admin Medical scribes aren’t as well known as other roles in the healthcare profession. Nevertheless, they’re increasingly relied upon to unburden doctors and other frontline staff.
The need for digital healthcare records often keeps doctors away from seeing patients. This additional administrative task reduces how many patients they can treat and potentially increases wait times for patients in the A&E department. Medical scribes indirectly help with this issue by reducing some of the administrative responsibility from these staff members.
Here is more information about medical scribes to see if it’s a role that might interest you.
Medical Scribes 101
When wondering what is a medical scribe, it’s good to understand the basics. Essentially, a scribe takes down information on behalf of another person. With the advent of electronic health records (EHR), hospitals, clinics, and other treatment facilities must maintain detailed, updated patient records of the treatment received, medication prescribed, etc.
Scribes work at least 8 hours on a shift and sometimes longer. During this time, they record patient information to save doctors from needing to update digital records themselves. They can then confirm that the information is recorded correctly and move hastily onto their next patient.
Does It Grant Entry into the Healthcare Professional?
Studying to become a nurse or a doctor doesn’t always provide experience on the wards early into the college program. Being accepted on a course is also difficult with many applicants. Separating yourself from the pack becomes necessary to stand out.
If you’ve already worked as a medical scribe, it confirms you have a reasonable knowledge of medical procedures, treatment protocols, etc. Rather than being an outside observer looking in, past scribes have been in the thick of it and seen what goes on behind the patient’s privacy curtain. This provides a unique insight that’s valuable when applying for further medical studies.
Is it Fulfilling as a Role?
Working as a medical scribe means long hours of intense work.
The information within medical healthcare records must be accurate. Sometimes, past patients or their families look to dispute treatment provided if the outcome was unsatisfactory. The accuracy and detail in a patient’s records help to protect the medical facility and physicians from medical malpractice claims.
Not having clarity on what questions were asked, tests ordered, medication prescribed, and other treatment options considered leaves room open for accusations that wouldn’t be possible with detailed records. Therefore, scribes have become more critical to avoid costly legal wrangles and the distraction they cause.
Is the Clinical Experience Valuable?
Clinical experience is useful for anyone interested in going into the medical profession.
The cost and time required to study to become a nurse or a doctor are considerable. By going down the medical scribe route, it affords a unique perspective that provides clearness about whether a long-term career in healthcare is worthwhile for you.
For detail-oriented people who like to help others, but who aren’t yet convinced to study as a doctor or nurse, a career as a medical scribe is an interesting option. And there’s never a dull day because each case is unique.
