Healthcare Outsourcing: The Key to Top-Tier Patient Care

Errors are common in the high-pressure setting of healthcare, where personnel are regularly faced with extreme workloads. Consider the heartbreaking incident of Emily Jerry, who died at the age of two as a result of an unintentional medication overdose.

Emily’s story, while traumatic, is not an unusual one. According to recent studies, medical care errors kill over 250,000 people in the United States every year, ranking as the third highest cause of death in the country.

Healthcare organizations, perceiving the growing pressure on their staff and the necessity for better safety precautions, are turning towards outsourcing as a strategic answer. This strategy allows hospitals to hand over non-core duties to expert firms so they can lessen the load on overwhelmed workers and lessen the chances of medical errors. 

Let’s tackle the growing potential brought by healthcare outsourcing in this article, examining how teaming up between healthcare groups and outsourcing firms can streamline workstreams, boost effectiveness, and ultimately save lives.

What is Healthcare Outsourcing?

Healthcare outsourcing is a business strategy where healthcare organizations hand off specific tasks to external service providers. These tasks vary widely, from handling administrative duties to managing IT support or medical billing.

Imagine a hospital situation where there is abundant paperwork and administrative work. It’s easy for the attention to divert from patient care due to all these tasks. However, by giving these non-core duties to outsourcing companies, doctors and nurses can focus on taking care of patients more, which guarantees they get the best possible care.

Below, we outline the sequential process of healthcare business process outsourcing: 

1. The healthcare organization determines which particular operations they plan to contract out, like handling medical bills or providing IT assistance. 
2. They select a suitable BPO partner based on factors like expertise and cost-effectiveness. 
3. Together, they establish project requirements, timelines, and compliance measures. 
4. The healthcare group moves the duties it has recognized to its healthcare BPO associate, giving them needed guidance. 
5. The BPO partner begins executing the outsourced tasks efficiently and accurately. 
6. The healthcare organization monitors performance closely and maintains open communication with the BPO partner. 
7. They implement quality assurance measures to establish compliance with industry regulations. 
8. Both sides participate in ongoing improvement projects to optimize procedures and produce better results over time.

In this partnership, healthcare organizations can streamline their processes, enhance effectiveness, and concentrate on offering excellent patient care with the assistance of healthcare outsourcing.

What are the Advantages of Healthcare BPO?

In healthcare, it is normal to hire external companies for jobs like housekeeping that do not involve interacting with patients. However, due to the increase in digital patient information, outsourcing has become a means of improving patient experiences and data accuracy. Let’s now examine the advantages of business process outsourcing for healthcare companies.

1. Cost-effective Access to Specialists

A clinic requires expert knowledge of medical billing codes but is unable to pay for a coder with full-time hours. If they subcontract this work to a company that focuses on billing, they can get professional help and spend much less than the salary of a full-time coding employee. This enables healthcare organizations to allocate their resources more profitably by utilizing specialist knowledge without the need for expensive salaries.

2. Enhanced Efficiency and Productivity

The hospital contracts with a third-party organization to provide IT assistance. As a result, technological issues are resolved quickly by qualified IT specialists, saving downtime and freeing up the medical staff to focus on patient care. Hiring specialists to handle particular tasks streamlines this workflow and boosts task completion, which results in more productive and resource-efficient use.

3. Improved Patient Experiences and Outcomes

An organization that offers phone-based medical services contracts out its customer service to a healthcare-focused call center. This guarantees that patients receive prompt, knowledgeable assistance, leading to improved healthcare outcomes. Outsourcing healthcare customer support allows companies to focus on enhancing patient experiences by ensuring that everything runs smoothly, which increases satisfaction among patients.

4. Round-the-Clock Appointment Scheduling

A health service provider has been given the duty of arranging appointments at a 24/7 phone center. This means patients can now make appointments anytime, not only during usual working hours. This setup makes it easier for people to receive healthcare services when they want or need it most. Patients can schedule an appointment with an outside service any time they like, which is open 24 hours a day. They are likely to use healthcare services more often because of this convenience.

5. Scalability of Resources

When a diagnostic lab is in high demand, it may occasionally send some of its testing to another specialist institution. By doing this, they are able to adjust to the fluctuating volume of tests without having to hire more staff or buy more equipment. Through flexible resource adjustment made possible by outsourcing, businesses can respond to fluctuations in demand without having to incur unnecessary costs.

