Does being a medical scribe count as clinical experience? Is it a substitute for shadowing? And is it realistic to work as a scribe part time while an undergrad student? I’ve read that the time commitment for a part time scribe is at least 4 shifts per month. Or is the expectation much greater? Any other insight on being a scribe as prep for med school admissions?
I think it is great experience – shadowing isn’t usually as long term. Not sure about the time commitment needed, though. That may vary by clinic. Also not sure what training is required – guessing there is some. But I think it would be a great pre-med gig if you could get it.
Scribing counts as paid employment–clinical. It is not a substitute for shadowing, but it does provide a nice supplement. It’s also not a substitute for clinical volunteering. (Per multiple adcomms on SDN.)
The amount of time commitment is going to depend on the employing agency’s expectations. Most require a minimum commitment of 4 8-hour shifts/month. Some will only hire people who can work 25+ hours/week. Working too few shifts or turning down offered shifts will usually result in the student being terminated. There are some weekend and overnight shifts in the ED, but most shifts will be during day time business hours.
Scribing requires training in medical terminology, ICD coding, EMR software and requires a minimum typing speed.