It’s no secret that COVID-19 has changed the way consumers prefer to receive care. In fact, a new report from Fair Health found that telehealth usage grew more than 7,000% during the first year of the pandemic.
Like telehealth, in-home therapy has also grown increasingly popular. Receiving care in the home provides many benefits to patients, especially in a time when leaving the house was not ideal for those with medical conditions or illnesses. It’s not just the patients who prefer home healthcare either, as recent studies show 81% of providers in charge of discharge coordination prefer to send their patients to a home health agency.
However, many home health agencies (HHAs) are struggling to keep up with the increased demand due to the lack of in-house therapists on staff. In response, some agencies have started outsourcing therapists to trusted partners in the industry. Outsourcing therapists can not only help agencies keep up with increased demand for home healthcare, but it also provides several other benefits to HHAs with staffing needs.
Reduced Administrative Costs
Administrative expenses for hiring therapists can be very costly. Not only do you have to spend time and resources finding and interviewing candidates, but you also must provide onboarding and training guidance once they join the team. In-home therapy requires a different skillset than that of traditional therapy, and getting new hires accustomed to giving care in the home can be costly and time consuming. Not to mention the cost it takes to keep full-time therapists on staff.
The Great Resignation did not stop in 2021. According to CNBC, nearly 4.4 million Americans quit their jobs in February, which is just shy of the record mark of 4.5 million set last November. The healthcare industry has been severely impacted as nearly one in five healthcare workers left their jobs in 2021. When agencies outsource therapists, things like the Great Resignation and the cost of hiring, training, and retaining therapists aren’t matters of concern. Instead, agencies can focus more on growth and improving internal processes.
Caseload Growth
When agencies outsource some or all of their therapists, their costs shift from fixed to variable. This helps HHAs accommodate volatility with referral requests. In down seasons, you aren’t paying for therapists that have a less-than-full caseload. In peak seasons, you’re better equipped to manage an uptick in visits.
Moreover, geographical restrictions can be a burden to HHAs with in-house therapists. With gas prices soaring and vehicle maintenance costs rising, simply getting to and from visits is becoming more costly and preventing therapists from taking on additional cases. Outsourcing therapists removes staff availability restrictions, which ultimately improves caseload growth.
Specialized Care
Outsourcing to a partner with a wide array of specialties can help HHAs deal with uncommon treatment methodologies. This results in the ability to take on additional and complex cases, and it lays the foundation for excellence in competitive performance. With improved program development, HHAs can capture a greater market share and potentially open the door for long-term partnerships with providers.
From reduced administrative costs and assistance with keeping up with demand to caseload growth and the ability to provide specialized care, outsourcing therapists can be very beneficial for HHAs. If you would like to take the first step towards outsourcing some or all of your therapists, schedule a demo with us here at Snap Health today!