In today’s tech-driven world, practically every industry moves at a rapid clip. And you’ll certainly notice an abundance of advancements in the healthcare field — in fact, they’ve revolutionized how medical professionals work.
One of these innovations is the virtual scribe. It streamlines processes ranging from communications to documentation to organization in offices. And in turn, it enhances productivity in medical settings.
So, what does a virtual medical scribe do? We’ll let you know, explore how it affects the healthcare industry and shed light on how medical scribe companies could benefit your practice.
[Related: Considering Using AI in Your Healthcare Practice? Here’s Where To Start]
What Is a Virtual Medical Scribe?
Medical scribe, virtual assistance … How exactly do these come together? What is a virtual medical scribe? In short, it’s a trained, remote assistant for healthcare providers that specializes in real-time documentation tasks.
Rather than a physician manually taking notes, a virtual scribe captures any relevant information (such as medical histories, exam details and treatment plans) so the physician can focus on caring for their patients.
Here are some of the top ways a virtual scribe helps your medical office.
Using Technology To Communicate Better
Virtual scribes leverage advanced technology to communicate with healthcare providers.
Thanks to secure audio and/or video connections, a virtual scribe has real-time links to doctors — whether they’re working on-site or remotely. This technology is how a medical virtual scribe sees and hears consultations, and it allows them to take thorough notes.
Managing Data Efficiently
Once connected, a virtual scribe employs electronic medical record (EMR) systems (or other specialized software) to document physician-patient encounters.
These digital platforms allow virtual scribes to add information to a patient’s electronic chart. This ensures data accuracy and reduces (or eliminates, really) the need for manual transcription.
[Related: How To Run a More Efficient Practice With a Virtual Healthcare Front Office]
Facilitating Privacy and Security
Medical scribe companies prioritize patient privacy and adhere to strict security protocols.
Generally, these companies employ encrypted communication channels and follow Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) guidelines to protect sensitive patient information.
Commitment to privacy is vital. And many companies — especially Wendi — ensure your patient data remains secure from start to finish during the documentation process.
Integrating Flexibility Into Workflows
Virtual scribes seamlessly integrate with workflows throughout your healthcare office.
Because adapting to providers’ needs and preferences is so important, a virtual scribe can work in various healthcare settings. (Think hospitals, clinics and telehealth visits.)
Thankfully, healthcare professionals have the flexibility to use virtual scribe services on an ad hoc basis. Alternatively, providers can incorporate those services into their regular practice. But this choice depends primarily on their workload, alongside office needs and requirements.
Benefits for Healthcare Providers
We’ve covered what a medical virtual scribe is and how it works, so let’s look into some of the direct benefits that healthcare providers can expect.
By alleviating the burden of documentation, physicians can devote more time and attention to patient care. As we know, this is incredibly important. Increased focus and one-on-one attention enhance the patient-provider relationship, improve overall patient satisfaction and lead to better health outcomes.
What’s more, virtual scribes reduce physician burnout by alleviating administrative tasks and freeing up truly valuable in-office time.
Thanks to specialized training and acute attention to detail, a virtual scribe makes sure any documented information is comprehensive. Butmost importantly, a virtual scribe guarantees it’s accurate.
By actively listening and transcribing during patient encounters, a medical virtual scribe captures vital information without disrupting natural conversational flow. You’ll see more accurate improvements in your medical records, which are vital for delivering effective care, managing billing and handling legal matters.
A virtual scribe offers another major advantage — it’s incredibly cost-effective.
You won’t need to hire in-house transcription staff, which reduces overhead costs regarding recruitment, training and employee benefits.
Additionally, practices can scale medical virtual scribe services up or down based on a provider’s needs. For example, you can buy more time assistance or cut back whenever you feel it’s suitable.
[Related: Top 13 Benefits of Hiring a Virtual Assistant]
Contact Wendi for a Virtual Front Office Healthcare Assistant
A virtual scribe is an especially valuable asset in the healthcare industry. The technology has transformed how medical professionals handle documentation, and that’s important in and of itself.
However, finding the best medical scribe companies can be tough. But don’t fret — Wendi is one of the best virtual medical scribe options on the market. Our top priority is helping your healthcare practice run more smoothly so providers can better care for patients.
If you’re ready to get started with your own virtual scribe, contact Wendi. We offer high-quality medical virtual scribe assistance that ensures your healthcare practice runs more effectively than ever.
To learn more about Wendi and what our services can do, schedule a free demo today.
Featured image via Unsplash
