The US baby boomer population is aging rapidly, and they require medical assistants more than any other demographic. However, the country is facing a massive nursing shortage. In fact, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) predicted a shortage of 63,720 full-time RNs by 2030.
While it may seem alarming at first, virtual medical assistants are filling the gaps. Yes, they are not physically present at the bedside, but MVAs have become a crucial assisting role for overburdened nursing teams.
Now, if you are planning to enter the healthcare industry, it’s much easier to enter via the route of MA, as usually the medical virtual assistant training is under a year compared to years of a degree program for nursing.
Understanding the Nursing Shortage: Administrative Duties
Without a doubt, nursing staff are crucial for any hospital and clinical setting, and it is a great career pathway as well. But despite that nursing shortage is a real issue, and the primary reason behind it is the administrative tax.
In simple terms, these are duties like documentation, insurance coordination, and non-clinical administrative tasks that eat up the precious time of nursing staff, which could’ve been used in patient care.
While on the surface it may not seem like a huge issue, for nurses who are always on their feet and have to deal with chronically ill patients, administrative work can quickly lead to burnout.
How MVAs Reduce Nursing Workload
In short, MVAs help by offloading repetitive, time-consuming chores. If you are wondering what exactly a remote medical assistant or MVA is, it is a professional who has completed a rigorous medical virtual assistant training program and understands the nuances of the healthcare environment. Additionally, they are trained in HIPAA compliance, medical terminology, and Electronic Health Record (EHR) management.
1. Real-Time Virtual Scribing
Taking patient information and scribing patient condition on charts is typically a role of a nurse; however, by connecting with a MVA during a patient interaction, nurses can offload this duty and focus on patient care. It should be noted that these calls are managed over secure audio links, and MVAs update the EHR in real-time.
2. Streamlining Admissions and Discharges
Admitting or discharging a patient from the hospital comes with a lot of paperwork that can easily take up to an hour of nurses’ precious time. Similar to virtual scribing, with real-time audio access, the MVAs:
- Gathering initial patient history and medication lists.
- Coordinating with pharmacies for discharge prescriptions.
- Scheduling follow-up appointments before the patient even leaves the hospital.
3. Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM)
While this aspect of MVA has more to do with the massive rise of wearable tech across the country, MVAs are able to make the most of this advancement. Since wearables can now track heart rate, glucose, and oxygen levels, medical assistants can remotely check and monitor these signs, reducing nurse involvement.
NOTE: Wearable devices here are referred to as medically-certified devices.
Why Specialized Training Matters for Medical Assistance
A lot of people are under the impression that on-site trained medical assistants can simply transition to a remote medical assistance role without any specialized training. However, this is not the case.
The reason hospital administrators are currently prioritizing candidates with a formal medical virtual assistant training background is the high stakes of the medical field. Unlike the administrative role of a traditional setting, nurses will communicate with remote MAs and assign tasks like “flag any abnormal labs”; the MVA needs to know what “abnormal” looks like for a patient with a chronic disease versus a healthy adult.
This specialized knowledge is what makes them a partner in care rather than just a remote secretary.
Solving the Burnout Crisis
A MVA who has completed a specialized training is not just beneficial but crucial in solving the nurse burnout crisis.
In addition to above-menetioned benefits, having MVAs in the staff can also help by psychologically supporting the nursing staff.
While it will depend on the work environment, by integrating MVAs, a healthcare facility can send a clear message to its nursing staff: Your time is valuable.
When a nurse feels supported by a remote team that handles the “clutter” of the job, job satisfaction increases, and the likelihood of turnover decreases.
Here’s a quick comparison between nurse workload with and without MVA support:
| Task Category | Traditional Nurse Workload | Nurse Workload with MVA Support |
| Documentation | 3-4 hours per shift | < 45 minutes (Review only) |
| Phone/Coordination | High (Pharmacies, Labs, Family) | Low (Handled by MVA) |
| Insurance/Auths | Manual & Time-Consuming | Automated/Managed by MVA |
| Patient Care | Interrupted by Admin | Focused & Continuous |
Endnote
The 2026 nursing shortage is a complex problem that requires a multifaceted solution. While bedside ratios and increased nursing school capacity is non negotiable, utilizing the digital tools is also equally as important. Hiring MVAs in large hospitals can ensure that the nurses are able to handle patient care directly without facing burnout.