Seeing doctors isn’t quite as easy anymore, especially when they’re overloaded with administrative tasks instead of having time to see patients. That’s where a part time virtual medical scribe can make a real difference, handling documentation efficiently so doctors can focus on patient care.
A recent poll says that clinicians spend more than 28 hours every week just on administrative and rote duties. Given the number of hours they need to finish documentation on top of patient work, it’s no wonder many of them suffer from burnout.
Luckily, part-time virtual medical scribes are an affordable and accessible solution to this issue. Read on to learn how these scribes improve your practice and how you can find the right one.
The part-time virtual medical scribe significantly improves my workflow!
How do virtual medical scribes solve your documentation problems?
Simply put, virtual scribes take over the administrative burden usually given to physicians. These scribes manage all documentation work from their own home so healthcare providers can focus on their patients.
Here are other ways virtual scribes solve your documentation challenges:
Virtual scribes record and update medical notes in the electronic medical records or EMR system in real time.
Healthcare professionals no longer need to stay late since scribes can already take care of your patient charts, follow-ups, and billing.
Virtual scribes pay attention to detail and governing regulations so you can be confident that all records remain accurate and HIPAA compliant.
What benefits do you get from hiring remote medical scribes?
Virtual scribes offer many benefits besides just managing your administrative and documentation tasks! Let’s discuss their pros one by one.
Better experience for patients
Physicians are more present and focused during consultations since they don’t have to worry about taking notes. Their attentiveness also invites patients to open up more and improves the overall experience during the check-up.
More affordable option
Remote scribes save you more money in the long run since they’re not as expensive as hiring a full-time employee! Since virtual scribes can work part-time, you don’t need to spend on a full-time salary, benefits, and other costs spent on onsite staff.
Flexible services
Part-time scribes are more flexible with their schedules, so you can increase or decrease their work hours depending on the volume of your patients. This flexibility also means you only pay for the extent of services you get.
Higher accuracy in paperwork
Remote scribes are professionally trained to spot errors and ensure your documentation complies with HIPAA regulations. They are also medical terminology experts, making writing medical notes second nature.
Solving burnout
Burnout is very common among doctors because they spend so much time on documentation. Thanks to virtual scribes, physicians can now relieve the added strain and regain their work-life balance.
Physicians Burnout Before Using a Scribe
Physicians Burnout After Using a Scribe
This pie chart visualizes the impact of medical scribes on physician burnout. Before using a scribe, 70.3% of physicians reported burnout, which dropped to 51.4% after implementation. In contrast, physicians without scribes saw burnout rise from 50% to 60.3%. This highlights the effectiveness of scribes in reducing physician stress.
Who can benefit the best from virtual medical scribes?
Remote scribes are great for any type of healthcare practice but there are certain cases when virtual scribes just become a necessity. Here are some of those:
Small and medium-sized clinics
These practices typically struggle with understaffing and may not have enough budget to hire another full-time employee. With virtual scribes, you don’t have to spend big amounts of money just to get extra help.
Seasonal demands
Some clinics experience fluctuating or seasonal demands with regard to the number of patients. Remote scribes are a perfect fit for these practices as their work hours can easily be changed depending on current demand.
Healthier work-life balance
Doctors typically work beyond clinic hours just to finish their charting and documentation. Hiring virtual scribes to handle this helps physicians take back their time and have a better work-life balance.
Maximize Efficiency with a Part-Time Virtual Medical Scribe
Maximize efficiency in your medical practice with a part-time virtual medical scribe. By handling documentation tasks remotely, a virtual scribe frees up valuable time, allowing healthcare professionals to focus on patient care. This streamlined approach reduces administrative burdens, improves accuracy, and enhances overall productivity in the clinical setting.
How do you find the perfect virtual scribe?
So, you’ve now decided to hire a virtual medical scribe for your practice. The next challenge is how do you find the right one. Here are some tips:
Look for the right qualities
Many qualities make up a good remote scribe. However, here are the top traits you should look out for:
Detail-oriented
Strong knowledge of medical terminology and EMR system
Great communicator
Research on service providers and platforms
It’s easy to find service providers or platforms where you can hire scribes. However, always do your own research by looking for or talking to people who have firsthand experience with them.
Screen your scribes
If you’re at a loss on what to ask a potential scribe in an interview, here are some examples:
Can their schedule adjust to your required working hours?
How familiar are they with medical terms and systems?
Do they have relevant scribing experience?
Keep a healthy workplace with virtual medical scribes
Overloading your physicians with patient work and administrative burdens only leads to poor quality of patient care and low job satisfaction.
Start solving this problem by hiring part-time virtual medical scribes in your practice!
With the help of remote medical scribes, your doctors can prioritize urgent care for patients and regain their personal time.
Contact us today to get started on hiring a virtual medical scribe and transforming your practice into a health workplace.