Implementing RPA in Healthcare
Robotic Process Automation, as an efficiency driver, has the potential to make a significant impact in the healthcare industry. It is a technology that uses business logic and structured inputs to automate business processes. Many administrative tasks were performed manually by healthcare professionals, which were time-consuming and inconvenient. In contrast, RPA performs tasks a fraction of the time and without the risk of human error. RPA can automate tasks ranging from front-office tasks to operational processes, patient interaction, and bill payment.
Case Study
Reconciliation of medication records is the act of gathering the most detailed list of all medications a patient is taking, including drug name, dosage, frequency, and route, and comparing that list to the doctor's admission, transfer, and discharge orders to ensure that the patient receives the proper medications at all hospital transition points. We applied RPA in hospitals in Australia to improve operational efficiency and reduce costs. When done manually, the work that took 8hrs per day was automated, which took just seconds to complete. Over one hundred and fifty hospitals implemented the same, which in turn saved 300k hours/year in terms of reconciling data. The hospital's report mentioned that application of UiPath had achieved extraordinary results.Benefits
When done manually, the work that took 8hrs per day was automated, which took just seconds to complete. Over one hundred and fifty hospitals implemented the same, which in turn saved 300k hours/year in terms of reconciling data. The hospital's report mentioned that application of UiPath had achieved extraordinary results. The following are some of the most rewarding RPA use cases in the healthcare industry.Data sharing and electronic records
The healthcare industry is highly regulated, with stringent protocols and reporting requirements for medical records, patient records, and other sensitive data. RPA reduces the possibility of human errors in business processes. Consistent first-entry accuracy assists businesses in meeting accuracy targets by avoiding costly, time-consuming fixes and revisions. Regulatory compliance depends on accurate, consistent, and secure records, which RPA can provide. Errors are reduced, and accuracy is improved by reducing the number of times employees manually input or transfer data.Management of billing, payments, and claims
Some repetitive tasks across all healthcare organizations include patient onboarding and follow-ups, medical billing, generating physician reports, and prescription management. These factors contribute to the ideal Robotic Process Automation (RPA) environment to improve efficiency, lower costs, and improve the patient experience. Healthcare delivery necessitates managing multiple accounts for the same patient, such as consultations, tests, medicines, and so on. Typically, billing and claims processing are very repetitive. Such processes can be automated using RPA, including first-line inquiries and follow-ups. Manually managing and calculating them increases the risk of error while also lengthening the wait time. Using RPA, bringing all accounts together and performing the correct calculation can be done in a matter of seconds.Scheduling appointments
Appointment scheduling, closely related to electronic records, is a time-consuming task that RPA could handle. For example, by scanning incoming data and scheduling appointments based on relevant data such as doctor availability, symptoms or suspected diagnosis, location, or most convenient time, RPA could significantly increase efficiency. This would not only relieve healthcare professionals of time-consuming scheduling tasks, but it would also most likely increase patient satisfaction.Post-treatment care
RPA also supervises post-discharge care, enabling patients to recover at home confidently after leaving the hospital. RPA could remind patients about important actions such as consuming nutrients, taking medication, or following a meal plan. Furthermore, RPA could nudge patients to collect necessary data, such as blood pressure, and notify healthcare professionals if conditions were concerning. In this way, the RPA serves as a conduit of communication between the hospital and the patient's home. This can improve the patient experience by allowing at-home recovery and relieving hospital bed pressure for healthcare providers.Customer service and remote monitoring
RPA and bots can automate customer service and remote care tasks, while machine learning and intelligent automation (IA) can address repetitive questions consistently and efficiently. Employees are also pleased because manual effort for complex tasks has been reduced, allowing them to engage in more value-added activities.More Benefits of RPA in healthcare
- Better patient support
- Reduced costs
- Increased processing speed
- Improved productivity
- Improved patient experience
- Increased data accuracy
