SCRIBE-X MEDICAL SCRIBE SERVICES:
IMPROVING HEALTHCARE TOGETHER
IMPROVING HEALTHCARE TOGETHER
I had some limited ideas of which field I wanted to scribe in, so I was happy that Scribe-X provided many opportunities throughout my training for me to explore various specialties. It was evident that the medical scribe experience was a top priority for Scribe-X. During my time, I found my home in a dermatology clinic in rural La Grande, Oregon. Here I got to see a slower side to the specialty than in the urban dermatology clinics where I’d previously scribed. We had the luxury of time with our patients, though still limited, which allowed for our medical team to learn more about the patient as a person. My provider showed me that Dermatology was more than cosmetics and itch relief as she approached each patient with new eyes and a warm bedside manner.
Often people associate dermatology with cosmetic enhancements or acne despite those being a narrow component of the specialty. Our patient base could not be more varied in age, condition, or life circumstances. What they all had in common, though, was the experience of a visible pathology that had the potential to fuel mental health consequences. “Remember, you live in this skin 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” my provider would say to the patient as she encouraged them to describe their symptoms and goals of treatment. This subtle nudge provided patients with support as it validated their unique experience.
For some patients, their pathology was embarrassing to them and impeded their self-esteem. For other patients, their daily struggle with skin symptoms whittled away at them in the form of chronic illness fatigue. My provider would often say, “dermatology borders on psychiatry,” a statement that reminds me how important it is to support your patients. even if it is simply by validating their experience.
Patient support looks different for each person, but it always begins with meeting the patient where they are. This process includes sitting at the patient’s level and taking the time to hear their story because it can reveal so much about the patient’s health but, more importantly, their motivations.
My provider took this to an extreme for one patient who stopped coming into the clinic despite a progressed skin disorder. The provider noticed this person was missing appointments, and she was able to take the time to call the patient to understand what was going on and if she could help. She learned that patient was so afraid for their health that they were fearful of entering the clinic during the pandemic. In coming to learn this, she made accommodations for the patient to make them comfortable enough to come to the clinic – even if it meant a parking lot visit.
While an extreme case, I was able to see care delivered in a patient-focused and caring way, something I associated with primary care physicians. I thought specializing meant I would have to sacrifice humanity in patient care. However, my scribing experience showed me that I could specialize without sacrificing continuity with my patients.
Working in a smaller community highlighted the need and efficacy of interdisciplinary care. The skin can represent outwardly something that is occurring within the body. Because of this, we worked with a variety of providers to achieve the best care for our patients, such as rheumatology, wound care, oncology, primary care, pediatrics, and the emergency department.
Because of this, I learned more about medicine beyond the specialty I scribed for. I watched an interconnected team of professionals come together for a patient. I learned that patient care was a team effort that started with the patient as the captain. Sometimes we would treat more than just the patient before us, and sometimes it was an entire family with the same or different skin pathologies. This allowed me to be part of their continuity of care and feel like I was making an impact. Despite appearing to the patient as a mere tablet in their clinic, a scribe thousands of miles away, I felt connected to my patients and healthcare team.
