Virtual assistance is a growing industry, with healthcare being one of the most popular sectors. Virtual assistants for healthcare are in high demand, owing to how the world has evolved since the coronavirus pandemic. It is just a popularity hoax or the health is VA is really helpful.
To find the answer, we would try to look for it between the article’s lines. So, let’s get started and see if employing a virtual healthcare assistant really makes sense.
What is a Healthcare Virtual Assistant?
Before we go any further, let’s quickly go through the work profile and responsibilities of a healthcare VA.
A virtual assistant for healthcare is a specialist who serves healthcare organizations remotely by executing responsibilities within their areas of competence in a methodical manner. This could include tasks such as patient history recording and maintenance, virtual receptionist duties, financial assistance, tracking and coordinating insurance-related affairs, healthcare research, accounting, website development and maintenance, customer support, data mining and analysis, and so on.
Overall, a healthcare VA is a person who works virtually or remotely to ensure the efficient operation of healthcare establishments and provides a wide range of corporate medical services.
Which Type of Tasks a Virtual Assistant Can Handle?
Healthcare VAs can help with everything from clinical support to appointment scheduling. There are various types of healthcare Vas, so before hiring one for your team, consider what unpleasant or time-consuming jobs you’d need them to handle.
A medical administrative assistant, for example, is not the same as a virtual medical scribe, virtual front desk officer, or virtual transcriptionist, however admin assistants may be capable of performing chores for these other professions. Furthermore, there are specialist medical VAs, such as dental VAs and veterinary VAs.
Let’s try to break down the type of tasks that a virtual assistant for healthcare business can handle into two different types – administration and receptionist.
Administrative Tasks
Managing & Scheduling Appointments
A healthcare VA can aid you in scheduling in-person and online appointments with patients. They can also handle appointment reminders and follow-ups, ensuring that your patients attend their planned appointments.
Looking After Billing
Healthcare virtual assistants can assist with billing and coding, which are two of the most significant (and time-consuming) responsibilities in any medical practice. They can ensure that your claims are accurate and timely submitted.
Data Entry & Keeping Records
Your virtual assistant for healthcare can assist you in maintaining proper patient records by updating them and ensuring they contain the correct information. They can collaborate with your medical scribe to enter and verify data.
Receptionist Tasks
Managing Phone Calls
A medical receptionist is frequently the initial point of contact for patients who call your office. They will take messages, answer phones, and schedule appointments.
Patient Registration
A healthcare VA may create records for new patients and arrange with the patient’s previous healthcare provider for medical records.
Checking & Filing Insurance Claims
Many medical practices file insurance claims on their patient’s behalf. As a result, medical receptionists must be conversant with various insurance plans and have a firm grasp on billing procedures.
What are the Benefits of Hiring a Virtual Assistant for Healthcare?
Following are some of the great benefits of employing a virtual assistant for healthcare-
Fewer Costs & Overheads
Working with a VA might help you save money on overhead costs such as office space and equipment. Hiring a healthcare VA also means saving money on non-salary staff expenses such as insurance and retirement fund contributions.
Enhanced Efficiency
Healthcare VA can assist you in streamlining your operations and increasing the overall efficiency of your practice. Having a healthcare VA eliminates the need to worry about back-office activities such as EMR documentation.
Good Care of Patients
It is more important than any other type of benefit. Healthcare VAs can help you focus on providing better treatment to your patients by freeing up your time. With a VA, you may delegate the numerous administrative chores that healthcare practitioners must perform. You may concentrate on diagnosing, treating, and advising the patient, which is what drew you to this area in the first place!
Best Tips & Seamless Steps to Hire a Virtual Assistant For Healthcare
Hiring a VA is not the same as hiring a freelancer. Freelancers are engaged for a single task with a specified deadline and may work with several customers; however, a VA may work on multiple tasks but will have a dedicated role on your team.
Document the Tasks for Delegation
Make a list of all the duties you want to delegate to your virtual assistant for healthcare, as well as any goals you want to achieve while delegating certain chores. Spend time creating a corporate handbook to help you teach your new employee efficiently.
Formulate the Job Description
Now that you’ve produced a list of responsibilities, it’s time to write a job description that outlines your expectations of your VA. Typical job descriptions include:
• Company background
• Level of experience & qualification needed
• List of duties & responsibilities
• Hourly charges
Use the Internet, Post the Job Description Online
Following the creation of your job description, the next step is to post it online and begin getting applications. You can publish your job description through a variety of venues, including job boards, freelance markets, and online assistant agencies. You can start the search on platforms like Upwork, Indeed, and many others.
Schedule Interviews After Reviewing Applications
As applications come in, review them and schedule interviews with the top 5 to 10 candidates. In addition to their work experience and skill set, inquire about their goals, values, strengths, and management style to get a sense of their personality and whether they’ll be a good fit.
Offer a Test Job to Best Candidates
Before you commit to employing someone, assign your chosen applicants a task that will become a part of their routine and compare their performance on that task. This phase will assist you in narrowing your search and demonstrating your readiness.
Always Start with a Probation Period
Now that you’ve found your ideal applicant for the job, offer them a 4- to 12-week trial term. This opportunity will provide them an incentive to do a good job while also giving them time to determine whether to continue with the task or terminate the contract.
The next big thing you can do is to just connect with us if you wish to avoid the above-mentioned process of hiring a virtual-medical-scribe for healthcare. VA.care aims to provide the best and most professional VA at the most reasonable prices. HIPAA-trained and backed with satisfactory performance, VA.care’s virtual medical scribe help you to manage administrative tasks so that you can focus on treating patients.
