The Association of American Medical Colleges projects a shortage of between 10,100 and 19,800 surgeons by 2036. According to the American College of Surgeons, the financial burden of a medical education is a major driver of this problem. They state that this shortage is “a critical component of the crisis in healthcare because only surgeons are uniquely trained and qualified to provide certain necessary, lifesaving procedures.”

Making matters worse, the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) reports that 20% of the nation’s surgical nurses will reach retirement age in the next five years. And there’s also a shortage of anesthesiologists. The Journal of Medicine, Surgery, and Public Health reports on this shortage and the increasing demand for surgical services, driven in part by the aging population in the U.S.           

Surgery clinics serve a vital purpose; if patients must delay care because no surgical providers are available near them, poor outcomes may result. With increasing demand coupled with increasing provider shortage, how can these clinics find a way to succeed?

Streamline Clinic Functions by Going Digital

Strategically deployed digital solutions that enable real-time data integration, utilize patient-entered data, prioritize digital patient intake, and engage with and educate patients can help reduce some of the burden created by staffing shortages in surgical specialty clinics. Let’s take a deeper dive into these four strategic capabilities: 

1.    Integrate data directly into the EHR in real time data

Surgical providers can improve their decision-making and enhance patient care when patient’s test results and other data are documented in the EHR as soon as that information is available. Patient safety and clinical decision support are also enhanced by access to information from medical devices and retrospective electronic health record (EHR) data.

EHR integration of real-time data helps surgical providers give patients the top-quality care they seek. Clinicians can reduce unnecessary tasks, tests and procedures by accessing comprehensive, current patient data, which also enables better clinical decisions and health outcomes.

2.    Enable patient-entered digital data instead of paper templates

When patients are asked to fill out paper templates at the clinic, it not only takes time but also can result in errors. Patients can make mistakes or leave out critical information because they don’t have access to the details, and manual data entry into software is always prone to error.

When clinics can leverage digital patient-generated health data, they can save time during the patient’s appointment, increase data accuracy, empower the patient, and enable better patient care. For surgical staff, patient-generated health data improves care delivery by enabling them to easily access important information about a patient’s status. 

3.    Transition to digital patient intake

To streamline registration, clinics can employ digital check-in during the patient intake process. The result is rapid retrieval of completed patient forms, insurance verification, and surgical procedure consent forms. Digital check-in frees up front-office staff, and the surgical staff can view a complete and accurate medical history and medication status.

The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) reports that digital check-in decreases patient intake time by 20 percent, reducing the burden on the front desk. Digital check-in also helps optimize patient scheduling, reduce waiting room time, and decrease errors during the registration process. The Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) reports that “patient satisfaction often goes hand in hand with practice efficiency.” They discuss several key benefits to digital patient intake:

•   Reduced wait times helps mitigate the number of disruptive patients, a number that increased by 71% in 2021 according to an MGMA Stat poll.
•   When patients self-report from the comfort of home, it helps improve patient-reported outcomes (PROs). This includes important information such as social determinants of health and family history.
•   Payer information and financial responsibility can be identified and verified prior to clinic visits/procedures.
•   Patients spend less time at the clinic and benefit from self-service and convenience.

Because patient expectations have changed, with many aspects of life increasingly managed online, digital check-in meets their need for a consumer-like healthcare experience. In a poll conducted by Chief Healthcare Executive, 61% of poll respondents stated that they want the convenience of Uber or Amazon Prime from their healthcare providers.

4.    Engage with and educate patients using digital tools

Surgical specialty clinics can use digital tools to engage with patients beyond the clinic walls. This can help improve medication adherence and empower patients to monitor their own health. These tools also offer the opportunity to provide education to patients, including promotion of additional patient services that can be presented during the digital check-in workflow.

At Kyruus Health, our cloud-based, HIPAA-compliant patient engagement platform automates and integrates patient access to alleviate administrative bottlenecks, helping deliver a more consistent, tailored and enjoyable patient experience across all touchpoints.

Surgical specialty clinics today are under pressure given increasing demand with no end in sight, combined with a serious shortage of qualified surgeons, surgical nurses, and anesthesiologists. Strategies to leverage technology that ease the burden of clinic management while also providing patients with a streamlined experience can be of significant value.

