Outsourcing business processes (BPO), which involves entrusting specific business functions to external firms, has been a well-established practice across various industries for a considerable time. Expanding its reach beyond traditional sectors with in-person service delivery, the BPO industry has successfully entered new domains by leveraging existing business gaps. The healthcare sector is one such industry that has increasingly embraced the emergence of the BPO industry. 

With a predicted value of $282 billion by 2023 and an impressive compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.7%, the healthcare BPO market is projected to experience substantial growth. This remarkable statistic reflects the increasing significance and potential of the healthcare BPO industry in shaping the future of healthcare services. 

In this article we’ll explore the top 5 reasons to outsource healthcare services. 

Reason #1: Increase in Demand for Cost-Saving Business Operations

One of the primary drivers behind the growing popularity of outsourcing in the healthcare industry is the increasing demand for cost-saving measures in business operations. Healthcare providers face numerous financial challenges, including rising costs of medical equipment, technology advancements, staffing, and compliance requirements. By outsourcing certain functions to specialized BPO firms, healthcare organizations can significantly reduce operational costs.

Outsourcing enables healthcare providers to access skilled professionals at a lower cost compared to maintaining an in-house team. BPO firms often operate in regions with lower labor costs, allowing healthcare organizations to tap into these resources and benefit from cost efficiencies. The cost savings achieved through outsourcing can be redirected towards enhancing patient care, investing in advanced technologies, or expanding healthcare services.

Furthermore, BPO firms bring expertise in process optimization and operational efficiency. They can streamline administrative tasks, claims processing, medical coding and billing, revenue cycle management, and other non-core functions, resulting in increased productivity and cost reductions. This allows healthcare providers to focus their resources and attention on core activities such as patient care, research, and innovation.

Reason #2: Advancements in BPO Services 

Another compelling reason behind the adoption of outsourcing in the healthcare industry is the significant advancements in BPO services, particularly with the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and other cutting-edge technologies.

The integration of AI has revolutionized BPO services, providing healthcare organizations with intelligent automation solutions that enhance operational efficiency and accuracy. AI-powered technologies, such as natural language processing and machine learning algorithms, enable BPO firms to process vast amounts of data, extract valuable insights, and automate repetitive tasks. This not only improves productivity but also reduces errors and ensures compliance with regulatory standards.

With AI, BPO firms can offer sophisticated solutions for medical coding, claims processing, clinical documentation, and data analysis. These AI-powered services enhance the speed and accuracy of tasks, resulting in faster claims reimbursements, reduced coding errors, and improved overall operational performance. Furthermore, AI algorithms can continuously learn and adapt, leading to ongoing process improvements and increased efficiency over time.

Additionally, advancements in BPO services have expanded beyond traditional back-office functions to encompass more specialized areas. For instance, telemedicine support, remote patient monitoring, medical transcription, and healthcare analytics are now being successfully outsourced. BPO firms leverage their expertise and technological capabilities to provide comprehensive solutions that support healthcare providers in delivering quality care and improving patient outcomes.

The continuous advancement in BPO services, driven by AI and other emerging technologies, presents healthcare organizations with new opportunities to optimize their operations, leverage data-driven insights, and enhance patient care. By embracing these advancements through outsourcing, healthcare providers can stay at the forefront of innovation and achieve sustainable growth in an evolving healthcare landscape.

Reason #3. The Impact of Covid-19

The global Covid-19 pandemic had a profound impact on the healthcare industry, accelerating the need for outsourcing in various aspects. The unprecedented challenges posed by the pandemic, such as the surge in patient volumes, resource constraints, and the urgent requirement for specialized expertise, have further underscored the importance of outsourcing in healthcare.

Firstly, the sudden increase in patient volumes during the pandemic put immense strain on healthcare providers worldwide. Outsourcing certain functions, such as appointment scheduling, patient registration, and customer support, helped alleviate the burden on healthcare staff, enabling them to focus on critical patient care. BPO firms swiftly stepped in to manage these tasks efficiently, ensuring smooth operations and timely delivery of services.

