Medical Scribing Training in Trivandrum

 What is a medical scribe?

A medical scribe is an assistant to the physician who is responsible for documenting patients' family and medical histories, treatments, allergies, lab results and any information dictated to them or relevant to the patient's visit. Because they are knowledgeable about medical terminologies and have some clinical experience, a medical scribe often writes as a doctor would, being sure to check for any errors. In case of any inconsistencies, they inform the doctors, help resolve the issue and even complete records. However, they are not responsible for deciding the patient's treatment or their care.

The scribe records all information electronically, and their work is accessible to doctors who need to check the patient's medical track. Managers, often a nurse or a quality assurance specialist, monitor the work of medical scribes. By recording every event and treatment procedure, scribes allow doctors to concentrate on their patients while taking care of their clerical duties. By performing their work well, a medical scribe helps improve the efficiency of the doctor-patient interaction and ensures the accuracy of important health records.

Where do medical scribes work?

Traditionally, these professionals assist doctors during patient visits and simultaneously record all information in EHRs. They raise queries in the EHRs so doctors can track the patient's progress and decide the further course of treatment. In some scenarios, the medical scribe may also schedule appointments and procure lab reports for the doctor to analyse and interpret.

Many hospitals are now hiring medical scribes remotely from countries like India to connect with the doctors via video or audio calls. Hospitals usually do this through an agency, although some employers may hire directly. These agencies are responsible for ensuring compliance and facilitate the interaction between doctors and scribes. The communication occurs over highly secure lines, as the conversations involve sensitive information about the patient.

What are the working hours?

Medical scribes often work for a fixed number of hours every week, much like a corporate office. This can be anywhere between eight and 10 hours per day for a full-time schedule. Depending on the doctor's time zone, scribes may have a morning or an evening shift.