Why Virtual Medical Assistants Are Reshaping Healthcare

In the year 2022, 81% of people work remotely, cars and groceries can be ordered online, and there are many more examples that show how technology is reshaping our lives.
 

The healthcare industry as well has evolved with technology. Patients can now visit virtual doctors or access electronic health records - all with a single mouse click. Many of these advancements have helped patients receive better care, and remove the possibility of medical mistakes and their occurrence.

Virtual medical assistants are the next wave of technology-focused healthcare that aid companies' efforts with reshaping the healthcare system. Virtual medical assistants are remote employees that are capable of handling multiple tasks in a physician's office, including:

• Note-taking during patient appointments
• Updating electronic medical records
• Appointment booking and confirmation.
• Taking phone calls and responding to messages.
• Processing insurance claims
• Pre-authorizing medical procedures
• Available to answer questions on the practices' website or social media.

Virtual medical assistants work remotely and can access the physician’s office computer network, phones, and files via software. They can do almost anything an in-office employee would be able to do, but they cost much less.

Here are four ways a virtual medical assistant could boost your healthcare practice.

1. They prevent doctor burnout

These days, doctors are tasked with juggling the administrative responsibilities of their growing patient loads. They also deal with transcribing and updating electronic health records, managing appointments, fielding phone calls from patients, and more. Now more than ever it takes a toll on doctors' well-being.

Not only is burnout a problem for physicians, but it also takes a toll on their patients. The condition causes excessive stress, a lack of sleep, and cognitive difficulties. These can lead to mistakes that result in patient safety issues and lower-quality healthcare. The end result is that patients suffer as well.
 

Virtual medical assistants can help doctors by taking on many of the mundane and tedious tasks that might otherwise require their attention. This includes transcribing notes, updating EMRs, making appointments, communicating with patients, etc. Not only are doctors free to focus on what they do best-patient care by freeing up time and reducing stress, but this also leads to a greater quality of life for the virtual medical assistant.

2. Virtual assistants substitute traditional medical assistants

In some parts of the country, there's a lack of qualified and trained available medical assistants. Even if they're willing to work in your area, they can be expensive when it comes to smaller practices.

Virtual medical assistants can work from anywhere in the world with an internet connection, making it easy for clinics to gain access to top-quality staff that they might not be able to afford otherwise.

3. Virtual Assistants Make Opening Small Practices Affordable

For many doctors, opening a private practice is nothing short of a dream. In reality, however, it's an expensive task. Equipment, staffing, leasing, and insurance can put a serious strain on your finances- even if you serve smaller communities.

Hiring in-person staff for your medical office means that you'll have to take on significant expenses, including wages, benefits, and worker's comp insurance. That's where remote virtual assistants come in! They provide the same service for a much lower price than in-person employees. Plus, virtual medical assistants come without all the hassle of hiring, managing and firing.
 

Also, since virtual assistants work remotely and are limited to just the essentials, new practice owners will need less space in a physical building. Physicians can lease or buy smaller spaces because many members of their staff can fulfill their duties from anywhere.

4. Virtual medical assistants boost customer service for patients.

Patients are most often dissatisfied with customer service, not the medical providers themselves. The most common complaints about healthcare practices tend to be along the lines of poorly handled phone calls and messages.

Virtual medical assistants can help clinics with their common complaints, like the lack of time for managing phone calls and providing prompt customer service. One VA on staff means one more person to answer phones, return calls, book appointments, and provide better customer care for people who are not feeling well.

One way medical VA’s are shaping healthcare is by taking a lot of responsibility off doctors, which means they're able to see more patients in the same amount of time. Since patients can get in to see the doctor quicker, they are much more satisfied with the practice as a whole.

Want to know more about how a virtual medical assistant could transform your practice?

Between the labor shortage that still lingers after the Covid-19 pandemic hit the global health industry and the ever-increasing demands on doctors to convert higher returns by taking in a lot of patients, doctors are burning out. Managing mundane tasks can be quite exhausting, and hiring a virtual medical assistant can be the change needed to move forward.

If you’d like to learn more about  Medical Virtual Assistants  and how we can help your practice be more efficient, reach out to the RTP team today.