Overwhelmed Medical Practices and How Outsourcing Can Help
Medical practices today are often overwhelmed with a variety of tasks, including managing patient appointments, following up on lab results and prescription refills, and handling insurance paperwork.
This can leave little time for doctors and other medical staff to focus on the most important aspect of their job – providing quality care to their patients. As a result, many medical practices are looking for ways to streamline their workflow and reduce their workload. One solution that has gained popularity in recent years is outsourcing certain tasks to Medical Virtual Assistants.
What are Medical Virtual Assistants and How Can They Benefit Healthcare Practices?
Medical Virtual Assistants (MVAs) are specialized virtual assistants trained to handle a variety of tasks specific to the healthcare industry.
These tasks can include scheduling appointments, managing patient records, and handling insurance claims and billing. MVAs can also assist with tasks related to patient care, such as following up on lab results and medication refills.
One of the main benefits of using Medical Virtual Assistants is that they can handle many of the administrative tasks that take up a significant amount of time for medical practices. This frees up doctors and other medical staff to focus on providing care to their patients.
In addition, Medical VAs can work around the clock, which means that tasks can be completed even outside of regular business hours. This can be especially useful for medical practices that have a high volume of patient visits and need to be available at all times.
Another benefit of using MVAs is that they can help reduce the risk of errors and improve the overall efficiency of a medical practice. MVAs are trained to handle tasks accurately and efficiently, and they can also help ensure that important tasks are not overlooked. This can lead to improved patient care and a better overall experience for patients.
The Rise of Burnout in the Medical Practices
One of the main drivers of burnout and stress among medical practices is the increasing demands placed on them. With the proliferation of electronic medical records, doctors are expected to spend more time on documentation and paperwork, leaving less time for patient care.
Additionally, the increasing complexity of medical treatments and the growing number of patients seeking care is putting pressure on doctors to see more patients in less time.
The effects of burnout and stress on doctors can be severe. It can lead to decreased job satisfaction, decreased productivity, and an increased risk of mistakes. Burnout can also have serious personal consequences, including depression, substance abuse, and even suicide.
Important Statistics From Medical Practices in 2022 Dealing Burnout
The Larry A. Green Center partnered with the Primary Care Collaborative to survey 847 clinicians in 49 states from February 25th – March 1st, 2022 to collect this data.
Clinician Burnout Remains High
According to the survey, 36% of clinicians say their burnout is at an all-time high with 53% saying their ability to bounce back or adjust to the adversity has become limited.
Another study published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings, a peer-reviewed journal, reported that “62.8% of physicians had at least 1 manifestation of burnout in 2021 compared with 38.2% in 2020, 43.9% in 2017, 54.4% in 2014, and 45.5% in 2011″
More Practices Are Dealing With Staffing Issues
Only 22% of clinicians surveyed reported that their practice is fully staffed, with 68% reporting they have open staff positions that cannot be filled.
Virtual Solutions Are Here To Stay
24% of respondents reported on their reliance on telehealth (phone or video) for at least 30% of patient visits.
Nearly half (49%) reported that a large driver of telehealth is that patients prefer this method.
Futhermore, 20% of clinicians reported that their reliance on telehealth is due to lack of sufficient staffing in their practice.
Patients Are Flooding Into Practices, Many With Unmet Needs
According to the survey, “40% of respondents say they are “flooded to overwhelmed” by patient needs. This may be, in part, due to patients needing to find new sites of care: 40% of clinicians report getting more new patients because of practice closures.
And nearly 60% of respondents say that patient visits take longer than they used to because of unresolved or exacerbated concerns from delayed access to care during the pandemic.”
Medical Virtual Assistants Can Help Reduce Stress and Staffing Issues in Medical Practices
Overall, Medical Virtual Assistants have the potential to significantly reduce burnout and stress in the medical profession.
By automating routine tasks, improving documentation accuracy, and streamlining communication and collaboration, Medical VAs can help healthcare providers focus on what they do best – providing high-quality care to their patients.
As the adoption of Medical Virtual Assistants continues to grow, it is likely that we will see even more benefits for healthcare providers and patients alike.
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