Pros and Cons of In-Person Medical Scribes in Practice

We often hear the question: How does a medical scribe help a physician?

Burnout among internists has become a significant topic of conversation in both medical practices and policy circles. Many hoped that the introduction of electronic health records (EHRs) would reduce some of the challenges associated with communication and documentation. While EHRs have improved certain aspects of care, they have also added new layers of complexity, particularly in the exam room. A common frustration for both patients and doctors is how the computer screen now replaces face-to-face eye contact. To address this issue, many clinicians have developed different strategies for managing the use of EHRs during patient visits.

One approach that is gaining more attention is the use of in-person medical scribes. A recent survey by the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) found that 35% of respondents reported using scribes in their practices. Feedback from members of the American College of Physicians (ACP) also suggests a rise in the use of scribes among healthcare providers.

In an ideal scenario, medical scribes support physicians by improving patient visits, lightening the physician's workload, and reducing burnout, all while working for a lower hourly rate. Furthermore, this job offers an entry point into the medical field for young professionals, especially students waiting to enter medical school.

 A study titled “Association of Medical Scribes in Primary Care with Physician Workflow and Patient Experience” revealed that 57% of patients felt their primary care doctor was able to spend more time with them and less time focused on their computer due to the help of a medical scribe. This suggests that medical scribes can bring value to certain practices. However, before hiring a scribe, whether online or in-person, it’s important to understand the common pros and cons of using them. Let’s take an honest look at the advantages and disadvantages of in-person medical scribes.

Pros of In-Person Medical Scribes

Although using scribes is not a complete solution to physician burnout or frustrations with EHRs, and may not be suitable for every clinician, it is an option worth considering. There are both costs and benefits involved, as well as important legal and ethical aspects to take into account. Let’s start with the advantages first: 

Improved Patient Care

In-person medical scribes provide valuable assistance to doctors by allowing them to concentrate fully on patient care. While the scribe handles note-taking, dictation, or charting in the EHR, the physician can remain focused on the patient. Essentially, scribes take care of the paperwork, which can otherwise overwhelm physicians. This shift allows the doctor to be more engaged, especially through non-verbal communication, such as eye contact. With fewer distractions, a physician can be more present with each patient, enhancing the quality of the visit. Research has shown that patients who experience more eye contact from their doctor feel better about their care, communication, and their relationship with the physician. In-person scribes help create this positive atmosphere.

Reduced Burnout

Doctors who work with medical scribes often report feeling more content with their jobs and the care they provide. A 2018 study highlighted that medical scribes reduced the time doctors spent on EHR documentation, leading to noticeable improvements in both physician productivity and job satisfaction. This suggests that having a scribe can help lower the risk of physician burnout.

Clinical Scribes Can Boost Revenue

When considering the pros and cons of medical scribes, one key benefit is their potential to increase a clinic’s revenue. Accurate documentation is essential to ensure that patients are billed correctly after their treatments. On the other hand, poor documentation can lead to incorrect billing, which could cause legal complications in the future.

Clinical scribes help by making sure that the correct information is captured in the patient records. This results in proper billing and helps the clinic maximize its revenue. Additionally, by ensuring accurate documentation, scribes help prevent potential legal issues that could arise from malpractice lawsuits, which could ultimately lead to financial losses.

They Can Enhance Team Productivity

Another significant advantage of clinical scribes is their ability to improve productivity in a practice. With scribes handling tasks like documentation, patient charting, note-taking, and billing, healthcare providers are free from these administrative duties.

By offloading these tasks, clinicians can dedicate more time to delivering high-quality care to their patients. This leads to shorter wait times and quicker diagnosis, boosting the clinic’s overall productivity as the team can treat more patients each day.

Cons of In-Person Medical Scribe

Now that you learned about the advantages of the in-person medical scribes, here are some certain drawbacks to consider before hiring an online medical scribe.

Require Time and Resources 

However, there are drawbacks to consider. Many physicians report that the cost of hiring a scribe can outweigh the benefits. Since scribes require proper training and supervision, alongside their salary (which often starts at $20k or more), doctors sometimes feel the need to increase their patient load to cover these expenses. This creates a cycle where more patients mean more note-taking, leading to more hours for the scribe and extra time for the physician to oversee their work. While adding more patients may slightly reduce costs, it doesn’t fully address the financial burden. As a result, costs remain high, and burnout continues to be a challenge.

Intrusiveness: Compromised Patient Privacy 

Another downside is the potential for scribes to disrupt the clinical setting. Imagine trying to write an email while someone watches over your shoulder or doing dishes with someone standing too close. It can be uncomfortable and might even affect the quality of the work. Some physicians feel that having a scribe present in the room during patient visits can make patients uneasy, possibly hindering their willingness to share personal information and affecting the overall comfort level of the consultation.

Functional Creep

A significant concern is “functional creep,” which refers to the tendency for well-trained and trusted scribes to take on tasks that go beyond their original job description. This often includes additional duties within the EHR, which can expose physicians to potential legal risks. When scribes perform tasks outside their scope, it can increase the chance of mistakes, leading to complications such as malpractice issues.

Conclusion

So, is hiring an in-person medical scribe the right decision for your practice? To decide, you need to consider the above discussed pros and cons, take into account the needs and culture of your physicians, and assess the overall return on investment. While financial figures matter, it's also essential to recognize the benefits that are harder to measure, such as reducing physician burnout, enhancing documentation, and boosting both physician and patient satisfaction.

SOAPsuds: An Alternative to In-Person Medical Scribes

What healthcare providers truly need is a reliable aid that reduces the workload on their part. A tool that uses advanced AI technologies like machine learning and natural language processing to handle clinical documentation with minimal supervision or effort. This solution is SOAPsuds, the first all-inclusive medical documentation tool that can generate your medical notes for you.

SOAPsuds’ unique artificial intelligence is capable of gathering all the essential medical details from a patient interaction without requiring highly detailed dictation or verbal cues. You simply activate the app on your phone, continue your usual conversation with the patient, and our system collects the relevant information. It then organizes it into the correct SOAP note categories, generates a completed medical document, and automatically uploads the data into the appropriate fields of your system. Clinicians with SOAPsuds get rid of typing, extensive dictation and exhausting post-session documentation.