Managing and processing information distributed through multiple internal and external channels such as clinical applications, lab information, third-party portals, insurance portals, radiology information, scheduling applications, ERPs and HR applications is one of the key challenges faced by healthcare organizations. Integration is often complicated across these systems.

Finally, as part of essential healthcare business processes, there is a solution that automates almost every manual, repetitive activity that needs to be applied to content to ensure it is obtained and acted on.

A modern digital workforce made up of smart software robots allows healthcare organizations to automate the flow of information without complicated coding from various EHRs, partner ecosystems, finance and accounting systems, and payer portals. There are many apps in which Robotic Process Automation in healthcare increases operational performance, reduces costs, and minimizes human error.

What is RPA in Healthcare?

Robotic Process Automation (RPA) software is valuable in the healthcare industry. It enables seamless interaction with various systems and applications, effectively managing high-volume processes without overburdening the workforce. RPA bots work tirelessly, operating 24/7 and consistently delivering error-free results. This capability proves especially critical in healthcare, where the reliability and accuracy of data transmission are paramount.

In healthcare, RPA tools can be applied to a wide range of tasks, such as data entry, claims processing, appointment scheduling, patient record management, billing, and more. By automating these tasks, RPA tools help healthcare organizations save time, reduce errors, and improve overall operational efficiency.

Healthcare facilities rely on the smooth and secure exchange of sensitive data among departments, partners, labs, and pharmacies. The constant synchronization of records is essential, and any mistakes can have severe consequences. The complexity of IT environments in healthcare, with multiple applications, file formats, and systems, further complicates matters. RPA in healthcare can improve efficiency and patient outcomes.

Top 10 RPA Use Cases In Healthcare Industry

Some of the top areas that RPA in healthcare is transforming are briefly discussed below.

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1. Revenue Cycles

One of the top benefits of RPA in healthcare is that it helps in better cost management. The cost of a software robot is usually one-fifth of a full-time healthcare staff member's cost. RPA can deliver up to 47% overall savings, especially in BPO for healthcare payers.

In the healthcare sector, the use of RPA has tremendous potential to extend back-office functions far beyond that. In particular, within the sales cycle and administrative processes, RPA can dramatically help. Numerous code changes occur in any given billing cycle, and RPA can adjust and adapt quickly and easily to change.

RPA will lead to an increase in billing performance and a reduction in write-offs by automating time-consuming and routine procedures, such as data digitization and payable accounts, saving healthcare providers much-needed money.

In addition, in medical reports, RPA is often extremely useful for providing interpretation and data based on the diagnosis and reaction of a patient. Consequently, the use of RPA in the healthcare sector is of great benefit to healthcare providers' financial results.

Healthcare providers will optimize a cost-effective workforce and dramatically reduce operating expenses with intelligent scheduling and multi-tenancy. RPA eliminates the budget and human capital drain, adding pace, intelligence, performance, and efficiency to the healthcare processes. Along with all of the above, the implementation of RPA helps improve the experiences of the patients.

2. Patient and Health Plan Management

Healthcare services are now focused on population health, an approach that aims to improve the health of the entire population as a whole. Automation is, therefore, the only way to approach processes on such a large scale and in a large crowd.

Robotic Process Automation in the healthcare industry facilitates the control of utilization, coordination of treatment, case management, and remote patient monitoring of patients within the healthcare system.

When patients follow a structured course of treatment assisted by RPA, they are more likely to remain on track with the expected results. Besides, patients who have deviated from their treatment plans should be seen by health care providers and intervene if appropriate. This ensures that proper care is taken, but it also improves the overall approach of healthcare workers toward the entire patient community.

RPA enables patients to be constantly tracked while delivering continuous, high-quality care. Doctors have more time to spend with their patients because RPA helps control their caseload while allowing healthcare providers to concentrate on their patient's work.

3. Clinical Data Extraction

RPA software can help healthcare companies extract data from clinical records, both digital and physical. They will automate searching for the correct documents in a database and routing them inside the network of the healthcare organization to the appropriate person.

Typically, this kind of program requires a human worker to provide it with login credentials that can allow access to the network or an EMR device.

RPA software can be trained to identify document metadata, such as scanned PDF filenames, their date of development, or unique ID numbers for EMR documents. Usually, this kind of information is found by opening the properties of a file or folder. Once it has tracked a human employee doing it several times, RPA software will imitate this behavior.

