“If I had to introduce Spark to a colleague, I would tell them it will become their everyday assistant, and that they will find it very hard to dictate without that assistant behind them.” This is how Arnaud Hocquelet, a radiologist in Bordeaux, sums up his experience with Doctreen Spark.
A versatile practice, high standards
A radiologist within a Bordeaux imaging group, Arnaud Hocquelet has a versatile practice: ultrasound, radiography, CT and MRI, with a strong focus on oncology and abdominal imaging.
Before adopting Spark, he tested several of the best-known report automation solutions on the market. What did they have in common? A very click-driven logic.
“They were clicking software. You had to click on what you saw and on what you didn't see. And our eyes were no longer fixed on the patient's images.”
Yet in radiology, looking away from the image comes at a cost: lost time, broken concentration and sometimes discomfort in the analysis.
Finding the right balance: voice, standardisation and safety
What the radiologist was looking for was not total automation, but a balance:
- keeping speech recognition,
- benefiting from standardisation,
- without sacrificing the safety or reproducibility of reports.
Some of the solutions tested worked properly, but without offering a sufficiently robust framework. Spark stood out on this point.
Simple installation, natural onboarding
Spark was installed in a few moments via a Chrome extension. No major change in working habits is required.
“You get the hang of it completely intuitively. It doesn't change the way we work.”
Fewer words, more medical value
One of the immediate benefits observed concerns dictation itself.
With Spark, the radiologist no longer dictates an entire “standard” report. He focuses solely on the notable findings.
“We say fewer words than we would normally dictate, because we don't have to dictate all the normal parts.”
The standard sections are already structured, always placed in the same position, with no need to activate the microphone, check spelling or make repeated corrections.
Standardisation without rigidity
Unlike fixed report templates, Spark lets you dictate in whatever order you like, with no constraint linked to how the organs are presented.
“We only dictate the notable things, in the order we want. Behind the scenes, Spark takes care of the organisation.”
The result:
- reports that are always structured in the same way,
- easier proofreading,
- clear and consistent reporting for referring physicians.
Time saved… and above all, availability
The time saving is real, but it does not necessarily translate into a higher patient volume.
“Can we see many more patients? I'm not sure. On the other hand, we can be much more attentive to every patient.”
This is where Spark really comes into its own: by reducing the amount of speech, repetitive tasks and unnecessary checks, the radiologist saves his energy for the medical analysis.
An answer to the current challenges of radiology
At a time when radiology is becoming increasingly dense and specialised, expectations are clear:
- saving time,
- strengthening safety,
- producing standardised, reliable and reproducible reports.
“Having reports that are always the same, easy to proofread, and that also reduce the amount of speech we are supposed to produce every day.”
Spark fits precisely into this approach: easing the form to focus better on the substance.
In summary
Doctreen Spark does not seek to transform the radiologist, but to assist him. A discreet, structuring assistant that fits naturally into dictation and, exam after exam, becomes a true everyday companion.
About Dr Arnaud Hocquelet
Arnaud Hocquelet is a radiologist in Bordeaux. He has a versatile practice in ultrasound, radiography, CT and MRI, with particular expertise in oncology and digestive abdominal imaging.
