Referral management is the process by which patients are transitioned to the next step in their care. Often, a patient goes to the doctor due to a specific need for medical care. According to the United States Census, 37 percent of young adults 18 to 24 did not visit a provider at all during the year, compared with 8 percent of those 65 and older. Because of that, It is important to have a seamless process in which patients are referred to their next specialist for necessary treatment. It is just as important to communicate the benefits of referral management.
Three Ways Patients Benefit from a Referral Management Platform
1. Streamlined Referral Process
When patients are referred to a new physician, they are often given a piece of paper with the physician’s information and told to contact them to make an appointment. Unfortunately, if your patient’s issue is not affecting how they go about their lives, the motivation to schedule that appointment is simply not there. From there, it is almost impossible to guarantee that your patient will actually seek the medical help that they need. To avoid that and give your patients a sense of security and relief for their care, AristaMD allows you to streamline the process in which your patients get referred to specialists. By automating the referral process, your staff spends less time on the phone and can eliminate most manual processes.
2. Electronically Complete Patient Forms
Every time you refer a patient to a new physician, they must fill out all required patient forms. AristaMD’s referral management solution allows patients to receive a packet of patient forms electronically. Your patient will be able to fill everything out in the comfort of their own home. The ability to fill out patient forms electronically makes care even more accessible. Patients with cognitive disabilities can easily enter your practice, knowing that the paperwork has already been filled.
Completing these forms before arrival allows for better organization and helps shorten the patient’s time spent in your waiting room.
3. Insurance Verification
With AristaMD, you can automatically verify insurance eligibility for every referral. By doing that, you’ll never have to cancel or reschedule another patient because of insurance ineligibility again. This helps your patients have better trust in their care because they can feel confident that they will attain the care they need without worrying about paying out of pocket.
Build a Relationship with Your Clients
By communicating the importance and benefits of eConsults, you can establish a trusting relationship with your patients. Understanding how eConsults can be beneficial will allow patients to feel comfortable knowing their care is in good hands. eConsults can help save both time and money for both the practice and the patient.
When patients trust their physician, they feel confident they can receive the best care at all times. This helps remove the angst that many patients feel before a doctor’s visit.
Improve Patient Access Management and Support Advanced Practitioners During the Healthcare Staffing Crisis
Patient access management is a high priority currently due to patients deferring care during COVID and a short supply of providers. Using eConsult technology, advanced practitioners can help primary care physicians manage patients who need specialty care, relieving the burden on providers while increasing the quality of care for patients.