Are you considering using your iPhone for medical dictation? Here are answers to the most common dictation questions for doctors who use an Apple mobile device.
What is mobile medical speech-to-text?
If you’re considering using your iPhone or iPad for medical dictation, you are looking for mobile medical speech-to-text software.
Remember that using a speech-to-text app is just one medical dictation workflow. Some providers prefer medical transcription services that rely on a scribe or off-site transcriptionist to review and edit their dictation.
Speech-to-text is the technology that automatically converts spoken language into written text. Physicians who use a speech-to-text app will see their words appear on the screen as they dictate and can edit the note immediately before saving it.
Using speech-to-text for mobile dictation can help healthcare providers eliminate hours of typing and improve documentation efficiency.
Can I use my iPhone for medical dictation?
Yes, you can use your iPhone for medical dictation. Many healthcare professionals use their iPhones to dictate clinical notes, patient information, prescriptions, and other medical documentation.
There are several HIPAA-compliant medical dictation apps for iPhone that feature specialized medical vocabularies and integrate with EMRs.
How to choose an iPhone dictation app
All leading medical dictation apps will be very accurate and include speech-recognition technology that understands medical terminology out of the box. Given this baseline, there are several factors you should consider when choosing an iPhone medical dictation app.
- Integration with EHR: Before considering a medical dictation app, confirm it will easily integrate with your EMR. Some apps like athenaOne only work with a specific EMR. Other apps like Mobius Conveyor will work with any EMR (and any software). If you work with several EMRs or dictate emails or other documents, choose software that enables you to dictate anywhere you would type.
- Ease of Use: You use an iPhone because of its intuitive user interface. Ensure the app you choose makes it simple to dictate, edit, and review transcribed text. You should be able to learn the app quickly without a hefty setup or onboarding process. Most providers prefer an app that streamlines dictation without too many additional features.
- HIPAA Compliance: Medical app developers should implement safeguards to protect PHI. Before using a medical dictation app, ask the company to confirm their software is HIPAA-compliant.
- Offline Capability: Some apps require an internet connection for transcription, while others offer offline functionality. For example, Conveyor makes it easy to record a Secure Memo and insert the transcription into the EMR when you’re back at your computer. Depending on your needs, you may prefer an app that allows you to dictate even when offline.
- User Reviews and Ratings: Check the App Store for user reviews and ratings. These can provide insights into the app’s performance, reliability, and user satisfaction. It’s also good to ask colleagues in your practice or specialty what has worked for them.
Considering the factors above will ensure your medical dictation app improves efficiency rather than hindering it. You’ll also want to consider the cost and what support is available if you have questions or encounter a bug.
Most mobile medical dictation apps use a subscription pricing model. If you’re wondering whether investing in medical dictation software for iPhone is worth it, check out this article: The impact of medical dictation on RVUs.
What’s the best medical dictation app?
While most medical dictation software is built for Windows (not Apple devices), several dictation apps will work on your iPhone. Instead of asking, “Which app is the best?” ask, “Which is the best fit for my practice?”
We believe Mobius Conveyor is the leading medical dictation app for iPhone. Conveyor stands out because of its portability, ease of use, and easy integration with any EMR. Doctors can use Conveyor to dictate anywhere they would type, inside or outside the EMR.
Conveyor is also one of the only iPhone medical dictation apps built explicitly for doctors who use iPhones and Macs. This may be why users review Mobius Conveyor so highly in the App Store.
Other popular dictation apps include PowerMic Mobile (connects to Dragon Medical), Voicebox MD, 3M Fluency Mobile, Suki AI, Deepscribe, and athenaOne (for athenaNet providers). While these products differ in important ways, each has a medical dictation app for iPhone.
Is there a free dictation app for iPhone?
Siri is an excellent speech-to-text feature that comes built-in with every iPhone. So, if you are happy with a standard (non-medical) dictation solution, you can use Siri to dictate on the iPhone.
However, Siri doesn’t enable you to use your iPhone as a microphone to dictate on a connected computer, which is many doctors’ preferred medical dictation workflow.
If you’re looking for a free medical dictation app that will work on your computer or mobile device, there are options like Google Voice typing or Speechnotes. However, these are not designed for doctors and will not have the same functionality as leading medical dictation software.
Does Dragon Medical One work on iPhone or Mac?
Dragon is a popular medical dictation software that many healthcare providers are familiar with. However, Nuance officially discontinued all Dragon for Mac sales and support in 2018. As of 2023, there is no Dragon software made specifically for Mac.
There is a workaround for iPhone users. The PowerMic Mobile app can serve as a wireless microphone to dictate at any computer workstation with Dragon Medical software installed. PowerMic mobile is similar to Mobius Conveyor in that both connect the iPhone to a paired computer for easy dictation.
Here are some things to keep in mind when comparing Dragon vs. Conveyor.
Medical dictation for iPhone
In short, a great medical dictation app can make your iPhone a powerful clinical tool. Speech-to-text technology is better than ever, making instant, accurate medical dictation possible at the point of care.
A few companies are making medical dictation apps for iPhones. Check the user reviews, ask around, and take advantage of free trial periods to see which is right for you.
