Managing the Never Ending Administrative Tasks

When you are chronically ill it is pretty much a guarantee that you are also going to have to deal with a ton of “administrative work” for your health. Whether is be scheduling appointments, trying to get ahold of doctors, dealing with insurance issues, paying bills, or one of the other million little tasks that pop up, it can be overwhelming especially when you feel terrible. I often joke to people that my degree in healthcare management is only for my benefit as I often use my knowledge to deal with my own healthcare administrative tasks.

Unfortunately, I don’t know some magical way to make it all disappear or make it easier. However, I have learned some tips and tricks to make it more manageable.

1. Set aside a day to handle the administrative side. For me, I don’t have a certain day of the week but when I know I have a lot of admin stuff to do, I schedule it into my week. Having a designated time can help it feel more structured.

2. Avoid calling on Mondays, Fridays, or around lunch times. These are universally the most busy times whether you are calling a doctor’s office, insurance company, or pharmacy and you are more likely to wait on hold forever. Obviously, sometimes you have to call during these times, but when you don’t have to, don’t.

3. Have a whiteboard on your desk and make notes about calls you need to make. This is something I recently started using and it has been so helpful. When I think of an administrative task that I need to do, but not immediately, I write it on my white board. When the list gets long enough, I schedule in time to call.

4. Keep current important papers handy. If I receive a bill, letter from insurance, etc, it goes in a special container on my desk until it is dealt with. Once dealt with, it gets filed away. I have had many times where I have made a call thinking I didn’t need said paperwork only to have them request it. That's why I keep everything current nearby.

5. Keep track of how many hours you spend doing admin stuff and give yourself credit for it. When you are chronically ill it is easy to feel like you did “nothing” in a day when in reality you probably did a ton for your health. Keeping track can help you feel more accomplished.

Administrative healthcare tasks can be overwhelming, but following these tips can help make it more manageable

Disclaimer-

All information provided on this blog is for educational purposes only. Always consult your healthcare provider and/or your insurance provider for your specific situation. This blog does not offer medical advice.