1
of 5— Download and set up Otter.ai
What you'll accomplish
By the end of this guide, you'll have Otter.ai set up to automatically transcribe your MTM counseling sessions. Instead of taking notes while trying to listen and counsel at the same time, you'll record the conversation, let Otter transcribe it, and then use that transcript to generate your SOAP documentation in a fraction of the time.
What you'll need
- Otter.ai account — free tier available at {{tool:Otter.ai.url}}; free plan includes 300 minutes/month of transcription
- Your smartphone (iPhone or Android) — Otter.ai works as a mobile app
- Patient's verbal consent before recording (you must obtain this before any session)
- Time needed: 20 minutes for this guide; saves 15–20 minutes per MTM session
- Cost: {{tool:Otter.ai.free_tier}} — check if your state's pharmacy regulations permit audio recording of patient encounters (some states require two-party consent)
How-To Guide: MTM Session Transcription with Otter.ai
Step 1: Download and set up Otter.ai
- On your smartphone, go to the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play Store (Android)
- Search for "Otter.ai" and install the app
- Open Otter.ai and create a free account using your email or Google account
- Allow microphone access when prompted — this is required for recording
What you should see: The Otter.ai home screen with a large record button (circle with microphone icon) in the center. Troubleshooting: If microphone access is denied, go to your phone's Settings → Apps → Otter.ai → Permissions → Microphone and enable it.
Tools:Otter.ai