Schedule a demo with us to learn more!

The post Digital Strategies for Surgical Specialty Clinics Ease the Burden of Provider Shortages appeared first on Kyruus Health.

The shortage of providers is driven by demographics, with over 40% of clinical physicians working today aged 55 and up. Their coming retirement will leave nearly every region of the country without enough doctors.

And the demand for those doctors will only increase, also driven by demographics – both the predicted population growth and the aging population. The US population 65 years and older is projected to grow by one-third by 2036, and those aged 75 years and up will increase by an astounding 55%. Older people need more healthcare and frequent access to general medicine clinicians; the increasing demand will put even more pressure on the healthcare system in the next decade.    

Primary care providers, whether in family practice or internal medicine, are on the front lines of healthcare. And a lack of timely access to primary care can result in poor outcomes for patients. Providers must mitigate the staffing shortage while continuing to meet not only patients’ needs for a wide range of services but also their elevated expectations for a consumer-like experience. How can they meet this challenge?

A Digital Strategy for Primary Care

Primary care providers can deploy a digital strategy that enables patients to enter their data and check-in online, integrates data in real time, and lets the practice educate and engage with patients. These digital solutions can simplify the workday for providers and staff, improve the patient experience, and help reduce some of the burden created by staffing shortages. Here are four benefits of a digital strategy: 

1.    Improve patient care and increase efficiency

Primary care providers can improve their decision-making and enhance patient care when patient’s test results and other data are integrated directly into the EHR in real time. Access to data from medical devices and retrospective electronic health record (EHR) data also enhances patient safety and clinical decision support.

Integration of real-time data into the EHR helps clinicians provide patients with top-quality care. Access to current data enables better clinical decisions and health outcomes while also reducing unnecessary tasks, tests and procedures.

2.   Reduce errors, save time, and enhance care delivery

Paper forms filled out by patients at the primary care office take time and are subject to error. Plus, when staff must enter patient data by hand, that process is also time-consuming and error prone. And manual data entry into software is always prone to error. Patient-generated digital data saves time, reduces errors, and helps providers improve care delivery with easy access to key information about a patient’s health. 

3.    Decrease waiting room time, alleviate staff burden, and meet patient expectations

The front desk workload in a primary care office is heavy, with constant pressure to check patients in and keep up with insurance verification and payments while dealing with scheduling issues caused by a shortage of providers. One way to streamline the front desk process is digital check-in, which allows patients to register online from home. This enables staff to quickly access completed patient forms and insurance verification and collect necessary payments. The practice workflow can speed up, front-office staff have more time to focus on other work, and clinicians have immediate access to accurate, current medical data.

Digital check-in decreases patient intake time by 20 percent, according to the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), as well as waiting room time, a key issue for patients. The Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) reports that “patient satisfaction often goes hand in hand with practice efficiency.” Some key benefits to digital patient intake include:

•   Reduced wait times, which mitigates the number of disruptive patients, a number that increased by 71% in 2021 according to the MGMA.
•   Improve patient-reported outcomes (PROs) because patients can complete the process at home where they can relax and, importantly, have access to key information, including family history.
•   Front desk staff can verify payer information and financial responsibility before patient appointments.

Another key benefit of digital check-in is that patients enjoy self-service and convenience. With most of life now managed online, patients seek a similarly easy healthcare experience. Chief Healthcare Executive reports that 61% of poll respondents want the convenience of Uber or Amazon Prime from their healthcare providers. Digital check-in meets patients’ need for consumer-like healthcare.

4.   Increase patient engagement and knowledge

Overburdened primary care practices can use digital tools to engage with patients outside of appointments. Whether it’s helping with medication adherence, symptom tracking, or education on a particular medical issue, patients are more empowered and informed. Providers can also present additional patient services, such as immunizations, during the digital check-in workflow.

The need for a relationship with a primary care doctor is a critical one for patients. The ever-increasing demand combined with the predicted shortage of clinicians will continue to put pressure on that relationship. But primary care providers today can benefit from a digital strategy that helps mitigate the staffing shortage. Kyruus Connect for Providers is the care access platform that boosts patient engagement, alleviates administrative burden, and creates a top-tier digital experience—all while driving operational efficiencies and organizational growth.

