Cameron G Shultz and Heather L Holmstrom

Available evidence suggests medical scribes may improve clinician satisfaction, productivity, time-related efficiencies, revenue, and patient-clinician interactions.

Two of 3 studies reported scribes had no effect on patient satisfaction; 2 of 2 reported improved clinician satisfaction; 2 of 3 reported an increase in the number of patients; 2 of 2 reported an increase in the number of relative value units per hour; 1 of 1 reported increased revenue; 3 of 4 reported improved time-related efficiencies; and 1 of 1 reported improved patient-clinician interactions.

Dr. Christine Sinsky

Every hour of face-to-face time with patients, physicians spent nearly two additional hours on electronic health record (EHR) tasks and desk work.

Overall, about 49% of a physician’s workday was consumed by EHR/desk activities, compared to about 27% spent on direct patient care.