Pediatric Medical Scribes: Improving Pediatric Practice Efficiency

Pediatric medical scribes play a valuable role in healthcare by helping pediatricians with medical record-keeping and routine paperwork. These professionals support doctors during patient visits by accurately writing down key information like medical history, diagnoses, care plans, and other important details in electronic health records (EHRs).

For instance, during a routine check-up, a pediatric scribe might note the child’s height and weight, vaccination updates, and anything parents mention during the visit. In urgent care cases, they can record symptoms, follow up on test results, and write detailed notes on the treatment steps.

With good knowledge of pediatric care, medical terms, and EHR systems, these scribes help doctors focus more on patients and improve communication with families. By handling the clinical documentation smoothly, they make the care process quicker and more accurate, proving to be a helpful part of improving clinic operations and patient experience.

Pediatric Medical Scribes Saving Physicians 30% of Their Time

Pediatric scribes make a big difference in clinics by lowering doctors’ paperwork and giving them more time to care for patients. Here are a few ways they help doctors save more than 30% of their time:

Real-Time Documentation 

Scribes work beside pediatricians during appointments, entering information into the EHRs as it happens. This includes patient history, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment plans. Since doctors no longer need to finish charts after the visit, they save a lot of time every day.

Reduced After Hours 

Many physicians end up finishing notes after clinic hours. With scribes handling notes during the appointment, this extra work drops, letting doctors enjoy more personal time.

Better Workflow Management 

Scribes also take care of non-medical tasks like updating charts, placing lab orders, and managing follow-up tasks. This helps doctors move smoothly from one patient to another without getting stuck in paperwork.

Improved Patient Interaction 

With medical documentation off their plate, pediatricians can give full attention to their patients. This leads to better communication and shorter visits, as doctors don’t have to divide their attention.

Increase in Appointments 

When the process is more efficient, pediatricians can see more patients each day without lowering care quality. This helps the clinic run better and increases earnings.

Real-World Example

A pediatric clinic started using medical scribes and noticed a 35% drop in time spent on records. This change helped doctors see 20% more patients per day and feel more satisfied with their work due to reduced stress.

By helping doctors save time and cutting down paperwork, pediatric medical scribes support better care and smoother clinic operations.

Advantages of Having Pediatric Medical Scribes

1. Advantages for Pediatric Doctors

Pediatric scribes offer several benefits to doctors, improving their work life and patient outcomes:

·       Less Admin Work: Spending less time on EHRs helps doctors feel less pressure and have a better work-life balance.

·       Fewer Errors in Records: Scribes help maintain accurate and thorough notes, supporting clearer decisions in care.

·       More Time with Patients: Doctors can focus more on their young patients and families instead of writing notes.

2. Advantages for Patients

Scribes also help improve patient visits in many ways:

·       More Attention from Doctors: Patients get the full focus of their physician during the appointment.

·       Comfortable Environment: Without the distraction of paperwork, doctors can offer more caring and thoughtful service.

·       Better Communication: Kids and parents can talk more openly when the doctor isn’t busy typing notes.

3. Better Documentation

Scribes make the record-keeping process more effective by:

·       Writing notes during the visit in real time.

·       Keeping medical records well-organized and accurate.

·       Making sure all details are properly entered into the EHR system.

In-House or Outsourced Pediatric Scribes: What’s Best for Your Clinic?

When choosing between in-house and outsourced scribes, clinics should look at things like cost, flexibility, and daily operations. Each option comes with different pros and cons depending on the clinic’s needs and size.

Pros and Cons of In-House Pediatric Scribes

Pros:

Available on Site: In-house scribes can help with extra tasks like working with staff or managing patient files, getting things done quickly.

Stronger Team Bond: Being part of the clinic, they build better teamwork and communication with other staff members.

Know the Clinic Well: Over time, in-house scribes learn the clinic’s way of working, making things smoother.

Cons:

Higher Costs: Having in-house scribes means paying for hiring, training, benefits, and equipment, which can be expensive for small clinics.

Risk of Turnover: If a scribe leaves, it can cause delays and extra work while training someone new.

Harder to Scale: It might be tough to manage workloads during busy times or after hours with just in-house staff.

Pros and Cons of Outsourced Pediatric Scribes

Pros:

Saves Money: Outsourcing means fewer expenses for hiring and equipment. Clinics get experienced scribes at a lower cost.

Flexible Staffing: Outsourced scribes can adjust to changing patient numbers and help during extended hours.

Skilled Professionals: Outsourcing gives access to trained scribes who know medical terms, documentation rules, and EHR systems.

More Focus on Patients: By handing off medical documentation, clinics can spend more time on care and other important tasks.

Cons:

Initial Setup Needed: Clinics need to work on aligning outsourced scribes with their systems and routines, which takes some effort.

Relies on Tech: Working with outsourced scribes needs good tech and internet access. Any technical issues may affect work.

Less Team Connection: Remote scribes may not connect closely with clinic staff, which can impact communication.

What to Consider Before Deciding

·       Need for Flexibility: If your clinic needs flexible hours or often handles changing patient loads, outsourced scribes are more adaptable.

·       Practice Size and Budget: Smaller clinics might benefit more from outsourcing, while bigger ones may prefer in-house staff.

·       Tech Setup: Make sure your clinic has the tools to work smoothly with remote scribes if outsourcing.

·       Workflow Details: For clinics with complex routines, in-house scribes familiar with the system might work better.

Hybrid Model of Selection 

Some clinics choose to use both in-house and outsourced scribes. For example, in-house scribes can manage daily tasks, while outsourced scribes help during peak times or after hours. This gives clinics flexibility while keeping costs down.

By understanding their needs and resources, pediatric clinics can choose the best option that supports better patient care and smooth day-to-day operations.

Support Your Pediatric Clinic with Medical Scribes

Pediatric scribes are helping clinics manage work better by handling clinical documentation and improving clinic operations. Adding pediatric scribes to your team can help your practice work more effectively and improve both care quality and satisfaction.

Here’s how scribes help clinics:

·       Better Documentation Process: Pediatric scribes record details right away, ensuring accurate notes and cutting down on paperwork for doctors.

·       Less Stress on Doctors: With scribes managing charts, doctors can avoid late-night work and maintain better personal balance.

·       Helpful for Telehealth: In virtual visits, scribes manage the paperwork smoothly, keeping digital records updated.

·       Quicker Billing Process: Accurate records help the billing team process claims faster, reducing mistakes and speeding up payments.

·       Knowledge in Pediatric Care: Pediatric scribes understand topics like growth stages, vaccination timelines, and childhood illnesses, so records are complete and clear.

·       Easier to Grow: Clinics can use either in-house or outsourced scribes to handle more patients without lowering care quality.

·       More Time with Patients: Doctors can fully focus on children and families, making the experience better for everyone.

·       Useful Patient Data: Well-organized notes help clinics track care patterns and improve service planning.

By including pediatric medical scribes in your clinic, you can work more efficiently, improve care, and build a more reliable system for both patients and your staff.

Use AI Medical Scribes to Improve Your Clinical Documentation Process

SOAPsuds, the AI-powered medical scribe, helps doctors focus more on caring for patients. By automating documentation and improving clinic workflows, SOAPsuds helps reduce physician burnout across hospitals and emergency care settings.