Head Scribe Connie Cao has experienced a year of personal and professional growth and learning. She has been a part of the Gap Year Scribe and Practice Assistant Education Program before heading to medical school and feels it has prepared her well.
“The program went beyond my expectations,” she said. “I developed professionalism in the healthcare industry, leadership skills and I learned how to communicate with patients…things I will be able to apply in medical school.”
Challenges
The unique role has its set of challenges in the beginning.
“It was difficult to learn everything –how to scribe, how the healthcare system works, medical terminology,” Connie said. “It has been nice to be able to work with a team of providers who have given me support. I have improved and grown a lot.”
That growth is more apparent as she trains a new scribe and sees where she began a year ago and how much confidence she has gained since.
Benefits
This scribe role is not your typical scribe role.
“We have a lot of opportunities to take initiative to improve the practice,” Connie said. “We are a part of the team and because it is a small practice, everyone has a seat at the table. Improvements can be implemented. Everyone is receptive and adaptive to new ideas.”
She has also benefited from being exposed to each provider’s approach to patient care.
“Having a wide perspective on how to give care to patients is really important,” said Connie. “I can take a little bit from each provider and improve how I want to treat my own patients in the future.”
Ultimately, each scribe’s overall goal is to attend medical school.
For those considering a similar path, Connie has good advice noting that mistakes are inevitable, but they are crucial for growth..
“Be open to feedback from providers and senior scribes; listen to their advice,” she said. “Keep an open mind. In the beginning, I made a lot of mistakes, but was receptive to feedback and learned from them. If you make mistakes here, you won’t make the same mistakes as a medical student or provider.”
On a personal note, she said that living and working in the Boston area has been an adventure. The role includes visits to nursing homes across the state. She has enjoyed exploring the area and driving across the state.
Connie is a graduate of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and will be attending Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine in Harlem, NY starting July 2024.