The more documents you dictate or transcribe, the more wild and bizarre transcription bloopers you get to see. With voice recognition (VR) programs being used more and more, some of the blunders are exceptionally creative. Whether caused by background noise, inattention to context, poor training, a lack of editing, poor dictating or machine machinations, they’re definitely amusing. Unless of course, you’re the one who transcribed the document, or you’re the physician who signed the report before you noticed the blunder.
Where we know, we’ve indicated human (H) or voice recognition (VR) blunders. And for some of them, your guess in interpreting the correct transcription is as good as ours.
And if you’ve got some of your own blunders that you’d like to share, please send them in. We’ll post again when we have a new list. Enjoy!
| Human / VR | Transcribed as… | Should have been… |
| H | He was given a free tenement here… | He was given a Fleets enema here… |
| H | Patient was told to continue his Bactrim and Catholics | … Bactrim and Keflex |
| H | On my arrival to the ICU, I found the patient to be an extremist | … I found the patient to be in extremis |
| H | Cancer of the breath | … breast |
| H | The patient is to take her medication with her foot. | … food |
| H | Paint and frame valley | Patent foramen ovale |
| IMPRESSION: Outsiders dementia. | IMPRESSION: Alzheimer’s dementia | |
| ALLERGIES: She notes that Coding causes hives. | ALLERGIES: She notes that codeine causes hives. | |
| VR | sixty-five roses | cystic fibrosis |
| The patient was a fat boy | … was afebrile | |
| VR | The patient expresses hope. He is future oriented. He is thinking about his job and his co-workers and his “spry lady.” | … and his sobriety. |
| The patient is still on __love often___ to maintain blood pressure | Levophed | |
| VR | The patient underwent Pack-N-Play removal. | The patient had packing removal. |
| Bill sounds awful. | Bowel sounds audible | |
| H | She has had no previous episodes since this. | Actually what the tired physician dictated. |
| H | The patient has a respiratory infection, and he was given a six-pack. | … given a Z-PACK |
| supple frazzle | omeprazole | |
| H | She is also increasing the brain in her diet | No-brainer – bran |
| H | Tuesday, parasites, and Saturdays | |
| Happy Larry carcinoma | papillary carcinoma | |
| drooling stand | drug-eluting stent | |
| syrupy uncle | cerebral peduncle | |
| History of hospitalization due to old woman status secondary to urinary tract infection. | …. ? | |
| PLAN: For All-Bran earlier better air. Chest rolls. | ||
| H | Ultrasound more fees sign | Murphy’s sign |
| VR | Trial of “praises ascend!” | Trial of prazosin |
| VR | Patient was receiving chemotherapy with five a few infusions… | Patient was receiving chemotherapy with 5 fluorouracil (commonly known as 5-FU) |
| H | Follow the eyes and nose | CHF patient, “follow the I/O’s” (for fluids in and out) |
| The patient is to keep me posted about the post-orgasmic pain and whether it responds to treatment with the Lord. | We don’t really know what was said… | |
| SPARQ conference was held with the patient via a nipple lesion interpreter. | …via a Nepalese interpreter! | |
| Has cafeterias of fall colitis. | Has scattered areas of folliculitis. | |
| H | The patient attempted to commit suicide by bride jumping | … bridge jumping |
| B12 1 cc i am given. | B12 1 cc IM given | |
| VR | He has erectile dysfunction. See Alice has not been working for him. | Cialis |
| VR | She had a baby on a big glass of orange juice. | … a bagel and a big glass of orange juice |
| VR | Family history is positive for an ass. | … positive for MS. |
| VR | The patient will be set up for blood pressure recheck. Dr Y snores. | The patient will be set up for blood pressure recheck by Dr. Y’s nurse |
| An email of chronic disease. | Anemia of chronic disease. | |
| H | The patients neuropathy was due to perennial plastic syndrome | … due to paraneoplastic syndrome |
2Ascribe Inc. is a medical transcription agency located in Toronto, Ontario Canada, providing medical transcription services to physicians, clinics and healthcare providers across Canada. Our medical transcription services include referral letters, patient notes, as well as independent medical examinations (IMEs) for Ontario as well as all other provinces across Canada. As a service to our clients and the healthcare industry, 2Ascribe offers articles of interest to medical professionals and office staff, as well as of general interest. Established in 2002, 2Ascribe offers quality medical transcription, rapid turnaround (including STAT and same day) and excellent customer service. For more information on our medical transcription services please contact us at info@2ascribe.com or 1-866-503-4003.