Schedule a demo with us to learn more!

The post 4 Benefits of a Digital Strategy for Primary Care Practices to Ease Administrative Burden appeared first on Kyruus Health.

In today’s evolving healthcare landscape, Management Services Organizations (MSOs) have a unique opportunity to both attract new patients and prospective practices and retain existing care relationships by leveraging digital self-service solutions. Patients are increasingly expecting the same level of convenience in accessing healthcare as they experience in other areas of their lives, like banking or shopping. To meet these expectations, Management Services Organizations (MSOs) need to provide digital self-service options. EHR-integrated provider search, patient self scheduling, and digital check-in are options that allow patients to find, manage, and engage with care on their own terms.

This article explores how MSOs can use self-service solutions to attract new patients and practices while augmenting the benefits that they provide to the practices already in their organization. It covers the importance of meeting modern consumer demands, the benefits of reducing administrative burden through automation, and the impact of consistent, accurate provider information on the overall patient experience. Finally, the article provides a crawl, walk, run framework that MSOs can use when implementing digital self service.

Meeting Modern Consumer Demands

Patients are increasingly seeking the convenience of managing their healthcare online. Just as they expect seamless digital interactions when booking flights or ordering groceries, they want the same ease when searching for providers or scheduling appointments. A recent survey shows that over 70% of consumers consult the internet when searching for care. Furthermore, almost 40% prefer patient online scheduling over other channels. To attract these patients, MSOs must offer robust digital self-service options that cater to these preferences.

By implementing digital tools such as EHR-integrated provider search, patient self-scheduling, and digital check-in, MSOs can provide a more attractive and user-friendly experience for both patients and practice staff. This not only helps in drawing in new patients but also makes the MSO more appealing to prospective practices looking to align with modern, patient-centered care models.

How MSOs Benefit from Digital Self Service

The healthcare industry has been slow to adopt digital self service in comparison to other industries, but there are signs that this is changing. Consumers increasingly expect to be able to manage their healthcare online. Practices and other provider organizations like MSOs that fail to meet these expectations risk losing patients to those that do. 

As such, the benefits of digital self service for MSOs are numerous. First and foremost, it can significantly reduce administrative burdens. By automating tasks such as scheduling appointments and processing patient intake forms, MSOs and their associated practices can free up their staff to focus on other activities. This operational efficiency can lead to reduced wait times, enhanced care quality, and cost savings.

Moreover, digital self-service tools contribute to higher patient satisfaction. When patients can access their medical records, schedule appointments, and manage their care online, they feel more empowered and engaged. This increased control fosters trust and loyalty, making it more likely that patients will choose and remain with a provider associated with the MSO that offers these conveniences.

Improved productivity and patient satisfaction ratings, and fewer costs associated with decreased administrative burden then become an attractive benefit for prospective practices that are considering joining an MSO.

Enhancing Provider Search and Matching

Easy navigation and accurate information are essential for an effective provider directory solution. Patients should be able to effortlessly search for providers, locations, and services based on specialty, insurance, and availability. An intuitive interface and user-friendly design contribute to a positive patient experience and ensure patients can easily look for and find the right information.

Source: Kyruus Health, Care Access Benchmark Report for Healthcare Organizations, 2024.

Regular updates to provider information, including availability and qualifications, ensure that patients make informed decisions about their care. This not only improves patient satisfaction but also helps practices by attracting the right patients and aligning their services with actual demand.

24/7 Online Self Scheduling

Healthcare’s digital transformation demands an elevated patient experience, encompassing ease of access, prompt response times, and convenience. Integrating patient self-scheduling is a vital step in achieving this goal. It enables patients to schedule appointments at any hour of the day that is convenient for them. 

While patient self-scheduling is not a new concept, there are many organizations who have yet to adopt the capabilities. Furthermore, those that have do not necessarily have an intuitive user-experience. A whopping 40% of consumers noted in a recent survey that they did not schedule their last appointment online—many of which could not because they didn’t have the option available to them. On the other hand, 26% said it was because the experience offered was difficult to use. It’s not enough to offer patient online scheduling, it must be offered in a way that is simple to navigate.

