Does being let go from a scribing job look bad?

[CheeseCucumberSandwich]

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Hi guys,

I was a medical scribe last summer, and after almost two months of working in the ER, I was asked to transfer/leave due to the following reasons:

1) I had made charting errors
2) I have diagnosed Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, and my theme with OCD is integrity to the extreme degree - essentially, if I'm not honest about EVERYTHING, I feel like I'm not right with God. Thus, I was so worried about HIPPA that I became scared to work with others for the fear of violating HIPPA, and therefore never being able to go to med school.

I did feel like I was improving and getting better by the time that I was let go, but I completely understand their decision. I was going to transfer, but the other hospital ran out of room for me to scribe.

I now am going to work in an HIV lab on my campus, so I won't have time to try and scribe again this summer (that and COVD19).

Does this hinder my application for med school or PA school at all? I LOVE being in a hospital setting. I am on medications for OCD and have noticed that once I began medications around 2 weeks after I began scribing, my anxiety reduced a lot. Nevertheless, I worry about how this will look when I apply to scribe again in the future, or med school.

Any tips are helpful.

 

[GreenDuck12]

Hi guys,

I was a medical scribe last summer, and after almost two months of working in the ER, I was asked to transfer/leave due to the following reasons:

1) I had made charting errors
2) I have diagnosed Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, and my theme with OCD is integrity to the extreme degree - essentially, if I'm not honest about EVERYTHING, I feel like I'm not right with God. Thus, I was so worried about HIPPA that I became scared to work with others for the fear of violating HIPPA, and therefore never being able to go to med school.

I did feel like I was improving and getting better by the time that I was let go, but I completely understand their decision. I was going to transfer, but the other hospital ran out of room for me to scribe.

I now am going to work in an HIV lab on my campus, so I won't have time to try and scribe again this summer (that and COVD19).

Does this hinder my application for med school or PA school at all? I LOVE being in a hospital setting. I am on medications for OCD and have noticed that once I began medications around 2 weeks after I began scribing, my anxiety reduced a lot. Nevertheless, I worry about how this will look when I apply to scribe again in the future, or med school.

Any tips are helpful.

schools would have no way of knowing you were let go as employment records are sealed private. You would have to answer in the affirmative if you are asked if you had ever been let go on any licensure application. You will need to disclose it on future job applications and a two month stint doesn’t look great. Highly recommend pursuing therapy or counseling to continue to address your OCD as it will make keeping employment challenging in the future.

 

[CheeseCucumberSandwich]

schools would have no way of knowing you were let go as employment records are sealed private. You would have to answer in the affirmative if you are asked if you had ever been let go on any licensure application. You will need to disclose it on future job applications and a two month stint doesn’t look great. Highly recommend pursuing therapy or counseling to continue to address your OCD as it will make keeping employment challenging in the future.

Hi there.

Thanks for the reply.

I've disclosed it on every job I've had since, and I think that I've had enough experience in other areas, like waitressing, that I don't need to place it on my resume. However, if a job asks for it, I'm usually honest.

 

[Goro]

Hi guys,

I was a medical scribe last summer, and after almost two months of working in the ER, I was asked to transfer/leave due to the following reasons:

1) I had made charting errors
2) I have diagnosed Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, and my theme with OCD is integrity to the extreme degree - essentially, if I'm not honest about EVERYTHING, I feel like I'm not right with God. Thus, I was so worried about HIPPA that I became scared to work with others for the fear of violating HIPPA, and therefore never being able to go to med school.

I did feel like I was improving and getting better by the time that I was let go, but I completely understand their decision. I was going to transfer, but the other hospital ran out of room for me to scribe.

I now am going to work in an HIV lab on my campus, so I won't have time to try and scribe again this summer (that and COVD19).

Does this hinder my application for med school or PA school at all? I LOVE being in a hospital setting. I am on medications for OCD and have noticed that once I began medications around 2 weeks after I began scribing, my anxiety reduced a lot. Nevertheless, I worry about how this will look when I apply to scribe again in the future, or med school.

Any tips are helpful.

Would bother me unless your contact person told us you did something major league unethical. My understanding of scribe companies is that they're quite demanding of their employees.

 

[CheeseCucumberSandwich]

Would bother me unless your contact person told us you did something major league unethical. My understanding of scribe companies is that they're quite demanding of their employees.

Thanks Goro, that reassures me.

I hope you mean't 'wouldn't'?

