Less Clicking. Faster Sign-Out. Smarter Pathology: Inside LigoLab’s New Speech-to-Text Integration

Pathologists are highly trained specialists whose time is best spent interpreting complex cases, not navigating menus, clicking between fields, or retyping repetitive diagnostic language. Yet for many pathology practices, even modern digital workflows still rely heavily on keyboards, mouse clicks, and fragmented dictation tools that sit outside the laboratory information system (LIS software).

With the recent release of its new speech-to-text integration, LigoLab is taking a meaningful step toward reducing that friction. By embedding AI-powered dictation and voice command functionality directly into its laboratory information system software, LigoLab is enabling pathologists to work more naturally, sign out cases faster, and apply their expertise with fewer interruptions.

This is not a dictation application bolted onto the side of the LIS system platform. It’s speech-to-text and voice navigation designed to enhance and streamline pathology lab management.

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Moving Beyond Standalone Dictation Tools

Historically, many pathology practices have relied on third-party voice dictation software that operates separately from their lab information system. While functional, these tools often require workarounds, copying and pasting text, switching applications, or relying on rigid macros that don’t adapt to real-world workflows.

LigoLab has long supported limited third-party dictation compatibility. But with this latest release, the enterprise LIS company has gone further by directly integrating with a speech-to-text service provider and embedding the capability into key LIS pathology workflows.

“We didn’t want dictation to feel like an add-on,” said Allison Still, LIS System Product Manager at LigoLab. “The goal was to make speech-to-text feel like a natural extension of how pathologists already work inside the system.”

The result is a tightly integrated experience that supports both free dictation and voice-driven automation, without forcing users to leave LigoLab’s LIS environment.

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Where Speech-to-Text Lives Inside the Laboratory Information System

The new speech-to-text functionality is currently available mainly in two high-impact areas of LigoLab’s all-in-one LIS system and laboratory billing software platform:

• Microscopic Result Manager
• Grossing Touchscreen

These are environments where pathologists and lab staff spend significant time documenting findings, navigating case details, and finalizing reports. Embedding voice capabilities here delivers immediate, practical value.

Once enabled by a simple user permission and paired with a configured microphone, users see new on-screen controls: a microphone icon for dictation and a command button for voice navigation. From there, the LIS pathology solution supports both speech-to-text transcription and voice commands.

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Real-World Examples: How Pathologists Use It

The most compelling part of LigoLab’s speech-to-text integration is how it works in practice.

Dictate Directly Into Result Fields

Pathologists can click the microphone icon and dictate directly into structured fields such as Final Diagnosis. The lab information system converts speech to text in real time, allowing users to stay focused on the case instead of the keyboard.

This supports:

• Free dictation for nuanced diagnostic language
• Macro-based dictation for commonly used diagnoses and standardized phrasing

For example, a configured macro for a specific diagnosis can be triggered by voice, instantly inserting a complete, standardized diagnosis without manual entry.

Navigate the LIS With Voice Commands

Beyond dictation, the LIS system includes a command mode that enables users to navigate screens and trigger actions using their voice.

Example commands include:

• “Go to grossing.”
• “Go to billing.”
• “Go to results.”
• “Change specimen”
• “Release report.”

These commands enable pathologists to move through the laboratory information system software without breaking concentration. In the broader application, voice commands can even be used to navigate between modules such as Result Search or Remote Orders.

“Reducing clicks isn’t just about convenience,” Still explained. “It’s about preserving cognitive focus. When pathologists don’t have to constantly shift between tools, they can sign out cases more efficiently and with greater consistency.”

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Designed for Flexibility, Not Lock-In

Under the hood, LigoLab’s speech-to-text integration is powered by a speech recognition engine selected for its technical performance and accuracy in complex, domain-specific environments.

Importantly, the architecture reflects a strategic design choice. As Suren Avunjian, CEO of LigoLab, emphasized, the company intentionally adopted a service-provider integration model rather than hard-coding a single voice engine.

“This approach gives us flexibility,” Avunjian said. “As speech recognition technology evolves, we can integrate with more advanced engines without disrupting our customers’ workflows.”

Currently, the speech-to-text processing is cloud-based, making secure web calls for transcription. Future enhancements are already in development.

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What’s Coming Next

LigoLab views this release as a foundation, not a finish line. Planned enhancements include:

• Hands-free ‘wake’ and ‘sleep’ activation, allowing pathologists to dictate without clicking a button.
• User-configurable custom voice commands, tailored to individual preferences or subspecialties.
• Expanded text-processing commands for easy editing of dictated text.

Together, these improvements will further reduce friction and support truly hands-free LIS system interaction.

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Why This Matters for Pathology Practices

At a time when pathology practices face increasing case volumes, workforce constraints, and pressure to improve turnaround times, efficiency gains matter. But not all efficiency is created equal.

By embedding AI-powered speech-to-text and voice navigation directly into the LIS, LigoLab is addressing efficiency at its source: how pathologists actually work.

The impact includes:

• Faster case sign-out
• Fewer clicks and context switches
• Better use of standardized macros
• Reduced documentation fatigue
• A more intuitive, modern diagnostic workflow

Most importantly, it allows pathologists to spend more time applying their expertise and less time attempting to successfully operate between multiple systems.

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A Smarter LIS for the Next Era of Pathology

LigoLab’s speech-to-text integration is a clear example of how an advanced LIS software can evolve beyond data management into true workflow enablement. By combining AI-driven dictation, voice commands, and deep workflow integration, the platform continues to push pathology informatics toward a more natural, efficient, and scalable future.

As Avunjian summed it up:

“The overriding objective is to remove friction from the diagnostic process. When advanced technology enhances workflows and removes bottlenecks, pathologists can do their best work, and that benefits everyone.”

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