3 Reasons Hospices Should Move to Remote Revenue Cycle Management (RCM)

Much of the corporate world has gone remote. For hospices, onsite staff are the very definition of essential workers. But even in this industry, there is room to adapt and transition some staff to work-from-home.

Hospice Revenue Cycle Management (RM)

Revenue cycle management (RCM) workers are a natural pick. Because their main duties are hospice billing and collections, it only makes sense to keep them out of harm’s way during these dangerous times.

In fact, beyond simply keeping RCM workers safe and complying with local restrictions, there are actually several undeniable benefits to going remote. Consider the following three reasons that hospices should move to a remote RCM workplace.

1. RCM Workplace Efficiency

For certain jobs, in-person collaboration is invaluable. Creative teams, for example, struggle to create the same magic over a Zoom call. Marketing departments and content creators are having a tough time during the pandemic.

This isn’t to say revenue cycle management is solely robotic work that requires no teamwork. But the nature of many day-to-day tasks means they can be largely done just as well from anywhere. The company loses very little – and the efficiency gains become even larger benefits. 

With no commutes and fewer wasted hours in needless meetings, hospices can realize measurable productivity gains from their RCM staff once it goes remote.

2. Lower Operating Costs

While some are praying that COVID-19 measures are only temporary, others are using this as an opportunity to make long-term changes. One thing to think about: With a remote RCM staff, you will immediately be able to cut down on the number of desks.

Fewer desks means fewer square feet. Fewer square feet means lower rent. And lower rent means lower operating costs at the office.

While there may also be some extra expenses to outfitting workers with the equipment they need to work at home, these can also be offset by other cuts at the main office and adopting efficiency tools like a new hospice EHR software system. At the end of the day, the savings can be substantial.

3. Wider Recruitment Pool

When RCM workers operate remotely, the company can expand its recruitment. The world becomes your oyster, and the labor pool instantly has many more qualified candidates. 

Not only can the organization find better employees who will be a better cultural fit as it grows, but it can more easily increase workforce diversity and bring in new people with innovative ideas.

This, of course, can also add to the overall cost-saving benefits. Depending upon the location, the company may be able to find more qualified people in other markets who demand lower salaries.

In this sense – as in so many ways – transitioning to a remote RCM workplace can be a win/win for a hospice business.