Although the vaccines have arrived, healthcare organizations are still working hard to recover and adjust to the effects of COVID-19. You may be working with more expensive supplies, greater safety concerns, and inconsistent patient payments due to financial concerns. Some other changes will stick around for the near future, but thankfully, there are several things you can do to help your practice thrive in the wake of the pandemic.
Revisiting how you bill your patients is one such strategy. Meeting evolving demands requires modern, safe, and secure payment methods. Learn how you can collect contact-free payments and utilize other modern options.
Patient Payments in a Post-COVID World
Dental providers need to be ready to meet heightened expectations for safety and efficiency in the post-COVID-19 healthcare environment. Those who embrace technology that enables more routine administrative functions to be performed remotely and minimizes face-to-face contact will become the providers of choice.
Contactless payment processing
Perhaps one of the most notable changes that has come from the “new normal” is contactless payments. Almost half of global consumers said contactless payment methods were among the most important safety measures to follow, with a similar number of respondents saying they wouldn’t shop in places that don’t offer it (Wakefield Research, 2021). COVID-19 catapulted contactless payments into public demand, and they’re here to stay.
You have a couple of options for contactless payment technology, including:
- Digital wallets, like Apple Pay®, Google Pay®, and Samsung Pay®: These “wallets” utilize an app on the user’s phone and near-field communication (NFC) to transmit the payment data to your payment terminal.
- Tap-to-pay NFC cards: These cards also transmit data to a payment terminal through proximity to a microchip in the card. The transmission occurs when the user taps the card to the terminal.
- Online payments, including Card-on-File payments: Users can submit payments online from anywhere, even the comfort of their homes, and keep a card linked up to their account that they can quickly use to pay without re-entering the card information each time.
- Text-to-Pay: Send your patients balance updates and an easy payment link to take care of their bills. You can also send them reminders and payment confirmations.
Billing and collecting payments without the need for a PIN, swipe, or signature can save time, reduce contact with front desk employees, and even minimize postage and labor costs for the billing office. Remote options, such as online and mobile payments, allow patients to get more detailed payment information and 24/7 access to their accounts. In both cases, you’re streamlining payments and offering a better customer experience.
Patients can see your practice understands and supports their concerns and implements modern technologies to do so. Contactless payments can help boost patient loyalty and keep people safe amidst an evolving health-conscious landscape.
Digitizing the waiting room experience
Another important aspect of the contactless experience is to reduce or eliminate waiting room time. Examine your registration process: If the patients must use shared pens, clipboards, or bulky registration devices, then it’s time to turn the registration process into a remote experience that allows patients to use their own devices to fill out paperwork in the comfort of their own homes. An added bonus of this approach is that patients don’t feel rushed and can take their time on these forms, potentially improving accuracy.
Also, ensure your office is text-ready to give patients the freedom to wait in their cars until the dentist is ready to see them. By eliminating the waiting room period altogether, you can reduce infection spread and let patients wait in the comfortable, controlled environment of their cars. Plus, patients can discuss their information with staff in a more private environment over the phone.
Virtual registration forms can also save time for staff, reducing the time they need to process forms or enter the data from patient intake paperwork. Virtual forms integrate this information with patient data in your practice management system for streamlined care.
Making these small but impactful changes to your practice can help you enjoy smoother operations, more cost savings, and higher patient satisfaction.
Implementing patient financing options
COVID-19 strained the budgets of millions of Americans, many of whom already see healthcare as something to cut out of their finances if money gets tight (Horowitz et al., 2021). Patients are most likely to delay or go without dental care due to costs (Amin et al., 2021). One way to simplify payments and help more people get the care they need is to offer patient financing plans.
These plans, which we call Care Now, Pay Later, allow patients to spread out the cost of their care over a period. Depending on the amount, you could offer terms anywhere from a few months to a few years to split up the cost. Patient financing can make paying for healthcare much less stressful and more manageable. It’s an excellent way to get patients in the door who might not otherwise be able to receive care while improving loyalty for your existing patients.
Patient payments can also help you enjoy a more steady cash flow and provide individuals with payment options better tailored to their needs. By offering your own payment plans, you can create the terms and conditions you want for full control over the process.
Security is our priority.
Rectangle Health securely stores healthcare payment information, protecting both your practice and patients with today’s highest standards for compliance and PCI. We utilize various security tools, like EMV compliance, the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliance, and fraud protection to keep your data and patients safe.
Rectangle Health payment solutions
Here at Rectangle Health, we’ve been delivering these solutions to healthcare providers for almost 30 years. Whether you’re trying to boost business after dealing with the effects of COVID-19 or are simply trying to bring more modern technology to your practice, our Practice Management Bridge® can help. This platform offers secure payment processing with a range of modern technologies to allow you to accept contactless payments.
In addition to the tech mentioned above, this platform offers:
- Seamless interfacing with your practice management system.
- Reliable storage for patient data.
- Functionality across multiple locations.
- Automatic posting to your patient ledgers.
- Card on File for secure payment information.
- Customizable messaging.
Get secure processing for contactless payments and simultaneously take your practice to the next level with Rectangle Health. Learn more about the Practice Management Bridge® by reaching out to a knowledgeable representative today.
Resources
- Amin, K., Claxton, G., Ramirez, G., & Cox, C. (2021). How does cost affect access to care? The Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker. https://www.healthsystemtracker.org/chart-collection/cost-affect-access-care/?_sf_s=Affect#item-costaccesstocare_10
- Horowitz, J.M., Brown, A., & Minkin, R. (2021). A Year Into the Pandemic, Long-Term Financial Impact Weighs Heavily on Many Americans. Pew Research. https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2021/03/05/a-year-into-the-pandemic-long-term-financial-impact-weighs-heavily-on-many-americans/
- Wakefield Research. (2021). The Visa Back to Business Study. Visa. https://usa.visa.com/dam/VCOM/global/run-your-business/documents/visa-back-to-business-study.pdf