6. Reduced Regulatory Liability

A person who works in healthcare gives the job of medical billing to a business that knows all about healthcare rules. This is important as the company can ensure compliance with HIPAA and other standards, avoiding legal troubles for not following these regulations correctly. The companies from which we outsource medical billing services make sure they follow regulations, reducing the risk of breaking the law and the responsibilities related to it.

7. Focus on Core Functions

To handle administrative duties like data entry, a hospital hires a data entry expert company. This gives hospital employees more time to tend to patients, which guarantees that everything operates quickly and without hiccups for both the staff and the patients they look after.

What Healthcare Services Do Hospitals Outsource?

A healthcare organization’s main focus is on managing healthcare operations and providing excellent patient care. Yet, certain non-core activities that are important to maintain can use up resources and be costly when handled internally. The option of outsourcing these tasks to healthcare outsourcing companies gives a chance to lower expenses while improving overall productivity. Below, we’ll discuss seven essential non-core processes commonly outsourced in the healthcare industry:

1. Patient Appointment Scheduling

Patient appointment scheduling involves arranging and organizing healthcare services—such as consultations, examinations, and treatments—between patients and their healthcare professionals. Outsourcing this task involves turning over the appointment-scheduling duties to outside service providers, who typically have experience handling administrative tasks associated with that particular line of business.

Remote employees may efficiently handle appointment scheduling, which aids healthcare organizations in managing patient appointments in a more structured manner. Due to more efficient scheduling procedures, this strategy helps patients feel more satisfied while also cutting down on the amount of time they spend waiting.

2. IT and Infrastructure Management

IT and infrastructure management refers to the supervision of technology systems, networks, and infrastructure in healthcare organizations. This incorporates activities like providing IT support, managing cybersecurity measures, and maintaining hardware and software systems for smooth functioning without interruption.

Healthcare organizations depend on a strong IT system for keeping patient records, handling communication between healthcare providers, and protecting private patient information. In the healthcare industry, outsourcing IT implies that these companies always have expert assistance in maintaining the security and efficiency of their IT infrastructure.

3. Telehealth Services

Telehealth services are provided through technology, giving remote healthcare services like virtual consultations, telemonitoring and monitoring of patients from a distance. Telehealth makes it possible for people to get care without leaving their houses, improving the ease of access and flexibility.

Receiving medical care is made simpler via telehealth, particularly for patients who reside in remote or underserved locations. When outside parties offer telehealth services, healthcare institutions benefit from increased patient capacity, improved patient engagement, and lower costs associated with in-person visits.

4. Research and Data Analysis

Research and data analysis in healthcare involves gathering, understanding, and checking health data so that it can be used to improve clinical decisions, enhance patient results, and progress medical understanding. This includes clinical trials, outcomes research, and works related to health data analytics.

Organizations may ensure that everyone has access to the knowledge and resources they need by contracting with companies that specialize in data analysis and research projects. This makes it possible to conduct in-depth research on subjects related to healthcare and to use patient data to identify practical courses of action.

5. Medical Transcription

Medical transcribing is the process of changing medical reports that are spoken into a voice recorder, which doctors and healthcare professionals dictate, into text format, either written or electronic. In this job, transcriptionists listen to medical dictations and type them out with precision. These include details like patient history, findings from physical examination, and plans for treatment.

Precise medical transcription is a key element in creating and keeping detailed patient records, aiding communication between healthcare professionals, and maintaining continuous care. The practice of outsourcing medical transcription work enables health organizations to effectively document encounters with patients while managing accuracy alongside regulatory rules.

6. Human Resources

In healthcare, human resources (HR) has duties such as recruiting, training, payroll management, managing performance, and ensuring employment laws are followed. HR departments are responsible for bringing in, keeping, and growing skilled workers so that healthcare organizations can provide quality care services.

Good HR management is very important for creating and maintaining a skilled and motivated workforce, promoting a good organizational atmosphere, as well as ensuring compliance with labor laws and rules. Getting outside support with HR tasks allows healthcare organizations to employ their specific HR knowledge, simplify operations, and focus on growing strategic workforces.

7. Medical Coding and Compliance

Medical coding is about giving standardized codes to diagnoses, procedures, and services that happen in patient meetings so they can be billed and paid for. Accuracy in coding makes sure we follow rules from the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) as well as code sets of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD).

Coding in medicine is very important for quick and accurate payment, safeguarding the integrity of revenue, and following rules from regulators. Having certified experts handle tasks related to medical coding ensures accuracy, reduces differences in coding methods, and lessens compliance dangers for healthcare establishments.

