Starting Your Recording
When you're ready to begin, click the "Start transcribing"button in the session header. PatientNotes will begin capturing audio and transcribing in real-time.
Keyboard Shortcut
Recording Controls
During recording, you have access to several controls in the session header:
Recording Indicator
A pulsing red indicator shows that recording is active. You'll also see a timer showing how long you've been recording.
Pause Button
Temporarily pause recording during interruptions. Click again to resume. All audio stays in one session.
Stop Button
End the recording session. Once stopped, you can review the transcript and generate notes.
Getting the Best Audio Quality
Transcription accuracy depends heavily on audio quality. Follow these tips for the best results:
Microphone Placement
Position your microphone where it can pick up both you and the patient. For laptops, place the device between you or use an external mic.
Minimize Background Noise
Close doors and windows, turn off fans or noisy equipment. Background noise reduces transcription accuracy.
Speak at Normal Pace
There's no need to speak slowly or enunciate unusually. Natural conversational speech works best.
Recommended Microphones
While built-in laptop mics work, external microphones provide better quality:
USB Desk Microphones
Ideal for office settings. Place on your desk between you and the patient.
Headsets with Mic
Good for telehealth. Captures your voice clearly; may need adjustment to pick up patient audio.
Lavalier Microphones
Clip-on mics that work well in larger rooms or when moving around.
Conference Microphones
Omnidirectional mics designed for capturing multiple speakers in a room.
During the Visit
Once recording, conduct your visit as you normally would. PatientNotes is designed to capture natural medical conversations.
What Gets Captured
PatientNotes intelligently identifies and captures:
- Chief complaint and history of present illness
- Past medical, surgical, family, and social history
- Review of systems
- Physical examination findings you verbalize
- Assessment and differential diagnosis
- Treatment plan and recommendations
- Patient education and counseling
Natural Conversation
Tips for Better Accuracy
- State findings clearly: When performing a physical exam, verbalize your findings ("Lungs clear to auscultation bilaterally").
- Clarify medications: Spell out medication names or dosages if they're unusual or could be misheard.
- Summarize at the end: A brief summary of your assessment and plan helps ensure key points are captured.
Handling Interruptions
Patient encounters don't always go smoothly. Here's how to handle common interruptions:
Phone Calls
Pause the recording before taking a call. This keeps unrelated conversations out of your transcript and protects other patients' privacy.
Staff Interruptions
Brief interruptions are fine—PatientNotes handles them gracefully. For longer interruptions, consider pausing.
Patient Steps Out
Pause while the patient is out of the room. Resume when they return to continue the encounter in one session.
Technical Issues
If you lose internet connection, audio is saved locally and will sync when reconnected. Don't worry about brief network issues.
Recording Telehealth Visits
PatientNotes works great for telehealth. Here are some tips for virtual visits:
- Use a headset: Headsets with microphones typically provide the best audio for both speaking and capturing the patient's audio.
- Check audio routing: Make sure your system audio is being captured. Test with a short recording before your first patient.
- Close unnecessary apps: Other applications can interfere with audio capture or cause performance issues.
- Good lighting: While PatientNotes captures audio, good video helps you observe the patient for your assessment.
Testing Setup
Stopping the Recording
When your visit is complete, click the Stop button to end the recording. The transcription will finalize, and you'll be ready to review and generate notes.
After stopping:
- The full transcript appears in the Transcript tab
- You can review and edit the transcript if needed
- Switch to the Notes tab to generate your clinical note
- The session is automatically saved to your history
Next Steps
Now that your visit is recorded, learn how PatientNotes transcribes your conversation with speaker identification.