By Frank Travis
Oct 12, 2023
Table Of Contents
What is a gastroenterology scribe?
With the growing demand for accurate documentation and efficient patient care, gastroenterology scribes have become an important part of the medical team. A gastroenterology medical scribe is a professional who assists gastroenterologists by documenting patient encounters, managing medical records, and facilitating smooth workflow in clinical settings. They are specifically trained and receive the education necessary to assist with the documentation requirements of a gastroenterology practice. Having a gastroenterology medical scribe not only helps to save time but also boost physician efficiency and productivity.
What experience does a gastroenterology scribe need?
A high school diploma is always required to become a GI medical scribe. However, a college education or a bachelor's degree in a related field such as biology, health sciences, pre-med, etc., is preferred by some employers. It is mandatory that they must possess a minimum of 1+ years of above experience in the scribing industry. Having completed training that covers EHR systems, medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, documentation standards, HIPAA regulations, etc., related to gastroenterology specialty is an added benefit. Certification is not mandatory but it can demonstrate proficiency, professionalism and dedication to the role.
What is the role of a gastroenterology scribe?
Real-time documentation: Document the chief complaint, history of present illness, past medical, surgical, family, and social history, review of systems current medications, allergies, physical examination findings, assessment and plan, results of laboratory and radiographic studies and ICD, CPT and E&M coding in real time during the conversation with the patient.
Assistance during procedures: In-person gastroenterology scribes may accompany gastroenterologists during procedures such as endoscopy, colonoscopy, and ERCP, helping with the tasks of equipment preparation and documenting procedure details in real time.
Chart Management: Organize and manage patient charts, ensuring that all necessary documents are easily accessible and organized appropriately.
Order Entry: Assist with ordering tests, medications, and other services as directed by the gastroenterologist.
Administrative support: Schedule appointments, manage referrals, and handle administrative duties within the gastroenterology practice.
Privacy and confidentiality: Trained to maintain patient confidentiality and adhere to HIPAA regulations when handling sensitive data.
Time Management: By handling documentation, gastroenterology scribes allow gastroenterologists to spend more time interacting with patients and providing clinical care.
How does a gastroenterology scribe boost your practice?
Gastroenterology scribes offer a route to improve physician productivity and workflow efficiency by reducing the time GI doctors spend on documentation. The use of medical scribes can boost physician satisfaction and productivity while also increasing GI practice revenue by allowing for more procedures to be completed in the same amount of time, which is significant given the increasing workload of both screening and emergent procedures on gastroenterologists. Studies also found that medical scribes in gastroenterology practices increase physician satisfaction and decrease physician burnout, while having minimal impact on patient satisfaction. Overall, GI scribes can help physicians be more time-efficient and boost productivity, clinical quality and revenue to the practice.
Conclusion
Time and again, gastroenterology medical scribes have proven to be a valuable member of the patient care team. By assuming documentation tasks, GI medical scribes reduce physician workload while improving clinical efficiency and quality of care. If you are considering hiring one, look no further than Scribe4Me. We have a team of highly skilled gastroenterology virtual medical scribes who are extensively trained to understand medical terminologies, documentation practices, and the intricacies and nuances of gastroenterology care to ensure accurate charts. Visit www.scribe4me.com to learn more on how GI scribes can help boost your practice.
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Frank Travis
Frank Travis
Documentation is an important daily clinical responsibility. In order to optimize patient care, physicians are always on the lookout for new ways to effectively and efficiently document patient visits.
The use of virtual medical scribes has become increasingly popular in the recent years, as medical practices across the country are on the constant lookout for ways to reduce clinical documentation overload, thereby improving overall productivity.
The clerical burden associated with EHR usage is attributed as the number one cause of physician burnout. We also know that physicians spend twice as much time on EHRs and other clerical tasks compared to the time providing patient care.
