Artificial Intelligence: Get off the fence

Q. How can I scale my DME business without overworking my team or hiring more staff? 

A. Scaling a DME business traditionally means hiring more intake specialists, billers and administrative staff to handle increasing order volumes. But with staffing shortages and high turnover rates, we know that’s not a sustainable option. AI-powered automation offers an alternative—allowing you to grow without overburdening your existing team or expanding payroll. 

New AI tools for DME businesses act as workforce multipliers, taking over time-consuming tasks like referral processing and data entry, insurance verification and phone calls. Contrary to common concerns, AI does not need to replace staff; instead, it enhances productivity by automating time-consuming tasks. For example: 

• Insurance verification & payer calls – AI can navigate phone trees and wait on hold, saving countless hours of time for your team 
• Order intake & document categorization – AI sorts and routes documents efficiently, moving orders to the next stage of processing quickly 
• Data entry & billing processes – AI automates data entry to speed up processing and reduce errors 

The result? Your team spends less time on manual, repetitive tasks and more time on high-value activities, like serving customers, working on complex orders and improving operational efficiency. When your staff can focus on meaningful, impactful tasks, job satisfaction increases, reducing turnover. If you’re on the fence about adopting AI in your business, here are four key points to consider. 

• Cost efficiency – Evaluate the cost of hiring and training additional team members vs. AI tools that support existing staff 
• Productivity boost – Determine which revenue-generating tasks can be prioritized when staff is more focused 
• Error reduction – Review denial history and reimbursement timelines to understand where a faster process could improve cash flow 
• Competitive advantage – Earn more referrals with consistently enhanced patient care 

In 2025, growth doesn’t have to come at the cost of burnout or inflated payroll expenses. AI empowers your DME business to scale efficiently, ensuring long-term profitability and success. 

For more information, contact Teresa Power, director of marketing at Synthpop, at teresa@synthpop.ai.