![]() ![]() Medical scribes are trained in medical terminology and confidentiality, and are held to the same standards of confidentiality as a physician or nurse. Medical scribes provide real-time medical transcription of the physician–patient encounter, flow management and clerical support. Based on data from the United States, we hypothesized that using a medical scribe would be associated with greater physician productivity. The objectives of this pilot study were to establish proof-of-concept of medical scribes in Canada and to gain experience in scribe implementation so as to inform the development of larger multicentre trials. ![]() In this study, we assessed the effect of introducing medical scribes in a Canadian community hospital emergency department. Unfortunately, very limited data exist on the use of medical scribes in Canadian emergency departments. Despite differences between the American and Canadian health care systems, we believe the benefits of having medical scribes may be transferable. 5 However, these data are largely based on research from the United States. 2 – 4 Overall, these potential benefits may lead to reduced hospital costs. Their use has been shown to improve the physician– patient interaction, increase physician productivity and facilitate better continuity of care owing to a more accurate, complete and legible medical record. In addition, electronic medical records are becoming common, and have the advantage of improving continuity of care through better documentation however, they may have a negative impact on productivity for some physicians. Improving emergency department efficiency and productivity has been a priority in hospitals across Canada, and there is a need for cost-effective, evidence-based solutions to address this concern. Because this was a small study at a single centre, further research on the effects of scribes in Canada is warranted. Interpretation: In this pilot study, the use of scribes resulted in an increased number of patients seen per hour per physician.
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