Milestones and Numbers:

  • AD: Biblical scribes assist high priests in accurately interpreting and documenting important legal records
  • 1974: Documented scribe use with nurses
  • 2001: Medicare “appropriate scribe use”
  • 2004: Birth of the industry, local market share
  • 2006: Demonstrated synergy scribes+EHR
  • 2008: 1 National scribe company at ACEP
  • 2009: Scribe Academic Textbook
  • 2010: Community college and online scribe curriculum
  • 2010: Impact of Scribes on Emergency Department Revenue
  • 2012: 12 scribe companies at ACEP
  • 2013: 20% of all EDs with >100k patients/year, use scribes
  • 2014:  CMS FAQ 9058 MU. Certified Medical Scribe Specialists  may enter CPOE, outpatient; CMS recognizes CMSS Scribes Outpatient
  • 2014:  ACMSS advocates for accredited medical scribe specialist industry
  • 2014:  15,000 scribes nationally; market = 125 million
  • 2015:    medical scribes formally become recognized as an accredited profession
  • 2017:    medical scribes stretch internationally
  • 2018:    25,000+ scribes implement onto the national blueprint/annually 
  • 2018:    medical scribes expand into over 2500+ medical institutions across the US – and growing
  • 2020+: 100,000+ scribes nationally; market projection = 1 billion
 

Benefits of CMSS utilization assist physicians in:

  • Misplaced charts/missing in 30% of office visits
  • Generating on average/visit an additional 13 pieces of paper
  • Cost savings/one visit generally associated with $10/paper chart to track and file records
  • Reduced resource utilization; average paper chart weighs 1.5+ lbs.

Average uptake and adoption ratio implementing Physician/CMSS Team utilization: 

  • Minimum uptake 1:1 ratio
  • 3:1 CMSS/clinician, based upon goals and objective of the licensed clinician, up to and including workflow implementation requirements and interest in growing, expanding, and utilizing national model to improve care

Source: Committee On Improving the Patient Record Institute of Medicine