Here are six things to know about the job market and standards for medical scribes.
1. Based on the ranks of scribes working in the U.S., up to 1 in 5 physicians likely employs a medical scribe in their office, according to the report. These medical scribes help physicians log information about patients’ care, including patients’ ailments and physicians’ advice.
2. ScribeAmerica estimates the U.S. has 15,000 scribes today and their numbers will reach 100,000 by 2020.
3. The rapid rise in jobs for medical scribes is attributed, at least in part, to a national campaign for EHRs.
4. Although jobs for medical scribes are increasing, standards for these scribes fall behind, according to the report. For instance, the report notes medical scribes are not licensed, and their regulation and training are not rigorous. Certification is voluntary.
5. As far as education, the minimum qualification for medical scribes in general is a high school diploma, although some pre-med students take medical scribe positions to gain experience from shadowing physicians, according to the report.
6. Additionally, Kaiser Health News points out that a medical scribe’s work is limited by the federal Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act. According to the report, the law mandates that unlicensed workers, including medical scribes, not enter orders such as those for prescriptions and X-rays. Medical scribes are, however, sometimes allowed to enter pending orders, subject to the physician’s review and approval, according to the report.
More articles on workforce and labor management:
Our Lady of Fatima Hospital employees picket over ‘unfair treatment’: 3 things to know
West Virginia hospital offers job shadowing in finance, accounting: 3 things to know
6 things to know about the best-paying healthcare jobs in NJ
