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 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. The most patients I have seen on a “manic Monday” was 24, but not to worry – this is not typical and my fingers quickly recovered from all the typing! Patients arrive in 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 we are constantly learning. Because most of us scribes are medical school hopefuls, the physicians are all very generous with their knowledge and willing to teach. 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, but I know it will be invaluable when starting my career in medicine.