 

[deleted859689]

Hi guys,

I was a medical scribe last summer, and after almost two months of working in the ER, I was asked to transfer/leave due to the following reasons:

1) I had made charting errors
2) I have diagnosed Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, and my theme with OCD is integrity to the extreme degree - essentially, if I'm not honest about EVERYTHING, I feel like I'm not right with God. Thus, I was so worried about HIPPA that I became scared to work with others for the fear of violating HIPPA, and therefore never being able to go to med school.

I did feel like I was improving and getting better by the time that I was let go, but I completely understand their decision. I was going to transfer, but the other hospital ran out of room for me to scribe.

I now am going to work in an HIV lab on my campus, so I won't have time to try and scribe again this summer (that and COVD19).

Does this hinder my application for med school or PA school at all? I LOVE being in a hospital setting. I am on medications for OCD and have noticed that once I began medications around 2 weeks after I began scribing, my anxiety reduced a lot. Nevertheless, I worry about how this will look when I apply to scribe again in the future, or med school.

Any tips are helpful.

How does being completely honest violate HIPPA? If someone comes and asks you the name of a patient, their DOB, and social, are you just going you hand it out to them due to your need for honesty? Healthcare is a team and if physicians had problems with you as just a scribe, literally sometimes just used as a dictaphone, I would personally have some reservations.

I’ve made charting errors before as a scribe only once. Learning from your mistakes are important.

 

[CheeseCucumberSandwich]

How does being completely honest violate HIPPA? If someone comes and asks you the name of a patient, their DOB, and social, are you just going you hand it out to them due to your need for honesty? Healthcare is a team and if physicians had problems with you as just a scribe, literally sometimes just used as a dictaphone, I would personally have some reservations.

I’ve made charting errors before as a scribe only once. Learning from your mistakes are important.

Sorry, I wasn't really clear in the original post.

So, what I meant was I was worried about violating HIPPA is that if another doctor that I wasn't assigned to came and asked, for example, information about my patient, I'd be very reluctant to tell them any information, just because they weren't my assigned provider. That is, I was afraid that if by sharing information with them, that could be a HIPPA violation.

Now, with the OCD and honesty, if I worried that I had made a HIPPA violation during my shift, I'd feel a need to be honest and tell my chief scribe to ensure that I hadn't done anything wrong.

I hope that clears things up.

Can you give me any advice about how I could move forward from this? My fear is that the OCD could interfere with another healthcare job - hence, I'll be doing therapy again when that time comes.

 

[Goro]

Thanks Goro, that reassures me.

I hope you mean't 'wouldn't'?

Correct, "wouldn't bother me!"

 

[deleted859689]

Sorry, I wasn't really clear in the original post.

So, what I meant was I was worried about violating HIPPA is that if another doctor that I wasn't assigned to came and asked, for example, information about my patient, I'd be very reluctant to tell them any information, just because they weren't my assigned provider. That is, I was afraid that if by sharing information with them, that could be a HIPPA violation.

Now, with the OCD and honesty, if I worried that I had made a HIPPA violation during my shift, I'd feel a need to be honest and tell my chief scribe to ensure that I hadn't done anything wrong.

I hope that clears things up.

Can you give me any advice about how I could move forward from this? My fear is that the OCD could interfere with another healthcare job - hence, I'll be doing therapy again when that time comes.

Ah I see. Doctors still talk to other doctors about their patients without breaking HIPPA. It's okay to talk about cases without referring to a patients name and other identifying information.

There is no question on the AMCAS application regarding whether or not you were let go from a job. If you do list it as an experience (you don't HAVE to), it would be good to add that you were let go just in case they call the references.

 

[Talldoctor96]

My dude just wanted to say you should google HIPPA, it’s not as strict as you have been convinced that it is. It doesn’t break HIPPA for an attending to ask another attending about a patient that isnt theres. What do you think happens in any hospital ever ? I would really encourage you to reasses this before Med school or you’re gonna have some trouble. I mean it in the nicest way.

 

[CheeseCucumberSandwich]

Ah I see. Doctors still talk to other doctors about their patients without breaking HIPPA. It's okay to talk about cases without referring to a patients name and other identifying information.

There is no question on the AMCAS application regarding whether or not you were let go from a job. If you do list it as an experience (you don't HAVE to), it would be good to add that you were let go just in case they call the references.

Thank you for your input. Yeah, as I began scribing more and more I became better at recognizing the difference once I was used to being in the setting.

I appreciate your time and energy into this - hope you do well in med school. Good luck!

 

[mmchick]

Yea... any healthcare setting ever- EMS in the field, hospitals, inpatient clinics, ERs, etc. people talk about patients. You learn to exercise discretionary judgement. Usually these conversations are between people that trust one another and know that the listening party won’t go and do something actually detrimental like share patient info with other patients or other sites.

