Once sufficiently experienced in working as a medical scribe, you will find that you have developed a firm grasp of how a provider should conduct their clinical examination. You will become fluent in the medical terminology specific to the specialty in which you work, and will begin to be able to recognize a wide range of medical conditions for which you will know which investigations will be conducted. You will learn to understand the process of medical decision making and how differential diagnoses are approached. Through working with a varied number of physicians you will see first hand the effects of different bedside manners, and how best to relay a patient’s disposition. This experience sets students apart from their peers in the application towards post-graduate studies including medicine and provides a foundation of skills that has permitted past MSC scribes to excel in their education.

Applicants selected from the initial application pool will be invited to participate in a panel interview conducted by an MSC representative, a healthcare-site representative, and a member of the medical community. Those selected from the interview process will be provided with preclinical training, the costs for which will be borne by MSC. Following the completion of MSC’s proprietary CAMELOT Medical Scribe Training Program, as well as mandatory training in patient confidentiality, infection prevention, patient management and workplace safety, prospective hires will be tested for their knowledge and competency. Those who have achieved the necessary passing grade on these tests will move on to the final stage of preclinical training, in a classroom-based training and evaluation session. Upon completion of preclinical training, the new Medical Scribe in Training will be offered a probationary contract to last the duration of their clinical training period. Medical Scribes in Training will participate in a site orientation, as well as any other mandatory site-specific training or certifications mandated by the clinic or hospital in question. The Medical Scribe in Training will then complete a minimum of 40 hours clinical training on shift, supervised by both a physician and a Medical Scribe Supervisor. Continuous evaluation and feedback are provided during this time. Once deemed able to work independently by both the Medical Scribe in Training’s Medical Scribe Supervisor and physician, the new hire be recognized as having completed their training and probationary period, and will be considered certified to work as an MSC Medical Scribe.

Applicants must:

Because specific training, compliance measures and accreditation vary hospital to hospital, MSC scribes generally work exclusively at one hospital. This also allows our scribes to be paired with a select few physicians continuously so that they can develop the synergies that come with knowing one another’s work practices. In addition to their primary hospital, however, a scribe may be scheduled to work additional shifts in a smaller inpatient or outpatient clinic.

Insofar as medicolegal issues are concerned, as always, what is entered into the medical note is at the sole discretion of the physician. As such, in the event of any form of a medical malpractice suit, the medical scribe to whom documentation was delegated would not be prosecuted. That being said, in excess of this MSC has secured substantial commercial general liability coverage and errors and omissions liability coverage. In the event of any on-site injury, all scribes are covered under MSC’s worker’s compensation insurance policy. As with any other member of the healthcare team, in a case of breached confidentiality, the medical scribe would be held independently liable.

To submit an application to MSC for a position as a Medical scribe, visit www.mediscribecanada.ca/apply and apply below. Alternatively, apply by sending an email to application@mediscribecanada.ca with the relevant documents attached, including:

Each MSC Medical Scribe is subject to ongoing and intermittent quality assurance review, in addition to continued learning expectations. We are in the process of integrating IT  tools into our existing infrastructure to assist in the collection and analysis of numerous performance metrics used to continuously evaluate documentation skill and drive. Additionally, physicians are able to submit regular reviews of the scribes with whom they work, which contribute towards steering the implementation of performance improvement plans.

Yes, MSC Medical Scribes are paid, however, the wages for the position are not such that would constitute a viable career option. Work as a medical scribe is intended to be transient; offered to the most qualified applicants as a means of gaining unrivaled clinical experience to help bridge the divide between academics and future careers in medicine. In order to constitute a sustainable business model, we offer physicians medical scribe services at rates that are financially viable and that will result in increased profits. As such, medical scribe wages are comparably set. That being said, we do not want potentially superb medical scribes, who might in turn eventually become superb healthcare providers, being forced to choose alternate employment due to financial necessity. We, therefore, offer hourly rates in line with the majority of other part-time positions in the service industry. Depending on factors such as seniority and responsibility, MSC Medical Scribes are paid an hourly wage ranging from $12/h to $17/h.

The use of MSC Medical Scribes simultaneously improves physician efficiency and the quality of patient medical records. Through concurrent documentation and support in physician workflow management, scribes enable physicians to redirect their focus to the medicine at hand rather than innumerable ancillary concerns. These improvements are realized in areas including:

Both research and first-hand experience have demonstrated resounding support for our scribe programs from the patients. Physicians are able to provide their patients with undivided attention during their encounter, as the physician’s documentation is occurring concurrently. Additionally, MSC provides all our clients with numerous resources to further explain the role and benefits of having a medical scribe as part of their care team. For the very few patients who choose not to consent to the scribe’s presence, the scribe simply removes themselves from the room and case.

MSC will provide training tailored specifically to the clinical setting and specialty in which our scribes work. We are continuously adding new specialties to our CAMELOT training program in conjunction with our specialist clients.

MSC makes a significant investment of time and resources into the development of each of our prospective medical scribes. We require a minimum commitment of availability for two shifts per week for one year.

The vast majority of MSC Medical Scribes are university students or recent graduates from the fields of health and pre-medical sciences with ambitions of future careers in healthcare. We employ individuals with the strong interpersonal skills, motivation, and resilience necessary to endure the stresses of front-line healthcare.  Applicants must first meet MSC qualification standards before being eligible for selection to begin its rigorous training program.

MSC is Canada’s first and preeminent source of Medical Scribe Program Services. With an emphasis on catering to the needs specific to Canadian physicians and the Canadian healthcare system, MSC is working to create a sustainable solution to the increasing demands being put on providers. Founded by Canadians, for Canadians, MSC works in concert with our clients to create programs that suit their site-specific needs and are continuously adapted through an ongoing relationship. Our proprietary Medical Scribe Training Program – CAMELOT, organization-specific customer service, and locally established executive team secure MSC in the vanguard of medical scribe implementation in Canada.

A medical scribe is an individual trained to provide concurrent documentation of the physician-patient encounter and to help manage the physician’s workflow. Scribes allow physicians to provide undivided attention to their patients, and take over their ancillary duties including clerical administration and EMR navigation. Scribes have no direct patient contact unless expressly instructed by the physician, and instead improve the delivery of care as the ultimate physician support.