Rogue scribe

[AAATPase]

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How bad of an idea is becoming a rogue scribe?

I have been working as a scribe for a family practice clinic for over a year, and feel I have meshed well with my Doc and MA team. One concern that I have though, is how much the scribe company I work for may be charging the practice. There is talk about the pressure to see the 2-3 extra patients everyday to pay for the service. However, I am making less than $10 an hour, so I assume that the company that trained me may be charging at least double that. At this point, my schedule never changes, and I always work with the same Doc.

Would it be crazy to suggest to the Doc that I could become an independent scribe, thus halving the cost to the clinic and/or reducing the pressure to crank out patients?

The reason I bring this up is that I have always been a firm believer in the underpaid FM doc. I really don’t feel too much (any) of an allegiance to the company, but would love to help alleviate the pressure associated with being a financially viable primary care practice.

 

[mimelim]

What happens when you start medical school and the practice needs a scribe?

 

[AAATPase]

Based off of a recent conversation with my doc, they may not keep the scribe service around that much longer. The team I work with sees enough patients, but the other teams regularly come up 2-3 patients short at least. Sounds like in the next months or so, they may stop altogether.

Hmm. I have a feeling there are enough scribe companies out there, that should I get in this year they would not have trouble finding another service. (I could be wrong). Perhaps I train another rogue scribe? (This obviously comes with the trouble of not having a replacement with sick days).

 

[Catalystik]

Re-read the contract you signed with the scribe company. There may be some language included regarding the scenario you propose either there, or in the document to which the clinic agreed.

 

[WingedOx]

For some reason this was the first thing that popped into my head...

/but yeah, look at your contract.

 

[HinduHammer]

While the contract surely exists, it is rather un-enforceable in that it requires someone going to the scribe company and tattling, then the scribe company deciding to take legal action (which would get around and really leave a bad taste in other peoples' mouths), and finally the actual resolution -- that the FM practice would not employ you but highly doubt it would go back to using the scribe service that just sued them or threatened to sue them with a cease-and-desist order. They may also sue you, but really highly doubt that and if you just stop rogue scribing they would have no basis to continue suing you anyway.

 

[AAATPase]

That’s a good call, I’ll check. From what I remember off the top of my head, the contract stated that I would not work for another scribe company, but omitted self-employment. (Speaking of which, there seems to be an unnecessary amount of these companies in my area)

The idea of ending up in a legal battle seems a bit hilarious to me. I think it would cost a full days wages to simply shake a lawyer’s hand, never mind receive any legal counsel.

I guess that’s the nature of the business. It’s unfortunate that a job at Wendy’s pays higher, given the quality of people scribing. Nothing like graduating near the top of your class to make less than you did in high school-while the doc who mentors you pays out the nose for you to take an HPI.

There should be a company called SDN Scribes. Pay is 150% the competition, and training is done to help other premeds and not a company. Docs would pay less for the scribes, and scribes would make more for their time. Applications would be reviewed based on the recommendation of peers to ensure quality scribes.