In example, an ER tech once told an EMT from a neighboring agency about a patient that had been brought in by our EMS agency (cross-site contamination I like to call it). The guy unfortunately didn’t exercise that good judgement trustworthiness within the situation and pissed off the patient since the patient had friends with the same EMS agency from which the earshot EMT belonged and word spread about this person’s admittance there causing some sort of embarrassment/etc = guy lost his job.

A physician within the same clinic and working cohort is very different from volunteering information to an EMT outside the ER and completely removed from the patient. Don’t be ER guy.

 

[CheeseCucumberSandwich]

My dude just wanted to say you should google HIPPA, it’s not as strict as you have been convinced that it is. It doesn’t break HIPPA for an attending to ask another attending about a patient that isnt theres. What do you think happens in any hospital ever ? I would really encourage you to reasses this before Med school or you’re gonna have some trouble. I mean it in the nicest way.

Thanks for replying. I know - I feel like such an idiot knowing that I'm overthinking HIPPA, when it's pretty basic.

My goal is to definitely go to more counseling sessions before/during med/PA school. I also think that having an advisor guide in me med school with the OCD will be a great asset to overcoming this.

Good luck in med school!

 

[CheeseCucumberSandwich]

Yea... any healthcare setting ever- EMS in the field, hospitals, inpatient clinics, ERs, etc. people talk about patients. You learn to exercise discretionary judgement. Usually these conversations are between people that trust one another and know that the listening party won’t go and do something actually detrimental like share patient info with other patients or other sites.

In example, an ER tech once told an EMT from a neighboring agency about a patient that had been brought in by our EMS agency (cross-site contamination I like to call it). The guy unfortunately didn’t exercise that good judgement trustworthiness within the situation and pissed off the patient since the patient had friends with the same EMS agency from which the earshot EMT belonged and word spread about this person’s admittance there causing some sort of embarrassment/etc = guy lost his job.

A physician within the same clinic and working cohort is very different from volunteering information to an EMT outside the ER and completely removed from the patient. Don’t be ER guy.

Thank you for replying.

Dang. I don't think I'd do something like talk about a patient encounter to anyone outside my hospital/workplace, even if that other person was healthcare personnel that didn't work in my hospital. Either way, thanks for sharing that story.

Do you know what ER tech is up to now?

 

[CheeseCucumberSandwich]

I'd also like to ask if anyone else has experience with mental illnesses while working in the hospital. How were you able to manage your symptoms while still being productive? I'd appreciate any tips to assist me in the future.

 

[Talldoctor96]

I am not saying it to be critical of you. I can understand that it is hard. I think its good just to be aware before you go in. Maybe talk to your therapst about it🙂

 

[CheeseCucumberSandwich]

No offense taken at all friend! You do have a very good point, and it’s something that must be talked about and treated/confronted before heading off the medical school.

I am not saying it to be critical of you. I can understand that it is hard. I think its good just to be aware before you go in. Maybe talk to your therapst about it🙂

 

[seasalt99]

I just want to say how much I admire the high level of self awareness you have shown. Acknowledging the problem is 99% of the battle and more than a lot of people can do. We are all humans and no one is perfect, and we all have issues we have to learn to cope with whether it be with alcohol or another something else that for some reason is deemed more “socially acceptable” for no real reason. Actively using therapy and controlled substances under guidance of a healthcare professional is one of the healthiest ways to learn to cope with life’s struggles.

I don’t have diagnosed OCD, but I’ve struggled with serious control issues and anxieties that are similar to what you’re described due to PTSD and have done (and am still doing) a lot of therapy and have been doing well for a while now. I am starting medical school this summer.

I actually never explicitly mentioned experiencing trauma anywhere on my application or interviews, but I think it has allowed me to empathize with people on a certain level that I wouldn’t have been able to without this experience - and this indirectly, helped me be an appealing candidate to medical schools. I believe it will be the same for you.

You may or may not feel this way, but sometimes I was made to feel weak or deficient because of what I “couldn’t handle” that “normal people” can. But overcoming these challenges are what make people even more resilient and we are all on our own path.

 

[deleted944422]

To echo some others here: it does seem like you're overthinking HIPAA but that could be just from the OCD. At the same time, it's nice that you're very aware of the things you say/do in the healthcare setting and in your context, retaining info is always better than giving patient info out without a proper understanding of HIPAA. Best of luck with your OCD and (maybe) therapy in the future!

 

[mmchick]

Thank you for replying.

Dang. I don't think I'd do something like talk about a patient encounter to anyone outside my hospital/workplace, even if that other person was healthcare personnel that didn't work in my hospital. Either way, thanks for sharing that story.

