Beat burnout, boost efficiency and scale smarter: Advantages of outsourcing staff for growing practices

Running a physician practice can sometimes feel like you are juggling way too much at once. It’s quite the challenge. You give it your all when it comes to patient care, but all that never-ending paperwork can feel like it’s piling up on you. If you’ve ever felt that familiar knot of frustration when administrative tasks pull you away from a patient who needs your attention, you’re not alone.

In 2023, the average workweek for physicians hit around 59 hours, with nearly eight of those spent on billing, scheduling and, again, the paperwork. The bright side is that there’s a way to ease that burden, not just for your team but for yourself. Outsourcing administrative tasks is a practical strategy that can save your practice and even prevent you from losing your mind.

Let me share three key ways outsourcing staff can safeguard efficiency, finances and patient relationships.

Lighten the administrative load to reduce burnout

Remember why you went into medicine? It probably wasn’t to spend hours on hold with insurance companies or manually enter data into an electronic health record system. Yet, the reality is that administrative duties consume a significant chunk of a physician’s week. With nearly a full workday lost to activities that, while necessary, don’t directly impact patient well-being, burnoutwill eventually creep in.

Think about what you could do with those extra hours. Maybe you could finish your patient appointments on time and actually be able to focus on complex cases, delve into the latest research or even spend quality time with your family. Outsourcing administrative tasks to skilled remote teams can make this a reality.

These professionals step in to manage your calendar — sending reminders, coordinating appointments and seamlessly handling any potential rescheduling. They also take on the time-consuming insurance verification and preauthorization process and ensure every detail is handled accurately and efficiently. Meanwhile, with billing and coding entrusted to remote staff, you minimize errors and maximize reimbursements to remain compliant with shifting regulations.

Even nonclinical patient communication, such as handling routine inquiries and providing preappointment information, can be shifted to remote professionals who serve as an extension of your in-house team. We’ve proven this setup provides a smoother, more focused operation that allows providers to concentrate on the most important aspects of their work.

Optimize operations and trim overhead costs

The cost of maintaining a fully staffed in-house administrative team can be substantial. Salaries, benefits, payroll taxes, not to mention the physical office space and equipment required, can already cost you a fortune. Outsourcing, on the other hand, offers a financially savvy alternative.

Instead of a fixed overhead cost, you gain access to specialized expertise on an as-needed basis. You’re essentially paying for the services you require without the added burden of employee-related expenses. For example, would you hire a full-time plumber for the occasional leaky faucet, or would you call in a professional only when needed? Outsourcing your administrative tasks is a similar principle applied to your practice.

This smart spending directly translates to a healthier bottom line and lets you reinvest in crucial areas like new technology, staff training or even expanding your services. It’s about working smarter so you can achieve a higher return on investment, both in terms of finances and overall practice success.

Scale efficiently to manage seasonal surges

Let’s talk about the missed opportunities during peak seasons. Think back to that last surge of patients — beyond the pressure to cater to everyone coming in, how many potential new patients might have felt turned away by long wait times or trouble getting through on the phone? How many follow-up appointments might have been delayed all because your administrative team felt too overwhelmed? This is where the strategic scalability of outsourced staffing can work to your advantage.

Hiring remote teams can help you seamlessly expand your administrative capabilities to manage the immediate influx and capitalize on those high-demand periods. With the right help at hand, your practice can handle the increased volume of calls, schedule appointments efficiently, and ensure that every patient interaction remains smooth and positive. This also means fewer hang-ups, shorter wait times and greater flexibility to accommodate new patients.

Ultimately, the ability to scale your administrative support with ease isn’t just about relieving pressure on your in-house team. When you outsource these repetitive tasks, you effectively position your practice for sustainable success.

Pranav Dalal, CEO and founder of Office Beacon, a global remote and virtual staffing company, began his entrepreneurial journey in mid-2001 when he traveled from Los Angeles to India, rented an office, hired five employees and started Office Beacon — all within one week. Now, with over 5,500 full-time employees globally, Office Beacon operates in India, the Philippines, South Africa and Mexico.