A service that more doctors have started using is that of a scribe, who is a person who takes notes during an appointment. Think of it as live transcription that happens in real time, rather than transcription of a recording of a conversation. Some doctors have turned to scribe services so that they can better concentrate on the meeting with the patient; others prefer the scribe service because they (the scribes) can also function as assistants who handle more of the administrative (but not financial) side of core patient care. A scribe can lead to better cooperation between the doctor and patient because of the change in focus during the appointment.

Often Less Intimidating Than an Audio Recording

Doctors want records of what the patient tells them, and you've no doubt seen your own doctor taking notes when you went to see him or her. However, if a doctor wants a more complete record of the details you gave, then there are two choices: recording using an audio device, or using a scribe. Using an audio recording device is easy for the doctor but can be more intimidating for the patient as the recording device may imply that something is wrong, as if they're going to be under investigation. There are also privacy concerns regarding the recording and what will happen to it after it's been transcribed.

With a scribe, however, he or she is just another person who happens to be handling the note taking that was going to happen anyway. A friendly demeanor, too, can make the patient feel more at ease, especially if the appointment concerns something alarming.

More Specific Focus of Attention

Delegating note taking to another person allows the doctor to focus fully on the patient, rather than half on the notes he or she is writing and half on figuring out what to ask next. The more specific focus of attention can help the doctor spot mentions of odd symptom combinations, for example, that might have slipped by previously. That can lead to better care.

Administrative Help

The scribe can also function as a bit of an administrative aide, not in the sense of front-office matters, but in terms of fetching additional records, x-rays, and so on. This takes pressure off the doctor because he or she can give the scribe a list of what to get during the appointment rather than dealing with requesting everything themselves.

If you are a doctor, or know of one looking for this type of service, research Medical Scribe Companies to find out more.