How to Both Save Paper & Spare Your Wallet
Updated January 22, 2026
Originally Published February 13, 2024
We all love familiar routines, especially when running a medical practice. But embracing new approaches, like transitioning to a paperless system, can give a big boost to your efficiency. Let’s explore six reasons why a paperless practice just makes sense.
1. Workflow Efficiency and Productivity
The last thing your team needs is to waste time rifling through filing cabinets. Going paperless lets them find these same files in seconds, drastically improving their efficiency in performing routine administrative tasks.
2. Cost Efficiency
Printing hundreds of pages per day is not just expensive, it’s archaic. If you’re looking to reduce operating costs, going paperless is an easy place to start. It cuts down on printing and storage expenses without sacrificing the patient experience. The long-term savings far outweigh any upfront costs to digitalize your workflow.
And postage? It’s only going up and up in cost. As of July 2025, postage for a single letter is up to $0.78. And this cost is expected to continue to climb at a steady pace. Going paperless protects your bottom line from this rising cost.
3. Office Space
Tidy office space is one of the first visual details that everyone, clients and staff, notice. Clearing paper files from your office eliminates one of the largest sources of clutter, while at the same time enabling you to put these spaces to better use. You could turn an old paper storage room into another exam room, or add another desk where that one annoying stack of papers used to be an eyesore. The options are endless and would make a huge difference in how your clients perceive your space.
Remember: Even if the clutter escapes your notice, patients are likely to pick up on it.
4. Information Sharing
There’s no reason that sharing information between team members should be difficult. Efficient communication impacts operations across your entire practice, including the quality of care a patient receives, the job satisfaction of staff, and the amount of time to receive payments.
A paperless practice management system centralizes documentation, keeps records easily searchable, and ensures quicker authorizations and communication within your practice.
5. Security
Paper files are vulnerable. They can be misplaced, stolen, or damaged during a fire or natural disaster. And once they’re gone, they’re gone.
Digital records, on the other hand, can be password-protected, encrypted, and monitored for unauthorized access. They’re easier to track, harder to lose, and far more secure when paired with strong cybersecurity protocols.
Plus, if disaster strikes, electronic files can still be accessed from another device, which keeps your practice running even in challenging situations.
6. Consumer Perception
A paperless solution can improve the patient experience and perception of medical practices and RCM companies if they are marketed appropriately.
Solutions for Practices:
Although your patients might never be able to truly appreciate your switch to a paperless solution, they will still reap the benefits. Digital appointment reminders, balance notifications, and scheduling features make receiving care much more accessible to the patients that you serve.
Solutions for RCM Companies:
Just like any type of advertising, this strategy might not land every potential customer, but it will keep standard operations relevant with the ever-growing age of technology. However, emphasizing paperless processes is a great way to recruit new clients who understand the benefits of going paperless as well as you do.
Choose OpenPM as a Paperless Solution
The most important step in going paperless is choosing a practice management system that supports all of your paperless needs. OpenPM gives practices and RCM companies all the tools to streamline workflows and protect sensitive PHI.
Ready to learn more about how OpenPM can revolutionize your operation as a one-stop paperless solution? Book a demo today!
