Host (Arthur): Hey everyone, welcome back to Healthcare Unlocked, the podcast where we talk about the real challenges clinics face—and how to solve them. Okay, tell me if this sounds familiar: You’re swamped with paperwork, phone calls are blowing up, your EMR’s a mess—and somehow, you’re still expected to give every patient your full attention. If that’s your everyday, you’re not alone. Today, we’re talking about something that's literally changing the game for medical practices across the country—medical virtual assistance. And to break it all down, I’ve got a guest who knows this space inside and out—Sanju Zachariah, CEO of Portiva. Sanju, welcome! Guest (Sanju): Hey Arthur, thanks so much for having me. Excited to be here and, uh, talk about something that’s making a huge difference for providers right now. Arthur: So let’s just jump in—what exactly is medical virtual assistance? And like, why is everyone suddenly talking about it? Sanju: Yeah, great question. So, medical virtual assistance is really about helping providers offload time-consuming admin tasks—like insurance verifications, prior auths, scheduling, even scribing—by assigning them to remote professionals trained specifically for healthcare. They’re not bots, they’re real people—medical professionals, often RNs or trained support staff—working virtually but integrated into your workflow. Arthur: And these aren’t just general VAs, right? Like, they’re healthcare-specific? Sanju: Exactly. That’s the key. Our team at Portiva only hires people with a background in healthcare. We train them on EMRs, HIPAA compliance, and the actual day-to-day of running a medical practice. So you’re not just getting help—you’re getting qualified help that speaks your language and understands patient care. Arthur: I feel like every doctor listening right now is like “please, sign me up.” But—real talk—does this actually save time? Like, what’s the ROI? Sanju: Oh, absolutely. We’ve seen clinics save 20 to 30 hours a week. Think about what that means—more time with patients, fewer after-hours notes, lower burnout. Plus, it's way more affordable than hiring in-house. And since it's remote, practices don’t have to worry about desk space, HR issues, or staff turnover at the same rate. Arthur: That’s huge. And I love that it’s not just cost-saving, but it improves patient experience too, right? Sanju: 100%. When your front desk isn't overwhelmed and your charts are updated in real time, patients feel that. Wait times drop. Calls get returned. Everyone breathes easier. Arthur: Alright, last question—if someone’s listening right now and thinking, “okay, I need this,” what should they do? Sanju: Go to portiva.com. There’s a quick form, and someone from our team will walk you through exactly how we can help based on your workflow. No pressure. Just a conversation to see if it’s a fit. Arthur: Love it. Sanju, thanks again. This was super eye-opening. Sanju: Thanks, Arthur . Always a pleasure. Arthur (closing): If you’re tired of juggling everything on your own, it might be time to get the support you actually deserve. Check out Portiva, and let a medical virtual assistant lighten the load. Until next time, take care of your patients—and yourself.