Imagine spending over 10 years studying to spend hours every week punching data – rather than focusing on the work that truly motivates you.
That is what healthcare physicians experience when they are required to undertake basic manual HCC coding on a daily basis, wrestling with fragmented data sources and looking through complicated medical coding guidelines.
This article explores how repetitive administrative tasks like this contribute to a rising wave of physician burnout – and how automated tools can help healthcare practices fight that wave back.
Given the intense pressure and workload healthcare physicians face, it is hardly surprising that burnout is common. Yet the extent of the problem may surprise many:
Worse still, the problem has a cascading effect throughout organizations. Healthcare workforce shortages have been extensively documented, with practices struggling to fill a wide range of positions. Physician burnout puts extra strain on these already over-worked teams, as affected physicians are inevitably either less productive or forced to take time off.
This is self-reinforcing: Physician burnout puts greater pressure on other members of the workforce, ultimately increasing the frequency of burnout. In fact, states like California, Texas, and New York are all currently projected to experience severe physician shortages by 2028.
The net result? Fewer qualified professionals are available to treat patients; case backlogs surge; and both service and health outcomes suffer.
Burnout is a complex phenomenon, and no single factor can be identified as the root cause. Research into the common causes of burnout cites factors like shift work, night work, high rotations, and excessive overtime as key sources of mental health degradation – all of which may apply to physicians.
Physicians experience:
But recent studies have also demonstrated a link between burnout and an individual’s dissatisfaction with their daily work. Physicians who feel not enough of their time is spent on meaningful activities – like caring for patients – are more likely to experience feelings of frustration and ultimately burnout.
This is where HCC coding enters the frame: While this activity is vital for both patient care and accurate risk adjustment, it is also highly time-consuming and repetitive. It steals physicians focus away from patients and onto sorting through data and inputting codes – tasks which few physicians feel make the best use of their skills or time.
While HCC coding is clearly not the cause of burnout, it is a contributing factor – and one that is easy to alleviate.
Automated HCC coding solutions, like Inferscience’s HCC Assistant, utilize advanced algorithms and Natural Language Processing (NLP) to analyze patient data. These tools integrate seamlessly with Electronic Health Records (EHRs) to:
By automating the bulk of these repetitive, basic and time-consuming coding tasks, tools like HCC Assistant minimize the need for manual input, reduce the risk of oversight, and free physicians from the tasks’ tedium.
One of the most immediate benefits of automated coding is the significant time savings for physicians. Without automation, coding requires careful review of patient charts and clinical documentation—a task that is not only tedious but also prone to human error. Automated tools take over this drudgery, identifying overlooked diagnoses and generating accurate coding suggestions in real-time. This allows physicians to dedicate their time to patient care rather than administrative tasks, potentially saving them hours each week.
Automating HCC coding is just one piece of the puzzle in addressing physician burnout. It should be part of a broader strategy to streamline workflows and create a more efficient healthcare ecosystem. Integrating solutions that enhance documentation, optimize risk adjustment processes, and reduce redundant tasks can help alleviate the daily pressures physicians face. By lightening their administrative burden, healthcare organizations can empower physicians to focus on the aspects of their jobs that bring meaning and purpose—caring for patients, solving complex medical challenges, and building meaningful relationships with those they serve.
Incorporating automated tools into everyday processes is not just about saving time; it’s about reshaping the healthcare experience for clinicians. By embracing automation as a vital component of workflow improvement, healthcare leaders can help restore the balance between administrative tasks and purposeful work, ensuring a more sustainable future for physicians and better care for patients.
HCC Assistant is purpose-built to make life easier for your physicians, saving them hours every week and helping take some of the pressure off their backs.
Want to explore how it could help your organization combat burnout?
