Exploring the Benefits of Patient Pre-Registration

Creating a patient pre-registration process for your practice allows your team to focus more on collecting payments and it improves the overall customer experience. In this post, we cover the benefits of patient pre-registration, and touch on what it takes to implement one successfully.

What is patient pre-registration?

Patient pre-registration is the electronic version of the stack of papers you probably remember filling out the last time you visited the doctor. It’s the administrative process of collecting all of the preliminary patient information before the day of appointment.

Information such as:

• Name, address, phone number, email, etc
• Demographic information
• Patient referral source
• Health history
• Insurance coverage
• And more…

Pre-registration is usually done through an online form or patient portal. But versions of it can also be administered over the phone, through a mailed information packet, or even a front office kiosk.

Patient pre-registration saves time

When patient pre-registration is done well, it can greatly streamline the onboarding process. The more information you can collect from the patient online prior to the day of appointment, the less time your front desk staff and patient need to spend filling out paperwork in the waiting room.

Here’s how the AMA describes the benefits of patient pre-registration:

“Helping patients with registration saves the patient time trying to understand and accurately answer registration questions presented to them in paper form. Physicians and other care team members can also spend more time on the visit and less time on paperwork while being confident they have a complete medical history.”

Even when the pre-registration process isn’t done completely, the head start can save your staff valuable minutes in the waiting room. This all translates to shorter wait times and improved patient flow.

Pre-registration helps patients prepare

Pre-registration can have a positive influence on preparing a patient for their office visit.

Patients who go through a pre-registration process may be less anxious on the day of their appointment. Educating the patient before their visit on what to expect can help relieve fear and stress before they arrive.

Furthermore, pre-registration data may be more accurate than information collected in the waiting room. While in the comfort of their own home, patients will have the ability to consult their medical histories as needed to answer registration questions more completely and accurately.

All of this in turn can help prepare your staff for what to expect on the day of appointment. This includes the front end of your accounts receivable management, such as verification of insurance coverage and checking for outstanding balances.

Steps towards a high functioning patient pre-registration system

A high functioning pre-registration system takes a lot of strategic planning, and coordinated execution.

In an article from Patient Engagement Hit, some of the key ingredients for success include:

• A dedicated unit, team or staff member depending on the practice size
• Integrated systems and process between scheduling and pre-registration
• A policy of postponing services if the patient is not pre-authorized or pre-registration is incomplete
• Available financial counseling

Implementation doesn’t need to be 100% or nothing. Many practices have seen a benefit even when they only get a fraction of the required paperwork filled out prior to the appointment.

Conclusion

Saving time, improving patient flow, and more accurate information are all potential benefits of a patient pre-registration system. Overall, the goal is to make a positive impression on the patient experience and reduce your administrative work.