Medical Scribes

[drusso]

I'm considering trying to use a medical scribe. I recently received a resume from a "certified" medical scribe. Never saw this before. Anyone try using one?

http://theacmss.org/

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[DOctorJay]

lots of talk about this topic over on Sermo

 

[Ducttape]

i have not personally used one, but have a lot of ex-ED colleagues who absolutely love scribes. states that it significantly improves their efficiency and documentation. one states that it saves over an hour of non-compensated time (documentation time after shift is over).

 

[SSdoc33]

scribes write crappy notes.

who wants to sift thru 10 pages of garbage to try to figure out what you are saying in a note? a scribe "might" improve efficiency, but it will only improve quality if your notes are crappy to begin with.

 

[jonnylingo]

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/14/health/a-busy-doctors-right-hand-ever-ready-to-type.html?_r=0

Interesting article.

I've considered the idea:
Have generalized templates for various MSK/Spine presentations.
Scribe drops a template, fills in the specifics.
You discuss plan with patient
Scribe is entering meds and ordering procedures as you discuss.
You sign, and off to next room.

Brought up plan with admin, was shot down, they didn't feel ROI would be positive.

As things are now, I'm facing computer screen both in the pt room and in my office much more than I am facing the patient.

 

[Ducttape]

disagree SSdoc. first, most doc notes right now are garbage.

were you trained as a professional typist? i didnt think so.

can you concentrate as well when you are sitting talking directly to a patient, or when you are facing a computer monitor, asking questions to some voice behind the back of the screen?

can you see jaundice in a patient off a reflection off the LCD screen?

would you rather go home an hour early each day, or stay in front of the computer typing notes, like i am going to start right now?

 

[Ligament]

I have a scribe. Best investment. Pre med student. Well worth it. She does the bulk of the note and i fine tune. My notes are traditional soap notes that a human can read with interest, not 5 page emr checkbox listings of useless waste.

 

[hyperalgesia]

I agree about the checklist garbage, I can't stand looking at that crap. I didn't like using a scribe though. When I look at those notes my scribe wrote, I'm like WTF wrote this POS?? Nothing against her but she's not a pain specialist. Maybe I could've been more patient and tried to train her. I think a pre-med would be the best possible scribe although temporary.

 

[lobelsteve]

You guys could always dictate your notes...

 

[Ducttape]

how much is dictating costing you?

when i started, we did price out dictation services, and it seemed overly expensive. the figure of $60K per year somehow sticks to my mind.


tho that might have been my last year fellow salary...

 

[SSdoc33]

disagree SSdoc. first, most doc notes right now are garbage.

were you trained as a professional typist? i didnt think so.

can you concentrate as well when you are sitting talking directly to a patient, or when you are facing a computer monitor, asking questions to some voice behind the back of the screen?

can you see jaundice in a patient off a reflection off the LCD screen?

would you rather go home an hour early each day, or stay in front of the computer typing notes, like i am going to start right now?

first of all, what does "jaundice" mean?

second of all, the only time i type is when im wasting time on sdn.

third of all, i bang out a dictation in a minute or two, which is much faster than deciding which template to use, then altering it 20 times because every patient is unique.

 

[SSdoc33]

I have a scribe. Best investment. Pre med student. Well worth it. She does the bulk of the note and i fine tune. My notes are traditional soap notes that a human can read with interest, not 5 page emr checkbox listings of useless waste.

pre med students have a nasty little habit of becoming med students

 

[DOctorJay]

just use Dragon with this microphone: https://www.dictation.philips.com/z..._usb_dictation_microphone_lfh35003600_series/
(if you're not willing to get a high quality handheld microphone don't whine about accuracy).

build your own templates with "[ ]" in them to jump around the template for your unique inputs. don't bother with templates in the EMR because the EMR can change. just save everything with Dragon so the templates are portable.

 

[lobelsteve]

how much is dictating costing you?

when i started, we did price out dictation services, and it seemed overly expensive. the figure of $60K per year somehow sticks to my mind.


tho that might have been my last year fellow salary...

I just show up and work. Nothing costs me.