Getting the most out of voice mode

Clinical conversations happen out loud. You have to think while you speak, listen to the answer, and decide on the next question without a pause to edit. That's why voice mode is the default way to talk to patients in Sushruta.

How it works

When you start an encounter, you'll see the patient's portrait with a large microphone button underneath. Tap it to start the conversation, then speak naturally. The patient replies in their own voice in real time, and a transcript of the latest exchange appears on screen so you can keep track.

Tap the button again to end the voice session. If you'd rather type at any point, the keyboard button switches you to text mode.

Set up for a smooth session

• Use Chrome if you can. Voice mode works on any modern browser, but it works best in Chrome.
• Allow microphone access when your browser asks. Without it, the patient can't hear you.
• Find a quiet spot. Background noise and other voices can confuse the conversation.
• Headphones help. They stop the patient's voice being picked up by your microphone.
• Check your connection. Replies are generated in real time, so a stable internet connection makes a big difference.

Talk like a doctor, not like a search engine

The biggest change for most students is moving away from keyword-style questions. Instead of "chest pain duration", try what you'd actually say:

• "Hello, I'm one of the medical students. Can you tell me what's brought you in today?"
• "When did the pain first start?"
• "Has anything like this happened before?"

Ask one question at a time and give the patient room to answer. Like real patients, Sushruta patients don't always volunteer every detail, so open questions followed by focused follow-ups work best.

Use it to practise communication

Voice mode is a good place to rehearse the parts of a consultation that are easy to skip when typing:

1. Introductions and consent. Say who you are and what you're going to do.
2. Signposting. "I'd like to ask a few questions about your general health now."
3. Summarising. Read back what you've heard and ask if you've missed anything.
4. Explaining. Practise putting your diagnosis and plan into plain language.

Privacy

When you use voice mode, audio is streamed to our AI provider to generate the patient's reply in real time. We don't keep recordings of your voice. You can read more in our privacy policy.

When to switch to text

Voice isn't always practical: a noisy library, a shared room, or a patchy connection. Switching to text lets you carry on the same encounter by typing. Use voice whenever you can, though. Saying it out loud is the closest thing to the ward.