Looking into a Gap Year Job/ Suggestions/ Advice? Questions about Scribing

[PreMedStudent55555]

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[Sunna12]

I have a ton of research already and I'm frankly tired of it so I'm not interested in a research assistant position. I am, however, interested in getting more experience in the medical field as I only have 200 hours of volunteering in a hospital and 100 hours of shadowing. I'm looking into being a medical scribe or being a hospital volunteer but I'm really interested in actually making some money before medical school so I am leaning towards being a medical scribe.
Questions:
1. Are there any other jobs I can perform that will hire someone with only a biology degree besides becoming a medical scribe?
2. How stressful is being a medical scribe? I see that I'll be typing notes and keeping track of times and etc. but I'm scared that I'll make a typo or possibly forget to remind a doctor about something or will I ease into it and get better with time? I will be applying for medical schools in the upcoming cycle and aim to hopefully start work around June after I have submitted all my applications and secondaries so I won't be juggling applications with scribe work but will I have time to prepare for interviews/ leave for interviews and etc?
3. Any recommendations on where I should apply? I think ScribeAmerica is the most well known but I live in NYC so yea.
4. How long of a commitment is there? Are there companies that have more lenient policies? While I want to work in my gap year, I also really want to take a break and go travel and spend time with my parents and relatives in other countries before I embark on this journey. So I am ideally looking for a position that is 6 months long?

1. I worked as a pharm tech in my gap year - I chose it over scribing because it paid more. Back during my job search days, scribing paid practically minimal wage because they counted on pre-meds wanting the clinical experience they offered- if you are actually interested in making some money, look into other jobs as well. Unfortunately they usually won't reveal the pay rate until you sit down for an interview with them.
2. No more stressful than medical school or being a doctor- you will have to speak to individual employers about this- some require a year minimum contract with so many hours per week.
3. Look up jobs near you
4. This varies from company to company- you would have to speak to individual employers at interview days or read the fine print in their job ads

 

[PreMedStudent55555]

1. I worked as a pharm tech in my gap year - I chose it over scribing because it paid more. Back during my job search days, scribing paid practically minimal wage because they counted on pre-meds wanting the clinical experience they offered- if you are actually interested in making some money, look into other jobs as well. Unfortunately they usually won't reveal the pay rate until you sit down for an interview with them.
2. No more stressful than medical school or being a doctor- you will have to speak to individual employers about this- some require a year minimum contract with so many hours per week.
3. Look up jobs near you
4. This varies from company to company- you would have to speak to individual employers at interview days or read the fine print in their job ads

How was the pharm tech position? Medical scribing is less than minimum wage where I am at and I have a lot of ECs already so I'm not really looking for something too intensive at the moment.

 

[Sunna12]

How was the pharm tech position? Medical scribing is less than minimum wage where I am at and I have a lot of ECs already so I'm not really looking for something too intensive at the moment.

It was great- good pay, good hours, holiday pay; got familiar with medications and common dosages I would later see again in med curriculum, learned about insurance issues and drug savings plans that would come up later in curriculum; pharmacists and team were pretty chill. It is very much a customer service job so that's a con, but knowing it was only for a year made it doable.

 

[Fresc_0]

I work for Scribeamerica, specifically employed with one the major ERs in NYC. I will say it has been an incredible learning experiencing, humbling in many ways, and will give you real glimpse into the many roles a physician today inhabits.
The pay is not great, but you make up for it with the experiences you will be able to talk about in your applications and interviews, the letters of reference you will be able to get from the physicians you work with.
What I will say specifically about being a scribe in NYC ER's is that it can get stressful at times. We see many patients a day, need to be able to multi task efficiently, and keep track of the patients we see. We work with many attendings, all of which have their own charting styles and preference which we need to adapt to and learn. In our location many scribes actually get transferred to outpatient positions due to not being able to keep up with the workflow.
Ask me any questions.

 

[Fresc_0]

4. How long of a commitment is there? Are there companies that have more lenient policies? While I want to work in my gap year, I also really want to take a break and go travel and spend time with my parents and relatives in other countries before I embark on this journey. So I am ideally looking for a position that is 6 months long?

You can work Full time (40 hours) or part time (20 hours).
I was able to put together a strong app, decent MCAT score working full time. Started working last year and planned for 2 GAP years.

 

[PreMedStudent55555]

I work for Scribeamerica, specifically employed with one the major ERs in NYC. I will say it has been an incredible learning experiencing, humbling in many ways, and will give you real glimpse into the many roles a physician today inhabits.
The pay is not great, but you make up for it with the experiences you will be able to talk about in your applications and interviews, the letters of reference you will be able to get from the physicians you work with.
What I will say specifically about being a scribe in NYC ER's is that it can get stressful at times. We see many patients a day, need to be able to multi task efficiently, and keep track of the patients we see. We work with many attendings, all of which have their own charting styles and preference which we need to adapt to and learn. In our location many scribes actually get transferred to outpatient positions due to not being able to keep up with the workflow.
Ask me any questions.

