Solving Common Client Management Challenges.

Process development.
One key area for improvement that many organizations can use to streamline workflows or reduce duplication of work is through process development. By creating an internal process document that outlines step by step (like a task analysis) what needs to be done with clear expectations, you can easily train new hires and ensure they are utilizing the most efficient path for success during a client's first interaction with your business. For example, if an employee has already called the parent to gather insurance information and the document states that the next step is to call the insurance company to verify, then the employee will easily know what to do next versus stopping to ask management or another employee for assistance.

Having this document can also ensure that employees follow the same steps, allow certain employees to own different parts of the workflow, and provides clear, objective communication on what is needed. This can also help you keep track of where a specific client is at during that onboarding process which in turn allows anyone to come back and pick up where the last person left off.

Communication.
An area that may seem outwardly obvious, but tends to fall by the wayside, is communication. Many employees prefer overcommunication, as it ensures they are doing what they need to get the job done. This can help reduce the amount of time spent on administrative tasks like onboarding. For example, Employee A communicates to Employee B that they have already called insurance to verify benefits. Afterward, Employee B can move to the next step in the process without having to call the insurance company or spend time figuring out what was done prior.

You not only want to communicate with your employees, but also your clients. Some companies do this very well when it comes to the client’s treatment, which makes sense -- this is the main focus of the client being there. However, you also want to make sure to communicate with the client or client’s caregivers around logistical items including authorizations, payors, and schedules. For example, if the caregiver changes payors without you knowing, it could cause issues down the line for reimbursement of services provided -- causing delayed payment. Communication can take place in the form of a process document, an email, a task assignment, or verbal acknowledgement.

Automation.
A third area that can help solve some of these challenges is automation. While the initial investment can sometimes be costly, once integrated into your business, the payout can be highly beneficial, providing return on the initial investment.

Take the time to find a high-quality software that can automate some of the steps you have defined in your workflows, and also allows for easier tracking. For example: automatically assigning tasks to employees, or tracking information around who called the insurance company and when.

Software is an ever-evolving tool that, if done right, is constantly looking to make processes easier for companies. One of CentralReach’s main missions is to constantly strive to find ways to make the onboarding of clients easier within an ABA company, and help fulfill services to those clients. An example of this is the new integration with Change Healthcare. It allows you to follow up on a client’s insurance using their Connect Center portal to check insurance eligibility automatically. As companies continue to seek new ways of reducing costs, automation is going to continue playing a bigger role in that hunt with each passing year.