Discover the Benefits of Hiring a Mental Health VA
Are you overwhelmed by the administrative details of managing your mental health practice? Do you find yourself returning calls during lunch or into the evening after a day of seeing clients? Has your day off become a day of billing and administrative tasks instead of a day of rest and recharge?
The use of virtual assistants has taken off across all industries, and the needs of a private practice are especially well-suited to the nature and design of a virtual assistant.
Most clinicians do not have a separate office area where an assistant would be able to work in person. Additionally, most practitioners do not need a full-time assistant in order to efficiently manage their practice. These are the first two areas where a mental health virtual assistant can help!
By its very definition, a virtual assistant works remotely from their own home and office. This means the therapist does not need to provide office space for their assistant. The mental health virtual assistant provides their own computer, printer, phone, internet service, and utilities.
Because mental health virtual assistants are working for multiple clients, you will be able to hire a virtual assistant for the number of hours you actually need instead of paying them for a full week. You will commit to a monthly retainer package of hours in order to reserve a specific amount of time in the assistant’s schedule per month. This means you will have an assistant working for you during business hours, Monday through Friday, but are only paying for the actual time he or she is needed.
In addition to the savings on office space, supplies and overhead, by hiring a VA as a freelancer, you will not be required to pay employment taxes (Social Security and Medicare) or health care benefits. At the end of each calendar year, you can a 1099 will be issued to your assistant, or the company providing you the assistant. The amount paid in fees can be used as a deduction from your income for that calendar year.
All these benefits apply to hiring a virtual assistant, but what are the benefits of specifically hiring a mental health virtual assistant?
While all virtual assistants should have experience and training in general administrative and office management skills, one who is specifically trained in the tasks and nuances unique to a private practice is worth a great deal!
Answering new patient calls quickly is extremely important for growing practices because many potential clients make several calls at once when looking, so a quick and professional response is critical. A rote call answering service could return the calls quickly as well, but would not do so with the same level of sensitivity and knowledge. A mental health VA will have the training and experience in how to perform the initial clinical screening for the practitioner in order to get them the preliminary information they need, as well as answering questions that new patients and clients frequently have. A higher level of sensitivity leads to higher conversion rates from new client inquiries. A mental health VA will also build positive relationships with existing patients as they are trained to communicate with people in distress with care and empathy while maintaining an appropriate level of professionalism.
A mental health VA will have training and knowledge of best HIPAA practices for mental health in particular. They will sign a Business Associate Agreement. They will have training and experience in EHRs designed specifically for mental health practices.
Because mental health virtual assistants exclusively work for mental health clinicians, and for multiple clients at once, they will constantly be learning and managing tasks specific to the needs of your practice. They will bring a higher level of knowledge and insight to your practice management.
Why choose Sarita Turner Mental Health Virtual Assistance?
Working as a mental health virtual assistant myself for several years, I have worked with a diverse array of clinicians and practices. With my advanced degree in psychology and experience in mental health, I bring a higher level of knowledge to your practice management. Just as every therapist may not be the right fit for every client, each clinician needs a virtual assistant that is best suited to their needs and style. I use my insight and skills to match you to the right Virtual Assistant for your practice. I apply my knowledge and experience to one-on-one training with each of our Virtual Assistants. By keeping my services limited to a smaller group of clients and assistants than larger-scale agencies, you are ensured a higher level of quality support and individualized attention to your services.
To learn more about what sets us apart at Sarita Turner Mental Health Virtual Assistance, please see what our clients are saying about us!