Resource Details

Remote Scribes, Transcription, Talk-to-Type, and Virtual Assistants

Tools for Decreasing Documentation Burden in the EHR; Developed October 2019

Year Developed: 2020

Resource Type: Publication.

Primary Audience: PCAs
Secondary Audience: Administrative Staff Clinicians

Language(s): English

Developed by: HITEQ (See other resources developed by this organization).

Resource Summary: Electronic Health Records (EHRs) have replaced obsolete paper medical charts and records, and their ability to exchange health information electronically have helped organizations provide higher quality and safer care for patients. However, despite their numerous advantages, EHRs can create an overload of documentation and clerical responsibilities for physicians, placing an increased demand on physicians’ time and compromise efficiency. Medical dictation, transcription, and scribing services have become an increasingly popular solution to address this hindrance. This resource introduces different transcription, scribing, and dictation services, and reasons why health centers should consider using them to reduce the burden of EHR documentation.

Resource Details: Electronic Health Records (EHRs) have replaced obsolete paper medical charts and records, and their ability to exchange health information electronically have helped organizations provide higher quality and safer care for patients. Notably, EHRs help providers better manage care for patients and provide better health care by providing accurate, up-to-date, and complete information about patients at the point of care and enabling quick access to patient records for more coordinated, efficient care. Other advantages include helping promote legible, complete documentation and accurate, streamlined coding and billing and improving patient and provider interaction and communication, as well as health care convenience. However, despite their numerous advantages, EHRs can create an overload of documentation and clerical responsibilities for physicians, placing an increased demand on physicians’ time and compromise efficiency. Medical dictation, transcription, and scribing services have become an increasingly popular solution to address this hindrance to quality of care. These documentation methods provide many benefits and potentially lower costs. This resource introduces different transcription, scribing, and dictation services, and reasons why health centers should consider using them to reduce the burden of EHR documentation.

Resource Topic: Health Information Technology (HIT)/Data, Workforce

Resource Subtopic: Electronic Health Records (EHRs), Data, Tools, and Dashboards.

Keywords: Data Collection, Management, and Analytics.