Joint Commission issues FAQ on unlicensed scribes

To assist critical access hospitals using unlicensed scribes, the Joint Commission published a list of frequently asked questions regarding relevant standards.

The Joint Commission neither endorses nor prohibits healthcare organizations from using scribes to input health information into EHRs or physical records, but takes the stand that scribes may act only under the discretion of a licensed provider, according to the July 17 document.

The Joint Commission does not support scribes entering orders for providers, and insists scribes and their employers adhere to a set of conditions that includes:

• Compliance with HIPAA, HTIECH and patient rights standards;
• Pre- and post-hiring competency evaluations;
• Participation in orientation and trainings; and
• Physician-only authentication of health records.

The complete list is available here.