Scribe (ER)
Encyclopedia
An ER scribe is an employee who works in the emergency department
(ED) of a hospital
. Their duties include overseeing the documentation of each patient's visit to the ED, and acting as the physician
's personal assistant. A scribe works with one physician per shift, although they may work for multiple doctors.
The prospective scribe is required to learn a large amount of medical terminology
, as well as become familiar with basic human anatomy
. Each program has their own training regimen, and some are more structured than others. For example, some programs require that all new scribes take an official graded course prior to working. Other programs allow the scribe to start in the ED immediately, but under supervision. Training is intensive and usually lasts for about 1 month under the direct supervision of a senior scribe.
The first scribe programs were based in Reno, Nevada
. In 1995 Dr. Elliott Trotter, M.D., a physician practicing in Fort Worth, Texas
discovered the Nevada program and decided to start a program at Harris Methodist Hospital. The program has grown larger and spawned "copy" programs in several other cities. Some of these programs have retained the original program, while others have elected to create their own from scratch, using the original as a template.
There are a few programs, however, that have expanded beyond the original model and its core subjects, including more pertinent and up to date information. Even fewer programs have included advanced training levels beyond the basic training received by all scribes. These programs utilize standardized test
s to certify scribes as being adequately prepared to work in a clinical environment. They also include periodic updates to keep the programs on the "leading edge" of medicine.
For each patient seen in the ED, a scribe will:
Scribe positions are often filled by college students pursuing careers in medicine. Many plan to attend medical school and earn their MD
or DO
degree. A smaller number plan on becoming a physician assistant
(PA). Pre-health students benefit from the experience they gain working in the emergency department. These students are also able to build relationships with medical practitioners who are usually willing to write letters of recommendation for professional school applications on the students' behalf. Some scribe organizations have opted to not hire college students pursuing medical careers, due to the subsequent high rate of attrition.
Currently there are several scribe companies in the United States.
Emergency department
An emergency department , also known as accident & emergency , emergency room , emergency ward , or casualty department is a medical treatment facility specialising in acute care of patients who present without prior appointment, either by their own means or by ambulance...
(ED) of a hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
. Their duties include overseeing the documentation of each patient's visit to the ED, and acting as the physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
's personal assistant. A scribe works with one physician per shift, although they may work for multiple doctors.
The prospective scribe is required to learn a large amount of medical terminology
Medical terminology
Medical terminology is a vocabulary for accurately describing the human body and associated components, conditions, processes and process in a science-based manner. Some examples are: R.I.C.E., trapezius, and latissimus dorsi. It is to be used in the medical and nursing fields...
, as well as become familiar with basic human anatomy
Human anatomy
Human anatomy is primarily the scientific study of the morphology of the human body. Anatomy is subdivided into gross anatomy and microscopic anatomy. Gross anatomy is the study of anatomical structures that can be seen by the naked eye...
. Each program has their own training regimen, and some are more structured than others. For example, some programs require that all new scribes take an official graded course prior to working. Other programs allow the scribe to start in the ED immediately, but under supervision. Training is intensive and usually lasts for about 1 month under the direct supervision of a senior scribe.
The first scribe programs were based in Reno, Nevada
Reno, Nevada
Reno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area...
. In 1995 Dr. Elliott Trotter, M.D., a physician practicing in Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
discovered the Nevada program and decided to start a program at Harris Methodist Hospital. The program has grown larger and spawned "copy" programs in several other cities. Some of these programs have retained the original program, while others have elected to create their own from scratch, using the original as a template.
There are a few programs, however, that have expanded beyond the original model and its core subjects, including more pertinent and up to date information. Even fewer programs have included advanced training levels beyond the basic training received by all scribes. These programs utilize standardized test
Standardized test
A standardized test is a test that is administered and scored in a consistent, or "standard", manner. Standardized tests are designed in such a way that the questions, conditions for administering, scoring procedures, and interpretations are consistent and are administered and scored in a...
s to certify scribes as being adequately prepared to work in a clinical environment. They also include periodic updates to keep the programs on the "leading edge" of medicine.
For each patient seen in the ED, a scribe will:
- Accompany the physician into the exam room
- Document the history of the patient's chief complaint
- Document the Review-of-Systems (ROS) and physical examinationPhysical examinationPhysical examination or clinical examination is the process by which a doctor investigates the body of a patient for signs of disease. It generally follows the taking of the medical history — an account of the symptoms as experienced by the patient...
- Enter vital signsVital signsVital signs are measures of various physiological statistics, often taken by health professionals, in order to assess the most basic body functions. Vital signs are an essential part of a case presentation. The act of taking vital signs normally entails recording body temperature, pulse rate ,...
and keep track of lab values - Look up pertinent past medical recordMedical recordThe terms medical record, health record, and medical chart are used somewhat interchangeably to describe the systematic documentation of a single patient's medical history and care across time within one particular health care provider's jurisdiction....
s - Keep track of and enter the results of imaging studies
- Type progress notes
- Enter the patient's discharge plan and any prescriptionsMedical prescriptionA prescription is a health-care program implemented by a physician or other medical practitioner in the form of instructions that govern the plan of care for an individual patient. Prescriptions may include orders to be performed by a patient, caretaker, nurse, pharmacist or other therapist....
Scribe positions are often filled by college students pursuing careers in medicine. Many plan to attend medical school and earn their MD
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
or DO
Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine is a professional doctoral degree for physicians in the United States. Holders of the MD degree, Doctor of Medicine, have the same rights, privileges and responsibilities as osteopathic physicians in the United States.The American Osteopathic Association’s Commission...
degree. A smaller number plan on becoming a physician assistant
Physician assistant
A physician assistant/associate ' is a healthcare professional trained and licensed to practice medicine with limited supervision by a physician.-General description:...
(PA). Pre-health students benefit from the experience they gain working in the emergency department. These students are also able to build relationships with medical practitioners who are usually willing to write letters of recommendation for professional school applications on the students' behalf. Some scribe organizations have opted to not hire college students pursuing medical careers, due to the subsequent high rate of attrition.
Currently there are several scribe companies in the United States.
External links
- Videos on ER Scribe Experience
- News Article: "Aiding ER doctors"
- http://iamscribe.com/ Click this link for PhysAssist Scribes.
- "What The Scribe Do"
- "Scribes let doctors focus on patients not computers"