A streamlined way for ASCs and off-site billers to share information, reduce delays, and achieve faster, cleaner claims for stronger financial performance.
ASCs that rely on off-site billing staff — whether remote employees, outsourced services, a central billing office, or physician office billing — depend on those billers having complete access to clinical documentation.
But communication breakdowns and missing information such as authorizations, implant invoices, or completed operative notes jeopardize claims and payments. When there are gaps in access to the documentation billers need, even the most efficient teams face delays that leave cases unbilled, disrupt cash flow, and stall revenue.
A new SIS Office feature addresses these challenges head-on, designed specifically for the communication needs of ASCs and their off-site billing teams.
Introducing: Smart Request.
Smart Request is a valuable addition to the revenue cycle management capabilities within SIS Office. This innovative tool empowers ASCs to strengthen communication between off-site billers and on-site teams while replacing inefficient and risky processes such as:
- Email overload: Billers emailing the ASC team for every piece of information needed.
- Spreadsheets with protected health information (PHI): Emailing spreadsheets of outstanding requests, creating HIPAA compliance risks.
- Silent systems: Tools that lack proactive notifications, leaving requests unnoticed and delaying responses.
"Most challenges associated with off-site billers come down to these billers lacking the information required to bill cases," says Michael Scheidegger, Product Manager for SIS Complete's Patient and Physician Engagement Solutions. "Surgery centers need a secure way to exchange this information between off-site and on-site staff, which led us to develop Smart Request."
One Tool, One Process, No Missed Details
Smart Request transforms how ASCs manage communication with their off-site billing team members. Instead of juggling emails, spreadsheets, and disconnected tools, staff and billers can collaborate within a single, structured process. This approach reduces inefficiencies, strengthens accountability, and ensures critical details are never overlooked.
Smart Request delivers clear advantages:
- Enhanced communication within SIS Office: Built directly into SIS Office, Smart Request lets ASCs and their billing teams create, track, and manage requests within the same platform they use every day. Workflows stay streamlined and intuitive, without the need for external tools.
- Proactive notifications for faster responses: Smart Request automatically alerts ASC staff when billers submit new requests. Notifications appear in the user's masthead, driving faster attention and reducing response times.
- Complete visibility into pending requests: The Smart Request tracker provides full visibility into all outstanding requests, showing request age, associated case amounts, and priority. ASC staff can focus on high-value cases and see the financial impact of delays.
"Smart Request builds on the proven framework of the existing Case Coordination functionality in SIS Office, offering a familiar and intuitive user experience," Scheidegger says. "Users can tag or 'mention' each other on requests and reply in thread-like conversations. This familiarity ensures a seamless adoption process, allowing ASC staff to integrate Smart Request quickly with minimal adjustment."
Key Features That Deliver Results
Smart Requests incorporates several sophisticated features designed specifically for ASC operations and billing workflows.
Intelligent Work Queues
The system organizes requests into work queues, providing immediate insight into request status. ASC staff can quickly identify which requests require their attention, which have been completed, and the next action required. The visual indicators make it easy to prioritize work and ensure nothing gets overlooked.
Financial Impact Visibility
One of Smart Request's most powerful features is its ability to display the dollar amount associated with each outstanding request. When ASC staff can see that a request is preventing $50,000 in revenue from processing, they gain an immediate understanding of the urgency involved.
Customizable Request Categories with Granular Permission Controls
ASC administrators have complete control over request categories through a secure dictionary system, ensuring consistency while allowing customization to meet specific operational needs. Comprehensive permission controls let administrators define who can create, modify, complete, or delete requests, maintaining workflow integrity and providing role-based access to team members.
Real-World Impact on ASC Operations
The implementation of Smart Requests has already demonstrated significant improvements for early adopters.
- Reduced days to bill: ASCs using Smart Request report significant reductions in their days-to-bill metrics. By eliminating the friction of external systems and manual processes, billing teams process claims more efficiently, leading to faster revenue recognition.
- Improved team collaboration: Smart Request enables better collaboration between off-site billing team members and ASC staff. Instead of relying on emails or external platforms, team members communicate directly within SIS Office, reducing confusion and improving response times.
- Strengthened workflow efficiency: Eliminating manual processes and adding automated notifications streamlines workflows across the ASC. Staff no longer need to monitor external systems or manage spreadsheets, allowing them to respond quickly to requests and focus on patient care and other critical responsibilities.
Gain Better Control of Your Revenue Cycle
Smart Request represents more than just a new feature. It's a strategic tool for further optimizing your ASC's financial performance. By streamlining information requests and eliminating workflow bottlenecks, your facility can reduce days to bill and improve clean claims while strengthening overall operational efficiency. Smart Request also leverages a data-driven approach to help users identify opportunities for continuous improvement across your facility.
"The initial feedback about Smart Request has been overwhelmingly positive," Scheidegger says. "With our early adopters, the tool has revealed new opportunities for process improvement across their centers. Administrators can identify patterns in requests — for example, noticing that many are due to missing operative notes. That insight may prompt them to investigate why surgeons notes are delayed. In this way, Smart Request helps ASCs drive efficiency not only in revenue cycle management but in overall operations."
Get Started with Smart Requests Today
Smart Request is available to SIS Complete, SIS Advanced, and SIS Office clients for an additional monthly fee and can be used directly within their existing system.
Current SIS Complete clients can contact their sales representative to learn more about implementing Smart Requests at their facility. If you're not yet using SIS Complete, contact us today to schedule a comprehensive demo and discover how our integrated platform can enhance every aspect of your ASC operations.
Don't let inefficient information requests continue to impact your revenue cycle. Take control with Smart Request and experience the difference that streamlined communication can make for your ASC's financial performance.
