What is a Medical Scribe?
Medical scribes document patient encounters so physicians can focus on care. Learn about in-person, virtual, and AI scribe options—plus costs, benefits, and how to choose.
What is a Medical Scribe?
A medical scribe is a healthcare professional who specializes in documenting patient encounters in real-time. While the physician focuses on examining and treating the patient, the scribe captures the clinical information and enters it into the electronic health record (EHR).
Medical scribes emerged as a solution to the documentation burden that came with EHR adoption. Studies show physicians spend 2+ hours on documentation for every hour of patient care. Scribes help reclaim that time, allowing doctors to see more patients, reduce burnout, and actually look at patients instead of screens.
The Documentation Problem
2+ hrs
Documentation time per hour of patient care
62%
Of physicians cite EHR burden as top stressor
4,000+
Mouse clicks per shift for some doctors
Types of Medical Scribes
Medical scribes come in three forms: in-person, virtual, and AI-powered. Each has distinct advantages depending on your practice needs.
In-Person Scribe
A trained professional who physically accompanies the physician during patient encounters.
PROS
- Real-time documentation
- Can assist with tasks
- Immediate clarification
- Personal relationship
CONS
- Highest cost ($2,500-4,000/mo)
- Scheduling challenges
- Training required
- Staff turnover
Best for: High-volume practices, teaching hospitals, complex specialties
$20-30/hour
Virtual Scribe
Remote scribe who joins visits via video/audio connection and documents in real-time.
PROS
- Lower cost than in-person
- No office space needed
- Flexible scheduling
- Larger talent pool
CONS
- Technology requirements
- Audio quality issues
- Less personal
- Latency possible
Best for: Telehealth practices, multi-location practices, cost-conscious providers
$1,500-2,500/month
AI Medical Scribe
Software that uses AI to automatically transcribe and structure clinical documentation.
PROS
- Lowest cost (from $50/mo)
- Available 24/7
- No training needed
- Instant notes
- Scales infinitely
CONS
- Requires review
- Learning curve
- May miss nuance
- Technology dependent
Best for: Solo practices, cost-sensitive, tech-forward providers, high-volume
From $50/month
Medical Scribe Duties & Responsibilities
Medical scribes handle a wide range of documentation and administrative tasks. Here's what they typically do during a shift.
Documentation
- Document chief complaint and HPI
- Record physical exam findings
- Enter vital signs and measurements
- Document procedures performed
- Record assessment and plan
- Update problem and medication lists
EHR Management
- Navigate electronic health records
- Input orders as directed
- Manage in-basket messages
- Schedule follow-up appointments
- Prepare referral letters
- Update patient demographics
Clinical Support
- Review prior notes before visits
- Prepare patient summaries
- Track quality metrics
- Assist with prior authorizations
- Compile information for referrals
- Flag abnormal results
Benefits of Using a Medical Scribe
Research consistently shows that medical scribes deliver significant ROI for practices of all sizes.
2-3 hours
More Patient Time
Saved daily on documentation, allowing physicians to see more patients or leave on time.
10-20%
Increased Revenue
Higher patient volume and better documentation leads to improved reimbursement.
60%
Reduced Burnout
Of physicians report documentation as a major source of burnout. Scribes alleviate this.
95%
Better Documentation
Accuracy rates with trained scribes, improving compliance and reducing audit risk.
AI vs Human Medical Scribes
AI scribes are rapidly improving and offer compelling advantages for many practices.
| Feature | AI Scribe | Human Scribe |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | âś“24/7, unlimited visits | Limited by schedule/hours |
| Cost | âś“From $50/month | $1,500-5,000/month |
| Scalability | âś“Instant, unlimited | Requires hiring/training |
| Note Speed | Instant after visit | Real-time during visit |
| Nuance/Context | Improving rapidly | âś“Excellent understanding |
| EHR Navigation | Limited integration | âś“Full EHR assistance |
| Training Required | âś“None | 2-4 weeks |
| Consistency | âś“Highly consistent | Varies by individual |
The Verdict
For most practices, AI scribes offer the best value in 2026. They cost 90% less than human scribes, work around the clock, and produce consistent documentation. Human scribes still excel in complex specialties where contextual understanding is critical, or when you need additional EHR support beyond documentation.
Medical Scribe Cost Comparison
Understanding the true cost of each scribe option helps you make the right decision for your practice.
| Type | Monthly | Annual | Per Visit |
|---|---|---|---|
In-Person Scribe Includes salary, benefits, training, turnover costs | $3,000-5,000 | $36,000-60,000 | $15-25 |
Virtual Scribe Service contract, no benefits/training costs | $1,500-2,500 | $18,000-30,000 | $8-15 |
AI Scribe (PatientNotes)Best Value Cheapest AI scribe, unlimited visits included | From $50 | $600/year | <$1 |
AI Scribe (Others) Varies by provider, may have visit limits | $99-300 | $1,200-3,600 | $1-3 |
Try an AI Medical Scribe Today
PatientNotes uses AI to automatically document your patient encounters. Just talk naturally—we'll generate the note.
$50
/month (annual)
Cheapest AI scribe
Unlimited
visits included
7 days
free trial
No credit card required • HIPAA compliant • Cancel anytime
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a medical scribe?
A medical scribe is a trained professional who assists physicians by documenting patient encounters in real-time. They enter information into the electronic health record (EHR) during patient visits, allowing doctors to focus on patient care rather than typing. Scribes can work in-person, virtually, or be AI-powered software.
How much does a medical scribe cost?
In-person medical scribes cost $20-30/hour or $2,500-4,000/month for a full-time employee. Virtual scribe services range from $1,500-2,500/month. AI medical scribes are the most affordable—PatientNotes starts at just $50/month on the annual plan, making it the cheapest AI scribe on the market with unlimited visits included.
What are the benefits of using a medical scribe?
Medical scribes help physicians see more patients, reduce documentation time by 2-3 hours daily, decrease burnout, improve work-life balance, and often increase revenue by 10-20%. They also improve documentation quality and allow physicians to maintain eye contact with patients during visits.
What is an AI medical scribe?
An AI medical scribe is software that uses artificial intelligence and speech recognition to automatically generate clinical documentation from physician-patient conversations. It listens to the encounter, transcribes the conversation, and produces structured notes in formats like SOAP notes. AI scribes work 24/7, require no training, and cost significantly less than human scribes.
Do I need HIPAA compliance for medical scribes?
Yes, all medical scribes must be HIPAA compliant. In-person and virtual scribes must sign BAAs and complete HIPAA training. AI scribe software must be HIPAA compliant with encrypted data storage and transmission. Always verify HIPAA compliance before using any scribe service.
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