Medical Answering Services Adapt to Changing Landscape

Posted December 4, 2013 in doctors answering service, medical answering services by admin

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the troubled launch of HealthCare.gov have dominated the spotlight for healthcare related news in the national media for some time now. And rightfully so; after all, most of us know of someone who either received a policy cancellation notice, faces a large increase in their premium, or is affected by some other issue that has created uncertainty in their ability to get and keep the coverage they have become accustomed to.

Conversely, there is a large number of our population without healthcare coverage who must now get coverage, and the ACA is the means to help ensure the cost and quality of that coverage is within a reasonable range. Regardless of your thoughts either way on ACA, significant change has been set in motion for our nation’s healthcare structure; and healthcare as we knew it before ACA, is quickly becoming a part of our history.

Medical Services Feeling the Pressure

As a medical answering service, we have witnessed first-hand many of the changes to the healthcare landscape over the last several years; and those changes are only accelerating. The primary role of the physician’s office is the quality care of its patients. However, implementation of electronic medical records, compliance with HIPAA and now the potential impacts of ACA is placing a large and unintended burden on many medical practices that can distract them from their primary role.

Improvise, Adapt, Overcome

Smaller practices overburdened by trying to keep up with the changes are giving up their independence to join health systems. Specialty practitioners are partnering with others like them to pool resources. Other practices are finding innovative ways to outsource various parts of the process to reduce the burden. Even health systems are making major strategy changes to better position themselves in the changing landscape. The point is business-as-usual in the healthcare space is gone. To survive and thrive, each medical services provider, large and small, must find ways to improvise, adapt and overcome the challenges brought on by significant change.

Our Role is Changing Too

To provide quality answering services to medical clients, the role of the traditional answering service is changing as well. The one-size-fits-all approach is rapidly declining, and the answering services who take the time to understand the unique needs of individual medical providers, will better serve their clients hands-down. Helping practice managers enhance and streamline their communications processes, including assistance with HIPAA compliance, is a core focus of ours. By putting forth the extra effort to reduce the burdens they face on a daily basis, we are rewarded with long-term happy and loyal clients.

Embracing Change

From the changes that have now been set in motion – no one can predict exactly what our nation’s healthcare is going to look like even five years from now, but it will be different. Hopefully you are putting the strategy and actions in place now for your practice to be as prepared as you can. We are doing all we can on our side, so if you have any questions in regards to medical answering services, let us know, we may be able to help!

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