Fax Data Efficiency: Practical Healthcare Transformation

Healthcare Transformation Data: Fax Referrals and Patient Intake

To shed light on the practical aspects of healthcare transformation, we brought in Reno, a healthcare transformation data expert. His focus? The intake side and referral processes.

A healthcare facility spends an average of 5 minutes per referral, translating to approximately 600 hours annually. Beyond headcount savings, this newfound time can be reallocated to enhance patient care or experience. 

Importantly, this process involves only one enterprise healthcare ER system, raising the question: What does this look like as a scalable investment?

Cost-Efficient Document Data Transformation

Reno emphasizes the cost-effectiveness of automation. By taking the cost of one medical administrator, the initial investment for automation is only a third of that expense—approximately $20,000 to $25,000. 

As an early adopter in automation, OpenBots introduces usage-based pricing at $1.2 per bot runtime hour, offering substantial savings compared to traditional administrative costs. Healthcare leaders, burdened with fax-based documentation, stand to gain significantly. 

OpenBots’ solution addresses the labor-intensive processing of incoming faxes, liberating healthcare professionals from mundane administrative duties. This shift allows them to redirect their efforts toward enhancing the patient experience.

Implementation Timeframe

Contrary to lengthy application development or EMR system implementations, OpenBots boasts an implementation timeframe of 8 to 10 weeks. 

This efficient timeline ensures a swift integration, making it feasible for healthcare facilities to adopt digital transformation without prolonged disruptions.

Simplifying Document Processing

In a live demonstration, Reno showcases the document processing engine’s capabilities. This engine excels at classifying documents and extracting relevant data from semi-structured or unstructured formats. 

The ability to process handwritten documents in minutes sets it apart from traditional OCR engines.

Workflow Integration

A two-bot system is employed to streamline patient intake and referral processes. Bot 1, representing medical administrators, handles the initial sorting of faxes and pushes them to OpenBots Documents for extraction. 

Bot 2, emulating the role of medical filers, extracts data and seamlessly populates the ER system. This division of tasks ensures optimal efficiency in a healthcare facility’s operations.

Validation and Future Insights

The validation step, led by human personnel, becomes a crucial but optional task, primarily for handwritten documents. The feedback from providers indicates significant time savings—up to 600 hours annually. 

This newfound time can be channeled into revenue-generating activities, such as appointment bookings, marking a paradigm shift in healthcare operations.

Start Small, Achieve Big

For healthcare providers contemplating digital transformation, the key is to start small. Target specific operational inefficiencies, such as intake and referral processes, for immediate wins. 

These incremental successes build confidence and lay the foundation for broader organizational transformation. As the journey unfolds, the ultimate goal is efficiency and a reimagined healthcare experience for providers and patients.