Do you know what ER tech is up to now?

Not specifically! But it was a large ripple through the whole EMS/ER society of ours, so I imagine it triggered some of those serious repercussions for HIPAA violations like black-marking for health professional education and hiring for any other EMT/ER positions. No bueno.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I'd also like to ask if anyone else has experience with mental illnesses while working in the hospital. How were you able to manage your symptoms while still being productive? I'd appreciate any tips to assist me in the future.

Medical schools and health care administrators know very well that a lot of caretakers and providers NEED quality help with managing their mental health, and COVID-19 has even exacerbated the urgency of these resources. Some hospital systems have caregiver wellness offices, and I would encourage all medical and health professional students to take full advantage whenever possible. I would also urge all administrators and managers to make sure everyone gets time set aside to seek help without stigma or punishment. Easier said than done.

So that said, have you already accessed your psychological services office at your university or program? They should have some suggestions.

 

[CheeseCucumberSandwich]

Medical schools and health care administrators know very well that a lot of caretakers and providers NEED quality help with managing their mental health, and COVID-19 has even exacerbated the urgency of these resources. Some hospital systems have caregiver wellness offices, and I would encourage all medical and health professional students to take full advantage whenever possible. I would also urge all administrators and managers to make sure everyone gets time set aside to seek help without stigma or punishment. Easier said than done.

So that said, have you already accessed your psychological services office at your university or program? They should have some suggestions.

Thank you for your reply Mr.Smile 12.

its encouraging to hear that COVID19 is bringing out the important of people needing to have access to mental health resources. Therefore if I go to PA/med school, I’d be delighted to hear about those programs.

Yes, I’ve accessed the counseling services my freshman year, and they recommended that i go to long-term therapy (which I am doing now).

I see that you’re an admissions advisor. Will being let go necessarily have bad taste in the admission committees’ mouth?

 

[CheeseCucumberSandwich]

Not specifically! But it was a large ripple through the whole EMS/ER society of ours, so I imagine it triggered some of those serious repercussions for HIPAA violations like black-marking for health professional education and hiring for any other EMT/ER positions. No bueno.

Ouchies. See, I think that my fear of having consequences like that is what exacerbates my OCD/HIPPA fear.

 

[CheeseCucumberSandwich]

To echo some others here: it does seem like you're overthinking HIPAA but that could be just from the OCD. At the same time, it's nice that you're very aware of the things you say/do in the healthcare setting and in your context, retaining info is always better than giving patient info out without a proper understanding of HIPAA. Best of luck with your OCD and (maybe) therapy in the future!

Thank you for your encouraging reply! And I agree - I’d rather that the OCD have me retain information than blurt it out - but that doesn’t make it easier lol. And I agree - I think once I sit down and talk about what’s a HIPPA violation/what’s not with my counselor or even med school personnel that would help me to differentiate what’s ok to talk about and what’s not.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Thank you for your reply Mr.Smile 12.

its encouraging to hear that COVID19 is bringing out the important of people needing to have access to mental health resources. Therefore if I go to PA/med school, I’d be delighted to hear about those programs.

Yes, I’ve accessed the counseling services my freshman year, and they recommended that i go to long-term therapy (which I am doing now).

I see that you’re an admissions advisor. Will being let go necessarily have bad taste in the admission committees’ mouth?

Mental health and burnout has been on the forefront for about a decade or so. COVID-19 has brought a spotlight on how mental health resources have been underfunded for years and not taken seriously society-wide as well as within the medical community, and when I see that PTSD-like symptoms are ravaging the ICU's and ER's all over the world during the height of patient surges, it makes the point that more deliberate investment needs to be made everywhere. This doesn't even mention the stress on families, children, educators, workers, etc. outside of health care who are feeling depressed or anxious due to the insecurity of their financial situation.

Okay... then at least try to find out from the medical schools on your wish list what resources the students use (group and confidential).

Why would you volunteer that you got let go? The employer can't disclose the circumstances. If the activity ends, it ends.

 

[CheeseCucumberSandwich]

Hha

I just want to say how much I admire the high level of self awareness you have shown. Acknowledging the problem is 99% of the battle and more than a lot of people can do. We are all humans and no one is perfect, and we all have issues we have to learn to cope with whether it be with alcohol or another something else that for some reason is deemed more “socially acceptable” for no real reason. Actively using therapy and controlled substances under guidance of a healthcare professional is one of the healthiest ways to learn to cope with life’s struggles.

