By Craig Goodliffe

Studies that have surfaced in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic show that doctors and other healthcare providers are busier than ever. “Stretched too thin” is the description used in a recent article that highlights the ongoing problem with staff turnover and the lack of qualified applicants in the healthcare space. Other articles explain the pressure on healthcare workers has become so great that 40 percent of them intend to depart the industry over the next five years.

As healthcare companies look for ways to lighten the load on their staff while still providing excellent care to patients, virtual assistants (VAs) stand out as a viable solution. They provide expertly trained and highly motivated human assistance remotely, providing companies in healthcare and beyond with the capability to transform business models and optimize efficiency in the workplace environment.

VAs provide an efficient business solution
Virtual assistants bring many efficiencies to business operations, starting with reduced overhead costs. Because VAs work remotely, companies do not need to invest in physical office space, therefore enabling greater cost savings related to rent, utilities, furniture, and office supplies.

Virtual assistants also empower much greater scalability than businesses typically experience when hiring on-site employees for full-time positions. Hiring on a contract or project basis is common for VAs, which means they are skilled at picking up workloads with minimal training and exiting quickly when projects have been completed. Because they typically work as independent contractors, VAs also require less onboarding, which streamlines the process of getting them settled into assignments.

Companies that hire VAs from other countries can also save considerable money on payroll expenses. A recent report shows that some VAs from the Philippines — a country that provides a high volume of virtual assistance to businesses in the US — provide full-time services for $300 per week, which amounts to four times higher than the country’s average salary. Hiring VAs to work remotely from other geographic locations also gives businesses the capability to extend their business hours, essentially creating a “second shift” that can work while the physical office is closed.

VAs empower businesses to streamline operations
Operational overload is one of the key factors contributing to the high levels of busyness in the healthcare space. VAs can play a key role in addressing this problem by providing an outlet for offloading administrative tasks.

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