Source: Kyruus Health, Care Access Benchmark Report for Healthcare Organizations, 2024.

Patient self-scheduling should not solely be limited to an appointment with a doctor, either. Patients are increasingly looking for the ease of scheduling a variety of different appointment types online such as mammograms, lab tests, urgent care, and other service-based appointments. Providing an option for patients to self-schedule with advanced practice providers (APPs) for lower acuity cases can allow patients to be seen sooner—increasing patient satisfaction and helping MSOs and their associated practices with capacity utilization by enabling clinicians to practice at the top of their license.

Leveraging Digital Patient Intake

When engaging with care, self-service options are top of mind for patients. Over 85% are interested in completing tasks such as providing pre-visit information, uploading insurance cards, confirming coverage, and making payment through digital means. MSOs can offer the added benefit of streamlining the onboarding process by leveraging digital patient intake solutions. Patients can complete intake forms at their convenience before arriving at the practice, allowing staff to review and process information in advance. This not only speeds up the check-in process but also minimizes errors associated with manual data entry, leading to a more efficient and accurate record-keeping system. As a result, healthcare providers can focus more on delivering care rather than managing paperwork.

A Phased Approach to Implementing Digital Self Service for MSOs

For MSOs looking to adopt digital self-service solutions, a phased approach can facilitate a smoother transition. The “crawl, walk, run” strategy involves:

1. Crawl: Begin with foundational digital tools and capabilities. This phase involves setting up basic digital self-service options and familiarizing patients, providers, and staff with these tools.
2. Walk: Expand the range of digital services as comfort with the initial tools grows. This includes adding more functionalities and refining the user experience based on feedback.
3. Run: Continuously enhance and optimize the digital experience to stay competitive and meet evolving patient needs.

By following this structured approach, MSOs can gradually build a robust digital self-service ecosystem that attracts new patients, supports existing ones, and aligns with modern healthcare expectations, ultimately helping the MSO to become more attractive to prospective practices.

For more details on the crawl, walk, run, strategy, see the Guide to Digital Self-Service for MSOs.

Conclusion

Incorporating digital self service into MSO operations is no longer a luxury but a necessity for staying ahead in the competitive healthcare market. By offering user-friendly provider directories, integrating seamless self-scheduling options, leveraging digital patient intake, and following a phased implementation strategy, MSOs can enhance patient engagement, streamline operations, and attract new patients and practices. Embracing digital self service not only meets the growing expectations of patients but also positions MSOs as leaders in the digital transformation of healthcare.

The post Why MSOs Should Prioritize Implementing Digital Self Service appeared first on Kyruus Health.

Women’s health providers today are broadening their approach to care, not only providing OB/GYN care but also adding menopause management and endocrinology. According to the NIH, women’s health can also include cancer and diabetes, diseases that are not unique to women but may present with different symptoms and impacts than in men. Coordinating these services with limited resources is difficult, and finding enough women’s health specialists is a challenge that will only grow in the decades to come.

Even before the pandemic, experts predicted shortages of OB/GYNs, and post-pandemic, the situation has worsened. The Department of Health and Human Services reports that by 2030, the demand for OB/GYNs will exceed supply by approximately 5,000 full-time physicians. And the March of Dimes has investigated the issue, reporting that more than 2.2 million women of childbearing age live in so-called maternity care deserts without any obstetric care or providers.

Despite the staffing challenges, women’s health clinics must continue to serve patients. The Association of American Medical Colleges points out that women were historically left out of clinical research, a problem that is not yet fully rectified, despite the fact that women may experience different symptoms of disease and have different reactions to medications. According to a 2024 McKinsey report, women will spend an average of nine years in poor health, and this gap in women’s healthcare is driven by lower effectiveness of treatments for women, worse care delivery, and lack of data. Given this situation, women’s health clinics play a critical role, but how can they manage in the face of the growing provider shortage?

