Life as a Scribe Anthony Mells

As I rushed up to the sliding glass doors that marked the entrance to the Emergency Room, my heart pounded with exhilaration. Patients were sitting in chairs, lying on stretchers, and nervously pacing the floor. With a dry mouth and sweaty palms, I entered, peering into each room and observing the ill patients who lined the halls. This trip to the ER was a life-changing experience for me. However, I was not in the ER for a personal emergency; I was there to begin my first shift as an ER Scribe.

My job as a scribe requires me to shadow an ER physician and create a medical record of each patient’s visit to the Emergency Room. Utilizing a wireless Tablet PC that is integrated into the hospital-wide database, my duties are much larger than simply jotting down notes. I interpret the medical history, record the physical exam, and document medications, x-rays, and CT scans. The complex and fast-paced environment of the ER requires that I be familiar with medical terminology, comfortable with mature situations, and able to effectively communicate with multiple types of healthcare professionals.

I knew this would be difficult. I am the youngest employee in the company, and all of my coworkers are already in college or beyond. Before I...