, and, as far as necessary, are transmitted to the computer12of the physician D1, so that the necessary data can be filled in into the selected template49, too.

Moreover, previous exam information as taken at37may be used, too, to fill in the selected template39. Then, as far as still necessary, text is dictated by the physician D1thereby using one or more voice macros as stored in storage (database) means16. Also here, code data embedded in the voice macros are, additionally, transferred to the selected template39, and are embedded therein with hidden tags.

Accordingly, the medical report as generated now already includes all or almost all necessary codes which are used later for billing purposes or the like. The codes can be final codes, as mentioned above, which allow direct use when billing the care done in the hospital. As an alternative, the code data embedded in the final medical report18may be temporary code data.

At station33, final coding is then performed by using the prescribed codes, e.g. as stored in database means20, e.g. in tables so that specific code can be assigned to temporary code data embedded in medical report18.

InFIG. 3, a general flow chart is shown to illustrate the process of generating a medical report, beginning with the arrival of a patient at the hospital or a care center, compare block41inFIG. 4. According to block42, it is then checked whether the patient is a new patient, that is whether there are new personal data to be inputted with respect to this patient (path “Y”), or whether the patient is an already registered patient, and no amendment of personal data is necessary (path “N”). In the latter case, the patient is sent to the place for carrying out initial consultation etc., compare block43inFIG. 4. This initial consultation etc. includes for instance general medical condition determination, question of complaints, establishment of clinical statements and initial diagnosis etc. In the case that the patient is a new patient, or that the personal data are to be amended, such personal data (name, address, sex, age etc.) are inputted, or amended, according to block44inFIG. 3.

After initial consultation according to block43, the patient is referred to a specific department, for instance to the radiology department of the hospital, according to block45. According to block46, it is checked whether it is necessary to obtain an image (X-ray, ultrasound, MRI etc.) for further diagnosis, and if yes, such image is taken according to block47by the respective modality, and this image is stored s. block48inFIG. 3. The RIS computer9(FIG. 1) then assigns the exam result (image, finding etc.) to the specialist, e.g. a radiologist, who reads this information or generally who examines the patient, according to block49, the latter also in the case that no imaging was necessary.

Thereafter, the physician dictates his report, thereby using the information already available in the system, as explained above. During this generation of the report, according to block50inFIG. 3, the physician follows a selected one of the available templates, wherein the selected template depends on the modality, diagnosis, image type etc.

This selection of a specific template is shown inFIG. 4at block501. In detail, thisFIG. 4shows the generation of the medical report, as referred to with block50inFIG. 3in more detail. In particular, after selection of the specific template at block501, it is referred to entering of personal data, of image information and of voice macros, the two latter data entries in combination with automatic insertion of code data, by block502. It is to be noted here that in the electronic templates, the most important sections are marked clearly in accordance with a reporting solution, for instance as follows:

complaints

clinical statement

history

comparison

procedure details

technique

medications

In addition to the template, the radiologist also uses pre-filled text blocks (voice macros) that can contain e.g. the following information (auto-texts):

Thereafter, it is questioned according to block503ofFIG. 4whether there are ambiguities in code data, and if yes, it is, according to block504, checked whether on the basis of the personal data as inputted before, such ambiguities can be ruled out. For instance, taking the sex of the patient into consideration, a number of conditions (e.g. prostate cancer . . . ) can be excluded a priori so that perhaps possible ambiguities could be removed on the basis thereof. After this check of block504, it is again checked whether there is still an ambiguity given, see block505inFIG. 4, and if so, then it is tried whether it is possible to delete such ambiguity—according to block506in FIG.4—on the basis of a previous condition which could make it more likely than a specific actual condition and, accordingly, a specific code is true, whereas another code can then be discarded as less likely.

Then again, a check with respect to the presence of ambiguities is carried out at block507, and if there is still an ambiguity, then the actual medical examination information is checked in an attempt to exclude a less likely code which would not be consistent with this actual medical exam, compare block508inFIG. 4.

Thereafter, again with reference toFIG. 3, the dictated medical report is transcribed and corrected according to block51, and the final medical report is signed by the physician according to block52. The final report18(s.FIG. 1) is then ready for final coding processing, as described above.

The coding system19then uses all code information included in the medical reports18, and if there are still ambiguities, these are identified and marked distinctly of clarification. A coding suggestion is made with varying certainties (x % likelihood) which can, for example, be color coded (e.g. green-likely; orange: medium etc.).

For instance, a medical report18generated in the manner as described above may have the following form:

GETWELLMEMORIALHOSPITAL_____________________________DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING500 W. Maple Maple Ave. Sometown, NY 12345-4423555-1212-3434   Fax: 123-345-5678ORD PHY: John V. SmithDOB: May 30, 1943   AGE: 62   GENDER: FOrdering Diagnosis: SCREENING MAMMOCI #: 563134Patient Name: Muster, MariaSCREENING MAMMOGRAMS Jun 15, 2005 [C1]CLINICAL HISTORY: 62-year old for a follow up screening procedure.COMPARISON: None.FINDINGS: Fibroglandular changes demonstrated of both breasts. The breast parenchy-malpattern is irregular with areas of asymmetry in the left breast. Comparison with previousfilms is strongly recommended. [C2]There are benign calcifications present in the right breast. The overlying skin and nippleregions are unremarkable.IMPRESSION: Category 0 mammogram-Need additional imaging evaluation. [C3]Robert M. Jones, MDMT: ahD: Jun. 15, 2005 5:29:38 PMReport ID: 12806Note:Further correlation by means of physical exam is recommended since some cancers may be obscured by dense fibrocystic changes and occasionally can be missed on fatty infiltrated breasts. [C4]

With [C1], hidden tags linked to embedded code data are referred to in the above example.

It should be noted that there is a number of modifications of the system and method as explained above. For instance, a hospital's computer system1may comprise all elements2to16ofFIG. 1, and in fact also elements19,20,21and23. As an alternative, a hospital's computer system may comprise only the elements2to7and9,10,11, and the physician's system12to16, together with a client system8, may be present at another location, and may be connected to the hospital system via internet, or another network known in the art as LAN, WLAN or the like. The same applies with respect to the system for transcription and correction of the medical reports. In particular, it is of course possible that speech recognition takes place at a different place to which speech files are transmitted, in particular in digital form, for instance again via intranet or the like network. Furthermore, as already mentioned above, it is possible to immediately assign code data to the respective images or condition information, as taken; and however, it is also possible to assign such code data only at the place of the physician D1when calling in such condition information (for instance X-ray images) and viewing such condition information which may comprise a specific, individual identification which can be the basis for codes. Then, such code data can again automatically be assigned to this respective code information, compare the unit14inFIG. 1.