Medical Scribes

Medical scribes work in the health care field, side by side with and under the supervision of a physician. The scribe’s primary role is to assist a physician in creating and maintaining a patient’s medical record, though a scribe may assist the physician in other ways. In recent years, this has become a significant entry-level position for those wishing an introduction into the medical field. Though the position is non-clinical, it still entails medical skills as well as technical and clerical skills. Medical scribes ensure that information is entered into a patient’s medical record, usually contemporaneously with the doctor/patient interaction. Medical scribes increase physician productivity by allowing the doctor to focus on the patient rather than the clerical duties of record keeping. A medical scribe is fully immersed in the patient experience. The scribe does not just transcribe notes provided by the physician. Rather, scribes are permitted to observe any direct patient care.

Salary Range

$25,000 to $75,000

Minimum Education Level

Bachelor's Degree

Certification/License

None

Outlook

Faster than the Average

Personality Traits

Conventional

Hands On

Organized

Career Ladder

Physician/Physician Assistant/Other medical professional

Medical Scribe Project Leader/Trainer

Medical Scribe

Medical Transcriber/Transcriptionist

Data-Entry Processor