MEDICAL SCRIBING COURSE IN ERNAKULAM

 

A medical scribe is an assistant to the physician who is responsible for documenting patients' family and medical histories, treatments, allergies, lab results and any information dictated to them or relevant to the patient's visit. Because they are knowledgeable about medical terminologies and have some clinical experience, a medical scribe often writes as a doctor would, being sure to check for any errors. In case of any inconsistencies, they inform the doctors, help resolve the issue and even complete records. However, they are not responsible for deciding the patient's treatment or their care.

The scribe records all information electronically, and their work is accessible to doctors who need to check the patient's medical track. Managers, often a nurse or a quality assurance specialist, monitor the work of medical scribes. By recording every event and treatment procedure, scribes allow doctors to concentrate on their patients while taking care of their clerical duties. By performing their work well, a medical scribe helps improve the efficiency of the doctor-patient interaction and ensures the accuracy of important health records.

Medical Scribe training comprises

1. Typing practice
2. English Grammar & English Language
3. Anatomy and Physiology of the Human Body,
4. Medical terminology. .
5. Pharmacology (drug names along with doses and dosages)
6. Medical Coding
7. Medical conversation practice
8. Comprehension of American Accent coupled with good typing, listening, analytical and reasoning skills,

How to become a medical scribe

If you wish to start your career as a medical scribe, follow the below steps:

1. Complete high school

The minimum requirement for becoming a medical scribe is to complete high school. Selecting subjects like biology and English can prove beneficial, as these can help you familiarise yourself with human anatomy and also help develop the foundation for business communication. Good scores in high school can help advance your medical career.

2. Get a certification

Many institutions help individual train for and become a medical scribe. These are usually four to six-month programs that focus on teaching medical terms and typing. They may also cover how to improve your listening skills and both verbal and written communication in health care settings. Many of these institutes provide practical experience through internships and paid assignments. Once complete, they also help students get placements in companies that offer scribing services to various hospitals.

3. Gain relevant experience

Experience as an office assistant, transcriber or even a customer service specialist can help you secure a position as a medical scribe. Add these types of experiences to your resume so a hiring manager is more aware of the transferable skills you have developed that you can use in a new role. While a hospital or other medical facility may offer you on-the-job training, having some experience may help you differentiate yourself from other candidates.

What are the skills required as a medical scribe?

Medical scribing is a unique profession and requires skills that can also help advance your career. Following are some skills that prove to be beneficial for a short-term or long-term career as a scribe:

Listening and comprehension

Medical scribes connect with doctors during a live patient visit over a video or audio call, although they often meet in-person too, depending on the employer. Scribes are privy to sensitive information and medical records of patients. Therefore, they must quickly grasp and make notes from the conversation without an error.

Attention to detail

Medical scribes need to have an eye for detail, as they are responsible for comprehending the physician's conversation and entering the details into the EHRs. Additionally, while preparing other clerical documents, scribes must be able to identify errors. It is important for them to be able to rectify any documentation mishaps or speak to the doctors or supervisors about it.

Computer skills

Since scribes may connect with doctors over a live video or audio call, it is crucial for them to understand and record information accurately. To do so, advanced typing and data entry skills are often helpful. Being able to efficiently navigate through a database to refer to a patient's medical history or any other information that the physician may need can help ensure a smooth interaction.

Knowledge of medical terms

Although scribes make notes based on what the doctor says, it is important for them to understand the doctor-patient interaction. They should also be able to comprehend the various jargon that a doctor may use when speaking with them. With sufficient knowledge of medical terms, there is less of a chance that a medical scribe makes mistakes in their work.

Time management

Time management is a crucial skill for scribes, as they must be able to attend the patient meetings with the doctor, whether in-person or over a video or audio call. They often review the doctor's schedule to ensure their schedule matches. Time management can also help keep scribes organised and not behind schedule for the day so a medical office can operate as it should.

Dedication and self motivation

A career as a medical scribe requires dedication and motivation. Scribes are not responsible for the care of the patient, but their work helps doctors concentrate on patients, which usually means the patient has a positive experience. A scribe also needs to meet deadlines and manage well with remote working.