Tessa Quinn
Medical scribes are often premed college students who assist doctors with checking boxes and typing words into electronic health records. The number of medical scribes in the US has grown from about 7,000 in 2014 to nearly 17,000 today. The job is demanding, with scribes often working nearly 40 hours a week and facing high pressure to keep up with doctors during patient consultations. Despite the evident value that scribes bring to hospitals, the pay is notoriously low, with wages varying significantly depending on job settings and experience. This has led to a very high turnover rate among scribes.
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What You'll Learn
Companies take advantage of pre-med students who need clinical hours
The medical scribe business is booming, with the number of medical scribes in the US growing from 7,000 in 2014 to nearly 17,000 today. Medical scribes are often premed students who need clinical hours and are willing to take on the role for low pay. Companies take advantage of this, offering low wages for a role that involves a large amount of work.
Scribe America, for example, starts its employees at $8 an hour, with small increases after training. Other companies offer slightly better rates, with wages ranging from $12 to $22 an hour. Wages can vary depending on the region and employer type. For instance, those working at large hospitals or private practices may earn up to $20 an hour, while those employed by smaller clinics usually make closer to $15 an hour.
The role of a medical scribe involves assisting doctors with documentation by recording details of patient visits, updating electronic health records, and ensuring doctors have accurate and complete medical notes. This can be a valuable role for pre-med students as it provides clinical experience and helps them understand medical terms, patient care, and how a healthcare facility operates. However, the work is demanding, with long hours and a high turnover rate.
While some companies like EPPA Health offer additional benefits such as overtime pay, compensation during training, and opportunities for promotion, the pay for medical scribes remains relatively low overall. This is despite the role requiring a significant amount of training and skill, including knowledge of medical vocabulary, privacy law, and how to write charts.
Overall, companies offering medical scribe positions take advantage of pre-med students who need clinical hours by providing low wages for a role that involves a large amount of work and specialized knowledge.
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Scribe companies have poor pay
Pay rates for scribes also vary depending on the region and employer type. For instance, scribes working in large hospitals or private practices may earn up to $20 per hour, while those in smaller clinics average around $15 per hour. Additionally, wages tend to be higher in cities, with scribes in New York City and Dallas, for example, earning more than those in rural areas.
The medical scribe business is booming, with the number of scribes in the US growing from 7,000 in 2014 to nearly 17,000 today. This growth may contribute to the issue of low pay, as scribe companies can take advantage of the high demand for these positions to keep wages low.
While some scribe companies offer benefits like health insurance and paid time off, the overall consensus is that scribe companies offer poor pay. This is likely due to a combination of factors, including the targeting of pre-med students, regional variations in wages, and the high demand for scribe positions.
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Low pay despite high value of work
Despite the high value of their work, hospital scribes are often paid low wages. Medical scribes bring tremendous value to hospitals and clinics by relieving medical providers of clerical responsibilities and improving their productivity and satisfaction. However, their pay can be as low as minimum wage, which was $7.25 in some states in 2022, and typically ranges from $12 to $20 per hour, depending on the region and employer type. For example, scribes in New York City and Dallas tend to earn higher wages than those in rural areas.
There are several reasons why hospital scribes are paid relatively low wages despite the high value of their work. One reason may be that scribe companies take advantage of pre-med students who need clinical hours and are willing to accept lower pay in exchange for the opportunity to gain experience in the medical field. Additionally, scribe positions are often part-time or entry-level roles, which typically offer lower pay rates than full-time or specialized positions.
Another factor contributing to the low pay of hospital scribes is the high turnover rate in the industry. As a result of the constant influx of new scribes, companies may not feel the need to offer competitive wages to retain employees. Additionally, some scribe companies may prioritize profit over employee compensation, taking a portion of the fees they charge physicians for scribing services.
Despite the low pay, hospital scribes can benefit from a wide range of non-monetary advantages, such as gaining valuable clinical experience, boosting their resumes, and receiving resume-boosting rewards. These advantages can be particularly appealing to pre-med students or graduates seeking a career in medicine, as they can enhance their medical school applications and future career prospects.