The RPA solution can also be used for automating basic, routine desktop functions. RPA collects data from electronic medical records (EMRs), medical charts, notes for consultation, and summaries of discharge. Any time any of these documents had missing details, a human employee was required to search for them manually and enter them back into that document. The problem mentioned above is also eliminated with the use of this RPA solution.

4. Self-Service Terminals for Hospitals

RPA application in healthcare is automating patient check-in, in hospitals, especially their emergency rooms. With screens that allow the patient to type in their details, they can set up self-service kiosks. There may also be a scanner on the kiosk to take a picture of the insurance card and ID of the patient if appropriate.

The RPA solution would then automate the responses of the kiosk to the feedback of the patient, which would load their information into a triage system and allow the employees of the front desk to review the information of each patient.

To ensure a positive user experience and avoid friction during check-in, the user interface of a self-service kiosk is critical. This suggests that a good third-party dashboard from a company specializing in customer service terminals such as ATMs would possibly need to be provided by the healthcare company.

However, once this is in effect, the kiosk would need to be incorporated into the network of the healthcare provider to be able to validate and pass patient details. In triage, patient data will be submitted to human personnel to assess which patients are most at risk and prioritize seeking treatment for them over others.

This allows staff to distinguish between less serious problems when they come in, but in an emergency that needs urgent treatment, they will also need to be present in the check-in room. When the patient has been sent to receive treatment, this will be reported later, and all patients will simultaneously begin self-check-in. This integration method can automate multiple jobs in any hospital that wishes to implement it.

5. Processing Healthcare Credentials and Payrolls

The discussion on RPA applications in healthcare would be incomplete without mentioning the transformation it brings in the processing of healthcare credentials and payrolls. The automation of the processing of credentials and payroll records of healthcare workers, such as timecards and other documentation of hours worked, is another possibility for RPA in healthcare.

RPA software can automate data transfer to the back-end verification process from the customer-facing method of information entry, such as an employee mobile app.

For example, consider whether a healthcare organization has a mobile app where their time card could be photographed, or the details transcribed digitally and submitted to the payroll department. The RPA could automate the process of moving the image or text to the payment processing system of the healthcare company to be paid or rejected.

Alternatively, RPA may automate the transfer of knowledge-supported security credentials assigned to every employee for personnel verification. An employee would simply have to enter their employee credentials, such as an ID number and their complete name, and the RPA program would route that information to the verification system of the organization.

Healthcare organizations will, however, need to plan their company at this stage for RPA incorporation. It may be necessary for healthcare companies to review whatever processing tool or software they may be using to validate or otherwise work with incoming data before implementing an RPA solution.

6. Superior Healthcare Quality

One of the prime advantages offered by RPA to the healthcare industry is the availability of superior healthcare quality. The automation of various processes enhances patient or user satisfaction by saving time, eliminating human error chances, and enabling staff to concentrate on more valuable, patient-centric tasks.

The improved operating efficiency can also broaden the healthcare reach of applicability. In this way, the healthcare system could help meet more people's needs.

In healthcare, the prospect of adequate care for a rising number of people makes RPA into something more than just an option. For example, payroll and time attendance will be procedures that could be automated to free up time for workers in an HR department.

7. Streamline Data Management 

In the ever-evolving healthcare industry, managing and processing vast amounts of data efficiently is crucial for providing quality patient care, ensuring compliance, and improving operational efficiency. 

Robotic Process Automation (RPA) has emerged as a transformative technology that streamlines data management processes, allowing healthcare organizations to unlock the full potential of their data assets. Let’s explore the areas in the healthcare industry where RPA is making a significant impact and revolutionizing data management practices.

  • Automating Data Entry and Integration
  • Ensuring Data Quality and Compliance
  • Streamlining Claims Processing
  • Enhancing Revenue Cycle Management
  • Facilitating Data Analytics and Reporting

8. Data Analytics

In the healthcare industry, the abundance of data presents both opportunities and challenges. Extracting actionable insights from vast amounts of information is crucial for enhancing patient care, optimizing operations, and driving innovation

Robotic Process Automation (RPA) enables healthcare organizations to leverage the power of data analytics to improve decision-making and deliver more efficient and personalized care. Here are the areas in the healthcare industry where RPA is transforming data analytics and revolutionizing the way healthcare professionals utilize information. It includes: 

  • Data Aggregation and Integration
  • Data Cleansing and Preprocessing
  • Real-Time Data Processing
  • Predictive Analytics and Risk Stratification
  • Performance Analytics and Operational Efficiency

9. Claims Management

In the healthcare industry, claims management is a complex and critical process that involves the submission, processing, and reimbursement of insurance claims. The traditional manual approach to claims management is often time-consuming, error-prone, and inefficient.

