With every patient in urologist care come responsibilities: recording the visits, writing down the symptoms and treatments, and finally inputting them into the systems. This increases the waiting times significantly, preventing the physicians from doing what they are meant to do: helping patients. Urology scribes are a solution to that. Who are they? Find it out in this article.
What Is a Urology Scribe
A urology scribe is a specialized medical scribe working only with urologists. Their tasks are similar to those of a regular medical scribe—they record the interactions with patients, ensure that all the documentation is up to date in the EHR systems, and maintain compliance with HIPAA regulations.
Thanks to urology scribes, urologists spend less time on administrative duties and more on providing care to patients. Hence, their impact is paramount—they make it possible to treat more people every day.
Urology Scribe Job Requirements
What skill do you need to have to become a urology medical scribe? For starters, you’ll have to:
- type fast—at least 40 WPM, though the faster the better, as long as you can keep excellent accuracy.
- have good stamina—since a urology scribe might spend most of their day standing rather than sitting.
- have good communication skills—while you won’t be expected to interact with the patients directly, you will be present during the examinations and consultations.
Additionally, you’ll need some field-related skills and knowledge. This includes:
- knowing specialized terminology related to the urinary tract and conditions that might affect it,
- understanding of the EHR system,
- knowledge of medical billing and coding,
- ability to stay compliant with the HIPAA regulations.
Is it difficult to get a medical scribe job in urology? Although the above list of skills might seem long, it is not as hard as it may seem—most employers offer professional training before you start working.
The Benefits of Working as a Urology Medical Scribe
Becoming a urology scribe has a plethora of benefits—reasons why it is one of the best part-time medical jobs. What are they? Here’s a comprehensive list:
- You get to shadow a urologist—this is extremely helpful if you plan to become one in the future.
- You increase your chances of getting into medical school—med schools treat medical scribe experience as an asset, so having it is extremely helpful.
- You learn the EHR in practice—this way, you won’t feel overwhelmed during your residency.
- You make valuable connections with other healthcare professionals—becoming a scribe is a great opportunity to network.
Hence, working as a urology scribe is a great opportunity! The only situation in which you might not want to undertake this job is if you plan to work in a completely different specialty; if so, opt for a related medical scribe opening.
The Takeaway
Urology medical scribes are a crucial part of the healthcare system, as they directly enable physicians to treat more patients at the same time. Therefore, if you are looking for a part-time job in healthcare, this is a role worth pursuing; if you are a urologist instead, consider asking for a scribe in your medical facility!
You might also read: What Is Physician Burnout and How to Deal with It?