ScribeAmerica -- drug screening?

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umdpremed123496

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I just got a job with ScribeAmerica. I already had my first vocab test and they still haven't done our drug screening. They haven't taken our immunology forms yet though, but they said we would need to provide them very soon (potentially the next training day). Should I still expect a drug screening? If so, when? Do they randomly screen scribes at the hospital throughout employment or is that just something required in the paperwork?

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It's usually the hospital the requires the drug screen, but yes you'll eventually get one, but only one in the beginning and never again


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Why give up an opportunity for scribing to do drugs?
Not saying you do, but just kinda throwing it out there for any peanut brain that decides to do such a thing.
 
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Medicine has no tolerance for substance abuse. Easy way to blow your future. I get that many people play while in college. Just know what the consequences are. If you can't deal with the possible cost than don't put yourself at risk.
 
I've been scribing with ScribeAmerica for 5 months now. They don't do random screenings, just the initial one during the "onboarding" process. But as others posted above, weigh the risks and rewards.
 
I'm an onsite manager for SA - it's usually part of the contract with the hospital/physician's group to have the UDS done there by the hospital. There won't be f/u screens unless you are hurt on the job or some other special circumstance. As far as the immunology records and such - - we usually try to wait a little bit through the training process to see if you'll fail out so we don't waste the hospital's time.
 
I'm going to echo the advice that you should stop using non-medicinal drugs right now and stay clean indefinitely if you are actually committed to being a health professional of any kind.

I think it is awful when public high schools randomly drug test students and then expel them. However, health professionals are very different and need to be drug-free for these reasons:

1. When health professionals make mistakes, people die. This applies equally to secretaries, nurses, and doctors. Look at the Liberian man who died of Ebola virus disease in Texas because they lost track of the note saying he was in Liberia a few days prior. A lost note may have cost him his life. They sent him home for three days and he got much sicker, eventually dying. As a patient, I want to make sure everyone in my care team is not high on drugs. Same goes for airline pilots.

2. Health professionals have increased opportunity to steal drugs.

3. Health professionals should model good health behaviors for their patients. This is less of an issue for a scribe, but definitely an issue for a nurse or doctor. How can you look a patient in the eye and tell them to stop using cocaine if you, as their doctor, smoke weed for fun? I know that marijuana is less dangerous than cocaine, and you probably know that, but your patients may not. It has to do with credibility and not science.
 
Crack is whack, yo. Don't get it twisted.

But if you do get it twisted, make sure to turn yourself in to the local authorities afterwards! It's the right thing to do!
 
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Alright guys, I get that drugs and medicinal career don't mix. But I'm only talking about occasional recreational weed here and as many of you are aware, it will be legalized within 10 years. If you have any common sense you know it's not as dangerous as "crack" or cocaine, which I'm not nearly stupid enough to even attempt.

Either way, thanks for the info. I'm not going to "show up high" or kill a patient b/c I get high once a week when I don't have to work or have schoolwork. If been able to easily not smoke for over 2 months ever since I knew I'd be possibly getting this job, so I'm not "addicted" either. Like someone said, because undergrad yo.
 
. I'm not going to "show up high" or kill a patient b/c I get high once a week when I don't have to work or have schoolwork. .

That's the employer's prerogative. People voluntarily get treated at that hospital on the pretense that the staff are not high on the clock or engage in recreational drugs in their off time.

Whether or not the drugs become legal, that does not change what the employer required for employment.
 
That's the employer's prerogative. People voluntarily get treated at that hospital on the pretense that the staff are not high on the clock or engage in recreational drugs in their off time.

Whether or not the drugs become legal, that does not change what the employer required for employment.
Well, being the devils advocate, why would this go for alcohol too?
While all the facts are out about marijuana currently, it's a way to de stress, that may be a healthier option than alcohol. (No source)
I believe the employee should be able to do what he wants freely off the clock, barring illegal drugs. Which in CO, weed is a legal drug.
Case in point, you shouldn't separate recreational drugs and alcohol.


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Well, being the devils advocate, why would this go for alcohol too?
While all the facts are out about marijuana currently, it's a way to de stress, that may be a healthier option than alcohol. (No source)
I believe the employee should be able to do what he wants freely off the clock, barring illegal drugs. Which in CO, weed is a legal drug.
Case in point, you shouldn't separate recreational drugs and alcohol.


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Are doctors in CO allowed to smoke weed while employed at hospitals?