Going Digital with Data 

Technology isn’t the only answer for overcoming the obstacles women’s health clinics face, but, when designed and utilized correctly, it can streamline workflows, reduce administrative burden and improve both provider and patient satisfaction. Here are four strategic methods women’s health clinics can employ to alleviate some of the problems caused by the staffing shortage:

1.    Promote real-time data integration directly in the EHR

Documenting a patient’s test results and other data as soon as that information is available improves decision-making, lowers costs and enhances patient care. Similarly, access to information gleaned from medical devices and retrospective electronic health record (EHR) data can improve patient safety, inform clinical decision support and shape governance strategies.

EHR integration of real-time data helps providers give patients the top-quality care they seek. Clinicians can access comprehensive data collection on a patient’s overall health, resulting in a decrease in unnecessary tasks, tests and procedures, and with the most up-to-date information, they can make better clinical decisions, reducing the probability of costly medical errors.

Plus, when data obtained during digital check-in automatically flows into the EHR, administrative staff saves time. Clinicians can use that data to prepare for a visit earlier, making appointments more efficient.  

2.    Utilize patient-entered, digital data instead of paper templates and staff-obtained data

When women’s health clinics ask patients to fill out paper templates, it’s a time-consuming process. Some patients fail to fill out the forms correctly, and front-office staff members occasionally make data entry errors.

Using digital patient-generated health data not only increases accuracy and saves time, vital for an overtaxed women’s health clinic, it also empowers patients and enables better patient care. For clinicians, it improves care delivery by enabling them to easily access important information about a patient’s status between medical visits. This data also creates a jumping-off point for providers and patients to engage in shared decision-making about preventive and chronic care management.

3.    Prioritize digital patient intake

Employing digital check-in during the patient intake process promotes streamlined registration and fast and easy retrieval of completed patient forms, insurance verification and any other steps specific to a clinic’s process. Front-office staff are free from time-consuming paperwork reviews and revisions, and clinicians get a more thorough and accurate look at patients’ medical history and medication status.

The Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) notes that digital technologies such as patient portals, automated appointment reminder systems, check-in solutions and online payment options have achieved the most positive results in recent years for providers because they streamline practice workflow, improve patient experience and lead to more efficient and effective care delivery when implemented strategically. According to the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), digital check-in decreases patient intake time by 20 percent.

Digital check-in tools also assist healthcare providers in optimizing patient scheduling, reducing patient waiting room time, decreasing patient registration errors and allowing front-office staff to focus their attention on more crucial administrative duties. The MGMA reports that “patient satisfaction often goes hand in hand with practice efficiency.” The benefits they outline from digital patient intake include:

• Reduced wait times minimize stress and disruption for patients and clinic staff
• Patients respond to personal questions more accurately at home where they have privacy and access to the information
• Staff identify and verify payer data and copays/deductibles in advance
• Providers see more patients with improved workflows

Digital check-in benefits patients as well as clinics. Patients increasingly seek a consumer-like healthcare experience similar to online shopping, with 61% of poll respondents reporting that they want the convenience of Uber or Amazon Prime from their providers. Checking in online, like other digital tools, streamlines life for patients.

4.    Use digital tools to  engage with and educate patients

When provider organizations deploy digital tools optimally, these resources can increase consumer satisfaction, improve medication adherence and help consumers track and monitor their health. When patients are fully engaged in their care, they’re more likely to maintain treatment plans, track their health and ask their providers questions. 

Some healthcare providers achieve increased convenience and accessibility in patient education by offering information about patient services within the check-in workflow. Using a dual opt-in method, patients determine if they would like to see any patient services. As services are presented, they have the choice to opt in or skip. At Kyruus Health, our cloud-based, HIPAA-compliant patient engagement platform automates and integrates patient access to alleviate administrative bottlenecks, helping deliver a more consistent, tailored and enjoyable patient experience across all touchpoints.

Women’s health clinics today are under pressure to meet the unique needs of their patients while dealing with staffing shortages and high patient expectations, but technology can help streamline clinic management while improving the patient experience.

Schedule a demo with us to learn more!

The post 4 Ways Technology Helps Women’s Healthcare Clinics Mitigate Staffing Shortage appeared first on Kyruus Health.