Technology has improved almost every industry imaginable, and healthcare is the perfect example of this progression. But while advancements have been made, there remains one major problem for all medical professionals: time. Yes, there simply aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything done in healthcare, and this has led to an epidemic of burnout. You can’t, of course, make your days last longer, but you can maximize the productivity of the time you do have. All you need to do is embrace the power of virtual assistant nurses.
A Shortage of Nurses
The evidence is unarguable: there’s a shortage of nurses in the US, and this isn’t a problem that is going to be solved overnight. If you look deeper into the impact of nurse shortages, you’ll discover this leads to more errors, higher morbidity, and increased mortality rates. And combined with the fact that the existing nurse population in the US is getting older, it’s fair to say nursing faces a difficult future. However, the rise of virtual assistant nurses offers an exciting solution.
What are Virtual Assistant Nurses?
Nurses represent the backbone of patient care, and there’s not a medical professional on the planet who could operate without them. That’s why they’re such an integrated and familiar part of the healthcare system. But what about virtual assistant nurses? This is a new term and, for many people, one which is unfamiliar. Nonetheless, healthcare has always thrived upon innovation, and virtual assistant nurses are as innovative as it comes.
To understand the world of virtual assistant nurses, we have to rewind a few years, back to a time when virtual assistants were first starting to grab headlines. Thanks to advances in internet technology, remote workers represented a viable alternative solution to in-house staff. As long as a virtual assistant had access to a PC and a high-speed internet connection, there was no barrier to them logging into your IT systems. Rather than being located within the local vicinity, your staff could be based anywhere in the world. Geographical restrictions simply evaporated.
And we all know what happened next: the Covid-19 pandemic. Here, in a landscape where remote working was a necessity, virtual assistants experienced an explosion in popularity. Hiring a virtual assistant was suddenly the new normal.
Therefore, virtual assistant nurses represent an exciting new opportunity in healthcare. Based, potentially, anywhere in the world, virtual assistant nurses allow you to unlock valuable nursing resources. Best of all, virtual assistant nurses can complete a wide variety of tasks, all of which don’t require being based in your physical premises.
What Can Virtual Assistant Nurses Do for You?
Naturally, virtual assistant nurses are unable to interact directly with patients, but this doesn’t mean they’re unable to assist. In fact, they can provide a highly valuable service supporting your patients and hands-on nurses. Some of the many tasks that virtual assistant nurses can take on are:
Medication Management:
One of healthcare’s biggest problems lies in managing medication effectively. Time is tight and this means that communication often suffers, leading to a less-than-perfect medication regime for the patient. But with a virtual assistant nurse taking care of medication management, the outlook is much more positive. Not only can virtual assistant nurses assist with providing reminders to patients on medication times, but they can also offer information on drug interactions and the correct dosages.
Telemedicine:
The Covid-19 pandemic may be over, but telemedicine is here to stay. Society is now accustomed to the benefits of telemedicine, and this is especially true for those living in remote areas or with mobility issues. The remote nature of virtual assistant nurses means that they slot perfectly into this new landscape. Armed with telecommunication software, virtual assistant nurses can conduct appointments with patients regardless of where each party is located.
General Health Queries:
Many patient queries can be dealt with by a nurse rather than a physician. So, rather than putting more pressure upon overworked physicians, why not turn to virtual assistant nurses? More than qualified to deliver helpful advice – such as first aid measures, identifying symptoms, and detailing preventative measures – these virtual assistants can ensure your healthcare business is more effective.
Appointment Scheduling:
Virtual assistant nurses excel in appointment management, seamlessly coordinating medical schedules for patients. Using intuitive interfaces, they can help with scheduling appointments, sending timely reminders, and offering essential details, such as location and preparation instructions. This both enhances patient engagement and contributes to the efficiency of your service. And, of course, it can all be completed over online systems, making virtual assistant nurses perfect for this task.
Co-ordinating with Insurance Companies:
Dealing with health insurance can be highly complex and difficult for patients. But thankfully, this is where virtual assistant nurses can step in. Some of their main duties here can involve assisting patients in navigating complicated insurance processes, making sense of complex policy terminology, and advising patients on the correct processes for submitting claims. providing help with these tasks, they reduce the administrative burden on both patients and healthcare providers.
Admission and Discharge Duties:
A positive experience with both admissions and discharges is crucial for patients. But finding the time to complete this effectively is a major challenge for healthcare providers. Virtual assistant nurses, however, can alleviate some of this pressure by providing dedicated assistance during the admission and discharge processes. During admissions, they can guide patients through the necessary paperwork and explain procedures. Post-treatment, they can offer detailed discharge instructions, including medication schedules and follow-up appointments.
The Benefits of Virtual Assistant Nurses
The wide range of duties that virtual assistant nurses can complete makes them indispensable. But there’s even more good news: all virtual assistants are packed full of benefits. Yes, there’s a good reason why so many organizations are turning to virtual assistants. And some of the most attractive benefits are:
Cost Savings:
Virtual assistant nurses will seriously help the health of your bottom line, and this is all thanks to the cost savings they’ll net you. Virtual assistants are typically employed as external employees on a short-term basis, so there’s no need for sick pay, vacation pay, or pension contributions. Therefore, you can expect to save up to 78% in operating costs, meaning you benefit from not only a world-class assistant, but also a highly effective price.
24/7 Coverage:
Healthcare is an industry that never sleeps. This is why you need to be able to provide 24/7 coverage. However, long hours and night shifts can be taxing on staff, making these shifts difficult to fill. However virtual assistant nurses, due to their remote nature, are often located in different time zones, meaning they are more than willing to fill these shifts. The end result is a healthcare business that can support its patients efficiently at all times.
Scalability:
Thanks to the flexibility of virtual assistants, scalability is much easier for healthcare organizations. The need to grow your business is vital, but managing this change in activity can be difficult. Employing permanent staff on long-term contracts can be a gamble. But virtual assistant nurses are available on short-term contracts, so it’s possible to manage your demand more effectively.
Maximizes Patient Retention:
Ultimately, all the benefits on offer from virtual assistant nurses help to maximize patient retention. If your healthcare business is backed by reliable and efficient staff, you can rest assured your patients will notice and benefit from this. Accordingly, your patients will be more likely to recommend your organization and, if required, return to your service in the future.
Get Ready for 2024 with Virtual Assistant Nurses
As a healthcare professional, it’s likely you’re going to be looking to hire either nurse assistants or medical assistants in 2024. So, why not go for a virtual option? One of the best solutions available come in the form of healthcare virtual assistants. These excellent assistants can take on all the duties that virtual assistant nurses typically deal with on a daily basis. And this can make the difference between your healthcare business being satisfactory and amazing.
But you need to know where to find healthcare virtual assistants. And to be a true success, you need the very best. This can be difficult for a healthcare professional, with little experience of the virtual assistant market, but this is where Hello Rache can make the difference. Having built up an extensive list of contacts over several years, we can partner you with virtual assistant nurses who are perfect for your needs. To find out more, just click here to start a conversation with us.
