Do Scribes Contribute To Patient Satisfaction In Dermatology?

The prevalence of scribes in dermatology settings has surged recently, mainly due to the intricate nature of EHRs and the increasing administrative responsibilities placed on dermatologists. Scribes enhance physician efficiency and enable more focus on patient care, all while handling documentation concurrently. A recent study has highlighted how effective scribes can be in a dermatology practice in reducing physician burnout, as well in boosting patient numbers and bringing in more revenue. In this blog post let’s discuss a study that looked at how medical scribes can impact patient satisfaction in an academic dermatology practice.

Methodology

A survey was done by the Department of Dermatology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital back in September 2017. This study focused on patients coming in for their dermatology appointments where a medical scribe was present. After each visit, patients were asked to fill out an anonymous survey. The surveys were distributed across all five practice locations that used scribes, and feedback from respondents was assessed using a 5-point satisfaction scale. All the scribes used in the study were women, who received specialized training in the nuances of dermatology documentation practices.

Findings

The study gathered responses from 652 patients, of which most of them were women (71%) and were around 56 years of age on average. Most of the participants (89%) were return patients and consultations were mainly done by female dermatologists (73%). In general, patients expressed high levels of satisfaction with the presence of scribes, as physicians were able to communicate and connect better with them. They also reported experiencing a sense of comfort and support with a scribe present during visits. Moreover, female patients seemed to prefer having scribes compared to their male counterparts. However, satisfaction levels remained the same across different factors like the age of the patient, type of visit, and the gender of the physician.

Discussion

In today's healthcare environment, where physicians have a heavy clerical workload to deal with, scribes can make a big difference in improving clinical care and reducing physician burnout, particularly in dermatology. Despite concerns regarding the impact of scribes on patient visits, this study reveals that patients not only feel comfortable with scribes but also believe that scribes improve their experience with their physicians. Choosing exclusively female scribes for this study may be due to the preference for female scribes among female patients and those consulting female dermatologists.

Conclusion

The integration of medical scribes into dermatology practices not only eases the documentation burden, but also allows dermatologists to engage in meaningful conversations leading to better health outcomes and increased patient trust. The study conducted in the Department of Dermatology paints a clear picture - scribes not only improve physician efficiency and reduce burnout but can also boost patient satisfaction levels. Patients, especially women, expressed high levels of comfort and support when scribes were around during their visits. This shows the significant role dermatology scribes play in making the overall patient experience better.

If you are a dermatologist looking to reduce your documentation burdens and improve your patient experience, consider partnering with Physicians Angels. Our team of extensively trained dermatology scribes are ready to support you with accurate, real-time documentation. This means you can focus more on taking care of your patients while running a smooth, efficient practice. Sounds interesting? Get in touch with us to learn how our dermatology virtual scribes can take your dermatology practice to the next level.