Anyone working in the medical industry today recognizes the advantages in treatment that technology has brought with it.
The people working within this industry have carried a hefty administrative load, but thanks to people like Virtual Assistants, that is starting to change.
Electronic health records (EHRs) provide a wealth of information but consume a significant amount of time in a physician’s schedule. Bringing a medical scribe into your office may alleviate the load of EHRs while also improving patient care.
However, having a certified medical scribe physically on-site isn’t always possible.
A virtual medical scribe may be just what the doctor prescribed!
Virtual Medical scribes are becoming more and more popular as an alternative to traditional medical scribes.
Instead of going to the doctor’s office, virtual scribes listen to patients through video conferencing or the phone from a different place.
With traditional medical scribes, there are a lot of downsides, such as high price, lack of privacy, and lack of flexibility in service.
In this post, we will discuss all aspects of Virtual Medical Scribes.
What are Virtual Medical Scribes?
A virtual scribe listens in real-time to the patient visit or a part of the visit and then documents essential information into the EMR, things like the date and time of the consult.
The doctor communicates with the virtual scribe using a computer or a mobile device as the organization’s EMR.
The virtual scribe is in a different place and uses HIPAA-compliant technology to navigate the EMR, update notes, find labs, order prescriptions, and change coding or billing information.
Having a virtual scribe can have beneficial impacts on finances, as it saves time and reduces the amount of paperwork the doctor has to deal with.
This allows the doctor to focus on the patient’s needs and forget about the admin aspect of the job.
Impact on the Satisfaction of Patients
As a result, providers can spend all of their time with the patient. This means that the provider can work quickly, which means they can see more people in a day. It leaves patients feeling more satisfied because they feel heard and important.
Improved provider efficiency also cuts down on patient wait times. People have busy schedules and don’t like to stay in the waiting room or the exam room for a long period.
Many malpractice lawsuits have been caused by mistakes in documentation. Virtual scribes can help protect both providers and patients from these events occurring. The risk of not seeing something because you’re looking at both the EHR and the patient will drastically reduce.
Why Many Doctors Prefer Virtual Medical Scribe
Most people become doctors due to their passion for helping and working with others, not because they want to fill their days with documentation.
A doctor is someone who is trained to support people, and that’s exactly what their focus should be put on.
Although documentation is very important for the healthcare process and correct billing, no one likes to spend their time taking notes all day.
After each visit, the provider can review the note, ensure the medical record is correct and then move on to the next patient.
On-site Medical Scribes vs. Virtual Medical Scribes
Hiring a virtual medical scribe has several advantages, including:
- Saving costs – Virtual scribes may be less expensive than on-site medical scribes.
- Aiding clinics in remote regions.
- Avoid paying the cost of moving/ accommodation fees that some clinics in difficult to reach places would normally incur.
- Virtual medical scribes do not require an office or any other physical place.
- Some patients may find a virtual medical scribe less invasive because they are not physically present in the exam room.
Whether you choose an on-site or virtual medical scribe, it may help your doctors regain the job enjoyment that administrative responsibilities often take away. Like on-site medical scribes, virtual medical scribes hold expertise in the specialty in which they work.
Just as our on-site scribes, we collaborate with our virtual scribe practices, creating a professional medical scribe program that meets all the unique requirements.
How Virtual Medical Scribe Works?
Before the session
- Patients are told about VMS practices and assured that their data will be kept confidential and safe.
- The practitioner examines the patient.
- The patient shares his/her medical history with the practitioners , which is relayed to the scribe through the chosen method (computer, phone, etc,.)
- It helps the practitioner learn about the patient’s EMR before they come in for their visit, thanks to the detailed medical history written in / retrieved by the scribe.
During the Session
- During the session, you are one-on-one with the doctor on the web.
- Share the virtual scribe with the doctor or nurse in the format they need to learn about their health history.
- Before the doctor looks at the patient, they can review the past medical history.
- If there are any improvements or changes in the medical field, they are told to the scriber through virtual applications.
- There is an option to have a recording of the medical visit so the doctor and patient can review the conversation and session.
- The scriber writes down the medical history following HIPAA rules.
- They record the EMR in real-time to not miss any important medical information.
After the session
- Scribes send rough data to the practitioner at the end of each session. They confirm if the information is correct or if any changes need to be made.
- The doctor signs off on the digital note as a sign that the information is accurate.
- The rearranged infographics and updates in the scribes are checked to ensure that the defect-free and high-quality EMR is up to date.
Benefits of Medical Virtual Scribe
- Virtual Medical scribes let the practitioner quickly get the medical history and information about the patient.
- The records in the virtual scribes are precise.
- You can check and record the information at any time to make sure it is correct.
- You can change the information at any time without affecting the original file.
- The practitioner will not need to write or enter any data during the exam.
- Virtual Scribes cut down on the doctor’s time to write down the medical information.
- The practitioner can look into more patients with the help of Virtual Scribes.
Are You Ready to Add a Virtual Medical Scribe to Your Team?
Do you feel overly reliant on your computer during patient visits? Have you been intrigued by this information regarding virtual medical scribes?
If yes, you need virtual medical scribe services!
When you choose a professional service, you can have a sigh of relief that you will get the right service.
Each scribe is knowledgeable in the medical profession and strictly adheres to the provider’s documentation directives. This means they complete the provider’s medical documentation in the EHR. If you are looking for the services of a virtual medical scribe, get in touch with a reputable service provider like My Virtual Assistant.