Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 24, 2026
Setting Up a Stroke Team Algorithm and Conducting Simulation-based Training in the Emergency Department - A Practical Guide
Published on: January 15, 2017
Implementation of Scribes in an Academic Emergency Department: The Resident Perspective
Background:
Medical scribes have been shown to improve emergency department (ED) throughput, physician productivity metrics, and patient satisfaction by fulfilling primary documentation and nonclinical functions. Little research has been done to date to study the effect of implementing a scribe program in a residency setting.
Objective:
Our goal was to investigate emergency medicine residents' perception of their educational experience, including interactions with faculty, before and after the implementation of an ED scribe program.
Methods:
We used a pre-post design to assess residents' perceptions of their educational experience before and after implementation of the scribe program. Residents at a large, urban academic medical center with an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-accredited, 4-year emergency medicine residency program were surveyed during August 2015 (prior to the implementation of the scribe program) and April 2016 (6 months after implementation).
Results:
Residents reported improved educational experiences with statistically significant changes in the following areas: increased interaction with faculty due to fewer documentation requirements (P = .012); more face-to-face teaching with faculty (P < .001); increased faculty supervision for procedures (P = .016); and a decrease of delays in patient disposition due to incomplete documentation (P = .029).
Conclusions:
Implementation of an ED scribe program in an urban 4-year emergency medicine residency program led to improvements in residents' perceptions of their education.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Methods of Documentation VII: EMR
01:21Methods of Documentation III: PIE
01:18Methods of Documentation I: Source-Oriented Records
In an SOR, each discipline involved in patient care maintains a separate medical record section. This record-keeping method enables easy tracking of patient progress and ensures healthcare staff have access to up-to-date information.
Key Attributes include the following:
01:06Legal Guidelines for Documentation
01:26Guidelines for Nursing Documentation II
Timely documentation is crucial to ensure continuity of care for patients. Any delays in recording or reporting medical information can result in medical errors and even adverse patient outcomes. From medication administration to diagnostic test results, every detail must be accurately and promptly documented to provide the best possible care for patients.
01:24Data Reporting and Recording