By Dr. John Crosby
I met Dr. Mark Tomen, a 62-year-old family physician from Chatham, at a conference in Toronto and found out he had a scribe.
It began 10 years ago when his clinic hired a medical secretary straight out of community college to provide clerical help. Mark soon began asking her to complete his forms, paperwork and miscellaneous letters to specialists.
Five years later, during a busy evening at the after-hours walk-in clinic of his FHO, he asked her to type as he dictated the patient’s history and performed their physical. The method worked so well that he continues to use it with all his patients.
She adds in medications and test results. He reviews each note she has typed before seeing the next patient. With all his work completed, he is home by 5 p.m. His after-hours work is negligible because he can see same-day urgent patients. His improved efficiency pays the scribe’s wages and his beautifully organized charts keep the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario happy. Previously, he had to take two college charting courses.
He says the method works well for seniors with recurring issues and for patients with complex problems. He can look over patients, focusing on them completely, without having to type. He used to think that when he died, he would be buried under his paperwork, but now loves his life and does not want to retire.
Only about one patient per month objects to his use of a scribe during their appointment. Two doctors in his clinic are interested in replicating his system.
Lessons learned from the pandemic
Three years ago, the pandemic changed the way doctors provided patient care. There were more phone calls and virtual visits. Mark mused: ‘Suddenly, when we were all supposed to work remotely, I found I could not keep up doing everything on my own – taking calls, writing notes, ordering tests, completing forms, sending referrals and more. My stress level went up and the quality of my charts went dramatically down. So, I called my scribe to come in, sit by me and do all the same things that she would do with the patient, in person. It worked dramatically well, with the same result as an in-person visit.’
A scribe can be a game-changer for your practice. An artificial intelligence (AI) scribe is another tool more doctors are considering to help with their charting. Learn more about AI scribes and human scribes by watching OntarioMD’s video.
Email Dr. Crosby for more information at drjohncrosby@rogers.com or visit his website for more tips and resources, including his eBooks on burnout and time management.
For other tips or questions about EMRs and digital health tools for your practice, contact support@ontariomd.com and connect with OMD’s expert staff and clinician Peer Leaders. OMD can help you with whatever you need! Join the discussion and share your thoughts in the comments field below.
