Is there a Good Alternative to Virtual Medical Scribes

Since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, society has collectively moved towards a more virtual world. While healthcare professions often require in-person interaction, there are still aspects of healthcare that can be shifted online. To prioritize the health and safety of both patients and providers, many doctors have transitioned from using in-person medical scribes to virtual ones. While this change has been beneficial in terms of Covid-related safety, virtual scribes do come with their own set of challenges.

What is a Virtual Scribe?

A virtual scribe offers administrative support remotely, unlike a traditional scribe who is physically present. During patient visits, virtual scribes listen in and document all relevant information via video calls or phone from an off-site location. This model helps healthcare providers maintain social distancing and offers advantages such as lower costs, increased privacy for patients, and added flexibility in scheduling and services.

Upsides of Virtual Scribes 

Virtual medical scribes provide several advantages compared to traditional in-person scribes. For one, they are typically more affordable since there are no additional costs for things like travel, office space, or employee benefits. Additionally, they are often more accessible, allowing you to adjust the service based on your needs without committing to a lengthy contract. Furthermore, virtual scribes are usually experienced healthcare professionals, so they are well-versed in medical terminology and unlikely to make errors in this area.

Disadvantages of Virtual Scribes 

Downsides of virtual scribes overweigh its advantages. For instance, without being physically present, virtual scribes most of the times miss out on visual cues and always find it difficult to fully grasp the context of a patient-physician conversations. Similarly, they are prone to errors and inaccuracies because of lack of audio fidelity or because of not having direct access to patient’s chart. Here are some other disadvantages: 

Cost

It's well-known that in-person scribes are costly, often amounting to around $50,000 annually for a single doctor. Virtual scribes, priced at about $1200 a month, are more affordable compared to in-person options, but the total cost can still be higher than expected. Both in-person and virtual scribe roles are popular among medical students seeking hands-on experience, which results in high turnover rates. These turnover forces healthcare practices to spend additional resources recruiting and training new staff.

Security Risks

Data privacy is of utmost importance in healthcare, so employing offshore virtual scribes can present serious risks to patient confidentiality. Many virtual scribe companies hire workers from abroad, which increases the likelihood of data breaches involving sensitive medical information. Additionally, less experienced scribes are more prone to errors, which could result in serious consequences for both the provider and the patient.

Training

As mentioned earlier, many scribe positions are filled by students who may lack sufficient experience or training. While some third-party staffing companies offer training programs, these are typically unregulated and can vary widely. As a result, studies have found that there are significant inconsistencies in the quality of notes taken during identical patient encounters by different scribes.

An Alternative to Virtual Scribes: AI Medical Scribes

What many healthcare providers might not realize is that there is another option for Covid-friendly scribe services beyond virtual scribes. AI Scribes present a viable alternative, offering similar services but with fewer drawbacks. AI Scribes are more affordable than virtual scribes and eliminate concerns about training and security. With AI Scribes, clinicians can be confident that the technology is continually updated with the latest medical information and practices. Moreover, AI Scribes are free from human error and pose fewer risks to data security. Here is how both physicians and patients can get benefitted from AI Medical Scribes. 

Benefits of AI Medical Scribes for Physicians and Patients

•    Save precious time that was once spent on note-taking, freeing up hours previously used for charting.

•    Focus more on listening and having meaningful conversations instead of typing notes into the EHR.

•    AI scribes produce detailed and customized notes from clinician dictation, ensuring precise documentation of every patient interaction.

•    Quickly review, make any necessary adjustments, and approve the completed documentation.

•    AI scribes improve doctor-patient communication by allowing more focus on the personal connection.

•    Physicians can maintain better eye contact, listen more closely, and have their hands free for thorough physical exams.

Conclusion

When compared with virtual medical scribes, AI-powered virtual scribe services provide a compelling option with almost no disadvantages. For doctors and healthcare institutions, AI scribes lead to significant cost reductions. They also minimize the risks associated with untrained scribes and remove privacy issues related to using third-party scribes during patient visits. So, if you're seeking a socially distanced scribe who won’t leave for a medical career in a few years, it might be time to consider trying SOAPsuds AI Medical Scribe for all your transcription needs.