I'm going to go through this topic Q&A style with a combo of questions that I had before I started my job and the questions I've been asked before!
How do you get a scribe job?
Job recruiting websites like Indeed.com or Glassdoor.com are great (that's how I got my job). You can also apply to large scribe companies, like ScribeAmerica, that will place you in a practice. Other large scribe companies include ScribeConnect, Great Scribes Nationwide, PhysAssist, etc.
I am only taking one gap year. Is this going to be a problem?
It shouldn't! Most physicians know that scribing is a "gap year" job and are pretty used to having a new one every year or two.
Can I get a scribe job even if I don't have any experience?
Yes - it is an entry level job! When applying, highlight any experience you have that may be useful, for example, shadowing, anatomy class, volunteering with patients, etc. However, some practices do not want to train you on EMR, medical terminology, etc and will only take scribes with experience.
What exactly do you do as a scribe?
I'm going to answer this question as if we weren't in the middle of a pandemic. I get to work around 6:50am and we start seeing patients at 7am. We typically have patients scheduled from 7am to 1:30pm. However, in typical doctor fashion, we don't finish seeing patients until around 2:30/3pm. While we are seeing patients I stand in the corner of the room and take notes directly into the patient's chart. I have a basic SOAP note template and fill it in according to the patient's complaints, examination, assessment and treatment plan. It's important that I include any diagnosis, medications prescribed, and abnormalities in the exam. At the end of the day I go through the charts and double-check the note for errors or typos. I am also in charge of creating the bill for that patient. This involves learning a bunch of CPT (procedures/things you bill for) and ICD-10 (diagnosis) codes which was kind of overwhelming. I have a cheat sheet so that I know which ICD-10 codes work with specific CPT codes because there are so many different codes!
Keep in mind that all positions will be different! Some doctors have you use the computer in the room and some prefer you type on an iPad in the corner. I've heard of doctors who never talk to their scribes and some that explain everything they are doing. You should get the sense of this during the interview process but make sure to ask questions!
What should you know before you start?
If you can - try to become familiar with medical language. I personally don't think you have to re-learn all of anatomy or memorize the spelling for all medications but you might want to know common terminology. Other than that I think it depends on your boss.Be sure to establish expectations beforehand! Some important questions to ask may be:
- Is the doctor going to let you go into the rooms or are you going to be copying his notes into the patient charts?
- Are you expected to know medical terminology before you start?
- Does your doctor mind if you ask questions during the appointment or should you wait until after?
What is the difference between a medical assistant and a scribe?
Medical assistants are typically certified. They are the ones that take vitals, give vaccines, take blood/EKGs. They don't usually follow the doctors around but act as the nurse in private practices. Scribes *usually* don't do anything medical. Instead, scribes follow the doctor into each room to record what happens during the appointment.
Are patients okay with you being in the room?
Usually, yes. However, I have been asked to leave the room multiple times. Patients usually hint that they would like to talk to the doctor privately which is my cue to leave. I also leave the room before a physical exam on a male. Patients are rarely rude about it although that has happened as well.
Are you present for private exams?
For women, yes. For men, no.
Was it difficult to onboard as a scribe?
Somewhat. The hardest part of onboarding was learning the medical terms and how to spell them! I am not a great speller but medical terms take it to a whole new level. As a scribe, you are just observing what would normally occur during an appointment. It goes pretty quickly so it can be hard to keep up.
What do you like about scribing?
Many pre-meds know that during college you don't often get paid for your time/effort (research and other extracurriculars are often on a volunteer basis), so I love that I get to save some money now. I also feel like I have learned so much. I am thrilled to be going into medical school with a basic understanding of internal medicine. I am familiar with medication names, treatment protocols and even insurance requirements. It has also been so interesting - I obviously love learning about medicine so this experience has honestly been super fun! Scribing is also a great way to see if you like a specific specialty or practice-type. Side note: wearing scrubs to work everyday is the greatest thing ever.
What do you dislike about scribing?
Sometimes it can be difficult to keep a professional demeanor when patients say or do something offensive. This does not happen often and while it can be uncomfortable, it is a skill that you will need in medical school. I also don't love standing for 8 hours a day because I have a bad back. Lastly, some older doctors will tell you that going into medicine is a mistake. It's difficult to hear that sentiment so consistently but you can make it work. For more info on that go to my blog post titled "Telling People you Want to be an MD".
Do certain specialities look better than others on an application? How did you pick internal medicine?
I honestly don't think so! I really wanted to scribe with a neurologist but ended up getting my current job! I get the sense that ERs, internal medicine practices, and orthopedic practices use scribes more consistently than other fields but I'm not 100% sure.
For more info on my gap year go to my blog post titled "Why I Took a Gap Year".
Happy Sunday
xoxo
P.S. Let me know if you guys like Q&A style or normal blog posts better
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