What Are The Duties Of A Medical Scribe?

One of the most challenging aspects of being a physician is managing the documentation and administrative tasks that come with each patient visit. These tasks can take up a lot of time and attention, leaving less room for the actual patient care. That’s why many physicians are turning to medical scribes, who can help them with these tasks and more. But who are medical scribes, and what do they do? How do they make a difference in the healthcare industry?

What Is a Medical Scribe and Why Are They Important?

What Is a Medical Scribe and Why Are They Important?

A medical scribe is a highly trained professional who works alongside physicians during patient visits, diligently recording relevant information into the electronic health record (EHR) system. Additionally, they proficiently handle various clerical tasks, including chart preparation, test ordering, and appointment scheduling. The primary advantage of having a medical scribe is their ability to alleviate the physician's burden, freeing up valuable time and attention that can be redirected towards providing focused care to patients rather than being tied to a computer screen. This results in enhanced overall quality of care, increased patient satisfaction, and improved physician productivity. Some of the benefits of medical scribes for physicians and patients are:

Responsibilities of a Medical Scribe

In the fast-paced and ever-evolving world of healthcare, medical scribes play a crucial role in assisting physicians and healthcare providers. These skilled professionals take on various responsibilities, facilitating efficient patient care and streamlining medical workflows. While their specific duties may differ depending on the physician's specialty and work environment, the fundamental tasks of a medical scribe encompass recording patient information, transcribing vital interactions, and managing essential administrative functions. Let's delve into the general duties of medical scribes and explore the invaluable contributions they make to the healthcare system.

General Duties of Medical Scribes

While the responsibilities of a medical scribe can vary depending on the physician's specialty and practice setting, certain core duties remain consistent. These fundamental tasks of medical scribes include:

• Recording patient history, physical examination, vital signs, medications, allergies, diagnoses, treatment plans, prescriptions, referrals, and follow-up instructions in the EHR system.
• Transcribing physician-patient interactions, including questions, answers, explanations, recommendations, and education.
• Reviewing and updating patient records for accuracy and completeness.
• Retrieving and organizing test results, lab reports, imaging studies, and other relevant information for the physician.
• Performing clerical tasks such as printing, faxing, scanning, copying, and filing documents.

Specialized Duties Based on Specialty and Setting

In various healthcare settings, medical scribes undertake specialized duties tailored to their respective fields:

• Emergency Medicine: Medical scribes in emergency medicine thrive in fast-paced and stressful environments, adeptly documenting multiple patients simultaneously while prioritizing critical cases. Additionally, they may assist with essential procedures like suturing, splinting, wound care, and EKGs.
• Primary Care: In primary care, medical scribes engage with patients of diverse ages and backgrounds, overseeing chronic conditions and preventive care. They take charge of coordinating referrals to specialists and following up on test results.
• Specialty Care: Medical scribes in specialty care possess specific knowledge and skills tailored to their field of medicine, be it cardiology, dermatology, oncology, orthopedics, or others. They skillfully document intricate procedures and treatments, employing technical terminology to ensure accurate records.

What Is the Workflow of a Medical Scribe?

A medical scribe’s job is not just to type or dictate what the physician says or does during a patient visit. It is also to prepare for the visit, assist during the visit, and complete the tasks after the visit. These are the three stages of a medical scribe’s workflow, and each stage has its own challenges and opportunities.

Preparing for the Patient Visit

Prior to the patient encounter, a medical scribe may be required to perform preparatory tasks, which can encompass:

• Reviewing the patient’s chart for previous visits, medical history, medications, allergies, and current complaints.
• Checking the schedule for any changes or cancellations.
• Setting up the computer and logging into the EHR system.
• Gathering any necessary equipment or supplies for the visit.

Assisting During the Patient Visit

Throughout the patient visit, the primary responsibility of a medical scribe is to document every aspect in real-time, which may involve:

• Introducing themselves to the patient and explaining their role.
• Following the physician into the exam room and standing or sitting in an appropriate position.
• Listening attentively to the conversation between the physician and the patient.
• Typing or dictating everything that is said or done by both parties into the EHR system using proper grammar, spelling, and formatting.
• Asking clarifying questions or confirming information with the physician or the patient if needed.
• Alerting the physician to any important or urgent information that they may have missed or forgotten.

Managing Tasks After the Patient Visit

Following the patient visit, a medical scribe may be required to carry out certain tasks to finalize the documentation and facilitate transition to the next patient. These tasks may encompass:

• Reviewing the notes for accuracy and completeness.
• Editing or correcting any errors or omissions.
• Adding any missing information or details that were not available during the visit.
• Signing and submitting the notes to the physician for approval.
• Printing or sending any documents that are required for the patient, such as prescriptions, referrals, or discharge instructions.
• Updating the patient’s chart with any new information or changes.

Enhancing Physician Efficiency Through Medical Scribes

Medical scribes play a pivotal role in assisting physicians to improve their efficiency and effectiveness through various means. Some of the key ways in which medical scribes enhance physician efficiency include:

• Ensuring Accurate and Timely Documentation: Medical scribes are adept at updating and maintaining accurate patient records, facilitating smoother diagnosis, treatment, billing, coding, and quality improvement processes. By handling documentation tasks, they can also reduce the burden on physicians, allowing them to avoid extensive after-hours paperwork, thereby enhancing their work-life balance and overall satisfaction.
• Streamlining Workflow and Time Management: By taking charge of administrative duties, retrieving crucial information, coordinating patient care, and communicating with patients and other healthcare providers, medical scribes help optimize physicians' workflow and time management. This support enables physicians to see more patients per day, decrease wait times, and improve overall patient throughput, thereby enhancing the practice's efficiency.

Conclusion

Medical scribes are valuable members of the healthcare team who assist physicians with documentation and administrative tasks. By doing so, they free up the physician’s time and attention, allowing them to focus more on the patient and less on the computer. This can improve the quality of care, patient satisfaction, and physician productivity.

Although the role of a medical scribe has improved the workflow of physicians in many health centers, it is still not optimal in terms of time and accuracy. As mentioned, a medical scribe’s workflow involves many steps and can be lengthy and tedious. Moreover, there is no guarantee that the documentation done by a medical scribe is error-free or complete. The current solution adopted by medical centers and physicians to address this challenge is the integration of AI Medical Scribes, such as Tali, as new assistants.

If you are looking for a way to enhance your efficiency and effectiveness as a physician, you may want to consider using Tali, your AI medical scribe. Tali is an AI-powered assistant that can record and transcribe your patient visits using natural language processing, speech recognition, and medical language models. Tali integrates seamlessly with your EHR system and can be used on any web-based or desktop EHR. Discover the benefits of Tali with our free trial today.