Transforming Accessibility in Healthcare:The Role of Speech-To-Text in Virtual Consultations

Abstract—Manual transcription and traditional medical documentation and communication methods are time-consuming and error-prone. This work discuss the role of AI-powered (Artificial Intelligence) Speech-to-Text (STT) technology to improve the accuracy, efficiency, and accessibility of virtual consultations. Based on transformer-based architecture and multi-task learning, STT can convert STT almost in real-time with very low latency, which lightens the burden on healthcare professionals and enhances patient engagement. Additionally, self-supervised pre-training allows for improved adaptability across various languages and dialects, thereby making telemedicine more accessible. Experimental results demonstrate substantial advancements in both transcription accuracy and consultation efficiency, establishing STT as a transformative technology within the realm of digital healthcare.