Page 16 - HME Business, July/August 2022

Business Solutions
FLEXIBLE STAFFING
A whole new range of creative outsourcing and innovative staffing services are helping HME providers operate businesses that can respond to market challenges, function more efficiently, and deftly dive into new market opportunities.
By David Kopf
The words flexibility and focus rarely go together. Flexibility implies change, while focus conveys constancy. However, the HME industry is one envi- ronment where the two are not mutually exclusive concepts. If anything, HME providers need flex- ibility in order to maintain their focus.
And what’s that focus? Working with referral partners and caregivers to ensure patients have the care, service and equipment they need to enjoy an optimal post-acute outcome. Are processing claims and collecting co-pays, for example, part of that core mission? Some would emphatically say yes, while others would argue those processes draw providers away from the ultimate task at hand. If that’s the case, then why not hire someone else to do it?
Now, let’s take the discussion a step further: What about clinical staff? Could you offload some clinical tasks in order to improve your patient and referral partner focus?
If anything, the answer depends on the provider, but if we look at outsourcing and staffing services catering to HME providers, it’s clear that the options for offering available to providers go much further than just claims processing.
For several years, there has been a range of outsourced billing services available to the market, but more recently, we have seen the types of outsourcing and staffing options expand into many more provider workflows, including clinical processes. Thanks to technology tools such as cloud-based software systems and tele- health, there are many more ways for providers to consider where, when and how they might seek staffing and outsourcing solutions.
That’s the kind of flexibility that can foster focus. Let’s take a look at some outsourcing and staff solutions that are currently available to get an idea of what’s possible.
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