Is AI Set to Replace Traditional Medical Transcription?

In healthcare, ongoing technological advancements and growing knowledge continuously reshape the environment. For many healthcare professionals, getting used to one system or tool only means that a new version is on the horizon. Over the last decade, few areas have demonstrated this constant change more than medical note-taking and transcription. From human scribes to virtual assistants, dictation devices, and speech-to-text software, easing the burden of medical documentation can often feel like a never-ending pursuit. Each new solution promises improvement, but these promises are often unfulfilled. Since the introduction of HITECH and Meaningful Use in 2010, medical transcription has been a widely trusted method for managing the administrative workload. But in a world of fast-evolving technology, is traditional medical transcription still viable? Will it eventually disappear?

The short answer is no, but not in the way you might think.

There are two perspectives to consider when looking at medical transcription as a documentation tool. On one hand, there’s the traditional method that relies on human transcriptionists. On the other hand, there’s a modern approach that uses technology, like AI and speech-to-text systems. To predict the future of medical transcription, it’s important to explore both these options.

Traditional Medical Transcription

The most common use of medical transcription involves dictating notes. As mentioned, this method relies on third-party transcriptionists who turn recorded dictations from healthcare providers into written documents, which are later added to a patient’s medical record. This practice has been in use for many years and was highly effective until about a decade ago. However, with the changing demands for documentation and the shift in how health records are maintained, traditional transcription no longer meets the needs of clinicians managing high patient volumes. Why? Because of issues like documentation quality, time delays, cost, security risks, and efficiency. Traditional transcription simply cannot handle the pace of modern clinical work.

These challenges have led to a noticeable decline in the use of medical transcription, with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasting a 7% drop in transcription jobs over the next eight years — a significant decrease compared to a decade ago. So, will traditional medical transcription disappear? Yes. It may not be immediate, but in its current form, it can't keep up with today’s healthcare needs. However, the process of medical transcription is not disappearing; rather, it is changing.

The Speech-to-Text Future: Is AI Set to Replace Traditional Medical Transcription

While traditional medical transcription is losing ground, significant advancements in technology are improving the documentation process. Today, many emerging companies are using AI and speech-to-text tools to automatically transcribe clinical speech by analyzing recorded or live dictations. With these automated tools, clinicians can complete their notes faster, more accurately, and at a lower cost than with traditional transcription methods.

Yet, these solutions don’t fully resolve the documentation challenge. They effectively transcribe speech, but they don’t address the broader needs of the documentation process. Not because they are poor tools, but because they don’t provide a comprehensive solution.

As the question whether technology will take over the medical transcription gains wait, we at SOAPsuds, are  reshaping the role of traditional medical transcriptionists  and aiming to create a better documentation solution which automates routine tasks during a clinical visit and allows clinicians to focus on delivering quality care to patients.

Keeping up with Technology: How SOAPsuds Works? 

Our SOAPsuds app listens in on natural conversations between you and your patient, transcribing in real-time through speech-to-text. After the visit, our AI reviews the transcription and extracts relevant medical information, classifying it into a standard note, complete with billing codes, and uploads it directly into your system — all while being fully HIPAA-compliant.

Imagine if you had three extra hours each day. What would that mean for you? Would you spend more time with patients, family, or even take care of yourself? Or perhaps you’d rest easy, knowing your documentation is easier? That’s what some of our partners experience every day.

At SOAPsuds, we are focused not just on simplifying your note-taking, but on bringing the joy of care back to medicine. We aim to free you from the burden of documentation and allow you to focus on what truly matters: patient care.

Contact us today to learn how SOAPsuds can help bring joy back to your practice.