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How Speech Recognition Keeps Workers with Repetitive Stress Injuries (RSI) Productive and On the JobDragon® NaturallySpeaking® from Nuance

• Computer use is a major cause of musculoskeletal disorders (MSD), including Repetitive Stress Injuries (RSIs)

• Injuries result from strain and damage to muscles, tendons, ligaments and nerves in fingers, hands, wrists, and arms

• Recovery times can be long and, even with surgery, symptoms often recur

• In severe cases patients can face permanent disability

RSI: A Painful Reality for Computer Users

One study in the Journal of the American Medical Association showed 57% of patients reported a return of some repetitive stress symptoms after returning to work.

RSI: Serious Business Implications

• MSDs accounted for 30% of all workplace injuries requiring time away from work1

• Carpal tunnel syndrome, a common RSI, required an average of 28 days away from work1

• Medical costs and loss of productivity from RSIs are estimated at $50 billion annually2

1 Bureau of Labor Statistics, March 20092 U.S. National Academy of Sciences

Bottom Line Impact: Direct Costs

• MSD–related claims account for $1 out of every $3 spent on workers’ compensation

• The Government can save an average of $27,700 for each severe MSD prevented

• Conservative estimates of the economic burden imposed by MSDs are between $45 and $54 billion annually

Bottom Line Impact: Indirect Costs

• Lost time from work

• Decreased productivity

• Increased health insurance costs

• Low employee morale

It’s a Compliance Issue, Too

• Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits employers from discriminating against qualified individuals with disabilities

• Employers must consider if qualified individuals could perform essential job junctions with a reasonable accommodation

• Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act requires that companies give disabled workers equal access to information

What’s the Solution?

What can your agency do to ensure compliance and alleviate the impact of RSIs on workplace productivity and reduce costs?

• Keep workers with RSI on the job

Speech Recognition: The Productive Alternative

• Reduce cost by reducing RSI- related injuries

• Create documents, email, spreadsheets by voice

• Control your computer and navigate applications using speech instead of hands

The ABCs of Speech Recognition

Dragon Dictation is Fast

• Dictate documents 3x faster than typing

• Create electronic documents at speeds of up to 160 words per minute

• Talk to your computer and words instantly appear in most Windows-based applications as well as case and practice management systems

But is it Accurate?

• Dictate and automatically transcribe documents, emails, spreadsheets, and more

• Customize Dragon vocabulary with unique terminology, acronyms, or proper names

• Improve accuracy by deleting vocabulary entries that could cause acoustic ambiguity

Dragon is up to 99% accurate!

Dragon: More than Just Dictation

• Completely control your PC with your voice

• Navigate applications, manage email, and work on the web by voice

• Trigger multiple tasks via a single voice command.

• Insert commonly used boilerplate text or graphics automatically

• Comply with ADA and Section 508 requirements

Implementing a Speech Recognition Program

• Purchase Dragon for a few individuals and assess the productivity benefits

• Form a cross-functional committee with representatives from HR, IT, and contracting

• Study speech recognition software, conduct a needs assessment, and implement a pilot program

• Evaluate as part of overall ergonomics, RSI prevention, and ADA compliance strategies

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Demonstrating a Cost Savings

• Dragon delivers improved productivity and cost reduction almost immediately by helping to prevent RSI and keeping RSI sufferers productive and healthy on the job

• Consider customization, training, and support

• Eliminates potentially significant personnel-related costs• Estimated annual cost of noncompliance with ADA in computer

operations

• Cost of computer-related RSI and similar insurance claims

• Estimated annual loss of personnel productivity from RSI

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Thank You!

For more information, download our complimentary white paper, From RSI to ROI at www.nuance.com/naturallyspeaking