Word Recognition Software Use In A Busy Orthopaedic Practice

For the past 3 years, our orthopaedic office has used word recognition programs to expedite medical record reporting, operative dictation, and letter writing. The use of these programs has resulted in cost savings, increased efficiency, and an improvement in the quality and the thoroughness of our medical records. The methods whereby we were able to incorporate a word recognition program into our operative dictations and our office notes are discussed and explained. Advantages and disadvantages of different programs were evaluated and discussed. We have been able to use word recognition programs in the daily function of our orthopaedic office although not without some difficulties. These programs have resulted in cost savings and time savings and provided medicolegal protection because of the thoroughness of the documentation. The use of templates allows efficiency comparable with conventional dictation. Word recognition programs can be used effectively in busy orthopaedic offices when combined with note templates.