Day in the Life
“As a full-time scribe I can be found in the ED at any time on any day, but a normal weekday morning shift always begins with coffee (if I’m with the right physician they may even provide this, perks! Most days in the ED start out with a full waiting room so we get right to work. Each day we are assigned with either a physician, PA, or NP who we will work with, one-on-one, during our shift. Scribes see each patient with their physician and are responsible for creating the patient’s chart and recording medical history and symptoms i.e. what brought them to the ED. Other responsibilities include documenting past medical history, the exam performed by the provider, and entering labs and diagnostic imaging studies.
We may see anywhere from 10 to 20 patient’s on an average day, but the days seem to be getting busier all the time. At my hospital, we see patients of all ages and levels of health, but the majority of our patient demographic includes elderly individuals with multiple co-morbidities. That being said, we see a wide range of issues, from chest pain to altered mental status and everything in between, which means I am constantly learning. Because most scribes are medical school hopefuls, the physicians are all very generous with their knowledge and teach us about presentations, decisions, lab results, etc. as we see patients. We have numerous opportunities to observe procedures such as intubations, fracture reductions, and chest tube placements!
After an eight-plus hour shift, I may be tired, but I always leave the hospital with a new piece of information. I don’t think I can convey how much I have learned from medical scribing over the past several months at EPPA, but I know it will be invaluable when starting my career in medicine.”
Anna Rice
Minnesota State Mankato Graduate
EPPA Scribe & Scribe Trainer 2017 – Present