A remote medical assistant is a relatively new concept in healthcare. They’re also called online medical assistants, virtual medical assistants, or telehealth assistants. Virtual medical assistants work for multiple doctors at once and streamline the process of writing prescriptions and scheduling appointments. Patients can also use them to communicate with their own physicians.
This guide will walk you through everything you need about virtual medical assistants: how they work, why they’re beneficial for your practice, what types of appointments they can help with, billing and payment methods…everything!
What is a remote medical assistant?
A remote medical assistant is not a doctor. A virtual medical assistant cannot diagnose, prescribe, or treat patients. However, a virtual medical assistant may help with administrative tasks such as:
- Social media management and posting, including but not limited to Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram;
- Email correspondence;
- Scheduling calls and meetings for the physicians they work with;
- They may also be able to assist on a more complicated level by performing billing functions to save their employer time and money.
How does a remote medical assistant work for multiple doctors at once?
Virtual medical assistants (VMA’s) can work for multiple doctors simultaneously because they have a team behind them. The individual virtual medical assistants are the face and voice of your practice, but they work with a team that includes support staff, IT experts, and others who help handle all the tasks related to running a business.
As a business owner, you may want to know who cares for your patients and their needs. That’s when we come in as an extension of your office. We can do more than just billing and scheduling because an entire team is working hard on behalf of our client base.
Why should I use a virtual medical assistant instead of a traditional employee?
Here are some of the advantages of hiring a Virtual Medical Assistant for your practice:
Cost savings
With flexible scheduling and remote access to your office, VMA’s can work more hours per week than a traditional employee. This means you will save money on employee benefits and payroll taxes and keep more revenue in your pocket!
Better use of time
Without having to commute or take lunch breaks every day, VMA’s can spend more time doing what they were hired for—helping doctors and patients alike by handling administrative tasks such as answering phones, filing paperwork, scheduling appointments, organizing charts, etc. This means that no matter how busy things get at your practice—you have one less thing to worry about!
How do billing and payment work?
- Doctors can pay their VMA directly through an online portal.
- The virtual medical assistant will not bill patients, so you won’t have to worry about collecting payments from them.
- You’ll receive a monthly invoice that lists all services provided during the previous month and allows you to make payment via credit card or check.
- Payments are processed monthly and are due by the last day of each month (or according to your agreement with your VMA).
How will my virtual medical assistant know how to talk to my patients?
When you work with a virtual medical assistant, they will be trained to understand your practice and your patient’s needs. They will also learn how to talk to your patients, as well as how to work with your staff.
Your remote medical assistant can communicate with patients on your website, social media, and in person. They can answer questions about appointments or provide resources for information about topics such as flu shots and immunizations.
Virtual medical assistants can help you streamline your practice!
A remote medical assistant can help you streamline your practice! They have the skills and training to help you maximize your time in front of patients, allowing you to spend more time with them. VMA’s are trained to handle scheduling, insurance verification, claims submission, appointment reminders, and follow-ups – it’s all in a day’s work.
The bottom line
A remote medical assistant is a great way to keep your practice running smoothly and efficiently. They can help you save time, reduce stress, and focus on what matters most. We hope this article has helped you understand how virtual medical assistants work, how they can benefit your practice, and why we think they are such a fantastic concept!