California Fertility Partners streamlines consent form signing with Blueink

As the demand for reproductive health services continues to grow, fertility clinics like California Fertility Partners are faced with the challenge of streamlining administrative processes while maintaining the highest standards of patient care. 

Think, for instance, of patients already burdened with emotional stress, having to navigate through stacks of paperwork, complete with numerous signatures and initials. Additionally, the logistical hurdles of coordinating notary visits added further complexity to an already intricate process. However, upon adopting Blueink, the #1 DocuSign alternative, the clinic transformed its operations, making the entire process more efficient and patient-friendly.

Signing on the Dotted Line

Sima Taghizadeh, Executive Director of California Fertility Partners, detailed the hectic process they would usually face in their normal operations. “Initially, it was a groundbreaking experience for us (partnering with Blueink) because we always had paperwork or paper concerns,” she said.

 Taghizadeh explained that fertility clinics deal with sensitive tissues, such as embryos, which represent future children. The signatures on consent forms in this context are crucial and cannot be forged, making the process much more stringent than in a typical doctor's office. 

“It's not just like any other doctor's office. So what we had to do was we had to have the two patients, the husband and wife, go to the same notary public location, sign everything at the same time,” she continued.

“Mind you, you have seen the bundles. Bundles are about twenty-seven pages, all of them together. So these two people had to go to a notary location, sign 27 pages together, initial the bottom of each page, bring their document, notarize it, get a copy, bring it back to our office so we can provide service for them. And it was a little challenging. For a couple of years, what we had is like, we had a staff member who was able to do notary,” she further explained.

This process was not only time-consuming but also challenging. For several years, the clinic even employed a staff member who could do a notary to streamline this process, requiring a dedicated space for these notarization sessions.

Streamlining Workflows with Blueink

Partnering with Blueink brought immediate benefits to the clinic. The introduction of electronic signatures revolutionized their operations. “Imagine all of that went away in just one click,” Taghizadeh marveled. 

Patients can now sign documents electronically via their cell phones, with selfie and ID verification ensuring security and authenticity as Blueink offers several common authentication options for document signing. These options can be used alone or together, depending on the required security level. 

Choosing the right method is important based on the document's sensitivity and the risk of unauthorized access. Authentication ensures the correct individuals sign your documents by requiring various types of verification before accessing the document bundle. Here are some common options offered by Blueink:

1. SMS Pin: The signer receives a unique code via SMS to their registered mobile number and must enter it correctly to proceed. This method is convenient and effective for confirming identity.

2. Driver's License: The signer uploads a scanned or photographed copy of their driver's license. The system verifies its authenticity and matches the information with the signer's profile, relying on the driver's license as a recognized ID.

3. Selfie: Using facial recognition, the signer takes a selfie with their device's camera. The system compares this image with the signer's profile picture or other registered images to confirm identity, ensuring the physical presence of the signer.

These methods enhance security by requiring appropriate verification before allowing document access.

Smooth Integration

The transition to Blueink was seamless for California Fertility Partners. Initially, they ran both paper and electronic systems side by side for a month and a half before fully embracing the digital method. “I put all the bundles together. I even created everything for them, named them. So like, these are the ones that you mostly use. The templates are there. All they have to do is just go in, send it, make sure the patient signs, the physician will sign, close it, and that's all that it is,” Taghizadeh remarked.

An envelope (formerly called bundle) in Blueink refers to the complete document transaction process when you prepare a document, send it out for signatures, and collect it back using the Blueink platform. A single bundle can include multiple signers, documents, and attachments, as long as they are all sent out together in a single transaction. The bundle represents the entire lifecycle of the document transaction, from creation to completion.

She further explained other benefits of partnering with Blueink. One critical advantage is resolving disputes over consent forms. In cases where couples later dispute their signatures, the system provides robust evidence with location data, IP addresses, and ID selfies. 

“There’s no way around it. So, it’s very secure for us,” -Taghizadeh.

Financially, the impact has been significant as well. The clinic saved on rent and utilities for a space previously used for notarizing documents. “The annual membership that we got paid itself in one month. So going forward, it was very easy for us to financially benefit from this in the office,” Taghizadeh noted.

High Satisfaction and Recommendations

Overall satisfaction with Blueink is high across the board—from patients to physicians to the legal team. The ability for patients to sign documents on their phones, sometimes while sitting in the lobby, has improved workflow, reduced paper usage, and increased patient satisfaction.

Blueink has revolutionized the consent form signing process at California Fertility Partners, transforming a once cumbersome and paper-heavy process into a streamlined, efficient, and secure digital system. By eliminating the complexities of traditional paperwork, the clinic has not only saved time and resources but also elevated the overall patient experience. Blueink continues to prove its value as an indispensable tool for modern healthcare practices. 

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