While many of healthcare’s processes have been digitized, there are still desks buried in stacks of paperwork and email inboxes overflowing with new emails. The industry may be moving away from storage closets full of forms and overflowing filing cabinets, but we’re still struggling with the same problems. The majority of patient health records are digitized, however, that’s not the same for all of the healthcare industry’s business. A large part, particularly the transactions for medical devices and supplies, still rely on a complex and highly inefficient manual process.
Problems With A Manual, Paper Process
The paper process resulted in lost files, headache-inducing audits, and difficult-to-follow paper trails; they were also the scorn of eco-friendly advocates everywhere. And while the new millennium ushered in the digitization of documentation, we have found that paperless doesn’t mean seamless, and the healthcare industry is missing out on the very real advantages of a complete digital transaction management platform. Many industries have already realized the benefits of implementing a DTM platform, such as finance, legal operations, and human resources.
Paperless Platforms: A Start, But Still Not Seamless
There are a variety of software and systems out there that create and contribute to a paperless office environment by offering individual solutions for each of your specific tasks. However, this can result in fragmented data management, along with gaps in functionality. In addition, there may be compatibility or integration issues between individual solutions; a signature obtained through one provider may not be compatible with another provider’s system, turning what should be helpful into a hindrance. Other issues come into play when using various digital enterprise documentation providers. A big one? They may be catering to a whole host of industries: finance, government, legal…the list goes on. By trying to be everything for everyone, it’s nearly impossible for them to have a complete understanding of the healthcare industry, the nuances of your workflow, and the needs of administrators and agents. So while paperless is preferred, using a variety of platforms results in piecemeal transaction management which does not offer the efficiencies, effectiveness—the seamlessness of a true digital transaction management platform.
Digital Transaction Management Platform: A Total Solution
Whereas simply being paperless by way of various providers can result in inefficiencies, a true healthcare DTM platform automates the entire medical device and supply transaction. Within its all-in-one platform, a DTM simplifies every step of the process from start to finish. Think of it as a central hub for all the tools you use every day, from your EHR to scheduling to AP and AR. A true digital transaction management platform allows you to:
- Contract with your healthcare partners easily
- Access accurate contract data in one location
- Schedule surgeries and ensure the appropriate inventory is available
- Track a single transaction from the “delivery order” creation, to purchase order and invoice generation through a single document
- Audit with speed and accuracy
- Stay compliant with state regulations through up-to-the-second tracking of all activities within the transaction cycle
- Provide surgeons and OR staff with the flexibility they need for the best patient care by allowing (but highlighting) not-on-contract item use
- View real-time business analytics to make smarter decisions