LETTER W IN T E R 2015 N E W S
Our Tuscaloosa scribe team before the Color Run!
Dr. Angelyn Ramsey (left) with AL scribes Emily Wilson (middle) and Katelyn Senkus (right).
What’s New?
The Elk Grove, IL (Alexian Brothers) scribe team. “We had a fabulous time eating BBQ, catching up, sharing stories, and making fun of each other!” - Nicole Redquest Scribes from the Mobile, AL team. From left: James Moleyneaux, Bronté Harber, Bhoomika Vakharia and David DaCosta.
Members of the corporate office dropping off school supplies for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Arlington, TX.
Our Houston Chiefs during their visit to the corporate office in Fort Worth. Page 2
WINTER 2015
Spotlight on
Tanya Stockton
If you trained at Scribe U in the last few years, chances are you’ve met Tanya Stockton. Tanya is the Director of Clinical Services and Occupational Health for Employee Health Logistics (EHL). PhysAssist partners with EHL to ensure all scribes are current on their immunizations required to work in hospitals.
It has been nearly five years since Tanya first joined the PhysAssist Family. She remembers the first-ever I Am Scribe University, where she recalls “how small it was.” There were four scribes in attendance that weekend in Fort Worth, and she was “so nervous to get everything just perfect!” Tanya has been through thick and thin working with us as a partner. One of the things she loves about PhysAssist is, “you feel like family – a REALLY fun family! Everyone works together as a team to accomplish our goals – I think it says a lot about an organization when you actually LIKE coming to work every day.” Tanya has been on an incredible journey with us. She always has a smile on her face and you can always hear her infectious laugh across the office. We love you Tanya and we’re so happy that you’re a part of our family! “As a Scribe U coordinator, I have seen her get here at 0800, ready to take blood from countless Scribe U trainees, and stay as late as 2000 waiting on trainees to arrive. No matter the time, she always has a smile on her face. She has been a strategic member of the team and without her, EHL, and Scribe U for that matter, would not have excelled as it has over the past 4 years. She has truly been a pleasure to work with and I am grateful to have gotten the chance to work with her.”
“Tanya! Words cannot express the love and gratitude I have for you and your profession. You are such a light, and always have an attitude of joy! I miss working with you daily, but can’t wait to work alongside you as a PA in the healthcare setting one day!”
Heather Davis, Scribe University Coordinator Paul Hickey, Divisional Training Manager
“Tanya is passionate, dynamic, and a joy to work with! Whenever I see her in the office, I cannot help but grin. Her vibrant personality does not detract from her tenderheartedness either. She works diligently to remove the stresses and woes of those she cares about. She is an amazing woman - and the best part is she already knows it!”
Jenny Krabacher, Divisional Training Manager
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“Tanya has such a bright happy personality and I have immensely enjoyed working with her for the past 2 years. She was such an amazing help to me when I was a SU coordinator and trainees were suffering syncopal episodes! No matter how much of a stressful situation we were in, Tanya could always lighten the mood with a big smile and find a way to look on the bright side. I still enjoy popping into EHL when I see their light on just to say hello. Tanya has been such a big part of my experience at PhysAssist and I’m grateful for the opportunity to work with her!” Spencer Head, Divisional Training Manager
WINTER 2015
ASK A CERTIFIED TRAINER SCRIBE SHANTEL-CRYSTAL NWANGUMA This Winter, we’re featuring several of our Certified Trainer Scribes (CTSs) and asking them to tell us about their experiences as traveling scribes who help set up programs at our newest sites. Shantel-Crystal Nwanguma is originally from Houston and currently implementing a new scribe program in Pennsylvania.
Why did you become a CTS?
I became a CTS because I was intrigued by the idea of traveling across the United States experiencing different ER settings while learning several different EMR systems. I figured that this opportunity and experience would be useful for future career references as well.
What is the best thing about being a CTS?
I have really enjoyed building friendships with fellow CTSs from different states. At each new site I am able to meet new people from all over the US and work with them in new facilities.
What has been the biggest surprise about being a CTS?
Being a CTS has changed me personally. I believe I have become much more extroverted and easily adaptable to constant change because of my experiences working in new sites, with new scribes and with new physicians.
What is the worst part of being a CTS?
I would not say there is a “worst” part about being a CTS. My time as a CTS has been enjoyable and has given me a fantastic opportunity to travel more.
What is the most important skill you have learned in your experience as a CTS?
I have learned that the most important skill to embody is the skill of being adaptable and in being a quick learner. I have also been able to improve my interpersonal skills.
Has experiencing new environments as a CTS been a fun part of the job?
Yes! Traveling is something I enjoy and to be able to travel for work is great. On off days we are able to explore the city in small groups. So far, from our base in Pennsylvania, we have been able to hike Bushkill Falls and visit New York City!
What advice would you give someone who is considering becoming a CTS?
I would tell anyone who is contemplating becoming a CTS to not think too hard about it and just do it! It is an awesome opportunity to learn and travel while you are still young. It will also prepare you for the next phases of your life.
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FARHAN SAHAWNEH
Farhan Sahawneh is originally from Dallas and is currently serving as a CTS in Florida. He has previously worked as a PhysAssist CTS in Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi.
Why did you become a CTS?
