The burnout of healthcare revenue cycle management (RCM) staff is a pressing issue exacerbated by high workloads and stress. Despite efforts like wage increases and automation, a persistent labor shortage threatens health systems.
The competition from non-traditional healthcare sectors and past layoffs make re-hiring challenging.
Loyal next-generation RCM staff members face immense pressure, prompting a realization among leaders about the overdue need for investments in tools and automation.
Addressing staff burnout is critical, necessitating the augmentation of in-house capacity and embracing digital transformation to streamline healthcare revenue cycle processes.
Physician burnout compounds these challenges.
A comprehensive approach involving staff augmentation and strategic investment in digital healthcare transformation is crucial for alleviating burnout and improving overall operations in the revenue cycle.
Revenue Cycle Management Burnout Statistics
Burnout, or feeling extremely tired and stressed at work, is becoming more common among healthcare leaders. In 2018, a survey found that 73% of healthcare leaders felt burnout, with 45% feeling very burnt out and an additional 28% feeling somewhat burnt out.
Looking ahead to 2022, another survey asked healthcare leaders if their stress and burnout had changed. Surprisingly, 80% reported that their stress or burnout had increased. This suggests that the challenges in healthcare have grown, and more leaders are feeling the impact on their well-being.
Mitigating Burnout in Your RCM Team – Strategies for Healthcare Success
Mitigate burnout in your RCM team by implementing automation to streamline workflows, reduce workloads, and allow for a focus on strategic tasks. Additionally, flexible working hours and prioritizing employee well-being through enhanced benefits and fair workloads contribute to a healthier work environment.
Let’s explore in detail:
Automation
Leverage AI-driven automation to handle repetitive tasks such as eligibility verification, claim submissions, and denial detection, allowing your RCM team to focus on more strategic activities.
Automation minimizes the number of people-hours required for routine tasks, preventing burnout by optimizing processes.
Flexible Working Hours
Research shows that employees with flexible schedules are less likely to experience burnout. Implementing flexible working hours for your RCM team can significantly enhance job satisfaction and reduce stress.
New research from Future Forum reveals a significant finding: 53% of people who aren’t happy with how flexible their work schedule is also feel burnt out.
In a 2022 survey by MGMA, leaders in medical practices shared that 29% believe flexible work schedules are super important for keeping their staff happy. This comes second only to higher wages, which 56% of leaders recognized as the top factor. In the world of medical billing and nextgen revenue cycle management, providing flexible work hours isn’t just an option – it’s a powerful strategy to tackle burnout.
Encouraging Time Off
Actively encourage RCM staff to take time off, fostering a culture where breaks are seen as essential rather than hindering career progression.
Enhancing Employee Benefits
Improve employee benefits, especially mental health offerings, to address the unique stressors in healthcare. Aiding your team’s overall well-being can be a preventive measure against burnout.
Fair Workloads
Ensuring fair distribution of tasks prevents overload on individual team members, mitigating stress and contributing to a healthier work-life balance.
Inclusive Decision-Making
Actively involve your RCM team in decision-making processes to enhance their sense of control and social support, reducing stressors contributing to burnout.
Tailored Remote Work Options
Acknowledge that not all employees thrive in the same working conditions. Offer the choice between hybrid and fully remote work to accommodate diverse preferences.
How To Recognize The Signs And Symptoms Of Burnout?
The signs and symptoms of burnout can be categorized into three main areas:
Physical Signs
- Persistent Fatigue: RCM staff experiencing burnout may exhibit persistent fatigue due to the demanding and high-pressure nature of their roles, which involve intricate financial processes and adherence to regulatory requirements.
- Headaches: The stress of managing billing complexities and navigating regulatory changes in RCM can contribute to headaches among staff members.
- Sleep Disturbances: RCM professionals may face disruptions in sleep patterns as they grapple with the responsibility of ensuring accurate billing and coding procedures.
Emotional Signs
- Increased Irritability: Burnout in the RCM context may manifest as heightened irritability, particularly when dealing with the intricacies of claims processing, denials, and financial reconciliation.
- Cynicism: RCM staff may develop cynicism towards the evolving healthcare landscape, including changes in reimbursement policies and the constant need to adapt to new regulations.
- Feelings of Detachment: Burnout in RCM might lead to emotional detachment, where staff members feel disconnected from the impact of their work on overall revenue and financial health.
Behavioral Signs
- Withdrawal from Responsibilities: RCM professionals facing burnout may withdraw from their responsibilities, potentially avoiding the complexities of managing billing discrepancies and resolving financial issues.
- Decreased Productivity: Burnout can result in decreased productivity in RCM tasks, such as accurate coding and timely claim submissions, potentially leading to financial setbacks for the healthcare organization.
- Increased Absenteeism: Burnout in RCM may contribute to increased absenteeism as staff members seek temporary relief from their demanding and detail-oriented roles.
Winding Up
We discussed a significant issue in healthcare – burnout, especially for those handling administrative tasks. The pandemic worsened it due to a shortage of workers. Leaders are addressing this with higher pay and technology. Many healthcare workers are feeling exhausted, and hiring new ones is challenging. Flexible work hours can help combat burnout. We also found that many healthcare leaders believe this flexibility is crucial for keeping their staff content. Healthcare needs effective solutions to address burnout and maintain a resilient team.
