Dec 1, 2025
When DOCS Dermatology, a leading dermatology network spanning ten states, began exploring ways to improve patient access and reduce administrative burden, one challenge stood out: the time and effort required to complete prior authorizations (PAs).
Like many specialty practices, DOCS providers wanted to help patients start therapy faster. But with hundreds of biologic and non-biologic prescriptions being written each week, manual paperwork, faxes, and follow-up calls had become major bottlenecks.
To streamline the process, DOCS partnered with Tandem, an AI-powered platform that automates PAs, appeals, enrollment forms, and pharmacy routing – and integrates directly with the EHR.
Location
Midwest, South, and Mid-Atlantic
Size
300+ clinicians
Specialty
Dermatology
The Challenge: Manual Workflows Slowed Patient Access
Before Tandem, each provider’s team was spending hours a week submitting and tracking PAs across multiple payers and pharmacies. The manual nature of the process caused:
Delays in treatment for patients waiting on approvals
Inconsistent communication between providers, payers, and pharmacies
Limited visibility into where each request stood in the workflow
With 300+ clinicians across 140+ locations in the Midwest, South and Mid-Atlantic regions, DOCS Dermatology Group needed a scalable, automated solution that could bring consistency to PA management without adding new administrative headcount.
The Solution: Automating Prior Authorizations with Tandem
DOCS Dermatology Group began its Tandem rollout with a single pilot provider. Within weeks, the results were clear.
Tandem’s automation enabled same-day prior authorization submissions, intelligent tracking, and automatic population of payer-specific forms, eliminating manual re-entry and phone tag.
Following the success of the pilot, DOCS expanded Tandem across 10 states – Ohio, Michigan, West Virginia, Illinois, Texas, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Indiana, and North Carolina – and now supports more than 300 providers on the platform.
The Results
After implementing Tandem, DOCS Dermatology Group saw significant improvements in both patient outcomes and staff efficiency:
Same-day prior authorization submission
<1 day average time to receive approval
80% increase in patients accessing their medications
Providers across the network report faster approvals, fewer delays between prescription and fulfillment, and dramatically reduced administrative burden for medical assistants and coordinators.
Voices from DOCS Clinics
“Tandem has allowed me to have more oversight over the PA process, while simultaneously cutting down on my time/hours worked. It has improved delay in care between Rx being written and delivery to patient.”
— Physician Assistant
“They really are on the ball, and the follow through is impressively fast, thorough, and accurate.”
— Physician
“What truly sets Tandem apart is their dedication to listening – actively incorporating feedback from users and healthcare providers to drive continuous improvement.”
— Operations Project Manager
A Scalable Model for Specialty Practices
Today, DOCS Dermatology Group’s experience serves as a model for other specialty networks looking to improve patient access. By automating the most time-consuming parts of medication management, Tandem allows providers to focus on what matters most: delivering great care.
Supporting Your Practice
If your dermatology or specialty practice is ready to streamline prior authorizations and accelerate access to therapy, sign up your practice for Tandem today or book a demo to learn more.