According to JAMA, the US spends more on healthcare than any other country in the world, and a quarter of that expenditure is considered waste. The estimated cost of waste in US healthcare is over $760 billion, and the projected savings from interventions to reduce waste is as high as $286 billion. With significant numbers like those, it makes sense to prevent waste in a practice as much as possible. One of the simplest kinds of waste to reduce in the healthcare industry is administrative waste. Here are some key suggestions on how to reduce waste in healthcare administration!
Automate Communication Through Tech
A recent report by the Ponemon Institute indicates that clinicians waste approximately 45 minutes daily due to outdated communication technologies. Reasons for this range from the inefficiency of pagers to the inability to use text messaging. This type of waste has been estimated to cost healthcare systems an average of $5.1 billion annually. One solution to this problem is to invest in ways to automate communication so there is less room for human error. Automation has the power to streamline workflows in a clinic, which ultimately improves consistency as well as quality of care, in addition to reducing waste.
Go Paperless
Research indicates that people use 85 million tons of paper per year. With that much paper usage comes a great deal of waste, especially for healthcare organizations that still use clipboards for their check-in process, screeners, questionnaires, and forms. One of the fastests ways to eliminate administrative waste in a clinic is to go paperless. Choose digital check-in software that eliminates the need for patients to fill out papers any time they step foot in the office. A workflow where the patient is able to fill out their information and complete forms ahead of time from a desktop or mobile device will not only reduce waste — it also saves administrative staff valuable time. If the patient needs to complete any additional forms at the office, have a few tablets for them handy, further preventing waste.
Choose Tools With Real-Time EHR Updates
Failures in care coordination in healthcare account for as much as $78.2 billion in waste per year. One of the most underestimated components in quality care coordination is having an up-to-date, accurate electronic health record (EHR). This software has the ability to prevent unnecessary procedures or delays caused by a lack of information or incomplete data which sometimes stems from inefficient administrative processes. For this reason, look for tools that are seamlessly integrated into your EHR that provide real-time updates to clinicians.
Reducing Waste in Healthcare With DocResponse
One of the best ways to reduce waste in healthcare administration is to invest in a powerful patient engagement platform. DocResponse is an all-in-one solution that helps clinics by:
- Automating communications like appointment reminders to avoid wasting front desk staff’s time
- Promoting a paperless office by enabling patients to check-in and complete all forms or screeners digitally
- Displaying real-time updates into the proper fields of the clinic’s EHR
Ready to reduce waste at your practice? Schedule a demo today!