What to Look for When Hiring a Virtual Medical Assistant
We all know that running a medical practice requires tons of work, whether in a large medical facility or a small clinic. Hiring an in-house medical staff usually does the trick, but there's a more efficient way to manage these kinds of challenges.
The answer is hiring a
virtual medical assistant. We'll talk about the meaning of a virtual medical assistant in this article. Also, we'll cover the benefits of having one in your team. So, if you want to be on top of your game, please read on.
What is a Virtual Medical Assistant?
A virtual medical assistant is a person who works on administrative tasks from a remote location.
The demands on hiring virtual medical assistants have been rising recently because of the global pandemic. Their capabilities fit perfectly with the needs of medical practice worldwide. Virtual assistants can perform in-house tasks remotely, reducing the risks of
COVID-19 infection. Virtual medical assistant jobs are the next big thing.
Virtual medical assistants can
- Schedule appointments
- Process medical billing and coding
- Perform general office admin tasks
- Manage medical records
Most virtual assistants or VA's are also highly experienced in the medical field. As a medical practitioner, you can take advantage of the situation by assigning tasks to your VA's while focusing on the quality of care.
Choosing the Right Virtual Healthcare Assistant for Your Practice
Here are the tips that we've compiled to help you choose the ideal virtual medical assistant. Below are the healthcare virtual assistant skills that you should look for.
Clerical Skills
When hiring a virtual medical assistant, you should always look for the skills they bring to the table. It's like adding another tool to your toolbox. Here are the skill sets that you should look for
Customer Service. Hire someone who can handle phone calls, emails, and chats. Customer handling is one of the most significant traits a VA should possess.
Billing. A Va with a good understanding of the medical billing process is a gem. They should know their way of handling authorizations, claims, and verification of benefits.
Nursing Background. One of the best options for hiring a VA is a
registered nurse. Nurses need minimum training for organizing patient charts, laboratory follow-ups, and drug prescriptions.
Technical Background (Computers).
Telehealth is one of the most common mediums used by virtual medical assistants. Hire someone that can troubleshoot basic technical stuff like internet connectivity, hardware, and software issues.
Availability
Look for a virtual medical assistant that is comfortable with your medical practice's operational hours. Some of the VA's may be residing from a different region than yours. Always consider the difference in time zone. Hire someone that can work part-time or full-time, depending on your practice's needs.
Language Skills
A
language barrier can harm the overall patient experience. Imagine talking to someone without understanding the message. Effective communication is vital to everyone, especially in the medical field. Your VA should relay health information with clarity at all times. Fortunately, you can filter the specialty of the VAs that you plan to hire. You can choose multi-lingual virtual medical assistants on the get-go.
The Benefits of Hiring the Right Virtual Medical Assistants
Now that you have an idea of what to look for in a virtual medical assistant let's talk about the benefits of hiring them.
Saves Time. Hiring a virtual medical assistant saves time and effort for everyone in the team. Saving more time means an increase in productivity.
As a doctor, you can dedicate more time to your patients while your VAs cover the clerical tasks. It enhances the overall experience for your patients.
Increases Employee Loyalty. Virtual medical assistants can provide their services in the comfort of their homes. That means they can spend quality time with their families while being productive at work. A happy employee stays longer.
Saves Money. Having employees work from home lets you save more money. They do not require office setups, which can sometimes cause a small fortune.
You can also save more by eliminating the need to buy office supplies. What's more, you can avoid extra expenses for maintenance or repairs for damaged office equipment.
Higher Reliability. You can reduce absenteeism by a large degree with virtual medical assistants. Your virtual staff experience less stress, reducing the risks of burning themselves out.
Remote workers often get the rest they need, even on a full-time shift. With no travel and preparation time, they are more energized each day. Fewer absences are a boon to your medical practice.
Increased HIPAA Compliance.
HIPAA compliance is a must for all medical practices. The tools that VAs use protect patient records with high efficiency.
Also, remote workers have less time to gossip about sensitive health information. Protected information is less likely to circulate, even by accident.
Why Now is the Right Time to Hire a Virtual Medical Assistant
Let's face it; the COVID-19 situation will not go away anytime soon. Even with the high efficacy rate of the vaccines, it's more likely that people will still get infected with the virus. Therefore, you must make the most of what you have as a medical practitioner.
Continue your healthcare services with the help of virtual medical assistants. You can still provide excellent medical services to those in need using modern technology as your ally. The key is to find the right team to provide you with the best VAs in the business.
Partner with DrCatalyst
DrCatalyst is the most reliable source in providing virtual medical staff. Our virtual staffing services have a proven track record of excellence and quality.
We cover everything from clinical call centers to a full
RCM service. We at DrCatalsyt guarantee success for your virtual assistance needs.
Give us a call today and get a free consult.
