A remote medical assistant is a relatively new concept in healthcare. They’re also called online medical assistants, virtual medical assistants, or telehealth assistants. Moreover, this market was valued at USD 1.03 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 12.99 billion by 2032, growing at a robust CAGR of 33.24% during the forecast period from 2024 to 2032. More so, virtual medical assistants work for multiple doctors simultaneously and streamline the writing process of prescriptions and scheduling appointments. Patients can also use them to communicate with their physicians.
This guide will cover everything you need to know 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. Virtual medical assistants can automate high-volume tasks like billing, scheduling, and insurance verification, cutting labor costs and minimizing errors that lead to revenue loss.
Remember the words by Angela Reynolds, a Clinic Manager, “Virtual assistants help our practice run smoother behind the scenes, which means our patients spend less time waiting and more time with their doctor.”
How does a remote medical assistant work for multiple doctors at once?
Virtual medical assistants (VMAs) 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?
The demand for virtual assistants increased by 35% in 2024, driven by the shift to remote work and flexible staffing solutions. This trend underscores the growing recognition of the efficiency and flexibility that medical VAs bring to healthcare practices. 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, VMAs can work more hours per week than traditional employees. This means you will save money on employee benefits and payroll taxes and keep more revenue in your pocket! As a Family Medicine Specialist, Dr. Mary Nguyen said, “Hiring a virtual medical assistant can reduce overhead by as much as 60%, especially when you consider savings on office space, equipment, and employee benefits.”
For instance, a full-time virtual medical assistant might cost between $12,000 and $25,000 per year, depending on their location and experience, compared to an on-site medical assistant in the United States, whose total cost can rise to $40,000 to $70,000 annually when factoring in benefits.
Better use of time
Without having to commute or take lunch breaks every day, VMAs can spend more time doing what they were hired for—helping doctors and patients by handling administrative tasks such as answering phones, filing paperwork, scheduling appointments, organizing charts, etc. Virtual medical assistants can significantly reduce the time and effort spent on administrative duties by automating repetitive tasks such as data entry, appointment reminders, and insurance verifications. This means that no matter how busy your practice gets, 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 patients’ needs. They will also learn to talk to your patients and 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 with patients, allowing you to spend more time with them. VMAs are trained to handle scheduling, insurance verification, claims submission, appointment reminders, and follow-ups—all in a day’s work.
The bottom line: Remote Medical Assistant
A remote medical assistant or a remote medical personal 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!
3 Key Takeaways
Here are three key takeaways from the article:
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Virtual medical assistants can help streamline your medical practice. They can handle various tasks, including scheduling appointments, managing social media, billing, and freeing up doctors’ time to focus on patients.
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Virtual medical assistants can work for multiple doctors simultaneously because they have a team behind them. This team includes support staff and IT experts who help handle all the administrative tasks.
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Hiring virtual medical assistants can be more cost-effective than hiring traditional employees. They typically have flexible scheduling and don’t require benefits, which can save doctors money.
“The rise of virtual medical assistants is not just a trend—it’s a transformation in how healthcare is delivered and supported.” Raj Patel