By Haley Holmes
August 19, 2024
EHRs are a mixed blessing! While they streamline documentation and care coordination, the data entry and administrative work can pull time away from patients and family. Many busy practitioners end up working extra hours to complete the day’s charting, often staying up late into the night, which contributes to burnout. Albany Area Primary Health Care (AAPHC) found an effective solution. It’s none other than a virtual scribe program. In this blog post, we will explore how AAPHC paired high-performing providers with remote virtual scribes, which led to impressive results.
AAPHC has over 90 providers across multiple specialties, handling more than 220,000 visits every year. Many were struggling to finish their charts at work and took them home to get it done. Hence, AAPHC decided to implement a virtual scribe program. Since partnering with a medical scribe company, providers with dedicated virtual scribes were able to see an average of six additional patients daily without the need to complete charts after hours. It is clear that scribes can take on much of the administrative burden, boost practice revenue, prevent burnout, and enhance care quality.
Let’s see some of the 5 ways in which a Virtual Scribe can help a PHC practice thrive!Having a virtual scribe to take care of the notes helps providers focus entirely on their patients. The scribe meticulously documents the patient encounters, making sure to capture all important symptoms and conversations crucial for diagnostic review.
Providers simply log into their EHRs in the morning and greet their scribe, who will have the charts ready for the day. The scribe documents patient visits in real-time, handles orders, drafts letters, and prepares charts for sign-off, streamlining the entire workflow.
Virtual scribe support can help providers see up to 25% more patients without having to work extra hours or take charts home. This makes their workday more productive and helps them keep their work and personal life in balance.
Accurate documentation is crucial. Scribes trained for each specialty provide meticulous charting and coding. This not only boosts provider ratings but also ensures all reimbursement revenue is captured.
During busy exams, it's easy to overlook certain details. A scribe familiar with the key health measures can remind providers to record body mass index, conduct screenings, and fill out patient surveys, ensuring comprehensive care.
The majority of AAPHC’s women’s health practitioners now incorporate scribes into their practice. One OB/GYN sees up to 35 patients a day and leaves home on time with all her charts completed. They’ve now extended scribe support to family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, podiatry, and dental practices as well. To encourage providers to see more patients, they’ve introduced a new incentive: any provider who sees 22 or more patients a day gets scribe support. This helps them see more patients, finish their charts by the end of the day, and earn more through a new pay-for-performance model.
AAPHC providers are enjoying their caregiving roles
more, and that is made possible because of the
immense support of virtual scribes. They’ve even created a messaging group to discuss how their
scribes are helping them improve their workflows.
The use of virtual scribes has led to internal improvements within practices and brought about
financial benefits. AAPHC’s ability to offer same-day appointments has improved significantly. Shelley
Spires says that perhaps the feedback from providers is the biggest boost. Messages like, “I saw 25
patients today, closed all charts, and I’m leaving home at 5:30,” highlight the program’s success.
Addressing burnout improves retention and prevents resignation. It is interesting to note that AAPHC
even retained a provider who was considering resigning by addressing her needs and providing a scribe.
These initiatives reassure Shelly Spires and make her wear a smile at the end of the busy day.
AAPHC's win with virtual scribes shows how they can change practices for the better. By taking the documentation burden off providers’ shoulders, virtual scribes improve patient care, make workflows smoother, and increase provider satisfaction. The outcome is clear: happier providers, more patients seen, and a more efficient practice. Looking to boost your primary health center? Get in touch with Scribe4Me today! Hire a virtual scribe and see how they can transform your practice for good!
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Thomas Kennedy
Larry Carr
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