As technology advances, so does the field of healthcare and medicine. But while doctors are given more opportunities to treat their patients more effectively than ever before, they are also faced with another problem—a tremendous amount of workload.
Electronic Health Records (EHRs) bring a wealth of data, such as patient information and their individual treatment plans, but this might result in numerous hours of paperwork and record-keeping. Medical scribes are available to help, but there is an important question that demands an answer: Is a virtual medical scribe worth investing in?
To put your mind at ease, let’s dive deeper into the world of a virtual medical scribe.
THE ROLE OF A VIRTUAL MEDICAL SCRIBE
Medical scribes help ensure accuracy and efficiency in documenting patients’ medical records. Traditionally, they are not part of the hospital staff but rather the physicians’ personal representatives and employees. But nowadays, some hospitals hire virtual medical scribes from agencies to give aid to healthcare professionals.
However, unlike an on-site medical scribe, a virtual medical scribe provides real-time administrative assistance without being physically present at a healthcare institution. During appointments, they connect through a HIPAA-compliant video conferencing app that works on both Mac and PC desktops, as well as on smartphones and tablets.
Virtual medical scribes document the following patient information:
- History of present illness (HPI)
- Physical examination
- Family, social, and past medical history
- Medications or treatments
- Surgical history
- Lab results
- Procedures
- Allergies
- Radiographic diagnosis
With their professional help, they not only lower the burden of extensive documentation on physicians but also improve efficiency, workflow, and patient-physician interaction.
ESSENTIAL SKILLS OF A VIRTUAL MEDICAL SCRIBE
1. MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE
Medical scribes have clinical experience and in-depth knowledge of medical jargon. Because they are familiar with medical terminologies, they can speak the same language as physicians. Thus, it is easy for them to understand and document patient information, as well as communicate with doctors for any clarifications or concerns.
2. COMPUTER SKILLS
Because virtual medical scribes work remotely, being proficient in using computers is a necessary skill. During appointments, having a 60 WPM typing speed helps scribes write notes in the EHR while attentively listening to the patient and physician.
3. ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS
To achieve a high level of productivity in this career, scribes generally possess strong organizational skills. Besides documenting patient information, they also follow up on lab test results, medication orders, and referrals without a hitch.
4. ATTENTION TO DETAIL
In this field, any mistake is detrimental to a patient’s health. Thus, every detail on their chart needs to be factual. Scribes’ talent for spotting even the smallest detail minimizes the risk of error when transcribing.
5. EMPATHY AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS
Although medical scribes are not advised and are oftentimes prohibited from having direct interaction with patients, their empathy and communication skills make it possible for them to work effectively with physicians and other medical professionals.
OUTSOURCE WITH THE REMOTE GROUP
The Remote Group complies with the standards of the HIPAA Privacy Rule and provides healthcare virtual assistant services that actively safeguard confidential health information.
Get in touch with us and hire your own Medical Scribe, Medical Billing, Medical Receptionist, Virtual Pharmacist, or Telemedicine Support!
