Scribe (ER)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is about Scribe, in the medical profession. For other uses, see Scribe (disambiguation).

An ER scribe is an employee who works in the Emergency Department (ED) of a hospital. Their duties include overseeing the documentation of each patient's visit to the ED, and acting as the physician's personal assistant. A scribe works with one physician per shift, although they may work for multiple doctors.

The prospective scribe is required to learn a large amount of medical terminology, as well as become familiar with basic human anatomy. Each program has their own training regimen, and some are more structured than others. For example, some programs require that all new scribes take an official graded course prior to working. Other programs allow the scribe to start in the ED immediately, but under supervision. Training is intensive and usually lasts for about 1 month under the direct supervision of a senior scribe.

For each patient seen in the ED, a scribe will:

  • Accompany the physician into the exam room
  • Document the history of the patient's chief complaint
  • Document the Review-of-Systems (ROS) and physical examination
  • Enter vital signs and keep track of lab values
  • Look up pertinent past medical records
  • Keep track of and enter the results of imaging studies
  • Type progress notes
  • Enter the disposition and any prescriptions

Scribe positions are often filled by college students pursuing careers in medicine. Many plan to attend medical school and earn their MD degree. A smaller number plan on becoming a physician's assistant (PA). Pre-health students benefit from the experience they gain working in the ED.

The first scribe programs were based in Reno, Nevada. In 1995 a physician practicing in Fort Worth, Texas discovered the Nevada program and decided to start a program at Harris Methodist Hospital. The program has grown larger and spawned "copy" programs in several other cities.

[edit] Hospitals, groups, and companies that use scribes

  • North Fresno Emergency Physicians Medical Group in Fresno, CA
  • Memorial Medical Center in Modesto, CA - (EMSS)
  • Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara, CA - (EMSS)
  • San Antonio Community Hospital in Upland, CA - (EMSS)
  • Emergency Medicine of Idaho
  • Emergency Medicine Specialists of Orange County (EMSOC)
  • Legacy Health System/Northwest Acute Care Specialists (Portland, Oregon)
  • Tri-City Medical Center in San Diego, California
  • Mary Immaculate Hospital in Hampton, VA
  • Maryview Medical Center in Portsmouth, VA
  • Memorial Regional Medical Center in Mechanicsville, VA
  • DePaul Medical Center in Norfolk, VA
  • Sentara Regional Medical Center in Williamsburg, Va
  • Wilkes Regional Medical Center in North Wilkesboro, NC
  • Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, MN
  • St. Joseph Regional Health Center in Bryan, TX
  • College Station Medical Center in College Station, TX
  • Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids, MN
  • Northwest Tucson Emergency Physicians, P.C. in Tucson, AZ

[edit] Links