However, with the advent of Robotic Process Automation (RPA), healthcare organizations are experiencing a significant transformation in claims management practices. Here are the various aspects to check out how RPA is revolutionizing claims management in the healthcare industry, leading to improved efficiency, accuracy, and cost savings.

  • Automated Claims Submission
  • Claims Verification and Adjudication
  • Fraud Detection and Prevention
  • Claims Processing and Workflow Automation
  • Claims Analytics and Performance Monitoring

10. Regulatory Compliance 

The healthcare industry operates in a highly regulated environment, with numerous laws, guidelines, and compliance requirements. Meeting regulatory obligations is crucial for ensuring patient safety, protecting sensitive data, and avoiding penalties. However, navigating complex regulatory frameworks manually can be challenging and resource-intensive. 

Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is transforming regulatory compliance in the healthcare industry by automating processes, improving accuracy, and streamlining documentation. Here are the aspects to see how RPA is revolutionizing regulatory compliance practices, enabling healthcare organizations to meet compliance requirements efficiently and effectively.

  • Automated Compliance Monitoring
  • Streamlined Documentation and Reporting
  • Data Privacy and Security Compliance
  • Compliance Training and Education
  • Auditing and Internal Controls

8 Benefits of RPA in Healthcare

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Robotic Process Automation (RPA) offers numerous benefits in the healthcare industry:

  1. Enhanced Efficiency: RPA automates repetitive tasks, reducing the burden on healthcare professionals and improving overall operational efficiency.
  2. Increased Accuracy: RPA bots work tirelessly without making mistakes, ensuring accurate data entry, claims processing, and other critical tasks.
  3. Improved Patient Care: By automating administrative processes, RPA allows healthcare providers to allocate more time and resources to patient care, enhancing the overall patient experience.
  4. Streamlined Workflows: RPA optimizes workflows by eliminating manual hand-offs and reducing delays, leading to streamlined processes and faster turnaround times.
  5. Data Management: RPA enables seamless data integration and synchronization across different systems, ensuring accurate and up-to-date patient records.
  6. Cost Savings: By automating labor-intensive tasks, RPA helps healthcare organizations reduce costs associated with manual labor, data errors, and inefficiencies.
  7. Compliance and Security: RPA ensures adherence to regulatory requirements and enhances data security by providing audit trails and access controls.
  8. Scalability: RPA can quickly scale to accommodate increasing volumes of tasks and data, supporting healthcare organizations' growth and evolving needs.

Overall, RPA for healthcare offers a range of benefits, from improved efficiency and accuracy to better patient care and cost savings.

Conclusion

It is plausible to expect that RPA will revolutionize the healthcare industry because of its proven impact on saving time, and effort and reducing costs. The implementation of RPA will enable healthcare professionals to concentrate on improving patient outcomes.

The digital workforce's ability to produce swift and reliable outcomes for the input, organization and review of vast volumes of medical data can make a huge contribution to improving access to treatment. It is safe to conclude that RPA is the future of the healthcare industry!

Frequently Asked Questions

How does RPA improve revenue cycles in healthcare organizations?

RPA in healthcare optimizes revenue cycles by automating billing processes, claims verification, and payable accounts. It leads to faster billing performance, reduced write-offs, and substantial cost savings for healthcare providers.

Can RPA assist in patient and health plan management?

Yes, RPA plays a crucial role in patient and health plan management. It helps track patient progress, coordinate treatment plans, and manage remote patient monitoring. With RPA, healthcare organizations can offer personalized care and improve patient satisfaction.

Can RPA be applied to self-service terminals in hospitals?

Yes, RPA applications can automate patient check-ins through self-service terminals in hospitals. By streamlining the check-in process, RPA improves patient experience and allows healthcare staff to focus on critical tasks.

What are the overall benefits of RPA in healthcare?

RPA offers a multitude of benefits in healthcare, including enhanced operational efficiency, increased accuracy in data handling, improved patient care, streamlined workflows, cost savings, and adherence to regulatory standards.

Meet the Author
Manisha Khadge
Manisha Khadge, CMO Mindbowser

Manisha Khadge, recognized as one of Asia’s 100 power leaders, brings to the table nearly two decades of experience in the IT products and services sector. She’s skilled at boosting healthcare software sales worldwide, creating effective strategies that increase brand recognition and generate substantial revenue growth.

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