Overview
Wondering if a Medical Transcriptionist and a Medical Scribe are the same? Well, the answer to this question is a big no. Medical Scribes are not the same as Medical Transcriptionists. However, they both take some of the burden off the physician’s shoulders. Let us in the article explore who they are and how they differ.
Who are Medical Scribes?
Medical Scribes are a kind of personal assistant to the doctor and are there during every step of the patient encounter. Their main role is to gather information in order to create and maintain patient medical records. A Medical Scribe sits at the computer in one corner of the exam room listens to the doctor-patient interactions, unobtrusively takes notes, and meticulously enters all the relevant data directly into the EMR. In short, they take care of all the documentation and paperwork on behalf of the physician, in real-time.
Medical Scribes basically work in any of the following two ways:
Either, they closely observe the patient-doctor interaction, sitting quietly in the corner of the exam room, typing quickly, and focusing onto the computer screen to enter all notes on the patient’s chart.
OR
They are remotely connected to the exam room via a HIPAA-compliant secure audio connection. They listen to the doctor-patient interaction through a microphone attached to their computer or laptop and enter notes onto the patient’s chart in real-time.
Who are Medical Transcriptionists?
Medical Transcriptionists are not something new. They have been around since the 1960s. Physicians dictate their notes into a recording device. The Medical Transcriptionist listens to the dictated notes and converts them into clear, organized typed records. They listen to the recordings with the help of a headset and use a foot pedal that is configured to the computer to pause, rewind or forward as needed. Medical Transcriptionists work in a different space within the hospital itself or in companies that offer transcription services.
The Verdict
To sum up, Medical Scribes and Medical Transcriptionists are not really the same. While they both help the physician to relieve the documentation overload to some extent, their job roles and responsibilities are different and necessitate specialized training. However, both the Medical Scribe and the Medical Transcriptionist work towards improving physicians’ productivity and enhancing the patient experience. If you are a doctor looking to eliminate hassle, save time and improve patient care download our advanced mobile app Scribe4Me right away. It’s so simple to set up and use. Get started now! It’s time you focus on patients rather than machines and start working medically instead of clerically! Get the app now! With the Scribe4Me app, all medical documentation is in the palm of your hand.