According to the stats, 10 years from now, the career growth of medical assistants will increase by 16%. This just means that clinics, hospitals and other medical practices are using them as assets, thus giving rise to the demand.
However, should you hire them too just because the numbers tell you to? Considering you’re short on staff with budget constraints, you should, but you shouldn’t.
What?
Your unique needs warrant a cost-effective solution to appease your daily, excruciating labor. Yet, you’re not going to get it by hiring full-time medical support.
So, instead of bringing in a medical assistant, we recommend that you take the modern route and work with an online medical assistant.
In this blog post, you’ll learn what is the role of a virtual medical assistant. We’ll also tell you where to find the best virtual assistants, so you can finally get on with that collaboration.
Medical assistants commute and clock in to work in clinics and hospitals. Although they perform administrative duties, some are responsible for clinical tasks that will require them to directly care for patients.
Here’s a quick look at the typical duties of a medical assistant:
Measure and record blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen level, temperature and other vital information that tells the health status of a patient that a physician needs.
A medical assistant is present in examinations and procedures. They assist the patients in getting ready and get them in position. They also prepare medical equipment for the doctor.
Keep the rooms completely sanitized and organized between each appointment—from restocking to changing the bedding.
It’s not enough that the rooms are clean. All the medical instruments have to be sterilized, especially the equipment that is used for invasive procedures.
This might not be their favorite part of the job, but collecting samples (urine and stool) is one of the most important roles of a medical assistant.
Draw blood from patients that will be sent for testing.
Start a simple and safe procedure for IVs.
A virtual healthcare assistant is an online medical assistant who works from home, assisting doctors and health coaches and running clinics on behalf of healthcare businesses.
An online medical assistant manages mainly your administrative stuff and helps your patients get their medical needs. They just do it millions of miles from your facility, with the help of a computer, strong internet connection and a phone.
The fact is that hiring a full-time onsite medical assistant is expensive. Don’t get us wrong; they’re really helpful, but they’re also not very pragmatic, considering your fluctuating demands.
An online medical assistant is a much preferable option that suits your needs. Yes, they won’t be taking care of patients in person, but there’s a lot they can do to give them the quality healthcare service they desire.
Your online medical assistant can be your virtual receptionist, scheduling your patient’s appointments. Even better? They can handle different schedules from different offices using the same system.
After every appointment, your online medical assistant will follow up on your patients. They will make regular calls to check on them and find out if they have concerns regarding their visit. If they have any, your VA will look for workable solutions.
Also, your work-from-home medical assistant will organize these concerns by urgency. They will ensure that patients are well cared for and get the information they need.
This is business, after all, which means you’re going to be dealing with billing and insurance matters. It’s a lot to juggle on top of your practice.
With an online medical assistant, you will have an attentive eye on your financial health. They will ensure that bills are paid on time and that your patients have payment plans for their accounts.
When your patients don’t show up for their appointments, it’s maddening for them and a waste of time and money for you.
Your online medical assistant can set reminders for your patients for their upcoming appointments. They can make a call, send a text or email, or whatever communication channel they prefer, your VA delivers.
This one is mostly true when you’re dealing with clients of any age. Filling out prescriptions and dealing with billing can be so overwhelming. Thankfully, an online medical assistant can help your struggling patients. They can assist them in navigating healthcare systems in simple, clear steps.
Patients who take multiple prescriptions often get lost in the medications—when to take what scenario. An online medical assistant can look through these records, fill them in with information and ensure prescriptions are updated.
Every now and then, you will need to send samples to laboratories for testing. You may also need to send patients to clinics for other medical services. A virtual assistant makes your job easier by making sure you and your patients have the information you need.
Every time your patient calls to ask for prescriptions and other concerns, it needs to be recorded in a centralized database for easier access. A job that your virtual assistant can do on your behalf.
Medical records are critical to providing quality care to your patients. That being said, you need to organize information clearly and concisely. They also have to be kept up-to-date. Your VA will catalog all important patient data and ensure the completeness of the required documents.
It’s hard for your clinic or office to run smoothly without supplies. Thankfully, you can have an inventory watchdog in your medical online assistant, who will conduct routine inventory checks, and place orders when needed.
Many facilities are already working with online medical assistants—from doctors and insurance companies to healthcare startups.
As many more jobs are going remote, firms are hiring workers from all over the world to work from home.
Saving money is mainly the reason why companies are opening up their office doors to virtual assistants. But besides that, there are other advantages to be had with a VA on your team.
Many practices in the medical field outsource their everyday needs to online medical assistants. They have become quite an asset, essential to top-notch service.
This reliance increases the demand for virtual assistants drastically. Even without having someone to work closely with in person, you’re still covering more work in less time without breaking the bank.
The savings that you incur from this partnership will allow you to invest in new technology and other necessary training that your staff can use to further their service.
If you can keep up with medical advances, you and your in-house team can offer superb patient care and experience.
There are two common ways you can find and work with an online medical assistant. First, you can search for freelance marketplaces online. Second, you can reach out to a virtual assistant agency like VAV Remote and get quality support.
If you are looking to hire the right virtual assistant for your business, you should consider the latter. Virtual assistant agencies have well-trained VAs who can offer consistency and competence, two things that you need in a healthcare service.
An online medical assistant will change how you work in your practice. It will push your operation to be more effective and efficient.
Your VA doesn’t just understand the needs of your patients; they also recognize you and your team’s needs. As a result, you have more resources to take your practice and business to the next level.