MEDLEY, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--First Choice Neurology (FCN), the largest U.S. neurology specialty group practice, today announced that it has been recognized by Modern Healthcare as one of the Top Innovators for 2023. The profiles of the honorees are featured in the Sept. 18, 2023, issue of Modern Healthcare magazine and online at ModernHealthcare.com/Top-Innovators.
The Top Innovators program honors leaders and organizations instituting innovation and leading transformative programs that achieve measurable results in improving care and contributing to clinical and financial goals.
FCN operates more than 50 care centers and is affiliated with 45-plus major hospitals in multiple Florida counties. The practice serves 100,000-plus patients with various neurological conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, sleep disorders, strokes, and more.
After rethinking patient safety strategies and workflows more than three years ago, Jose Rocha, FCN’s Director of Central Business Office, and his team started to simplify patient access. They applied QliqSOFT’s digital engagement solution to select practice services. As of June 2023, FCN successfully digitized patient intake, orders follow through, and payment notification tasks to support all 90 adult and pediatric neurologists and other physician specialists.
To date, FCN has achieved the following quantifiable benefits going digital:
- Increased patient flow, with throughput reduced by 19 minutes per patient.
- 95% of patients opt for the digital intake process.
- Achieved high patient satisfaction ratings at 4.8/5.
- Reduced staff overtime by 22%, and work-life balance has improved.
- Increased clinic revenue by 24%. The practice saved 8 to 10 minutes per visit by streamlining physician workflows. Those time savings equated up to three additional patients seen per day at select practices.
- Increased physicians’ revenue. For example, between the years 2020 to 2022, one practice observed a 34% increase overall in patient flow.
- Enrolled approximately 10,000 patients in copay assistance programs, a 60% to 88% increase that continues to grow.
“Our biggest challenge in shifting to virtual care was facing our own fears,” said Rocha. “We quickly overcame that hurdle upon realizing digital’s transformative impact improving the patient experience, workflows and productivity. With patient expectations rising, practices must do all they can to provide an excellent patient-first experience and streamline tasks to help their employees have work/life balance.”
“Innovation can take many forms, as evidenced by our honorees ─ both individuals and organizations ─ in this year’s class of Top Innovators,” said Mary Ellen Podmolik, editor-in-chief of Modern Healthcare. “Whether they are making back-room functions more efficient, establishing partnerships across the industry or developing tools to broaden consumers’ access to care, these winners are producing results and forging a path others should follow.”
Edward Marx, QliqSOFT’s Chief Transformation Officer, nominated FCN for the Modern Healthcare award. “I’m pleased to see Jose and his team’s work recognized by this distinguished industry media award showcasing those at the forefront of exceptional healthcare innovation,” Marx said. “First Choice Neurology’s pioneering journey and commitment to digital health transformation is inspiring to all providers wanting to empower their patients and achieve operational objectives.”
About Modern Healthcare
Modern Healthcare is the most trusted business news and information brand in the healthcare industry. Modern Healthcare empowers healthcare leaders and influencers to make timely and informed business decisions. To learn more or subscribe, go to www.modernhealthcare.com/subscriptions
About First Choice Neurology
First Choice Neurology is the largest neurology group in the U.S., with more than 50+ Care Centers in multiple Florida counties and services at 45+ major hospitals. Our Florida neurology group has adult neurologists and pediatric neurologists, neuropsychologists, pain management physicians, physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians, nutrition and wellness physicians, occupational and physical therapists, and nurse practitioners. To learn more, visit https://www.fcneurology.net/.
About QliqSOFT
QliqSOFT, trusted by more than 1,000 healthcare organizations, helps facilitate HIPAA-compliant, real-time communication exchange among healthcare practitioners, patients and caregivers. With its digital engagement platform, Quincy, customers are able to realize measurable results by engaging patients outside of their four walls using artificial intelligence, no-code chatbot technology, virtual visits, automated workflows, and secure patient texting. Quincy allows even non-technical users to solve a wide variety of needs, moving beyond multiple point solutions to quickly streamline manual, repetitive processes, and to achieve healthcare’s quadruple aim. For more information, visit www.qliqsoft.com.
