Need to step away mid-consultation? You can pause an encounter at any time and resume it later—Maxly saves your progress so nothing is lost.
Overview
While recording, you can pause and resume an encounter whenever needed—whether for a few seconds or later in the day. Maxly automatically saves your transcription progress so you can step away with confidence.
When you're finished, stop the encounter to finalize the transcription and generate your clinical note.
This feature works in both documentation modes:
Ambient Scribing: Maxly listens to the live appointment conversation and transcribes it in the background. Pause during interruptions and resume when the consultation continues.
Dictation Mode: You dictate your notes directly into Maxly. Pause to gather your thoughts, look something up, or step away, then resume dictating when ready.
Pause vs. Stop: What's the Difference?
Understanding this distinction helps avoid accidental finalization.
Pause: Temporarily suspends recording. Your transcription progress is saved, and you can resume at any time. The encounter remains open and no note is generated yet.
Stop: Ends the recording and finalizes the encounter. Maxly immediately begins processing the transcription and generating your clinical note. Once stopped, recording cannot be resumed for that encounter.
Quick rule of thumb:
- Pause = take a break
- Stop = you're done and ready for the note
How to Pause an Encounter
Step 1: Start Recording
Sign in to Maxly at https://secure.maxly.vet/en/sign-in
Click New Encounter and begin recording in Ambient Scribing or Dictation Mode.
Step 2: Pause When Needed
Click the pause icon on the microphone controls.
The button switches to a play (resume) icon.
The recording banner changes from red to teal and displays: "Paused. Press resume to continue."
Maxly automatically saves a checkpoint of your transcription when you pause.
When to Use Pause
In Ambient Scribing
Pause when:
The patient's owner steps out briefly
You need to take a phone call or handle something urgent
The visit is split into two time blocks (for example, after lab work)
You want to review notes or uploaded documents before continuing
In Dictation Mode
Pause when:
You need to look up information or check a reference
You're interrupted by a call or colleague
You want to review what you've dictated so far
You're dictating a long note across multiple sittings
How to Resume an Encounter
Step 1: Return to the Encounter
If you're still on the encounter page, click the play (resume) button.
If you closed the browser or navigated away, open the encounter from your dashboard. You'll see a banner indicating the transcription is paused, with an option to resume.
Step 2: Continue Recording
Click Resume.
Recording picks up immediately where you left off.
New transcription is appended to your existing content, creating one continuous record.
In Ambient Scribing, continue speaking with the client as usual.
In Dictation Mode, pick up your dictation where you stopped.
How Long Can an Encounter Stay Paused?
There is no time limit on how long an encounter can remain paused.
You can pause in the morning and resume later in the day—or even the next day.
Your transcription progress is saved automatically.
If you close the browser while paused, your data is still safe. When you return, Maxly detects the paused encounter and lets you resume or finalize it.
Stopping and Finalizing the Encounter
When the consultation or dictation is complete:
Click the stop button on the microphone controls.
Maxly finalizes the transcription and begins generating your clinical note.
Review the note, make any edits, and export or copy it to your PIMS.
Important: Stopping an encounter is final. If you're unsure whether the session is finished, use pause instead—you can always stop later.
Tips for Pausing and Resuming
Use pause for any interruption: Whether it's 30 seconds or 30 minutes, pause instead of stopping to keep everything in one encounter.
Double-check before stopping: If there's a chance the client will return or dictation isn't complete, pause first.
Upload documents while paused: Add lab results, imaging reports, or referral letters in the Notes and Context section during a pause.
Add notes while paused: Use the Notes tab to capture observations or extra context not spoken aloud.
Troubleshooting
Recording won't resume?
Refresh the page and return to the encounter. Your transcription data is saved.
Closed the browser and lost my place?
Open the encounter from your dashboard. If paused, you'll see options to resume or finalize.
Accidentally stopped instead of paused?
Stopping is final. Start a new encounter if more conversation is needed and assign both notes to the same patient.
Pause button not available?
The pause button appears only while actively recording.
Get Started
Ready to try it out?
Log in at https://secure.maxly.vet/en/sign-in, start a new encounter, and pause and resume during your next session.
For a visual walkthrough, watch our demo video:
Watch the Maxly Demo
Need help? Email hello@maxly.vet or book a demo for personalized assistance.