I scribe for two providers, so I have two very different types of days in my life as a scribe!
On Mondays and Fridays, I scribe for Dr. Persing, who is Yale’s Chief of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. He is doubly board certified in both plastic surgery and neurosurgery, and he sees a mix of adult and pediatric patients. Dr. Persing usually begins at 8:15, so I log on shortly before then. I do not pre-chart for Dr. Persing, as his notes are relatively focused and technical. He signs his notes as we go throughout the day, so in the morning we jump right into seeing patients.
Monday is his craniofacial clinic, so I am able to observe many fascinating cases, often involving babies and young children with congenital anomalies of the head and face. He also sees a significant number of transgender patients, especially for facial feminization surgery consults and followups. In addition to a myriad of other fascinating cases, he also sees patients for typical cosmetic surgery procedures. Because of this, my days are quite varied and never boring.
After each visit, Dr. Persing will go over the physical exam findings with me and answer any questions I may have about the note. We are in constant communication, which is key! Dr. Persing works with a PA and at least one resident every clinic day and goes into the exam room to speak with each patient the resident has seen. Because of this, we have to communicate very clearly about which encounters I will document and which encounters will be documented by the PA or resident so that no patient chart gets overlooked or is incomplete. The moments when he is in the room with a resident’s patient are perfect moments to finish up any of my incomplete notes and to make sure they are polished!
On Tuesdays and Wednesdays, I scribe for Dr. Frumberg, an adult and pediatric orthopedic surgeon and director of the Cerebral Palsy Lifespan Program at Yale. His cases are equally as fascinating, as he sees many children with cerebral palsy and other congenital conditions that affect their limbs. Once again, in the morning we jump straight into seeing patients. His notes can be quite complex, and I rely heavily on his many, many smart phrases and templates.
Before the visit, we go over x-ray results, and he will occasionally present a brief summary of the patient to be documented in the chart. During the visits, it is crucial to keep up with his pace and remain completely focused, as his physical exams are quite complex and involve many measurements that need to be documented perfectly accurately. After the visit, we review any information in the note that was missing or unclear. Just as with Dr. Persing, I am in constant communication with Dr. Frumberg.
I have been able to build a rapport with both physicians that I work with, which makes the job much more enjoyable and facilitates clear communication for accurate documentation.
Taylor lives in Minnesota and currently scribes for 2 different providers at Yale New Haven Health in Connecticut.
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