Head Scribe Joy Li knew by her last year of college that she wanted to continue her journey to a career in medicine. Part of that journey was to find a position while applying to medical school that would give her the opportunity to gain knowledge and experience in the field, while connecting with patients.
She started with Dr. Novikov Wellness and Skin Care in May 2022 with the Gap Year Scribe and Practice Assistant Education Program. She plans to attend medical school in Fall 2024.
The position originally appealed to Joy because it was a smaller practice. It has given her the opportunity to get to know co-workers on a personal level and to understand how the profession works and how the professions seamlessly work together.
“Teamwork and collaboration has turned into a value of mine moving forward,” she said. “The experience has opened my eyes to the role of teamwork in maximizing patient outcomes. It has been empowering to be with people who care so much about patient care. There are no egos – everyone is working for the patient.”
Being able to work with the nursing home population in the role also appealed to Joy.
She said that segment of the position “set it apart for me.” Learning the aspects of long term care and wound care touched upon her budding interests. It also focused on connecting with patients.
“It’s rewarding to see them [patients] get better and have a role in it,” she said. “In the office, I am with them every single week from the lobby to exam room to check out.”
Joy’s responsibilities have grown in her first leadership position as Head Scribe. Her skillset has also grown.
“I have gained a lot of confidence and skills like multitasking and organizational skills,” she said. “As head scribe, I juggle a lot of tasks at the same time. It has been helpful to learn how to prioritize and get things done in an efficient manner.”
She also credits her role for developing a higher level of communication skills.She leads staff meetings and constructively conveys where improvements may be needed.
“It has pushed me out of my comfort zone, which is an invaluable skill to have,” Joy said. “As a future physician, I need to be comfortable educating and communicating with patients.”
The position has exceeded her expectations.
“Scribes in this position go beyond patient care,” she said. “A lot is done behind the scenes pertaining to insurance and understanding the business side of things.”
Scribes are able to learn about insurance coverage and reimbursement and be a part of developing the practice.
“It’s special to be a part of a company and have the opportunity to leave a legacy,” Joy said.
She has only positive feedback about the scribe program.
“Dr. Novikov is really good about giving feedback in a supportive way,” she said. “Everyone here is so supportive of the medical school journey. They give advice and help in any way they can.”