# Transcription Options

Ped-AI currently supports server-side transcription plus an explicit browser Web Speech preview option. Browser Whisper was removed and should not be offered in settings, documentation, public workers, or model download scripts.

## Recommended Clinical Setup

Use a server-side provider covered by your compliance requirements.

| Need | Recommended provider |
|---|---|
| HIPAA-eligible cloud STT | Google/Gemini through Vertex AI or AWS Transcribe with a BAA. |
| OpenAI-compatible routing | LiteLLM with a compliant upstream. |
| Direct OpenAI Whisper | Only when acceptable for your deployment. |
| Real-time draft preview | Browser Web Speech only with explicit user opt-in and privacy warning. |

Auto-detect mode currently checks Google/Gemini first, then AWS Transcribe,
then direct OpenAI Whisper. Use `TRANSCRIBE_PROVIDER=litellm` or
`TRANSCRIBE_PROVIDER=local` when you want those providers.

## Configuration

```env
TRANSCRIBE_PROVIDER=litellm
LITELLM_API_BASE=https://your-litellm.example/v1
LITELLM_API_KEY=<key>
LITELLM_STT_MODEL=whisper-1
```

Other provider examples:

```env
# Google/Gemini
TRANSCRIBE_PROVIDER=google
GOOGLE_VERTEX_PROJECT=your-project-id
GOOGLE_STT_MODEL=gemini-2.0-flash

# AWS Transcribe
TRANSCRIBE_PROVIDER=aws
AWS_BEDROCK_REGION=us-east-1
AWS_TRANSCRIBE_MEDICAL=true
AWS_TRANSCRIBE_SPECIALTY=PRIMARYCARE

# Direct OpenAI Whisper
TRANSCRIBE_PROVIDER=openai
OPENAI_API_KEY=<key>
```

## Failure Handling

- Server transcription failures can create encrypted audio backups for retry.
- Users can retry or delete failed backups from Settings.
- Web Speech interim text is not a substitute for a server transcription response.

## Removed Paths

These should remain absent unless the project intentionally reintroduces browser-local STT with a new design review:

- `public/js/browserWhisper.js`
- `public/js/whisperWorker.js`
- `public/js/whisperWorkerV2.js`
- `public/models/Xenova/*`
- Browser Whisper setup/troubleshooting docs
- Whisper model download scripts for public browser models