Morally and logically yes, it should apply to alcohol. However like I said, if the employer is ok with alcohol consumption then that is the end of the debate.
 
Gray areas not yet considered. Legal at the state level does not mean legal at the federal level. Also, employers can technically require employees to do or not do lots of things and your contract may have very little to do with law. Regardless of the our state law legalizing marijuana, everyone affiliated with the hospital are told there is a zero tolerance policy and that can be enforced on both students and hospital employees. So what you think is right, may matter very little for the hospital. Don't assume your views will matter later if they ever find out.
 
Gray areas not yet considered. Legal at the state level does not mean legal at the federal level. Also, employers can technically require employees to do or not do lots of things and your contract may have very little to do with law. Regardless of the our state law legalizing marijuana, everyone affiliated with the hospital are told there is a zero tolerance policy and that can be enforced on both students and hospital employees. So what you think is right, may matter very little for the hospital. Don't assume your views will matter later if they ever find out.
I agree. Just adhere to the hospitals polices. That's all you have to do.


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I'm an onsite manager for SA - it's usually part of the contract with the hospital/physician's group to have the UDS done there by the hospital. There won't be f/u screens unless you are hurt on the job or some other special circumstance. As far as the immunology records and such - - we usually try to wait a little bit through the training process to see if you'll fail out so we don't waste the hospital's time.
At what point in the process is the drug screening most often done by the hospital? After training? Or during? Or at the same time as the immunology records are turned in?
 
At what point in the process is the drug screening most often done by the hospital? After training? Or during? Or at the same time as the immunology records are turned in?

My drug test was done during my three day in-class training. I went after the second day. This is right after immunology records were submitted. It's definitely better to get it done asap.
 
Medicine has no tolerance for substance abuse. Easy way to blow your future. I get that many people play while in college. Just know what the consequences are. If you can't deal with the possible cost than don't put yourself at risk.

Not always true. You can find leniency if you self report your drug abuse issues. We had one doc come and speak with us that would use anything under the sun all the way up to heroin and sufentanil got help and still sees patients while he runs a program in the hospital for beginning care in substance abuse, and at least according to him many of his patients are nurses and physicians.
 
Not always true. You can find leniency if you self report your drug abuse issues. We had one doc come and speak with us that would use anything under the sun all the way up to heroin and sufentanil got help and still sees patients while he runs a program in the hospital for beginning care in substance abuse, and at least according to him many of his patients are nurses and physicians.
Maybe I should clarify, there is no tolerance (or extremely little since there are always anecdotle cases with an exception) on the way into medicine. Once you are in the field I think there are ways to redeem yourself, but when someone on an admissions committee has to decide whether or not to give a highly competitive spot to you... Let me just say that you don't need to give them an easy way to say no. But if you all want to argue and try to find loop holes good luck. Do whatever YOU think is best. Just don't go complaining if/when you have to deal with the negative consequences to your decisions despite the clear warnings.
 
Maybe I should clarify, there is no tolerance (or extremely little since there are always anecdotle cases with an exception) on the way into medicine. Once you are in the field I think there are ways to redeem yourself, but when someone on an admissions committee has to decide whether or not to give a highly competitive spot to you... Let me just say that you don't need to give them an easy way to say no. But if you all want to argue and try to find loop holes good luck. Do whatever YOU think is best. Just don't go complaining if/when you have to deal with the negative consequences to your decisions despite the clear warnings.

Nah I'm good I doubt I'll ever try and apply to med school again.
 
case in point, employers can set whatever hiring rules they want so long as they don't discriminate...legality matters naught!

Saint Vincent Hospital will no longer hire individuals who are tobacco or nicotine users and all job offers will be contingent on a negative nicotine screen. If you are currently a tobacco or nicotine user, we encourage you to cease use of these products for the health of yourself and your family. Once you have become tobacco and nicotine free, we hope you will consider applying for a position at Saint Vincent Hospital.
 
Not to derail the thread, but as far as drug testing goes with Scribe America how extensive? I take 60mg vyvanse daily prescribed my psychiatrist, do I need a note or something? We were just told to go get one, nothing else.
 
Not to derail the thread, but as far as drug testing goes with Scribe America how extensive? I take 60mg vyvanse daily prescribed my psychiatrist, do I need a note or something? We were just told to go get one, nothing else.
If you are taking a prescribed drug, don't worry about it. If it comes up, the provide a doctors note, but if not(and I bet they will) don't bring it up. This conversation was geared more towards illegal drugs, such as marijuana.
 
