Even with advanced SR systems, physicians spend more time dictating reports using SR than they did with traditional transcription. The resulting cost savings reaped by the institution benefit radiologists only indirectly, if at all. The savings come from having radiologists do all the functions required to dictate and edit reports. Once speech recognition systems are installed, the transcribers are usually let go or reassigned, so the institutions are no longer paying them. The controversy is over whose money it is saving.
Radiologists are angry because they are being asked to do extra tasks.
But for many departments, SR is the key to making the most of limited resources and staying competitive. Three years ago, Weiss began tracking the concerns cited by referring physicians about the services received from Chestnut Hill's four radiologists. These included delays in receiving radiology reports and problems with accessing patient films of the 400 exams done daily. We installed voice recognition, and our turnaround time evaporated. A year ago, we installed PACS and, after everyone got used to it, the concerns about film loss evaporated as well.