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Rise of virtual medical scribe jobs in the United States

In recent years, there’s been a high demand for virtual medical scribes in the United States due to the adoption of electronic health records (EHRs) and telemedicine. 

Healthcare providers (HPs) seek to streamline documentation processes, reduce clerical errors, and improve patient care quality. 

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated this shift, highlighting the demands for remote medical services and roles. One of them is a virtual medical scribe.

If you’re planning to apply for medical scribe jobs virtual, read this guide to decide if this is the right role for you. 

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What is a Virtual Medical Scribe?

what is medical scribe jobs virtual

A virtual medical scribe assists HPs by documenting patient encounters in real time from a remote location. 

One of their tasks is entering medical data into EHRs, freeing physicians from the responsibilities of handling administrative tasks. Because of this, doctors can focus more on patient care. 

Virtual scribes also listen to patient encounters in secure video or audio connections and enter accurate medical records.

Career benefits

Experience in the medical field

Being a virtual medical scribe gives you practical experience in the healthcare industry. They can familiarize themselves with medical terminology and procedures, which can be highly beneficial if they want to pursue a career in medicine. 

Less stress for doctors

Because virtual scribes handle administrative tasks, doctors can better focus on interacting with their patients. This also gives doctors a better work-life balance. A pilot study in family medicine showed that scribes reduced charting time by an average of 5.1 hours per week, improving doctors’ work-life balance and job satisfaction without negatively affecting patient experience. 

Flexibility for scribes and doctors

Virtual scribes can work at home or anywhere with a secure internet connection. They can also work at an earlier or later timezone, as long as it overlaps with the physicians’ scheduled appointments. 

One out of five workers teleworked in August 2023

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About one in five (19.5 percent) workers teleworked or worked at home for pay in August 2023. The telework rate — the number of people who teleworked or worked at home for pay as a percentage of people who were working — has been in the range of 17.9 percent to 20.0 percent between October 2022 and August 2023. These data are not adjusted for potential seasonal variations.

Career progression 

Your experience as a scribe can open multiple doors to advanced job opportunities in healthcare. For example, you can apply in medical coding, urgent care, health informatics, or clinical research after working as a virtual medical scribe. 

medical scribe virtual career progression

Job responsibilities 

Requirements: 

  • High school diploma

  • (Optional) Healthcare-related degree or coursework

  • Proficiency in medical terminology and anatomy

  • Excellent listening and typing skills 

  • Ability to work independently 

  • Time management skills 

  • Basic knowledge of medical terminology

Responsibilities:

  • Documenting patient encounters accurately

  • Entering electronic medical record and patient information into EHR systems

  • Assisting with patient file management

  • Document follow-up notes, exam results, and procedures

  • Compliance with healthcare regulations and policies 

  • Answer query from patients

Explore Medical Scribe Jobs Virtual: Transforming Healthcare Workflows with Remote Precision

Discover how virtual medical scribe jobs streamline healthcare workflows by handling documentation remotely. Free up your time to focus on patient care while improving efficiency and accuracy. Join the revolution in healthcare with flexible, tech-driven solutions designed for modern practices.

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Work environment and culture  

Work environment

Virtual medical scribes work remotely, often from home offices, private office spaces, or coworking spaces. They require a fast and reliable internet connection, a quiet workspace, and the ability to focus for long periods of time. 

Culture

Their work culture highly values accuracy, confidentiality, and timely documentation. They also work in shifts that align or overlap with the operating hours of HPs, which may include evenings, early mornings, or weekends. 

How to Apply for Virtual Medical Scribe Jobs

Find reputable companies

Search for medical scribe service providers. Browse LinkedIn, Glassdoor, or Trustpilot to see what their hires and clients say about their culture. 

Update your CV or resume

Update your resume and ensure it’s presented in a clean, professional design. Avoid highly contrasting colors. Always submit in PDF form. Tip: upload your resume to Google Drive so you can share a viewable link if a potential employer asks for it. 

Prepare for your interviews

Expect to answer questions about medical terminology, EHR systems, and your time management skills. If you want to test your skills, you can browse Udemy, Coursera, or LinkedIn for courses related to medical transcription. 

Salary and benefits 

Salaries vary based on a scribe’s years of experience, skills, education, and location. Some states in the US pay higher than others. On average, you can expect to earn between $12 to $20 per hour as a virtual scribe. 

Most companies offer benefits such as health insurance, paid time off (PTOs), and allowances for professional development. Some employers also reward performance-based bonuses and incentives. 

Training and certification

As an aspiring virtual scribe, companies and HPs expect you to be certified or trained in the following: 

  • EHR systems 

  • Medical terminology

  • Anatomy courses 

  • Shadowing senior virtual scribes

Nationally acknowledged certifications aren’t always required, but having one from organizations like the American Healthcare Documentation Professionals Group (AHDPG) can increase your chances of being hired right away. 

What lies ahead for virtual scribes 

what lies ahead for medical scribe jobs virtual

As healthcare offices and workflows are increasingly becoming virtual, the demand for virtual medical scribes will not dwindle soon. Your opportunities for careers in healthcare will be vast. You can advance to medical coding, health information management, clinical research, and/or physician assistants. You just need to acquire the required years of experience and certifications. 

About Nathan Barz, CEO, DocVA

Nathan Barz is dedicated to integrating virtual assistants into healthcare practices across the United States, Canada, and beyond. With firsthand experience in healthcare, he has successfully implemented virtual medical assistant services in numerous practices, improving profitability and service quality and reducing staff burnout. Nathan firmly believes virtual assistants are the solution to addressing staffing shortages and economic challenges in the healthcare industry.

View all posts by Nathan Barz, CEO, DocVA