Medical scribes have the opportunity to work directly by shadowing various medical practitioners and gaining real experience in the medical field. Their work is, basically, documenting patient progress and other relevant information into the EMR, as well as providing clerical support. They also learn the daily workflow of their assigned practitioner and learn various medical terminologies and treatments.
Medical scribing is not easy. You will interact with various medical practitioners with different preferences, be required to demonstrate the highest levels of professionalism, communicate effectively, and multitask.
This is a job that can be overwhelming, especially for a newcomer. As such, we are going to provide several tips that will help you succeed as a medical scribe.
- Familiarize with your role
Medical scribes have to be quick to adapt to changes. From working with an array of medical practitioners, scribes have to follow the lead of the practitioner they are assigned to and quickly switch gears when the need arises.
It is imperative that medical scribes know what is expected of them, follow instructions, and do their work perfectly. All this should be done without overstepping boundaries. This will establish a healthy relationship between them and their assigned practitioner, ensuring success in their career. You can see rnbsn to make a successful career in medical.
Additionally, medical scribes should ensure they are always on the same page with their assigned practitioner and sometimes make use of their better judgement.
- Expect resistance
Especially in the workplace, it is natural for some people not to work well with others. These people find it hard to work as a team.
In a hospital or clinic setup, even the best medical practitioners can have a hard time working with scribes. This is because they are accustomed to their own way of doing things and any changes might receive some resistance.
Since this is your career of choice, you have to go in prepared for such challenges. The point is to have a thick skin and find a common ground. Remember to remain professional and respectful to your assigned practitioner.
- Effective communication
Medical scribes need to be able to communicate effectively with their supervisors and other people they interact with in the workplace.
They should be open to constant feedback and constructive criticism from the people they work with. They should be willing to take in advice and learn from them.
- Chart diligently
Every doctor or medical practitioner has their own preference in the way charting patients should be done. As such, medical scribes have to chart these reports in accordance to these preferences.
Although some practitioners that you may be assigned to might seem overly critical about the way they need their reports charted, a medical scribe must remember that these charts reflect a lot about the professionalism of the practitioner and inaccurate charts might have serious repercussions on their careers.
Medical scribes should realize that, at the end of the day, it is all about increasing productivity and saving lives. And once you have a good working relationship with your assigned practitioner, that is where the real learning begins.
