Ketchum and The Beryl Companies Use Advanced Speech Recognition Technology

DALLAS, TX - Ketchum and The Beryl Companies are partnering to provide medical information to individuals living with diabetes across America. With headquarters in New York City, Ketchum's Washington, D.C., office is working with the Beryl Companies of Dallas to help those suffering from diabetes receive the information they need, including access to certified endocrinologists in their own community. The public awareness program is being sponsored by AACE - American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists. Responding to national radio and print public service announcements developed by Ketchum, callers dial 1-866-ENDO HELP to find an endocrinologist in their neighborhood, receive information on AACE or request information on diabetes. The technology driving the program is Advanced Speech Recognition, developed and offered by Beryl. Speech recognition allows callers to use their own voice to answer questions and request a referral or additional information. Speech recognition technology recognizes what the caller says in English or Spanish and translates it into a written format from which AACE officials can respond appropriately. "Advanced Speech Recognition is a very sophisticated technology allowing AACE to reach a limitless number of people in a highly engaging, efficient and cost-effective manner," says Barry Spiegelman, chief customer officer for Beryl. "On the backend, we then work with Ketchum to provide AACE with real-time campaign statistics and caller data in a dashboard format at a secure Web site built by Beryl. This allows them to track the effectiveness of our combined efforts. Speech Recognition is part of our commitment to use smart technology to make the healthcare system work better for consumers." While currently geared towards those diagnosed with diabetes, there is the potential of expanding this public service program to other endocrine disorders that are of concern to AACE, including osteoporosis and thyroid and lipid disorders. Founded in 1991, the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists is a professional medical organization devoted to the enhancement of the practice of clinical endocrinology. All 4,000 members of AACE are physicians with special education, training and interest in the practice of clinical endocrinology. These physicians devote a significant part of their career to the evaluation and management of patients with endocrine disorders.