Q: Why do you like being a scribe at a level one trauma center?
A: I like being a scribe here because I think it is the only job you get to work one on one with the physician all while being able to work and interact with a larger team. You get to see how the medics, nurses, techs, social workers, hospitalists and specialists all collaborate and coordinate patient care. As a scribe, you get to see a lot of high acuity patients and really interesting scenarios and visits. The doctors are wonderful to work with and willing to walk you through their medical decision making process. You also get to work with a variety of providers and see many different approaches to patient care. I don’t think this is something that a lot of medical students get to experience as they typically work with a limited number of physicians. This will have a huge impact on my future career as a physician.
Q: Tell us about a doctor you enjoy working with.
A: Certain providers have incredible bedside manner. I love going into the rooms with certain providers to see the way they approach the patient (even the crazy ones!) Some providers always maintain a calm demeanor no matter the situation. This is something I would like to mirror as part of my future practice.
Q: Before being a scribe, you worked as a research assistant. How does this job differ from that?
A: As a scribe, I am much more involved in patient care than I was as a research assistant (RA). With the RA program I interacted with limited information about patients and did not actually get to be involved in the physician to patient encounter. I also had fewer interactions with physicians in general. Scribing has allowed me to be involved in patient care even though my role is primarily focused on documentation. With scribing, you get to see the patient through their initial history, physical exam, diagnostic work up, and medical decision making.