While the pay for hospital scribes may start low, there is potential for wage growth with experience and specialization. Experienced scribes can earn up to $40 per hour or more, especially in high-demand settings like hospitals or emergency rooms. Additionally, some employers offer additional training or certifications that can lead to better pay and job opportunities. Therefore, while hospital scribes may face low wages initially, there are opportunities for advancement and higher earnings over time.
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Lack of awareness of low pay among physicians
It is observed that physicians are often unaware of the low pay received by hospital scribes. In some cases, physicians have expressed their willingness to pay scribes more if they knew the actual salary. This indicates a disconnect between the expectations and the reality of scribe compensation.
The issue of low pay for hospital scribes is a prevalent one, with companies taking advantage of pre-med students who need clinical hours, resulting in a continuous decrease in wages. Scribe America, a well-known company, starts its employees at as low as $8 per hour, with minimal increases after training. This issue is further exacerbated by the high demand for scribes, as the number of medical scribes in the country has significantly increased over the years.
Hospital scribes play a crucial role in assisting doctors with documentation and ensuring accurate medical notes. They work tirelessly, often having to type continuously while following doctors around. The job requires a solid grasp of medical terminology and an understanding of which details are important to document. Despite their value, scribes are often underpaid, with wages varying significantly depending on job settings and employers.
The salary of medical scribes can range from minimum wage to $12 per hour, and it can go up to $17 per hour in certain regions, such as Texas. However, these wages are still relatively low compared to the importance and demands of the job. In some cases, scribes might be paid even less than minimum wage, which is unacceptable.
To address this issue, physicians who are aware of the value that scribes bring to their work should advocate for better compensation. Additionally, scribes themselves should also stand up for fair wages and be willing to leave if their employers do not value them appropriately. It is important to recognize that while gaining clinical experience is valuable for pre-med students, it should not come at the cost of being exploited and underpaid.
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Lack of regulation and licensing
The medical scribe industry is largely unregulated, with no licensing requirements. This means that companies can take advantage of pre-med students who need clinical hours by offering low wages. Scribe America, for example, starts at $8 per hour, and while there may be small increases after training, these are not significant. Other companies, such as Proscribe, offer slightly higher wages, but still only around $14.50 per hour.
The lack of regulation and licensing means that companies can get away with paying minimum wage or just above it, and there is no standardized training or certification process. This results in a high turnover rate, as scribes are often willing to leave for slightly better pay or benefits.
Additionally, the role of a medical scribe is often seen as a stepping stone to a career in medicine. As such, companies may assume that scribes are primarily gaining experience and a paycheck is secondary. This further contributes to the low wages, as there is a constant stream of pre-med students willing to take on the role.
The unregulated nature of the industry also allows for a wide variation in wages, with some scribes reporting pay as low as the minimum wage in their state, while others report wages of up to $25 per hour. This inconsistency is due to the lack of standardized pay rates, with wages depending on factors such as location, employer type, and specialization.
While some companies may offer additional training or certifications that can lead to better pay, the overall lack of regulation and licensing in the medical scribe industry results in generally low wages. This is despite the valuable role that scribes play in assisting doctors with documentation and improving productivity and satisfaction.
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Frequently asked questions
Hospital scribes are paid little because they are often pre-med students who need clinical hours, and companies take advantage of this. The job is also unregulated, requiring no license, and is often part-time.
The average yearly pay for a hospital scribe is around $32,865, with the hourly rate being $16.74. However, pay can vary depending on experience, location, and work setting.
Yes, hospital scribes get paid for new employee training and educational lectures. They are also eligible for overtime pay.
Hospital scribes gain valuable clinical experience and knowledge of medical documentation, which can help them advance in their careers. They are also eligible for bonuses, health benefits, and paid time off.
Hospital scribes typically require a brief training period of around 40 hours, where they learn medical vocabulary, privacy law, and how to write charts. Previous experience in the medical field or a degree in medicine is beneficial.