Not to derail the thread, but as far as drug testing goes with Scribe America how extensive? I take 60mg vyvanse daily prescribed my psychiatrist, do I need a note or something? We were just told to go get one, nothing else.

As @COLivin mentioned, you should have nothing to worry about. There drug test is a full panel, if I'm not mistaken, so it should pop up.
 
I'm going to echo the advice that you should stop using non-medicinal drugs right now and stay clean indefinitely if you are actually committed to being a health professional of any kind.

I think it is awful when public high schools randomly drug test students and then expel them. However, health professionals are very different and need to be drug-free for these reasons:

1. When health professionals make mistakes, people die. This applies equally to secretaries, nurses, and doctors. Look at the Liberian man who died of Ebola virus disease in Texas because they lost track of the note saying he was in Liberia a few days prior. A lost note may have cost him his life. They sent him home for three days and he got much sicker, eventually dying. As a patient, I want to make sure everyone in my care team is not high on drugs. Same goes for airline pilots.

2. Health professionals have increased opportunity to steal drugs.

3. Health professionals should model good health behaviors for their patients. This is less of an issue for a scribe, but definitely an issue for a nurse or doctor. How can you look a patient in the eye and tell them to stop using cocaine if you, as their doctor, smoke weed for fun? I know that marijuana is less dangerous than cocaine, and you probably know that, but your patients may not. It has to do with credibility and not science.
yea stop using "non medicinal" drugs like the codeine, oxys, Xanax and abilify and start using the real medicines that Co evolved with us.
 
What kind of drug test does ScribeAmerica typically use? (Ex: Urine, Hair Follicle, Blood, etc)
 
Medicine has no tolerance for substance abuse. Easy way to blow your future. I get that many people play while in college. Just know what the consequences are. If you can't deal with the possible cost than don't put yourself at risk.

I know several hospital doctors who do blow (cocaine) regularly though. Pun totally intended
 
@umdpremed123496

Remember weed takes a long time to clear from your system, especially if you smoke regularly- anywhere from a couple of weeks to three months. Try exercising a lot.

THC is fat soluble not water soluble.

Pretty idiotic that someone who is addicted to crack can pass a test within a couple of days but a recreational weed user has to wait a few months to be clean...
 
I had one when I first started working with them, then a random one a few months later, then >1 year since the second one. I would say safe bet they will test around 1 year when you have to do your TB test.
 
Why give up an opportunity for scribing to do drugs?
Not saying you do, but just kinda throwing it out there for any peanut brain that decides to do such a thing.

With proper timing and discipline, you can do both. I wouldn't because I "D.A.R.E to resist drugs and violence".

For OP. 2 weeks wait for a urine test is usually enough. If you eat a lot and drink a lot of water (tons of it bro, the goal is to make sure whatever comes out of you is pretty much water with some extra stuff because you eat a lot), you should be fine with that amount of time. Do not make it your first piss of the day either.
 
I'm going to echo the advice that you should stop using non-medicinal drugs right now and stay clean indefinitely if you are actually committed to being a health professional of any kind.

I think it is awful when public high schools randomly drug test students and then expel them. However, health professionals are very different and need to be drug-free for these reasons:

1. When health professionals make mistakes, people die. This applies equally to secretaries, nurses, and doctors. Look at the Liberian man who died of Ebola virus disease in Texas because they lost track of the note saying he was in Liberia a few days prior. A lost note may have cost him his life. They sent him home for three days and he got much sicker, eventually dying. As a patient, I want to make sure everyone in my care team is not high on drugs. Same goes for airline pilots.

2. Health professionals have increased opportunity to steal drugs.

3. Health professionals should model good health behaviors for their patients. This is less of an issue for a scribe, but definitely an issue for a nurse or doctor. How can you look a patient in the eye and tell them to stop using cocaine if you, as their doctor, smoke weed for fun? I know that marijuana is less dangerous than cocaine, and you probably know that, but your patients may not. It has to do with credibility and not science.


1. When people who drive cars make mistakes, people die.

2. Getting drugs is pretty simple. It's transporting and distributing them that's difficult (because of the coppers). Buying them is easy though. People will take your money I promise.

3. I've seen a doctor drink alcohol for fun before. I was not abhorred by his want of drug induced pleasure. I don't know how other people feel.
 
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