Busy rheumatology practice shares how they implemented Updox paperless practice solutions to reduce costs, save time and engage patients.
The healthcare industry is continuing to face several challenges brought on by COVID-19, in particular revenue declines, increasing patient demands and provider burnout. Practices are increasingly turning to technology to address these challenges. Implementing a paperless practice is one of the most effective ways for practices to reduce costs, save time and engage patients.
In our recent blog we discussed the technology solutions healthcare providers need in order to build a paperless practice, but you may be wondering, “what do these solutions look like in action?” Continue reading for an inside scoop from our customer Pam Anderson, practice administrator for Kathy Karamlou, MD.
What were some of the challenges your practice was experiencing before implementing paperless solutions?
We are a one-provider rheumatology practice that is supported by one nurse practitioner, three full-time and three part-time staff members. We serve around 9,000 patients and, in addition to that already high patient base, our practice receives nearly 30 new patient requests weekly. To manage this volume of requests, staff were spending at least 10 minutes to triage each new patient by phone. This not only made staff less productive but also took them from the work that matters most — caring for our patients.
What was the first solution you implemented on your road to building a paperless practice?
We initially began using Updox Electronic Fax and filing alongside our EHR. Noticing a steady increase in staff efficiency and productivity after implementing e-fax, we then introduced Electronic Forms, Patient Reminders, Secure Text and Broadcast Messaging into our staff’s workflows.
How have these solutions benefitted your practice?
With these solutions, the practice no longer has to email PDF forms for patients to fill out, remind patients about filling out the forms prior to their visit or call patients to follow up on missing information. It’s had the biggest impact on our busy worklife and patients love it as much as we do!
What used to be a cumbersome process for our practice and staff now takes less than a minute and creates a consistent workflow for all. In fact, these solutions have helped save more than 500 hours a year by reducing time spent on admin tasks — with staff spending more time with patients vs paperwork.
Want to create this same type of efficiency within your practice? Download our Paperless Practice Playbook for a guide on identifying your paper pain points and where paperless solutions can help.
