As medical practices strive to provide excellent patient care while managing operational costs, one critical decision is whether to rely on in-house staff or virtual staffing solutions. Each option has its pros and cons, and choosing the right fit depends on the unique needs of your practice.
The Benefits of Virtual Staffing
Cost Savings
One of the biggest advantages of virtual staffing is the reduction in overhead costs. Virtual staff eliminate the need for additional office space, equipment, and benefits like health insurance and paid time off. 1st Call Practice Solutions helps practices cut expenses by providing remote medical staffing, reducing costly turnover, and eliminating hours spent training new employees.
Increased Efficiency
Virtual staff can handle critical front-office and back-office services, including appointment scheduling, insurance verification, prior authorizations, and medication refills. These services streamline operations, ensuring that in-office staff can focus on direct patient care.
Access to Highly Trained Professionals
1st Call Practice Solutions offers a team of highly skilled nurses and medical assistants trained in telephone triage, remote patient monitoring (RPM), and chronic care management (CCM) nationwide. This level of expertise ensures quality care without the stress of in-house training.
Staffing Flexibility in a Challenging Job Market
In 2022, 40% turnover for front office staff and 33% turnover for clinical support staff were reported across medical practices, underscoring the ongoing staffing challenges many organizations face. Virtual staffing allows practices to bypass the high turnover rate and quickly adjust to workforce changes.
The Challenges of In-House Staffing
While in-house staffing has traditionally been the go-to model for medical practices, it presents significant challenges that can impact efficiency, patient care, and profitability.
High Overhead Costs
Maintaining an in-house team involves expenses for salaries, benefits, office space, and ongoing training. The Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) reported that in 2023, 96% of medical groups experienced increased or stable operating expenses compared to the previous year, with higher wages and salaries being primary cost drivers.
Virtual staffing can help reduce these costs while maintaining the same level of service.
Staffing Shortages and High Turnover
The healthcare industry continues to struggle with staffing shortages. United States healthcare workers have faced significant burnout, leading to high turnover rates. These staffing challenges create disruptions in patient care and increase recruitment costs. Virtual staffing solutions can alleviate the burden of hiring, training, and replacing staff by providing an experienced, ready-to-work team.
Limited Availability and Burnout
In-house staff typically work standard office hours, leaving gaps in patient support after hours and on weekends. Overworked employees are more susceptible to burnout, contributing to higher absenteeism and turnover rates. Virtual staffing solutions ensure 24/7 availability, reducing workload strain on in-office employees and enhancing patient support.
Administrative Inefficiencies
Front-office tasks such as scheduling, insurance verification, and prior authorizations can occupy a significant portion of a practice’s administrative workload, diverting time from direct patient care. A virtual team can handle these responsibilities, allowing in-house staff to focus on patients without distractions.
By addressing these challenges through virtual staffing solutions, medical practices can enhance efficiency, improve patient care, and boost profitability.
Which Solution Is Right for You?
The ideal staffing model depends on the size and needs of your practice:
- Virtual staffing is best for practices looking to reduce costs, improve efficiency, and offer flexible patient support. It is a great fit for handling non-clinical tasks, telephone triage, scheduling, and insurance verification.
- In-house staffing is best for practices that require physical patient interactions, immediate coordination, and hands-on administrative roles.
Hybrid Approach: The Best of Both Worlds
Many medical practices find success in a hybrid model—leveraging virtual assistants for administrative tasks while maintaining an in-house team for direct patient care. This reduces burnout, optimizes efficiency, and ensures excellent service.
At 1st Call Practice Solutions, we provide tailored virtual staffing solutions to help medical practices operate more efficiently and cost-effectively. Whether you are considering a full virtual transition or a hybrid approach, our team is here to help.Book a 15-Minute Discovery Call with our founder, Cayce Branyon, to explore how virtual staffing can improve your practice.
