Managing Audio Recording Errors in DigitalTCO

In rare instances, you might encounter errors in your audio recording, such as repetitive text or error messages during transcription. These issues are often caused by two key factors:

1. Loss of Audio Signal – A brief loss of audio connection can disrupt transcription and create errors in the text. This can also occur if you are playing the radio through the browser as well as running DigitalTCO.
2. Extended Silence – When there’s a long silence (typically longer than two minutes), the AI struggles to process the audio accurately. Currently, the AI is highly efficient at translating speech into text, but it’s so tuned to do this that extended silence can cause it to misinterpret or even disrupt the entire transcription.

This is a known AI hallucination, and I’m actively working on a fix. Meanwhile, here’s how to handle these situations and avoid potential disruptions:

Steps to Minimize Errors During Appointments

To ensure smooth transcription during appointments, follow these best practices:

1. Start Speaking Right Away

   When starting the recording, speak immediately. Avoid pressing “Record” and then waiting before speaking. Even a simple statement like, “Patient Jimmy, beginning examination,” is helpful.

2. Pause During Extended Silences

   If you’re going to have extended silence (e.g., during X-rays or other procedures), pause the recording instead of letting it run silently. Resuming the recording when you’re ready to speak again prevents long silences from disrupting transcription.

3. Nurse Support for Pausing and Resuming

   You may ask your nurse to handle pausing and resuming the recording during the appointment. Before an extended period of silence, instruct them to pause, then resume when the conversation with the patient picks up again.

What to Do If an Error Occurs

If an error message appears or if the transcript has repeated text due to a silence or lost audio signal, here’s what to do:

1. Check if You Saved the Audio

   If you’ve saved the audio file, I can often retrieve the missing sections for you. Just reach out with the time of the appointment in question, and I’ll work to recover the audio data.

2. When the Audio Isn’t Saved

   If you opted not to save the audio, unfortunately, I won’t be able to retrieve the missing text. You may need to re-dictate the affected sections after the fact.

Future Fixes

I’m currently working on a fix to handle long silences without disrupting transcription quality. In the meantime, these steps will help ensure the smoothest experience with DigitalTCO’s transcription feature.

Thank you for your patience, and please know that I’m committed to resolving this for an even more seamless experience. If you have any issues or need help with an error, just reach out—I’m here to support you.