You might know the saying: "Align expectations with reality, and you'll never be disappointed." True in life, business, and especially in our services. We all aim high and expect the extraordinary. But sometimes, it's just not possible.
At Patient Connect, we set clear and realistic expectations for our remote medical receptionists. Our patient scheduling solution provides high-quality remote help but is not a cure-all for every healthcare challenge. We want you and your patients to know exactly what to expect, ensuring a smooth and satisfying experience.
So, here are 10 key things remote receptionists can and cannot do for healthcare providers.
10 Remote Healthcare Receptionists’ Cans & Cannots
CANS
Let’s start with everything our remote receptionists CAN DO BEST:
- Handle Appointment Scheduling: Remote medical receptionists are great at managing patient data and appointments right in your EMR system (whether it’s Epic, eClinicalWorks, Cerner, or any other). They make sure patients get timely bookings and update your medical staff's schedules. Our receptionists handle all calls your in-house team might miss; plus, we offer multilingual specialists who can support patients from diverse backgrounds. All of that helps minimize no-shows and enhance overall patient satisfaction.
- Handle Data Entry: Accurate data entry is a must in healthcare, and our remote receptionists excel at it. They ensure all patient information is correctly entered into your system, reducing errors and keeping everything running smoothly. You won't have to worry about misplaced data. Our remote specialists organize EHR records efficiently, allowing your medical staff to access and locate information, saving valuable time quickly.
57% of doctors and 39% of nurses are dissatisfied with their EHR systems. Remote healthcare receptionists can take some of the burden of handling patient appointments digitally off their shoulders.
- Manage Patient Records: Our remote healthcare receptionists ensure that all medical records and identifiable health information are protected under HIPAA regulations. They expertly update and maintain your databases, keeping patient data secure and up-to-date. Before interacting with medical data, they undergo federal background checks and complete HIPAA compliance certification courses, ensuring the highest data protection standards.
- Conduct Billing and Insurance Verification: Medical insurance verification can be complex, and incorrect claims can impact your revenue. To help you navigate these challenges, our remote receptionists are trained to handle billing inquiries and verify patient insurance information, making financial transactions smoother. They check the status of patients' insurance coverage and benefits before scheduling appointments, ensuring everything is in order before the visit.
Hospitals spend about $19.7 billion per year on insurance claims denials. By having a trusted remote team that provides accurate insurance and billing checks, you can reduce the risk and avoid losing money.
- Ensure MyChart Support: Many patients appreciate the convenience of online communication with their healthcare providers. Our remote medical receptionists assist patients in navigating their MyChart whenever needed. Online access to EHR data allows patients to access their health information, schedule appointments, request prescription refills, and contact their doctors more easily, keeping them updated and engaged.
CANNOTS
Let's take a look at what remote healthcare receptionists can't do. These tasks usually involve giving specialist medical advice or anything that needs medical training, which is separate from the job for any front-desk staff, remote or otherwise.
- Provide Medical Diagnosis: Remote receptionists don't give medical advice or diagnose patients. Those tasks are reserved for your healthcare professionals with the expertise to interpret medical information and provide appropriate care. However, our receptionists are medically trained to guide patients to the right resources or professionals for proper treatment.
- Prescribe Medication (they can renew it): Your patients can turn to remote medical receptionists to renew their prescriptions, but they still have to be authorized by a healthcare professional. Medical providers are best equipped to understand a patient’s medical history and condition, ensuring safe and appropriate medication management.
- Provide Emergency Response: Remote receptionists are not equipped to handle medical emergencies. In any urgent situation, immediate medical intervention is necessary, which they cannot provide. Our receptionists will quickly direct patients to contact emergency services or visit the nearest emergency room, ensuring they get immediate care.
- Discuss Patient Confidential Information: Remote receptionists stick to strict patient confidentiality rules but can't discuss sensitive medical information beyond basic administrative details. Only healthcare providers handle in-depth medical talks to maintain patient trust and confidentiality. This ensures your patients' PHI stays secure within your facility.
In 2023, one in three US patients was affected by health-related data breaches. We keep your patient data safe through regular training, HIPPA compliance, secure data handling and encryption, and more.
- Handle Complex Billing Issues: While our remote medical receptionists handle billing and insurance verification for appointments, complex billing issues might need a specialist. Billing experts or healthcare administrators know to resolve billing problems effectively. When these come up, our receptionists will contact the right person.
Supporting Your Patients: Remote Healthcare Receptionists at Their Best
Hope your expectations about remote healthcare receptionists match reality now. Being upfront about what we can and can't do has won the trust of hundreds of patients nationwide. Ready to join their ranks and unburden your medical staff to serve patients better? 📞Contact us; we’ll simplify your healthcare administration from the first call!