What is the Akuru browser extension?
The Akuru browser extension connects i-scribe and i-consult to your web EMR so patient details, clinical notes and letters move between them automatically — no copy-paste.
The Akuru browser extension is a small add-on for Google Chrome that connects i-scribe and i-consult to the web-based EMR you already use. It lets patient details, clinical notes and letters move between your EMR and Akuru automatically, so you stop copying and pasting between browser tabs.
It sits quietly in your browser as a thin bar across the top of your EMR page. From that bar you can pull a patient into i-scribe, start transcribing a consult, generate your outputs, drop those outputs back into the EMR, and sync your upcoming appointments to i-consult, all without leaving your EMR.
In one line: the extension is the bridge between Akuru and your EMR. It does not replace i-scribe or i-consult; it removes the copy-paste between them and your EMR.
What it does for you
Pulls the patient in for you. Open a patient in your EMR and the extension can load their name, date of birth and clinical background straight into i-scribe, with no retyping.
Transcribes the consult. Start transcription from the bar and run your consult as normal; i-scribe does the work in the background.
Generates your outputs. When you're done, the extension generates your note and letters and takes you to i-scribe to review and refine them.
Sends outputs back to the EMR. Once you're happy, drop the note and letters back into the right place in your EMR.
Syncs appointments to i-consult. Sweep your upcoming Xestro appointments into i-consult so the pre-consult workflow can begin.
The point of all this is to kill copy-paste. Without the extension you'd be moving patient details, notes and letters between your EMR and Akuru by hand. The extension carries them across for you, in the same window you're already working in.
Which EMRs does it work with?
Right now, the extension works with Xestro. With Xestro you get the complete feature set: pull-the-patient-in (pre-fill), smart routing of notes and letters into the right Xestro fields, the patient name-match safeguard, and appointment sync to i-consult.
Support for more web-based EMRs is coming soon.
For everything Xestro-specific, see the Using the extension with Xestro article.
Two ways outputs get back into your EMR
This is worth knowing up front because it's the single most common point of confusion. There are two ways to get a generated output (a note or a letter) into your EMR:
- Insert Outputs. You click the exact field in your EMR where the output should go, then pick the output from the bar's dropdown. This is the reliable, everyday path.
- Send to EMR. Buttons on each output card inside i-scribe that try to route the output to the right Xestro field automatically.
You don't need to master this distinction yet, as the workflow articles walk through both. Just keep in mind that "Insert Outputs" and "Send to EMR" are different things.
For the full walkthrough of both paths, see Send outputs back to your EMR.
Where your data goes
The extension is deliberately minimal with data.
Patient data stays local to your browser. The extension moves information directly between your EMR tab and your i-scribe tab inside Chrome. It does not send patient data to Akuru's servers, and it doesn't keep a copy. It reads what it needs in the moment, passes it across, and forgets it.
It also only runs on the pages it needs: your i-scribe and EMR tabs. It has no reach into your email, banking or other sites. For the full detail, see Is my patient data safe? (security & privacy).
What you need to use it
The extension runs in Google Chrome (or another Chromium browser) on a desktop computer. It does not support Microsoft Edge, and Edge support is not planned; the official guidance is to use Chrome. There is also no iPad, iPhone or mobile version. EMRs are desktop web apps, so the extension is desktop-only by design.
To use it day to day you'll have:
- The extension installed and pinned in Chrome.
- Your EMR open in one tab, with a patient loaded.
- i-scribe open in another tab in the same browser window.
i-scribe and your EMR must be open side by side in the same Chrome window, not in separate windows. This is the most common reason the extension "does nothing", and it matters enough that the next article covers it in detail.
Where to go next
- New to the extension? Start with Install and set up the extension.
- Already installed? First run & connecting to i-consult covers the one-time setup.
- Want to know what every button does? See A tour of the extension.
Does the extension record my consults?
No. The extension starts transcription in i-scribe; it doesn't record audio for you to keep. You run the consult as normal and i-scribe transcribes it in the background.
Does it work with my EMR?
Right now the extension works with Xestro, with the full feature set. Support for more web-based EMRs is coming soon. If you're unsure about your EMR, ask Akuru support.
Does any patient data leave my computer through the extension?
No. The extension moves data between your EMR tab and your i-scribe tab inside Chrome. It does not send patient data to Akuru's servers and does not store it. See Is my patient data safe? (security & privacy).
Can I use it on my iPad or in Edge?
No. The extension is for Google Chrome (or Chromium) on a desktop computer only. Edge, Safari, iPad and iPhone are not supported, and Edge support is not planned. Use Chrome.
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