It’s The Right Thing To Do For More Reasons Than One
There are many reasons to go paperless in any business, but this is an excellent move in the healthcare industry. First, it’s just the right thing to do. When you stop using so many resources, you are doing your part to protect the environment. Also, you would be making a statement that your patients will notice.
A paperless practice can also be much more efficient. Anyone who ever dug through mountains of paper looking for “that one” can attest to the time wasted. Having to store paper records is also costly. A digital solution is much more efficient in terms of accessing information and storage.
Ways That Your Medical Practice Can Go Paperless
Creating a paperless office can be a challenge, and you can’t work through the process overnight. However, a process that eliminates waste, reduces costs, and creates more efficiencies is worth the trouble. By taking the challenges on bit by bit, you can achieve your goals. The following suggestions will guide you through the process:
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Give Paperless Billing Options to Patients.
One of the biggest offenders in the office is the stacks of bills to be sent out each month and the paper checks that come back as replies. They waste paper, envelopes, ink, and postage. Instead, set up an online portal where patients can access their billing information and make payments on their accounts.
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Use Electronic Health Records.
EHRs have become the norm with healthcare providers, and they have many benefits. First, they are paperless. Aside from this obvious advantage, they are also cost-effective and more efficient. With an EHR, a patient’s data is available 24/7 and can be easily shared with another authorized provider.
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E-Prescribing of Medications.
When a patient walked out of a doctor’s office in the past, they often carried with them a prescription that they would need to drop off at a local pharmacy. These are not only a waste of paper but also a waste of time and other resources. Electronic prescriptions are not only faster but also more secure and cost-effective.
All the ways of going paperless described above have been, for the most part, implemented by the major healthcare providers. However, the private practices might still be reluctant to switch because of the lack of personal or other resources. While it’s perfectly understandable, there are some cost-effective ways of doing it.
How a Medical Answering Service Can Boost Your Paperless Business
When your medical practice decides to go paperless, you can probably use as much help as possible to make this endeavor a success. Whether you already have a medical answering service or you’re considering signing up, this partnership can complement your efforts.
Let’s assume that a patient calls your office with a billing question. Your company’s call operator can direct them to the online portal and even walk them through the sign-on process. Medical answering service can also schedule appointments and answer basic questions without using a single scrap of paper.
Emergency dispatch and after-hours calls can also be handled seamlessly and with a paperless approach. For example, if a patient has a prescription refill request, you will receive that information electronically and respond accordingly.
If you would like more information about how Answering365’s medical answering services can help your healthcare business, please give us a call at 888-588-9800. We will be happy to answer your questions about how you can better serve your patients and operate more efficiently.