I decided to become a CTS because I was drawn to the challenge of participating and potentially leading the establishment of pioneer scribe teams in various emergency rooms across the country. Unlike being a trainer on your home team, as a CTS, you don’t just train new scribes. As a CTS working on a new implementation, you are just as new to that specific work environment as a brand new trainee. You are often tasked with learning various new software systems and EMRs, are meeting different doctors who practice medicine with different styles, and are working in different hospitals with different philosophies. I knew that if I was to one day become a successful PA, I needed to develop my abilities to adapt to new environments by working closely with a vast spectrum of personality types.
What is the best thing about being a CTS?
The best part about being a CTS is traveling to different cities and exploring the special things that each location has to offer. Just in the last month I have been to four different states (Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Florida). It has opened my eyes to the dynamic cultural differences in different parts of the United States. In the hospital, the best part about the job is knowing that you are highly valued and respected both by new scribes and by the doctors who rely on you to demonstrate the value of using a scribe. Watching your hard work materialize and improve the productivity of scribes and the overall efficiency of the ER can be very rewarding. In my experience, I witnessed how training scribes to admit and discharge patients allowed the doctors to see more patients. The presence of scribes also improved the general mood of the ER.
What has been the biggest surprise about being a CTS?
The biggest surprise has been to see the stark differences between each new project. If you are an individual who has not already traveled to multiple places all over the country, then you will share the same shock I had about how demographically different the United States is, depending on where you are. With these cultural differences come variations in the way you should engage with others and carry yourself.
What is the most important skill you have learned in your experience as a CTS?
I have learned how to be more adaptable to new environments and personality types. Being exposed to the different ways that ERs operate increases the confidence you have in yourself to be able to tackle new challenges. It has also prepared me for a future career in the healthcare industry.
Interested in becoming a CTS? Find out more by visiting info.iamscribe.com/cts or by emailing cts@iamscribe.com Page 5
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Physician’s Corner Top Qualities Physicians Look For in Scribes Sophie Penkrat
Micro was a cinch. Organic chemistry was a breeze (well, maybe not). Physiology was a walk in the park. And Scribe U? Well, that seemed challenging…but now that you’re working in the emergency department, you can totally coast through this whole scribing thing till you get into medical school. Right?
Wrong! As a medical scribe, you’re not only getting realworld experience in an emergency room setting, you’re laying the groundwork for your future as a doctor or provider. Everything you do as a scribe is important—from your professional attitude to how well you write patient charts to your interaction with nurses and other providers in the hospital. All of this creates a package of the kind of provider you are going to be one day. Plus, the more attentive you are and the more you strive, the better chance you have at getting relevant and shining letters of recommendation!
Dr. Adrienne Wasserman y Services Medical Director of Emergenc al Center dic Me Good Samaritan Regional
I chatted with Dr. Adrienne Wasserman, Medical Director of Emergency Services at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Suffern, NY (who started with PhysAssist in 2013), to get the inside scoop on what qualities make an excellent scribe…and eventually a great clinician and medical provider.
What makes a scribe shine?
“Organized documentation with particular attention to detail in the HPI and ED course sections are paramount. When scribes know when to ask the right questions, namely what is appropriate to include in a chart and what is superfluous, it shows that they are actively listening and digesting the information that is being provided by the patient.”
Is an innate curiosity in medicine important?
“Yes! When he or she is interested in learning about medicine and starts to ask about the actual care of the patients—what is being performed and why—they are actively engaged in the process, which helps them digest all of the information they are taking in.”
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What is something scribes can do to improve their skills?
“I like to have the scribes practice repeating the HPI as if they are telling the patient’s story to a friend, making an attempt to get all the pertinent past medical history first, then the details of the present illness in order, leaving out things that the patient provides which are not pertinent. This is something they will have to do in med and PA school and the ED scribe experience is a perfect time and place to practice.”
What are some scribe pitfalls they should try to avoid?
“The fact that scribes have the chance to work with different providers during their shifts throughout the month, they have the opportunity to learn the nuances of how each practices medicine differently. The biggest mistake scribes can fall into is assuming that just because one provider likes to document things a particular way, all providers do it the same way. Also, they need to keep in mind that providers are human too and are not always correct. The best scribe keeps an open mind and tries to work within protocols and boundaries while, again, always asking the right questions to stay on their toes.”
So, what’s on your short list for star scribe qualities? • • • • •
Organized Detail-oriented Interested in learning more about medicine Efficient Good oral and written communication skills
“I personally think it boils down to really good communication skills. An inherent ability to tell a story is incredibly valuable. In fact, I work with a few scribes who have experience in writing and teaching, which are qualities that actually make physicians, NP’s and PAs stand out from the average ones. You could be the smartest person in the world, but if you can’t explain your thought processes along the way, you’ve missed the whole patient-doctor interaction. Scribes have a unique opportunity to follow different physicians into the patients’ rooms and observe providers personal, communication and clinical skills. It must be interesting as an aspiring doctor or physician assistant to see how different people interact around patients and use that information gleaned from being a ‘fly-on-the-wall’ to influence their eventual style when they become healthcare providers.” Page 7
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THE BACK PAGE You know you’re a scribe when...
You can go 10 hours without using the restroom When you visit your PCP’s office, you explore the EMR and offer advice for quicker documentation You take school notes in abbreviations You complete all your meals in 5 minutes You’ve memorized the quickest route to Starbucks closest to the hospital and know exactly when you need to leave your house to get coffee on your way to the night shift When you get sick, you draft a complete HPI including ALL 8 elements and hand it to the doctor when you arrive at their office The only reason you visit a doctor is for the prescription... you’ve already diagnosed yourself, you just can’t treat yourself yet!