Clinicians lose countless hours every week to repetitive typing, note-taking, and navigation in electronic health records (EHRs). That’s why speech recognition software like Dragon Medical One has become an essential tool in modern medical practices.
But installing Dragon Medical One is only the first step. To truly get the most out of it, you need to learn the right voice commands—the shortcuts that cut through clicks, boost productivity, and keep your focus where it belongs: on your patients.
At The Dragon People, we specialize in Dragon Medical One support, training, and workflow optimization. We help clinicians, admins, and entire health systems unlock Dragon’s full potential. Below are the top 10 voice commands that we recommend every Dragon user master.
“Insert [Auto-Text Name]”
Auto-texts are one of Dragon Medical One’s most powerful features. These pre-written templates save time on repetitive documentation tasks like standard exam notes, discharge summaries, or prescription instructions.
Example:
- Say: “Insert normal physical exam.”
- Dragon inserts the full pre-written exam note instantly.
Pro Tip: Our training team can help you create custom auto-texts tailored to your specialty.
“Next Field” / “Previous Field”
When you use auto-text templates with variable fields (placeholders like [1], [2]), these navigation commands let you jump quickly between them.
Example:
- Say: “Next Field”
- Dragon moves your cursor to the next variable placeholder.
This eliminates the need to manually click through a document.
“Scratch That”
Everyone makes mistakes when dictating. This voice command quickly deletes your last spoken phrase—no mouse or backspace key required.
Example:
- Say: “The patient has hypertension… scratch that.”
- Dragon deletes the phrase “The patient has hypertension.”
Simple and effective.
“Correct [Word or Phrase]”
When Dragon misinterprets a word, use this to open the correction menu and choose or re-dictate the correct word. This improves accuracy over time.
Example:
- Say: “Correct hypertension.”
- Dragon displays correction options based on context.
“Select [Word or Phrase]”
Use this command to highlight a specific word or phrase so you can edit, delete, or replace it without using a mouse.
Example:
- Say: “Select left knee pain.”
- Dragon highlights the phrase so you can dictate over it.
“Go to Beginning” / “Go to End”
These navigation commands are especially useful in longer documents, allowing you to quickly jump to the start or end of the current note or field.
Example:
- Say: “Go to end.”
- Dragon places the cursor at the bottom of the document.
“Open [EHR App or Program]”
Dragon can launch your commonly used applications, including your EHR, imaging software, or even a browser.
Example:
- Say: “Open Epic.”
- Dragon launches your Epic EHR interface.
We can help you customize this functionality as part of your DMO setup.
“Transfer Text”
This is a crucial command when using the Dragon dictation box (which appears when you’re working in apps that don’t support direct dictation). After you dictate your note into the box, “Transfer Text” pastes it into the active field.
Example:
- Say: “Transfer text.”
- Dragon pastes the dictated content into the EHR.
“Create Auto-Text”
You don’t need to dive into menus to build a new auto-text template. You can do it by voice.
Example:
- Say: “Create Auto-Text.”
- Dragon walks you through naming and saving the current text as a new auto-text command.
This is especially useful for building on-the-fly templates you’ll use often.
“Microphone Off” / “Microphone On”
These basic commands give you full control of the mic without needing to click anything. If you’re pausing between patients or stepping away from your desk, it’s a fast and secure way to manage dictation.
Example:
- Say: “Microphone Off.”
- Dragon stops listening until you’re ready again.
Bonus: Specialty-Specific Voice Commands
At The Dragon People, we help clients across all specialties, from internal medicine to psychiatry, surgery, dentistry, and even veterinary medicine, build voice command libraries tailored to their needs.
If you need commands like:
- “Insert normal canine wellness exam”
- “Insert dental x-ray notes”
- “Insert SOAP template for cardiology follow-up”
We’ll help you customize Dragon Medical One to match your exact workflow and vocabulary.
Why These Commands Matter
Learning these 10 voice commands can reduce your documentation time by 25–50%, lower the risk of burnout, and allow you to see more patients or finish your day sooner. When used consistently, they turn Dragon Medical One from a good tool into an indispensable one.
But like any technology, you get out what you put in. Training, customization, and ongoing support are essential to long-term success.
Let The Dragon People Help You Get the Most from Dragon Medical One
Our team of certified experts provides:
- Hands-on training for individuals and teams
- Workflow consulting for efficiency
- Ongoing Dragon Medical One support for long-term success
- Custom command and auto-text development
Whether you’re just getting started or want to optimize your existing setup, we’re here to help.
Ready to Level Up Your Dictation?
Let us show you how Dragon Medical One can work harder for you, with the right voice commands, training, and support.