How are the coworkers? Do you feel the work environment can be toxic at times? I know scribe America requires a year of work but what if you leave after 6 months? Also what if you have an emergency opportunity like a medical school interview in short notice? Will they let you go?

 

[Fresc_0]

How are the coworkers? Do you feel the work environment can be toxic at times? I know scribe America requires a year of work but what if you leave after 6 months? Also what if you have an emergency opportunity like a medical school interview in short notice? Will they let you go?

Day to day, I work with attendings, nurses, PAs, resident doctors, and ER techs. They are my coworkers, given that individual scribes do not actually interact much in the workplace. The environment is anything but toxic (at least at my sites). There really is team comraderie and encouragement. Residents and attendings are always eager to teach and give advice on med school. We’re treated as important assets for the Er.

For the two ED sites we staff there is around 25-30 scribes on our roster (though only about 14-15 work on a given day). We look out for each other constantly and go to various lengths to provide coverage in emergency situations. We have on-call scribes that can pick up shifts with little notice, though it’s always better to avoid those situations and set up trades days in advance.

 

[Avulse]

I have a ton of research already and I'm frankly tired of it so I'm not interested in a research assistant position. I am, however, interested in getting more experience in the medical field as I only have 200 hours of volunteering in a hospital and 100 hours of shadowing. I'm looking into being a medical scribe or being a hospital volunteer but I'm really interested in actually making some money before medical school so I am leaning towards being a medical scribe.
Questions:
1. Are there any other jobs I can perform that will hire someone with only a biology degree besides becoming a medical scribe?
2. How stressful is being a medical scribe? I see that I'll be typing notes and keeping track of times and etc. but I'm scared that I'll make a typo or possibly forget to remind a doctor about something or will I ease into it and get better with time? I will be applying for medical schools in the upcoming cycle and aim to hopefully start work around June after I have submitted all my applications and secondaries so I won't be juggling applications with scribe work but will I have time to prepare for interviews/ leave for interviews and etc?
3. Any recommendations on where I should apply? I think ScribeAmerica is the most well known but I live in NYC so yea.
4. How long of a commitment is there? Are there companies that have more lenient policies? While I want to work in my gap year, I also really want to take a break and go travel and spend time with my parents and relatives in other countries before I embark on this journey. So I am ideally looking for a position that is 6 months long?

I worked as an ER scribe, got the position in June right before apps opened up. They know that their employees are mostly premeds (at least mine did haha) and they were sure to let us know to just communicate with them our schedules and goals for applying and interviewing and they would accommodate us. As for making mistakes while on the job, you WILL make mistakes, but that’s where learning takes place. Over time you’ll become an efficient scribe, and you’ll make connections with doctors. At the hospital where I worked the Head of the entire hospital was still a practicing ER doc, so that is an example of potential connections you might make. Overall great experience! Do iiiiiiitttttt

 

[eaglebaseball4]

I am a patient transporter at a medium to large size hospital. Anytime any patient leaves their room to get an X-ray, MRI, CT scan, endoscopy, etc. I go to their room and help move them onto a stretcher or wheelchair, and then walk with them to their destination in the hospital. I make $12 an hour, and I love the constant patient interaction. I am also in my gap year with only a Bio degree. I suggest transporting. Goodluck!

 

[Boola Boy]

Don't be a scribe. Don't be an EMT.

Get a job that will set you up for a stable, secure career in case medicine does not work out.

If you scribe and you don't get into medical school, what is your backup plan?

 

[oregonian19]

If it is at possible, see if you can get a scribe job with an organization that is not one of the large scribe companies (ScribeAmerica, Physassist, ScribeX, etc.).

I interviewed and was offered scribe jobs for both ScribeAmerica and a local healthcare organization. While I have never worked for ScribeAmerica, I was didn't feel particularly positive after my interview. All the managers/recruiters were fairly young (~24 years old) and had received several promotions in a short period of time with the company, which indicates to me there is high turnover. Because of the really low pay, no benefits, and general disregard for where I wanted to work (I felt like I was really reasonable with my desired commute time), it made me feel as though I would be disposable to them.

I accepted the job with the local organization and it's definitely more welcoming and provides more benefits (pay above minimum wage, consistent schedule, available insurance, 401k with match, mileage reimbursement, employee discounts, etc.), with more reasonable expectations (don't need to have a ridiculously high WPM or sign a 1-2 year committment). But what is probably the best about working for the local organization is I am only scribing for a single provider, which means I can form a solid relationship with them (LOR potential), and I have responsibilities beyond charting that are somewhat aligned with duties of a medical assistant.

That's just my two cents, but ultimately do what you think is best for you!