Managing payments in clinics is a time-consuming task that mobilises administrative teams and can have an impact on the establishment's cash flow. Between chasing up patients, managing unpaid bills and monitoring transactions, manual procedures make life a lot harder for healthcare professionals.
Automating payments can simplify these processes, while reducing errors and payment delays. By adopting modern solutions, clinics can save time, improve their cash flow and focus more on their core business: patient care.
In this article, we'll explore the benefits of payment automation and compare traditional methods with new digital solutions.
Why automate clinic payment management?
Clinics are facing increasing financial management challenges. The accumulation of administrative tasks linked to payments wastes considerable time and increases the risk of errors.
1. Reduced time spent on administrative tasks
- Automated payment solutions make it possible to dematerialise transactions and eliminate tedious manual tasks, such as sending paper invoices or managing cheques.
- By reducing the time spent managing payments, administrative teams can focus on higher added value tasksThese include patient reception and the organisation of care.
- Automation also reduces human errorThese include data entry oversights and errors in payment tracking.
2. Reduced risk of non-payment
- Automated payments enable you to set up automatic reminders by e-mail or text message, encouraging patients to pay their healthcare bills on time.
- With automated tracking, administrative managers can identify late payments quickly and react immediately by sending reminders.
- A bank imprint can also be used to automatically deduct the exact amount to be paid by the patient after reimbursement by the Assurance Maladie and complementary health insurance. In this way, patients only pay the actual amount they have to pay, with no risk of error or delay.
3. Securing payments and improving cash flow
- An automated solution offers real-time visibility on payments received and those pending, facilitating financial management and cash flow forecasting.
- By securing payments with a bank imprint or prepayment, clinics can guarantee their incomeThis avoids financial losses due to non-payment.
- An automated system speeds up payment processingThis reduces the time it takes to receive funds and optimises the bank's liquidity.
Comparison: traditional methods vs. automation
Criteria
Traditional methods
Automation
Dunning management
Time-consuming manual reminders, often ignored
Built-in automatic reminders
Payment security
No upstream control, payments not guaranteed
Bank footprint before service
Administrative time
Manual payment processing, frequent errors
Fast throughput, moderate risk of error
Treasury
Longer settlement times, financial losses
Guaranteed and advance payments
Automation in action: tangible gains for clinics
The adoption of an automated payment management system is profoundly transforming the way clinics operate. Here are a few case studies to illustrate the benefits of such a solution:
1. A significant reduction in the time spent managing payments
In a clinic with 20 practitioners, the administrative team spent on average 15 hours per week managing payments and patient reminders. With automation, this time has been reduced by 60 %This allows staff to concentrate on other, higher value-added tasks.
2. Fewer overdue payments and improved cash flow
Before automating payment management, a clinic recorded an average of 8 % of unpaid medical expenses with high out-of-pocket expenses. By integrating a deferred payment system with a bank imprint, the delinquency rate has fallen to less than 2 %.
3. An improved patient experience
One obstacle to rapid payment for treatment is often the patient's uncertainty about the actual amount to be paid. Thanks to an upstream bank imprint, payment adjusts automatically to the remaining outlayThis avoids billing errors and disputes. The result: greater patient satisfaction and fewer disputes to manage.
Conclusion: a better experience and secure revenues
Automating payments in clinics represents a major step forward for healthcare establishments seeking to simplify their administrative management, reduce outstanding payments and optimise their cash flow. By dematerialising transactions and integrating deferred payment solutions, clinics can offer their patients a better experience while securing their income.
Some solutions go even further by integrating with management software. This is the case with Swiklywhich simplifies and secures payments while reducing the administrative burden on healthcare establishments.
To find out how Swikly can help you manage out-of-pocket expenses and excess fees, go to our page dedicated to the medical sector.
