Audacity DVR - In Conclusion
This the final day of my week long look at Audacity. The possibilities are endless. I have not even covered the add on applications that further expand its capabilities. However, one of the things that is brought into focus in the manual and on their web site is the incredible usefulness of Audacity to those in the medical profession. Indeed, I would not be surprised to find out that Palm has helped to save some lives through the numerous medical programs available for use on the Palm. To be able to manage patient records and information quickly and efficiently gives doctors more time to focus on other things - possibly life saving things.
There is also an AudioMail perfect for Treo phone users. You may not consider that voice recording is more immediate than voice menus and having to deal with spotty reception. There is no dialing and the compression of the file makes it easy on cellular networks. I love voice recorders and I love the Palm and this is a perfect combination that doesn’t require me to get a stand alone device. I can record calls, make voice memos that hotsync, send voice emails, and create a virtual voice diary. I can also use it’s database features for some yet to be discovered GTD actions as well. The following is a glimpse of an actual situation taken from the manual.
The Professional Web Edition is an extension of the Professional Version and is sold as an enterprise solution. It is positioned as a component of a more comprehensive web-based medical records solution.
The typical hospital or clinic stores patient and other vital information in a computerized database system. The doctors and other hospital staff have controlled access to this information. A secure web server is the ideal access method because it is universal and becoming increasingly sophisticated. The doctors and other hospital staff can access this data via a web browser from most computers and laptops as well as from PDA’s (and associated wireless networks), cell phones, and other specialty appliances.
A doctor using a Palm Tungsten / C and the Palm Web Browser application can access the hospital database and view patient information including pictures, x-rays, etc. The web page contains a ‘dictation’ button. When the doctor clicks it, the patient demographics are pulled into the Audacity Professional Web Edition and the doctor is ready to record. Up to three fields, including the patient name may be displayed on the record screen. The doctor completes the recording. When finished, he taps the send button. The file is wirelessly transmitted to the LAM computer and on to the transcriber’s workstation, anyplace in the world. The demographics are embedded in the AWI (information) file. When the transcriber opens the file, the demographics are inserted as text. Meanwhile the doctor, having completed the patient recording, hits the return key and is returned to his original position on the web site, ready to proceed with the next patient.
This technology smoothly integrates the dictation into the doctor’s workflow. Access to patient information is readily available from anywhere (Wi-Fi access point required). It happens equally well from the hospital, from the doctor’s office, from home, or from the golf course. It is easy; the doctor doesn’t need to concern himself with the demographics. Errors are almost nonexistent. The patients name is displayed at all times on the record screen. The same information is automatically transported and displayed on the file text. Time is saved, errors are reduced, and access is universal. It is the ideal solution.
