Is your medical office struggling to keep up with documentation? Are you finding that your staff spends more time on paperwork and less time with patients? While this is a common struggle among many medical practices, there is a solution that can help.
Virtual medical scribe companies can take on the documentation burden for you, freeing up your staff to focus on patient care. This article will cover the basics of medical scribe companies before taking an in-depth look at the top 10 benefits they can offer your practice.
What is a medical scribe company?
A medical scribe company is a service that uses remote, trained professionals to document patient visits. This off-site documentation is then transmitted to the practice in real-time or near-real-time.
These types of companies have become increasingly popular in recent years as the demand for scribes has grown. This is primarily due to the fact that EHRs (electronic health records) have made documentation more time-consuming and difficult for staff members who are not trained in medical coding.
Medical data is a vital part of every medical professional’s day. But the problem is that doctors already face an almost impossible workload. Without well-documented medical data, you run the risk of letting down your patients and your practice.
The traditional method for recording data has been to utilize the services of medical scribe companies. But this ‘non-virtual’ approach is beginning to look outdated. The world of technology is moving at a rapid pace and has brought exciting developments to the world of business. These advances allow you to become more competitive and provide greater value for your customers.
Some of the top medical scribe companies are known to be very reliable, providing high-quality documentation with a quick turnaround time. This can be a valuable asset for practices that are struggling to keep up with their documentation. Check out the Hello Rache site to learn more about hiring Virtual Assistants for your practice.
What is a virtual medical scribe?
A virtual medical scribe is one of the many types of virtual assistants taking the US by storm. The main difference between a virtual scribe and those provided by traditional medical scribe companies is the physical presence. With a virtual scribe, there’s no need to be located within a practice. They can be based anywhere in the world. And it’s this versatility that HelloRache is dedicated to providing.
But a virtual scribe is much more than just a distant entity. They can become an essential part of your medical practice. Let’s take a look at what a virtual medical scribe can do for your organization:
Document medical data
Excellent medical data should provide the backbone of your patient care. But it’s difficult for a doctor to do this on their own. After all, doctors see an average of 20 patients a day. And recording all this data is time-consuming. Bear in mind that simultaneously carrying out a face-to-face consultation makes matters even more difficult. However, with a medical scribe on hand, you can delegate this workload.
Organize patient charts
Charting has always been an uphill task and one that many doctors leave until the end of the day. However, closing charts is crucial and should be completed as soon as possible. A medical scribe presents the most viable option for achieving this in an effective manner. And studies have shown that using a medical scribe can help you increase your chart efficiency by a significant margin.
Handle administrative tasks
All virtual medical scribes and Virtual Administrative Assistants pride themselves on their administrative skills. It’s these talents that allow them to document medical data and organize patient charts so effectively. But this is far from the limit of their potential. Virtually any administrative task in a medical practice can be delegated to them. Thanks to their in-depth knowledge of medical terminology, you can rest assured that it’s in safe hands.
EHR and virtual scribes are the future of healthcare
The use of EHRs has been on the rise in recent years. Utilizing an EHR with a scribe produced significant improvements in overall physician satisfaction, satisfaction with chart quality and accurateness, and charting efficiency in a randomized control trial. These changes were largely attributed to the real-time documentation, which lightened the workload of doctors and their staff. Knowing this, it’s no surprise that the future of healthcare lies in electronic health records.
But what’s the link between EHRs and virtual scribes? Well, as more practices begin to adopt this technology, the demand for medical scribes will continue to increase. Having an efficient way to document data is no longer a luxury but a necessity. Virtual scribes are the most logical solution.
Another link between an EHR and a virtual scribe is the decrease in liability, which is a crucial factor for all medical practices. As a result of the real-time documentation, there is less potential for lost or incomplete data. This, in turn, leads to a reduced chance of medical errors or omissions.
10 benefits of virtual medical scribe companies
A medical scribe is clearly an exciting prospect for any medical practice. Reducing the workload heaped upon a doctor’s shoulder is always beneficial. It allows them to dedicate more time to the most important aspects of their practice: the patients.
There is an undeniable trend of healthcare moving toward a more digital way of operating. Electronic health records are becoming the norm. Additionally, it’s only a matter of time until all practices adopt this technology. The use of medical scribe companies will be crucial in making this transition.
In addition, maintaining up-to-date and accurate patient records is essential for any practice. Without this, a practice quickly becomes disorganized and inefficient. A medical scribe can take on this responsibility, freeing up valuable time for the doctors and staff.
Virtual medical scribe companies such as HelloRache, are making this opportunity a reality. But why are medical practices breaking away from traditional supply methods? The answer is simple: virtual scribes are packed full of benefits. Here are ten advantages of hiring a virtual medical scribe:
1. Cost-effective
A virtual scribe represents a more cost-effective option compared to an in-house scribe. The most immediate cost-benefit is that there’s no need to invest in new equipment. Virtual scribes use their own equipment to connect to your practice. Another cost-saving is that you only have to pay for the hours worked. This delivers a major cost-saving compared to paying an employee for a set number of hours each week. Finally, virtual assistants from a company such as Hello Rache do not come with additional costs such as holiday or sick pay.