Key Considerations for Selecting the Best Healthcare Outsourcing Company

As a healthcare leader, you must effectively manage outsourcing to provide the best possible assistance for your patients and medical staff. Here’s a checklist for selecting the best healthcare outsourcing partner to help you make informed choices and navigate the outsourcing process smoothly.

1. Expertise in Healthcare Operations

Healthcare operations are complicated and require strict rules. That said, it’s important to choose an outsourcing partner who has extensive experience and understanding in this area. This includes knowledge about important subjects like medical billing and coding, as well as managing a healthcare organization’s revenue cycle. Checking the history of the outsourcing firm you want to partner with and listening to what their clients are saying will give you an understanding of how good they are at handling healthcare jobs.

2. Scalability and Adaptability

It is critical that your healthcare BPO partner has the ability to scale up its staff in response to your changing scope of support. Flexibility is also important, as they must tailor their services to your specific business needs, such as changes in the work process or legal requirements. A responsive partner can address challenges and make the required changes to keep up with industry demands.

3. Quality Assurance Framework and Performance Metrics

To deliver excellent healthcare outsourcing services, it is necessary to maintain quality control. Checking with the BPO partner about their quality assurance systems, such as internal audits and adherence to industry standards, may help determine whether they are committed to sustaining high-quality work. Established ways of reporting errors and taking corrective actions guarantee quick solutions to problems, improving both data quality and service excellence.

4. Regulatory Compliance and Data Security

When you choose a healthcare BPO partner, following the rules for healthcare is very important, especially HIPAA. The outsourced organization should demonstrate that it has robust data protection methods, including robust security protocols, private data encryption, and access control mechanisms. Certificates like ISO 27001 and following GDPR rules also show that the provider is serious about keeping data safe. Looking at the supplier’s past incidents with data breaches, how they use encryption, and how they train their staff gives a better understanding of their focus on securing information.

5. Technology and Infrastructure Integration

Healthcare BPO companies need to use good technology and infrastructure for effective partnerships. Important examples of this technology in healthcare are systems like Practice Management Systems (PMS) which manage appointments and billing, platforms for Telemedicine that allow doctors to consult with patients remotely, and Health Information Exchange (HIE) systems that let healthcare providers share patient information safely with each other.

Moreover, technologies such as Blockchain for secure data transactions and Cloud Computing for scalable data keeping and entry are growing more significant in today’s medical settings.

6. Effective Communication Channels

Effective communication is essential for a business process outsourcing partnership to succeed. Numerous communication channels are helpful in healthcare outsourcing. Email is useful for lengthy messages and news, phone calls are helpful for urgent questions, and video meetings allow team members to view each other in real-time.

Additionally, project management platforms such as Trello or Asana are good for organizing tasks effectively, and secure messaging platforms help keep private patient information safe.

7. Access to High-caliber Remote Talent

While making your decision, it is crucial to consider whether a healthcare BPO has access to top-notch remote workers. Since they produce high-quality work, having seasoned healthcare professionals on the team can significantly increase your company’s effectiveness and productivity. 

Finding a partner with the appropriate abilities, knowledge, and experience to work with your existing technology and contribute to its continuous improvement is crucial. Seek out a service provider with a top-notch team and recruiting process to ensure you hire exceptional remote workers even in the face of intense competition.

8. Potential for Up to 70% Reduction in Operational Costs

Businesses outsource primarily to cut operations expenses. Creating a team within the organization requires significant financial outlays for recruiting and training new employees, leasing office space, and purchasing the necessary technology and software.

Outsourcing offers a financially advantageous alternative, particularly in nations where labor is less expensive, like the Philippines. By contracting with an outsourcing provider for these tasks, you can save a significant amount of money—possibly up to 70 %—on your operational expenses. Through outsourcing, you can tailor a solution to best fit your unique requirements and budgetary constraints.

Drive Healthcare Innovation with Exceptional Talent

Develop smooth healthcare operations with Booth & Partners’ strategic, on-demand talent solutions. Our Talent Staffing Solutions are carefully designed to support the progress and triumph of your healthcare group by uniting excellent teams experienced in health areas. We have been doing staff leasing and EOR services for more than 10 years so we can handle non-core tasks skillfully, allowing you to focus on main skills and important plans that are necessary for improving patient care.

At Booth & Partners, we are dedicated to growing with you. We offer custom-fit services that adjust to the dynamic demands of the healthcare field and keep enhancing our methods for providing flexible outsourcing solutions that match your organizational goals.

Contact us today, and let’s start building your top-notch remote team to propel your business forward!