CSC (NYSE: CSC) announced that the Zealand Region in Denmark has become the first health authority in the country to implement CSC's OPUS Speech Recognition solution. This solution will enable healthcare professionals working within the region's 10 hospitals to transition from dictating notes on tape for transcription, to a system that automatically transcribes the notes directly into a patient's electronic medical record (EMR).
This real-time method of updating patient EMR's improves treatment and care by ensuring clinical decisions are always based on electronic records that are as accurate and up-to-date as possible. It also relieves busy hospitals of the time-consuming alternative of manual transcription and the risk of inaccuracies.
The integration between OPUS and the speech recognition software is based on the component SpeechEditor from the Danish subcontractor, Max Manus - the Scandinavian partner of the American speech recognition specialists Nuance.
As part of the deployment, Max Manus will ensure that healthcare professionals receive specialised training which takes two hours. Thereafter, the system, based on software developed by Nuance, continues to learn and become increasingly attuned to recognise precisely each individual's voice. The technology has the capacity to work with regional variations in accent but in this instance requires clinicians to speak Danish.
The system works by clinical staff entering a unique security password which provides access to the patient's electronic record. As clinicians verbally update the record, notes are automatically transcribed and can be read back once completed. This prompts approval so the patient record can be updated, saved and stored.
OPUS Speech Recognition works seamlessly with existing standards for electronic records so a patient's centrally stored medical record (held in this case within the Zealand region) can be updated and approved by trained healthcare professional. This information can be shared with each of the other four healthcare regions across Denmark.
"As we continue to enhance the solution with new features, we are optimistic that the benefits OPUS Speech Recognition delivers to Zealand will encourage other healthcare providers in Denmark and internationally to adopt the system," said Freddy Lykke, managing director of the CSC Healthcare Solution Centre. "For instance, one of these enhancements includes adding voice navigation which means that clinicians no longer have to navigate records through clicks on a mouse, but rather through voice commands alone."
"Having accurate, up-to-date patient records is critical for improving patient safety and the quality of care and as this technology works instantly, it can help to ensure this process. We are also confident that this new solution will ease the administrative burden on the region's healthcare clerical teams," Lykke added. "And in a commitment to providing the highest possible standards for the client, CSC will consistently measure the efficiencies provided by the new system to ensure it meets or exceeds expectations outlined in the contract."
The system is currently being trialled in four departments within separate hospitals in the Zealand region. Further roll-out will then begin at a rate of four departments per month. The project is due to be completed by the end of 2011.
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About CSC
CSC is a global leader in providing technology-enabled solutions and services through three primary lines of business. These include Business Solutions and Services, the Managed Services Sector and the North American Public Sector. CSC's advanced capabilities include system design and integration, information technology and business process outsourcing, applications software development, Web and application hosting, mission support and management consulting. Headquartered in Falls Church, Va., CSC has approximately 95,000 employees and reported revenue of $16.2 billion for the 12 months ended July 2, 2010. For more information, visit the Company's website at www.csc.com.
About CSC Healthcare Solution Centre
Spearheading the development of its product range is the CSC Solution Centre based in Aarhus, Denmark, where the healthcare sector has one of the most advanced IT systems in the world. With a track record, since 1972, of pioneering the development of healthcare IT solutions, the Solution Centre is helping to drive CSC's commitment and ability to deliver patient centric systems and services for healthcare providers throughout all European countries and beyond. Its strength is based on its mix of highly-trained IT experts as well as personnel with healthcare and clinical experience.
About Max Manus
Max Manus A/S is the leading supplier of speech recognition technology in Scandinavia. Max Manus A/S is part of the Max Manus Group, which during the years has delivered solution to more than 8000 users.