A medical scribe is a documentation assistant who sits in on patient interactions and transcribes the visit's details into electronic health records. An increasing number of health care practices are hiring these specialists to increase efficiency and improve physician and patient experiences. Here's a closer look at why your medical office should enlist this valuable service.

Why Your Practice Should Hire a Medical Scribe 

1. Reduce Physician Workload 

Physicians must chart various aspects of patient interactions to ensure all documents adhere to specific regulations and protocols for compliance and billing purposes. This can be extremely time-consuming and often requires doctors to work long hours on a regular basis. Additionally, the stress of clerical tasks may be more severe when there is a learning curve for adapting to new and upgraded systems for enhanced security and efficiency. 

By taking over this aspect of the workload, scribes can give physicians more time and energy to allocate to more vital parts of their job, such as treating patients. This may also reduce the risk of physician burnout, allowing doctors to provide more valuable, thoughtful care. 

2. Improve Patient Experience 

The presence of a scribe can improve patient satisfaction as well. A patient may not feel the physician is paying attention to them if they spend much of the visit on their computer. 

Likewise, a doctor's interactions with their patient may be more rushed if the physician has to allocate a significant amount of time in their workday to documentation. With the help of a scribe, the physician can be more present with each patient. 

3. Increase Efficiency 

Scribes are adept at codes and terminology and are up to date with the latest medical recordkeeping technology and protocols. They can significantly enhance efficiency by taking more detailed, accurate notes than physicians may produce themselves in the same amount of time. 

A scribe's clear, precise documentation can also facilitate better coordination between doctors and other staff members. With more time in the day to see patients, revenue can be increased in addition to the quality of care, particularly in a private practice. 

If you’re interested in learning more about the benefits of hiring a medical scribe, turn to My Virtual Scribe. Based in Camarillo, CA, this health care service company provides remote medical services for practices throughout the U.S. and Canada. Each highly trained staff member is HIPAA-certified and vetted through rigorous screening. Call (310) 919-4278 to schedule a consultation or visit the website to learn more about what they'll do for your practice.