Reliability is the single biggest complaint physicians have with physical scribes. Large medical scribe staffing companies simply cannot meet the needs of the physicians as the scribes are often pulled away from their work responsibility to focus on their education. Often medical scribes are medical school students pursuing nursing or medical school, and scribing is a short-term way to earn money.

The virtual scribe is simply more efficient and discreet. No more physical scribes standing around waiting for something to do between patients. Virtual scribes can be called upon when needed, and are typically paid on a productivity basis. Virtual scribes cost significantly less, which unburdens the physician so he or she can improve their work-life and family balance. The cost of physical scribes creates pressure to see more patients in order to cover their costs. A virtual medical scribe costs about $12,000 or $23,000, depending on the physician’s patient schedule. A physical scribe can earn between $27,000 and $48,000 per year, which will cost the employer (all in) between $32,000 and $58,000. The physician records the encounter and the virtual scribe enters encounter data into your native EMR. They navigate the EMR, can enter orders, locate labs, order prescriptions, add coding and billing information. The virtual scribe works in a remote location allowable by HIPAA, using their own hardware and software. Virtual scribes listen to the audio encounter, listen to the physician/patient interaction, and create notes within your EMR as directed by the physician. VIRTUAL SCRIBES provide an alternative to these concerns. Patients want this discreet time with their doctor.Retraining as scribes come and go at an extremely high rate.

Coordinating physician/scribe hours, vacations, and calls.

Time necessary to train scribes on specific EMRs.

Limited physical space for the extra person in the exam room.

The drawbacks to physical medical scribes : Using scribes will decrease their documentation time, enhance their patient interaction, and increase revenue – because self-documentation clicks in an EMR is simply not the best use of their time. Physicians are now hiring medical scribes to lessen their clerical responsibilities – and PRACTICE MEDICINE AGAIN.

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