How to Use Dictation in Charts

Learn how to use the dictation feature to enter notes in charts using your microphone. This article explains how to use the dictation feature in charts to quickly and efficiently document notes using voice input. You’ll learn where dictation is available, how to enable microphone access, and how to avoid common issues when recording notes.

When to Use This

• When you want to enter notes more quickly using voice instead of typing
• When documenting chart notes during or after a patient interaction

What You Need

• A working microphone
• Browser permission to access your microphone
   

Using Dictation in Charts

Follow these steps to use dictation:

1. Open a patient chart
2. Navigate to the Notes tab (or a text field with the microphone option)
3. Click into text field

4. Click the microphone icon

    

5. If prompted, allow your browser to access your microphone

    

6. Begin speaking to dictate your notes

   • When dictation is active, the microphone icon will turn red

      

     

      

   • Your browser should also indicate that the microphone is in use

7. Wait for the dictation to finish processing your speech before clicking outside the text field

Result 

• Your spoken words are converted into text within the chart
• The dictated notes are saved in the selected text field

Avoid Common Issues

• The dictation feature will transcribe what you say
  • It is not context-aware, does not automatically apply punctuation, or recognize specialized terminology
    • For example, saying “period” will be transcribed as the word, not a punctuation mark
• Not allowing dictation to finish before clicking outside the text field
  • This may result in incomplete notes or a “dictating…” message appearing

• Not confirming that the microphone is active before speaking
   

Troubleshooting

Dictation is not working

• Ensure your browser has permission to access your microphone
• Confirm your microphone is connected and functioning
• Check that your browser indicates the microphone is in use when the icon is red
• Dictation stops if you leave the text field you are dictating in (e.g., you click a checkbox or into another field) 

Notes are incomplete

• Wait for dictation to finish processing before clicking outside the text field
   

“dictating…” appears in the chart

• This occurs when you click outside the text field before dictation is complete
• To remove it, click in front of the text and press the delete key until it disappears
   

Microphone icon is not visible

• Dictation is available in the Notes tab
• It is only supported in rich text fields, not short answer fields