NHS to provide further shared payroll services

Outsourcing provides health booster

During an economic downturn many companies will focus on the cost saving objectives of outsourcing contracts, so it's refreshing to read about a deal that has incorporated and considered the technological benefits.

We're witnessing an increasing trend towards outsourcing back-office activities such as admin and finance, as this enables companies to focus resource and budget on their core business.

There's no denying that this venture will streamline and reduce the costs of revenue management and administration, which will free up resource and ensure the NHS is better positioned to address some of the more immediate issues at Trust level.

Our experience in the outsourcing of payment, coding, billing and revenue cycle management shows that, if coupled with the right levels of operational process change and management, health providers may make substantial cash savings (or revenue gains) through implementation of such services. As we move towards an increasing level of commissioned services in the NHS the potential returns from such outsourcing makes this an area to watch closely over the coming months and years.

Posted by: Dr. Paul Whatling, Director of International Healthcare Consulting at Perot Systems  05 Dec 2008