6 Proven Benefits of NextGen Workflow Optimization (With Data!)

Across the healthcare sector, operational efficiency has become a necessity to keep cash flowing. Electronic tools that optimize workflows and help teams work smarter cut costs, reduce claims denials, and improve patient outcomes. When using tools like NextGen EHR and EPM systems, you need to know that the workflows and processes are fit for purpose and help your practice thrive. NextGen workflow optimization can reshape productivity, ensure profitability, and elevate satisfaction for both employees and patients.

In this article, we draw on real-life statistics and examples to show why you should invest in NextGen workflow optimization. Discover six top ways investing in optimized workflows can transform your practice:

1. Increased Productivity Across Your Healthcare Practice with NextGen Workflow Optimization

Firstly, multiple hours of employee time are lost to administrative work across healthcare facilities of all sizes. Repetitive forms, non-intuitive systems, and the replication of patient data all take time. The right software tools can drastically cut that time, freeing up nurses and physicians to attend to more critical tasks.

Research shows that integrating the right technological solutions can free up up to 21% of a nurse’s schedule. Over the course of a year, that could amount to 400 employee hours reclaimed. Nurses and other medical personnel who aren’t filling out forms are tending to patients. They are improving patient care and outcomes and boosting your practice's reputation. 

2. Error Reduction and Compliance Peace-of-Mind

Secondly, all healthcare facilities and providers must comply with specific, strict laws and regulations. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), for example, demands that sensitive patient data cannot be disclosed to unauthorized parties. With collaboration and interoperability top concerns for many healthcare providers and insurers, navigating the intricacies of managing patient data can be challenging.

NextGen EHRs and EPMs have compliance built in from the ground up. When teams optimize workflows to include only necessary data, they can more easily protect patients and employees while staying legally compliant. Automated encryption of key data, access controls restricted to administrative personnel, and prompts that guide how staff capture data reduce errors and help ensure patient records are complete and compliant.

NextGen 8 has been awarded ONC Health IT Certification, and this highlights how the EHR system meets rigorous compliance standards. Customizing and optimizing workflows enhances the level of compliance and accurate data governance you can achieve within your practice.

3. Data-Driven Decision-Making

Thirdly, centralizing patient data from multiple sources enables clinicians and physicians to develop treatment plans faster and with greater accuracy. When you work with an expert consultant to tailor your NextGen workflows to your practice’s needs, you get all the data you need and none that you don’t. 

For example, physicians at OB/GYN clinics may need to see details on uterine health, menstruation, previous pregnancies, or obstetric screening results. Optimizing workflows and patient collection templates to include these fields means medical professionals can quickly understand the next steps needed for the best possible patient outcome. 

4. True Interoperability

Fourthly, patients rarely see a single physician or specialist throughout their treatment journey. Someone suffering from cancer, for example, may start their diagnosis pathway with a family doctor, then move to a specialized team. They may see various nurses, some at hospitals, some at clinics, and even ambulatory providers. A cancer survivor may also engage with mental health professionals, as well.

Each of these experts needs access to accurate patient data to prevent potentially life-threatening delays or inaccuracies. Moreover, smooth workflows that enable swift entry, transfer, and access to up-to-date information improve patient outcomes. Additionally, these workflows enhance interoperability between human teams and digital systems. 

Recent research shows that hospitals utilizing market-leading EHR systems had significantly higher interoperability scores than those that weren’t. Investing in NextGen workflow optimization can only improve those interoperability ratings and increase effective collaboration throughout a patient’s care team.

5. Reduced Levels of Stress & Burnout

Fifthly, physician burnout is a serious and spiraling problem across the healthcare sector, with 54% of physicians reporting symptoms including anxiety, tearfulness, and inappropriate feelings of anger. Repetitive manual administration and data entry, claim denials and appeals, inaccurate information, and poorly optimized digital systems all contribute to the alarmingly high levels of burnout. In fact, international research indicates that administrative burdens are a primary cause of burnout for healthcare professionals. 

NextGen workflow optimization is just one way to reduce the number of administrative tasks physicians and clinicians have to perform. For example, automated data capture and prompts for key information streamline service utilization and even reduce appointment length.

Studies show that improving the efficiency of digital solutions, such as EHRs, reduces clinician burnout. Investing in smart, optimized workflows could keep physicians healthier and more effective by promoting better patient outcomes and stronger healthcare practices. 

6. Scalable Growth Without Growing Pains

Sixthly, your practice has to find ways to balance profitability with patient care. Increasing patient numbers and, therefore, incoming cash flow, is challenging if you don’t have the workflows and processes in place to handle expanding volumes of work.

A combination of AI-powered automation and streamlined workflows enables you to do more in less time, and potentially drives exponential growth. Keep the teams that you have without overburdening them with excessive admin work. Free up employee hours to focus on face-to-face patient care and interactions.

How TempDev Helps With NextGen Workflow Optimization

To sum it up, our expert NextGen consultants support practices across all aspects of EHR and EPM optimization, from upgrading to NextGen Enterprise 8.3.1 to creating specialized templates and dashboards. 

Discover how optimizing your workflows could increase profitability, productivity, and patient satisfaction: Contact TempDev online or call 1.888.TEMPDEV.