The demand for accurate, efficient, and timely documentation in healthcare has never been higher. With growing administrative burdens and clinician burnout on the rise, many healthcare providers are turning to medical scribes to streamline note-taking and focus more on patient care. But for those just getting started, understanding how to integrate a scribe—whether human or AI—into clinical workflows can feel daunting.
This guide walks clinicians through the basics of using a medical scribe, how to get started, and what to expect as you build comfort and confidence with scribe-supported documentation.
What Is a Medical Scribe?
A medical scribe is a professional—either in-person, remote, or software-based—who assists clinicians by documenting patient encounters in real-time. This could mean typing directly into an Electronic Health Record (EHR) during or after a visit, organizing SOAP notes, or preparing charts before appointments.
Medical scribes help reduce documentation time, improve accuracy, and allow clinicians to reclaim hours spent on administrative tasks.
Types of Medical Scribes
Understanding your options is the first step to integrating a scribe into your practice:
- In-person Scribes: Work physically alongside you during patient encounters.
- Virtual Scribes: Join visits remotely via audio or video platforms.
- AI-powered Scribes: Use machine learning and natural language processing to transcribe and structure notes automatically.
Each type has its pros and cons. In-person scribes offer high accuracy and human judgment, while AI scribes provide scalability, lower cost, and immediate turnaround.
Step-by-Step: How to Get Started with a Medical Scribe
1. Identify Your Documentation Pain Points
Are you spending too much time writing notes after hours? Are your charts disorganized? Start by assessing where a scribe could help most—whether in initial intake, follow-ups, or post-visit summaries.
2. Choose the Right Type of Scribe for Your Practice
- For busy clinics: A real-time human or virtual scribe may help with high-volume patient loads.
- For solo or part-time practitioners: AI scribes offer flexibility without needing to coordinate schedules.
- For specialists: Choose a scribe familiar with your specialty’s terminology and documentation style.
3. Start with a Trial or Onboarding Period
Most scribe services offer a trial period or onboarding support. Use this time to test workflows, understand how notes are formatted, and offer feedback to fine-tune the process.
4. Involve Your Team Early
Front desk staff, nurses, and billing departments may all interact with the documentation. Loop them in early to ensure smooth integration and reduce friction.
5. Review and Edit Notes Early and Often
Especially when starting out, reviewing each note allows you to:
- Catch errors
- Train the scribe (or AI) on your preferences
- Build trust in the process
Over time, the need for edits will decrease as the scribe learns your patterns.
Tips to Build Comfort and Confidence with a Scribe
- Start with low-stakes visits. Try the scribe during routine checkups before using it for complex cases.
- Use templates. Standardized note templates make it easier for scribes to follow your style.
- Give clear feedback. Whether human or AI, scribes perform best when you guide them.
- Track your time savings. Measure how much time you're saving weekly to stay motivated.
Common Concerns and How to Address Them

Final Thoughts
Getting started with a medical scribe can feel like a big shift—but it often leads to less burnout, faster documentation, and improved patient care. Whether you’re adopting AI tools or working with a human assistant, the key is to start small, stay consistent, and adjust based on your needs.
By taking a proactive approach, clinicians can gain back hours of time each week and reduce the stress of after-hours charting.
Ready to Get Started?
Comprehend is an AI-powered medical scribe tool that will surely fit your workflow—whether you're a primary care physician, specialist, or therapist. You don’t need to overhaul your process overnight. With the right setup, you'll spend less time on notes—and more time with your patients.