Starting something new takes a little adjustment. These five tips are drawn from what our most successful users do in their first month - the habits and settings that make the biggest difference to note quality and time saved.
Tip 1: Use an external microphone
The single biggest factor in note quality is audio clarity. Built-in laptop and desktop microphones are designed for video calls, not multi-person consultations - they struggle to pick up a patient sitting across the room.
We recommend the Audio-Technica ATR4697 - an omnidirectional USB microphone that picks up clearly from all directions, including when a patient is on the examination bed.
If you can't source that exact model, look for any long-range omnidirectional USB microphone.
Tip 2: Customise your note template early
Lyrebird's default templates (SOAP, Chief Complaint, Multiple Complaints) are a good starting point - but the sooner you customise them to match your note taking style, the less editing you'll do after each consult.
Spend 15 minutes in your first week going through the Customise tab. Adjust the sections, add your preferred headings, and set your common word substitutions using Replace Forever.
The more your template reflects how you already write, the less post-consult editing you'll need to do!
Don't be afraid to reach out to our support team for assistance! The team can be contacted using the live chat widget in the bottom right of the Lyrebird website, or you can email the team on [email protected]
Tip 3: Speak naturally - don't change how you consult
Lyrebird is designed to listen to natural conversation. You do not need to speak slower than usual, change your terminology, or avoid abbreviations. Consult exactly as you normally would with your patient.
If you find yourself narrating or speaking differently, stop - that's not necessary and usually produces worse notes than a natural conversation.
TIP: If there's information you want in the note but don't want to say in front of the patient, type it into the Notepad during the consult. Lyrebird will include it in the generated note.
Tip 4: Review and edit in Lyrebird before saving to your EMR
Always review the generated note in Lyrebird before pushing it to your EMR or copying it across. This takes less than 60 seconds for most consults and is the right moment to:
Correct any mishearing of names or medications
Remove anything picked up from background conversation
Add anything not captured
Over time, as you refine your templates and use Replace Forever for common corrections, your review time will reduce further.
Tip 5: Use "Initial Consult" vs "Review Consult" correctly
When starting a consult, Lyrebird asks you to select either Initial Consult or Review Consult - this changes how the AI weights information.
If you use one consult type more often than another, you can change the default mode in Customise > General > Default consult type.
Consult type | When to use it |
Initial Consult | New problem, new patient, or any time you want a full history captured |
Review Consult | Follow-up for an existing problem — Lyrebird focuses on changes since the last visit |
Using Initial Consult for patients in for follow-up may produce a note that is longer than necessary.
Using Review Consult for a new problem may miss important history.
Selecting the right type each time makes a noticeable difference to note quality.
Join the Community + Bonus Tip
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At Lyrebird, we listen to your feedback and continuously work to create a product you’ll love. Our primary communication platform is WhatsApp, where we share updates and stay connected with our users.
✨ Bonus Tip
Chances are, you work in a clinic where your colleagues are likely experiencing the same burden of documentation. Creating an organisation in Lyrebird provides some added benefits; manage billing in one place, sharing templates between one another and admin access controls.