I don’t have diagnosed OCD, but I’ve struggled with serious control issues and anxieties that are similar to what you’re described due to PTSD and have done (and am still doing) a lot of therapy and have been doing well for a while now. I am starting medical school this summer.

I actually never explicitly mentioned experiencing trauma anywhere on my application or interviews, but I think it has allowed me to empathize with people on a certain level that I wouldn’t have been able to without this experience - and this indirectly, helped me be an appealing candidate to medical schools. I believe it will be the same for you.

You may or may not feel this way, but sometimes I was made to feel weak or deficient because of what I “couldn’t handle” that “normal people” can. But overcoming these challenges are what make people even more resilient and we are all on our own path.
[/Q

Thank your for your reply - I am glad to know that I’m not alone in the battle, and that you e been able to cope with your own mental demons.

I really appreciate this. When I was scribing and even after I was let go I felt horrible - why was it that everyone else was going so much better and I struggled with the stupidest fears? Having OCD made me feel like I was alone because people never necessarily understood what it like to be in my mind, and to have constant fears left and right. So much so in fact that when I began my first day of training, I turned away from the computer screens for fear of looking at information that wasn’t mine!

I wish you well in med school! And you’re right - I feel a lot more sympathetic to those with internal struggles because I know what it was like. I hope my experiences can be used to help others.

what type of doctor do you hope to be by the way?

 

[CheeseCucumberSandwich]

Mental health and burnout has been on the forefront for about a decade or so. COVID-19 has brought a spotlight on how mental health resources have been underfunded for years and not taken seriously society-wide as well as within the medical community, and when I see that PTSD-like symptoms are ravaging the ICU's and ER's all over the world during the height of patient surges, it makes the point that more deliberate investment needs to be made everywhere. This doesn't even mention the stress on families, children, educators, workers, etc. outside of health care who are feeling depressed or anxious due to the insecurity of their financial situation.

Okay... then at least try to find out from the medical schools on your wish list what resources the students use (group and confidential).

Why would you volunteer that you got let go? The employer can't disclose the circumstances. If the activity ends, it ends.

Definitely. I can’t imagine the burnout that these healthcare personnel are experiencing with so many patients coming in left and right. I can’t mention it enough - flatten the curve everyone!

Thats a great idea. I’ll be sure to see what services they can offer.

And good question. I never knew if the med school app had any questions about previous experience in the hospital setting. Again, mentioning this on my app would be due to my need to be ‘honest’ so as to not withhold information and have a ‘fabricated’ application. Stuff like this is what my OCD fuels on.

 

[deleted1042333]

I'd also like to ask if anyone else has experience with mental illnesses while working in the hospital. How were you able to manage your symptoms while still being productive? I'd appreciate any tips to assist me in the future.

This blog post may help: How I'm Managing Medical School with OCD - Osmosis - A Better Way To Learn

Evidence shows that EX/RP and CBT can help treat OCD.

Have you found a great psychiatrist and psychologist?

Best of luck

 

[LizzyM]

HIPAA, not HIPPA

 

[CheeseCucumberSandwich]

HIPAA, not HIPPA

Ouch, I always get this wrong. Thanks for reminding me!

 

[CheeseCucumberSandwich]

This blog post may help: How I'm Managing Medical School with OCD - Osmosis - A Better Way To Learn

Evidence shows that EX/RP and CBT can help treat OCD.

Have you found a great psychiatrist and psychologist?

Best of luck

Hi Ironclad.

Thank you for this post! Yes, I have a good therapist, and CBT is a great method of therapy for me. What I found is most helpful is talking about what I'm afraid is a HIPAA violation, and she'll say "no you're fine, here's why blah blah blah...".

 

[GeneticsGirl]

Hi CheeseCucumberSandwich,

I know this thread is a couple months old but I just wanted to reach out because I really identify with your post. I too experience anxiety and OCD, and I worked as a medical scribe for a year. My OCD made the job really unpleasant for me. I also obsess over honesty, but my biggest problem wasn't obsessing over HIPAA (this is something I do though) but rather I worked incredibly long hours because I obsessively and excessively checked my charts over and over and over again to make sure they were perfect. I really hope that being let go doesn't "look bad" on your application because you were struggling as many humans do and there's nothing wrong with that. I would recommend, though it's hard, being fully honest if it comes up in your application/interview trail because it's not like you did anything unethical, you were just having a tough time. If I were on an admissions committee, I think I would appreciate your honesty and would see that someone that is obsessively honest like you would make a very good PA/doctor because you will likely be more honest than anyone. I am starting medical school in about a month and I feel with the right support I will be able to manage my anxiety, though it won't be easy. I hope the same for you, best of luck to you!