Is Paper a Drag on Your Practice?
Paper has been an integral part of our business lives since about the 13th century. And even though we now live in the digital era, old habits die hard. Our job at BrinsonAnderson Consulting is to make sure that you aren’t doing something simply because it has always been done. This is why we examine all of your business practices, looking for ways to improve efficiency and ramp-up productivity. One of the areas that can almost always use a change is paper use. Is paper a drag on your practice?
Embrace Your Inner 3 Year Old
If you have spent any time around toddlers lately then you know that “why” is possibly their favorite word. And though it may drive you insane sometimes, there is something to be said for constantly questioning the status quo. When conducting a new consult, we firmly embrace our inner 3 year old and question everything. So often, routine business practices become habits that may no longer serve your best interest. This is certainly true when it comes to paper. At the front desk, we encourage you to examine every piece of paper and ask WHY?. For example:
Why do we use this form? Is it still relevant and necessary?
Why is the new patient packet so many pages? Could it be condensed down to fewer pages?
Paper Detox
Once we determine which forms are actually necessary, and after we have a clean, updated and condensed version of the form, the next step is to make them electronically fillable. Ideally, the content will be loaded onto your EHR’s patient portal so that the patient can complete the information online and then transmit it directly into the EHR. If you do not have a patient portal, turn the forms into a fillable PDF. The PDF can be loaded up on your website, and it can also easily be sent via email to any new patient. Additionally, there are great third-party services that can automate the process and increase patient compliance. All of these options make it easier for patients to complete their “paperwork” in advance of the visit, and it helps ensure that you have all the necessary information before the patient ever steps foot in the office.
Benefits of Paper Detox
Detoxing from paper will:
Save your staff time from the never-ending task of scanning
Cut down on storage costs for old paperwork
Make things easier & more convenient for your patients
Speed up the check-in process, prevent delays and improve productivity
Going paperless may take some upfront work, but the payoff in terms of efficiency for both your business and your patients can be huge. It’s also much kinder to the planet.
Save Money, Reduce Waste
Paper makes up about 25% of all landfill waste. More importantly, if businesses in this country reduced their office paper use by just 10%, it would prevent approximately 1.6 million tons of greenhouse gases. At BrinsonAnderson, one of the cornerstones of our practice philosophy is that we care about our quality of life. If we can find a business solution, such as going paperless, that will increase your workflow, save you time and money, and also help Mother Earth, we consider it a win.
To find out more about how BrinsonAnderson Consulting can help you detox from paper, save money and improve your practice efficiency, for a predictable monthly fee, contact us here.
