An orthopedics medical scribe is a trained professional who helps orthopedists on a daily basis. Their role is to document patient visits and input them into the EHR system. As such, orthopedics medical scribes need to have excellent knowledge of the related terminology, type quickly, and know the healthcare systems inside out. In this article, we will put more light on their jobs. Did we spark your interest? If so, read on.
What Is an Orthopedic Medical Scribe?
An orthopedic medical scribe is a professional responsible for documentation in an orthopedist’s office. They list all proper diagnoses and symptoms, as well as follow-up instructions and prescriptions, and input them into the electronic health record system. As such, they relieve the physicians of the burden of paperwork, enabling them to focus fully on providing the best care possible.
What distinguishes an orthopedics scribe from other medical scribes is that they are trained specifically for the sub-specialty within Orthopedics-Spine, Foot and Ankle, Hand, Sports Medicine, Hip and Knee, Pediatrics, Trauma, and so on. Therefore, this job is perfect for those pre-med students who wish to pursue a career as an orthopedist or an orthopedic surgeon in the future.
Becoming an Orthopedic Medical Scribe – Everything You Need to Know
How to become a medical scribe in the orthopedic sub-specialty? You do not need a license; you just need proper training. However, certain skills will prove necessary in such a job, namely:
- Medical terminology – As an orthopedic medical scribe, you need to know general medical terminology, as well as that related specifically to your sub-specialty (orthopedics).
- Quick typing – You will be documenting patient visits in real-time, and you must not miss out on any details. Therefore, as a medical scribe, you need to type fast – preferably over 40 words per minute.
- HIPAA regulations – Since orthopedic scribes work with patient data, you have to learn the HIPAA regulations to get this job.
- EHR systems – Since one of the tasks of medical scribes is to input data into EHR systems, you must know how to navigate them.
- Stamina – As an orthopedic scribe, you will stand through most of your days – you need to be in excellent physical condition to manage that.
Naturally, you can sign up for an associate or a bachelor program that will prepare you for the job of an orthopedic scribe, delving into terminology, legislation, and healthcare administration. You should also remember that HIPAA training is obligatory for all healthcare workers willing to work with patient data, so you will not avoid them. Plus, the better the training, the higher your chances of landing the job.
The Takeaway
Becoming an orthopedics scribe is an excellent way to enrich your med school application. However, if you are not planning to specialize in orthopedics, we recommend you check other medical scribe specialties. There are many options – we’ve listed some of the most interesting ones below.
