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Evaluation of the Use of Medical Scribes in VAMC Emergency Departments and Specialty Care Clinics
NCT04154462 · View on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
Study Summary
Background and study aims: Medical scribes are trained paraprofessionals that assist providers with documenting patient encounters. Prior evidence suggests that scribes may be effective in increasing provider productivity and satisfaction, and decreasing provider time spent on documentation without negatively affecting patient satisfaction. Section 507 of the MISSION Act of 2018 mandated a two-year pilot of medical scribes, which will begin in March 2020 in specialty clinics and emergency departments (EDs) of twelve VA Medical Centers (VAMCs) across the country. The aims of this study are to understand how the introduction of scribes and scribe training affect provider efficiency, patient and provider satisfaction, wait times, and daily patient volume in the VA context. Who can participate? Urban and rural VAMCs willing to be assigned medical scribes for use in EDs or selected high wait time specialty clinics (cardiology, orthopedics). What does the study involve? Four medical scribes will be assigned to each of the 12 VAMC sites randomized into treatment with the VA hiring half as new employees and contracting out for the remaining half. 30% of the scribes will be assigned to emergency departments and the other 70% will be assigned to specialty care. Remaining sites that expressed interest in the pilot but were not randomized treatment will be used as comparators. Provider productivity, patient volume, wait times, and patient satisfaction from the treated sites will be compared to baseline (pre-scribe) data as well as data from comparison sites. What are the possible benefits and risks of participating? VAMCs where medical scribes are introduced may see gains in provider efficiency, reduced wait times, and increased patient satisfaction due to the shifting of administrative burdens associated with documenting patient encounters in electronic health records from providers to these trained professionals. The introduction of medical scribes could complicate patient
Conditions Studied
Interventions
- OTHER Scribes
Study Locations (12)
Texas
- Audie L. Murphy VA Hospital — San Antonio
- Olin E. Teague Veterans' Medical Center — Temple
Arizona
- Southern Arizona VA Health Care System — Tucson
Kentucky
- Robley Rex VA Medical Center — Louisville
Maine
- Togus VA Medical Center — Augusta
Montana
- Fort Harrison VA Medical Center — Helena
New Hampshire
- Manchester VA Medical Center — Manchester
New Jersey
- East Orange VA Medical Center — East Orange
North Dakota
- Fargo VA Medical Center — Fargo
Trial Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Enrollment Target | 12 participants |
| Start Date | 2019-03-01 |
| Est. Completion | 2022-07-01 |
| Phase | NA |
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Full Details on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗What the Registry Record Tells You About NCT04154462
The ClinicalTrials.gov registry entry for NCT04154462 describes a study currently listed as completed. It is categorized as NA, which is the standard way researchers label where a study sits along the investigational pathway from early safety work through later efficacy and post-marketing evaluation. The registered enrollment target is 12 participants, a figure that helps gauge the scale of data the investigators plan to collect. The listed sponsor is VA Boston Healthcare System, which has 4 total studies on file at ClinicalTrials.gov, and sponsors are the parties responsible for study design, oversight, and regulatory filings.
The record links to 1 condition, with Medical Scribes appearing as the primary indexed condition, and to 1 intervention — of which Scribes is the first listed. Interventions can include drugs, devices, procedures, behavioral programs, or observational arms, and each is tracked as a separate registry field so that downstream queries can filter accurately. When a trial lists multiple interventions, it usually reflects a multi-arm design or a comparison protocol rather than a single treatment being tested in isolation. The brief summary published in the registry is the clearest source of protocol intent and should be read before drawing conclusions from any sidebar tags.
Geographic footprint matters for practical reasons: NCT04154462 reports 12 study locations spanning 11 distinct geographic areas — top geographies include Texas, Arizona, Kentucky. A larger site network tends to correlate with broader recruitment capacity, but it does not imply anything about study quality, and site-level enrollment status can diverge from the overall registry status shown above. Every data point on this page comes from the public ClinicalTrials.gov dataset and is reproduced here for reference only; it is not a medical recommendation, an endorsement of the sponsor, or an invitation to enroll. Verify current status, eligibility criteria, and contact details directly at ClinicalTrials.gov, and discuss any participation decision with your own healthcare provider.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is clinical trial NCT04154462 about?
NCT04154462 is a clinical study titled "Evaluation of the Use of Medical Scribes in VAMC Emergency Departments and Specialty Care Clinics". Background and study aims: Medical scribes are trained paraprofessionals that assist providers with documenting patient encounters. Prior evidence suggests that scribes may be effective in increasing provider productivity and satisfaction, and decreasing provider time spent on documentation without ...
What is the current status of trial NCT04154462?
This trial is currently completed. It is a NA study. The enrollment target is 12 participants. The study started on 2019-03-01. Estimated completion is 2022-07-01.
What conditions does trial NCT04154462 study?
This clinical trial studies the following conditions: Medical Scribes. These conditions were identified from the trial registry and reflect the primary focus areas of the research.
What interventions are being tested in trial NCT04154462?
The interventions under investigation include: Scribes (OTHER). Each intervention is being evaluated for safety and efficacy as part of this clinical study.
Who is sponsoring clinical trial NCT04154462?
This trial is sponsored by VA Boston Healthcare System, which has 4 total clinical trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov. The sponsor is responsible for the study's design, funding, and regulatory compliance.
Where is trial NCT04154462 being conducted?
This trial has 12 study locations across Arizona, Kentucky, Maine, Montana, New Hampshire. Contact the study sites directly through ClinicalTrials.gov for enrollment availability.
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