Rebuilding Patient Volume Post-Pandemic
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Almost all industries have faced the threat to survival since COVID-19 struck. Those that survived fought hard to grow and thrive. Physician practices are among businesses hit hard by the pandemic. Surveys by the American Medical Asssociation (AMA) have revealed physicians have experienced loss in patients coming in. This was a result of both, restrictions on movement, as well as patients unwilling to come in. For physician practices, the additional responsibility of ensuring patients adhere to treatment can further consume time and attention required to devote to business building practices.
As the battle with COVID-19 continues to rage, one of the pressing questions facing these businesses is: we are ready, but where are the patients? Rebuilding patient volume can take both work and time.
Here are some tips for physician practices on how to get patients to start coming in again.
#1. Investing in telehealth practices
As social distancing norms continue in certain places, and confusion related to movement continues, providers of healthcare, including physicians, can explore investments in telehealth capabilities. Telehealth can be supported by payment options that are online and safe.
#2. Understanding patient needs
One of the ways to do business is by reaching out to your patients. Separate your patients by age and type of ailments, if needed. For those who are particularly infirm and old, reach out through personal face-to-face visits. For the rest, hired help can make phone calls and attempt to connect and inquire about their well-being.
#3. Following up and helping patients stay compliant with treatment plans
Following up with patients is important to help them stay engaged and compliant with their treatment plans. Follow-up can become part of reaching out to patients; accomplishing two goals: (1) ensuring your health care directives reach patients, and (2) informing patients that you are open and accessible should they need medical assistance.
#4. Engaging patients in planning their own health care
One of the ways to ensure patient compliance is to assist in planning their health care plans. Being better informed about their health care can help patients make decisions, including the need to choose between medical options, costs for of different medical options, insurance plans, premium amounts, and other considerations.
#5. Taking into account holistic health
Both mental health and emotional wellbeing have a strong bearing on the physical health of the patient. How they respond to therapy and their compliance to treatment is influenced by mental and emotional wellbeing. Helping patients articulate their conditions, engaging in meaningful dialogue on their wellbeing, and discussing treatment options with them can help ensure holistic health care.
Challenges that physicians are likely to encounter
Most of the ways to rebuild patient volume involve interacting, engaging, talking, and reaching out to patients. Each of these needs dedicated individuals willing to carry out the necessary and relevant tasks. However, for a busy physician’s practice, hired help may fall short of expectations, unless trained well.
✔ One of the more challenging aspects for physicians is the lack of dedicated staff.
✔ Hiring and training staff is expensive.
✔ Training staff in the details of medical billing can be expensive, time-consuming, and intensive enough to take focus off the actual practice and health care aspects for the doctor.
✔ Physician burnout is real. The American Medical Association also recognizes this.
✔ Trained staff can help with medical billing aspects, but the heavy workload and high volume of paperwork can cause staff burnout and high attrition rate.
✔ Staff, especially trained staff, can be expensive for medical practices. It is important to also consider benefits, perks, and other costs. The financial burden on the practice can snowball into a significant amount of money.
✔ Not giving adequate attention to medical billing can negatively impact the practice, even causing it to shut down.
Why your medical practice needs outsourcing assistance:
Rebuilding patient volume needs attention and planning. For most physicians, busy attending to medical needs, this can get difficult to manage.
✔ Medical billing is a complex process involving a high volume of document processing, information storage. Management of data that may include Personally Identifiable Information (PII) comes under the purview of HIPAA.
✔ Professional assistance for medical billing is equipped, in both infrastructure and expertise, to deal with the complexities of medical billing, including data management and storage.
✔ When you outsource your medical billing needs, you are free from the hassles of hiring, training, and retention.
✔ Choosing help at the right time and from a physician billing services provider that closely mirrors your needs can help create a more streamlined practice, higher patient volumes, and better profitability.
Next Steps
● Outsourced physician billing can provide the right assistance and expertise to reliably manage billing requirements, such that the business can continue to focus on providing quality healthcare.
● Email us at sales@analytix.com or call 781.503.9000 for a free session.
● Follow our blog for industry trends and the latest updates.