2. Less intrusive
Medical appointments can be invasive and embarrassing for patients, so it’s crucial that their anxiety levels are kept to a minimum. But this is difficult to achieve when a doctor has a medical scribe sitting next to them. Hiring a virtual scribe allows you to eliminate this extra presence. The scribe will be on hand, but their presence will be limited to a discreet device. And this creates a less intimidating atmosphere for your patients.
3. Perfect for remote areas
Medical practices in remote areas of the country struggle to find the right staff. And this is down to a lack of local availability. But the beauty of hiring a virtual scribe is that they don’t need to be local. They can be located anywhere on the planet because they can connect to your practice if they have an internet connection. And this means that even the most remote medical office can benefit from a world-class scribe.
4. Easy to implement
A new employee's arrival can cause several issues for any organization. One of the main factors affecting a new employee is their start-up time. A whole range of inductions needs to be carried out and space for the new employee to work. The addition of a new employee to valuable time and money lost. On the other hand, a virtual medical scribe can get to work almost instantly. Once they have been connected to your IT systems, they will need minimal training to get started. And there’s no need to find them a desk.
5. 24/7 availability
There never seems to be enough hours in the day to get everything done. And this is why Americans spend so much time working. The result of working so many hours is burnout. And you need to take care of your employees. Many are left wondering how they can ensure the practice is productive? Simple: you hire a virtual scribe. Thanks to the vast number of virtual scribes available, you can benefit from 24/7 availability. The result is a medical practice that can remain productive and competitive at all times.
6. Reduced risk in scalability
It’s difficult to tell how successful your practice will be in the future. And this makes taking on new employees a risky venture. Hesitating to employ a medical scribe could significantly impact your productivity. It’s an age-old business concern, but the simplicity of hiring virtual scribes makes this decision much easier. The lower costs associated with hiring virtually allow you to embrace scalability while protecting your budget. Your practice can grow, and you have more funds available to invest in other areas.
7. Increased efficiency
The cumulative result of all these benefits is increased efficiency in your medical practice. The skills provided by virtual scribes alone are enough to enhance your efficiency, but their effect goes much deeper. Your existing staff is relieved of all those tasks usually left to the last minute. And this empowers them to concentrate on more pressing tasks. Your staff is left feeling more productive and satisfied while your patients receive the best possible care.
8. Improved documentation quality
In order to supply the best possible care for your patients, you need accurate and up-to-date records. But this is difficult to achieve when your staff is overworked. With a virtual scribe, you can be sure that your documents are always accurate and complete. This is because these professionals have the specific training to deal with medical terminology and spot errors. A knowledgeable virtual scribe can also assist with frustrating insurance claims and medical coding challenges that often plague practices.
9. Access to the best scribes
The global nature of virtual scribe companies means you have access to the best talent in the world. You are no longer limited by your location when it comes to hiring. This allows you to find the perfect scribe for your practice. No matter your specialist area, you can find a scribe who is familiar with it.
Take a look at how Hello Rache guarantees the highest quality medical scribes:
Doctors, Veterinarians, and even Physicians Assistants can all benefit from the services of a remote scribe, especially if they have a diverse and international patient base. You can also find scribes with specific language skills, which is perfect for practices that employ or care for bi-lingual patients.
10. Improved patient satisfaction
The final benefit of virtual medical scribe companies is improved patient satisfaction. This is the result of all the other benefits combined. When your patients see that you are using the latest technology and that your staff is efficient, they will be impressed. They will also admire the fact that you are taking steps to reduce their waiting times.
All of this leads to improved patient experiences and loyalty. There is truly no limit to the benefits that virtual medical scribe companies can bring to your medical practice. Whether you are a solo primary care physician or work for a large hospital, you can benefit from relieving your staff of the burden of documentation.
As the medical industry becomes increasingly competitive, it is important to make use of every advantage you can. Virtual medical scribe companies offer a range of benefits that can help you improve your practice. You can improve your efficiency and documentation quality by taking advantage of their skills and expertise. It isn't too late to start benefiting from the ease of use, lower costs, and improved patient satisfaction that come from hiring a virtual scribe.
Eliminate burnout and turnover
The benefits of medical scribe companies are vast and far-reaching. The advantages of hiring a virtual scribe are clear, from improved documentation quality to increased efficiency. Not only will your patients benefit from these improvements, but your staff will also feel less stressed and overworked.
When you're ready to find a medical scribe service, look no further than Hello Rache, the leading provider of virtual scribes. The highly-skilled and experienced scribes available through Hello Rache can help you take your practice to the next level. Healthcare providers across the globe trust us for their medical scribe needs, and you can, too.
Contact us today to understand how we can help you improve your documentation quality, reduce burnout, and increase efficiency.