Secondly, the Covid-19 crisis highlighted the need for specialized expertise in areas like telehealth and virtual care. With the sudden shift towards remote healthcare services, healthcare organizations turned to outsourcing to access specialized talent and technological capabilities. BPO firms with expertise in telemedicine support, remote patient monitoring, and virtual consultation played a crucial role in facilitating the seamless transition to remote healthcare delivery.

Moreover, the pandemic resulted in financial strains for healthcare organizations, making cost-saving measures a priority. Outsourcing certain non-core functions became an attractive solution to reduce operational costs and optimize resources. BPO firms offer scalable solutions that allow healthcare providers to flexibly manage fluctuating demands and allocate resources efficiently, ensuring financial stability amidst uncertain times.

Reason #4: Assured HIPAA Compliance

One of the significant advantages of outsourcing healthcare services is the assurance of maintaining compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). HIPAA sets strict guidelines for safeguarding patient health information and ensuring data privacy and security. By partnering with reputable BPO firms, healthcare organizations can benefit from their expertise in adhering to HIPAA regulations.

BPO firms specializing in healthcare services have a deep understanding of HIPAA requirements and possess robust systems and processes to ensure compliance. They implement stringent security measures to protect sensitive patient data, including encryption, access controls, and secure data transmission protocols. Additionally, these firms conduct regular audits and assessments to identify and address any potential vulnerabilities, minimizing the risk of data breaches and ensuring ongoing compliance.

Outsourcing healthcare services to HIPAA-compliant BPO firms provides an added layer of assurance for healthcare organizations. It allows them to mitigate the complexities and risks associated with maintaining compliance in-house. By leveraging the expertise and infrastructure of BPO partners, healthcare providers can focus on delivering quality care while entrusting the security and privacy of patient information to dedicated professionals.

Furthermore, BPO firms that adhere to HIPAA regulations also ensure that their employees receive proper training on data privacy and security. This ensures that all personnel involved in handling healthcare data are well-versed in HIPAA compliance requirements and follow strict protocols to maintain confidentiality.

Reason #5. Outsourced Services Operate 24/7

An essential benefit of outsourcing healthcare services is the ability to access round-the-clock operations. BPO firms often operate across different time zones, enabling healthcare organizations to extend their service hours and provide continuous support to patients.

In a healthcare landscape where timely access to care and support is critical, having services available 24/7 is highly advantageous. Outsourced call centers and customer support teams can handle patient inquiries, appointment scheduling, and other administrative tasks outside regular working hours. This ensures that patients can receive assistance and information whenever they need it, including evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Moreover, operating 24/7 allows healthcare providers to improve their response times and reduce waiting periods. BPO firms with multiple teams working in shifts can handle high call volumes efficiently, leading to faster response rates and enhanced patient satisfaction. This flexibility in service availability also caters to patients in different time zones or those requiring urgent medical attention at any time of the day.

Additionally, the ability to operate round-the-clock opens up opportunities for healthcare organizations to provide telemedicine services on a global scale. Through outsourcing, healthcare providers can leverage remote medical professionals who can deliver virtual consultations, remote monitoring, and emergency support at any time, transcending geographical limitations.

By embracing outsourcing and its 24/7 operational capabilities, healthcare organizations can significantly improve patient access to care, enhance responsiveness, and deliver a higher level of service. This advantage becomes even more crucial in emergency situations, where immediate support and assistance can make a life-saving difference.

To learn more about outsourcing, you can read our Top 8 Qualities of an Outsourcing Company in the Philippines article. We invite you to follow us on social media and to visit our website to learn more about our services.

About Us: Sourcefit is a widely recognized US-managed business process outsourcing company based in Manila, Philippines. We proudly serve over 100 clients with a workforce of more than 1,300 employees. Our global centers can serve multiple markets, and our staff is highly proficient in English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese. Whether you need a few or many employees, we can help you achieve your business goals and build high-quality offshore teams.

Latest Awards

Sourcefit’s commitment to excellence has been recognized through numerous industry awards and certifications.

We recently received the Fortress Cyber Security Award from the Business Intelligence Group. Sourcefit was also honored with the prestigious recognition of Best Outsourcing Solutions Provider in the Philippines during the 2023 Business Excellence Awards.

Other awards include: FT ranking of 500 high-growth Asia-Pacific, The Marketing Excellence Awards, Inquirer Growth Champion,  HR Asia Awards, among others.

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