A call for real-time captioning in the OR

Editor's Note

To overcome communication challenges in the OR such as excessive noise, congestion, and universal masking that impair verbal and nonverbal communication, one expert recommended real-time captioning technology be used, according to an advanced publication article published in the February 2026 issue of The American Journal of Surgery.

In the article the expert suggested surgical societies, hospital systems, and device manufacturers leverage captioning technologies in several ways. One approach could be to pilot captioning technologies in robotic and hybrid ORs to evaluate the impact of captioning technologies on team communication, safety, and education.

He said accessible communication as it relates to workforce disparities remains under-addressed in the operating room. For example, support for team members who are deaf or hard of hearing is lacking, an issue that is becoming more relevant as the workforce ages. He further argued that a one-size-fits-all approach is incompatible with surgical excellence and suggested that the development of ergonomic consoles for robotic systems is one example of inclusive design that could influence a move toward inclusive communication in the OR.

Strategies defined in the article for inclusive OR communication  support tailored multimodal, and redundant approaches that combine:

*Audio support in the form of standardized closed-loop commands, and assistive listening
*Visual support with real-time captioning and on-screen prompts
*Tactile cues with haptic alerts such as a vibration or pulse