HelpSquad vs HelloRache: Which Healthcare Virtual Assistant Service Actually Has Your Back?

Let’s be real, running a healthcare practice is exhausting. Between patient care, documentation, insurance headaches, and trying to maintain some semblance of work-life balance, the last thing you need is a virtual assistant service that overpromises and underdelivers.

If you’re comparing HelpSquad Health and HelloRache for your practice, you’re probably wondering: what’s the actual difference? We’ve done the deep dive so you don’t have to. Spoiler alert: the differences are significant.

The Quick Take

Both companies provide virtual assistants for healthcare practices. Both claim to save you time and money. But that’s where the similarities end.

HelloRache has been around since 2017 and markets itself as “for doctors, by a doctor.” Sounds great, right? But when you peel back the marketing layer, there are some serious red flags we need to talk about.

HelpSquad Health? We entered the market with a fresh perspective, learning from the industry’s mistakes and building our service around what healthcare professionals actually need, not just what sounds good in a sales pitch.

The “60-Minute” Promise That Takes 2-4 Weeks

Here’s something that really grinds our gears: HelloRache’s website prominently features that their virtual assistants are “ready to start within 60 minutes.”

The reality? Their onboarding process actually takes 2-4 weeks, often with a waitlist. They use a rigid “batch hiring system” (currently on Batch 91), which means you’re stuck waiting for their next hiring cycle. Also, we’ve yet to meet a medical virtual assistant position that doesn’t take some amount of training. HelpSquad Health will make sure your virtual assistant is ready to be productive.

HelpSquad Health’s approach: We’re upfront about timelines. We match you with qualified VAs that fit your job description and timeline. No batches. No waiting lists. Just honest communication from day one.

The BAA Problem Nobody’s Talking About

This one’s huge, and most people miss it completely.

HelloRache will not sign a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) with you. Instead, they make individual VAs sign BAAs with clients. Check their FAQ if you don’t believe us.

Why This Matters (A Lot)

Under HIPAA, when a company provides workers who access your patients’ Protected Health Information (PHI), that company typically needs to be your Business Associate. The proper structure is:

Your Practice → BAA with the Company → Company manages its workforce

HelloRache’s model is: Your Practice → Individual BAAs with each VA → The corporation claims zero responsibility

Here’s what legal experts say about this approach:

“If the corporation uses its workforce (the VAs) to access your PHI, then the corporation likely needs to sign a BAA with you, the fact that the corporation claims ‘we don’t access PHI’ may require you to conduct due diligence.”

Source: HHS.gov – Business Associates Guidance and HIPAA Journal – Business Associate Compliance

HelloRache also leans heavily on the Philippines Data Privacy Act of 2012 to protect practices. But here’s the problem: Philippine law does not substitute for your HIPAA obligations in the United States. If there’s a breach, the Office for Civil Rights will come looking at YOU, the covered entity, not at Philippine law enforcement.

HelpSquad Health’s approach: We sign a comprehensive BAA with your practice because that’s the right way to do it. We take full responsibility as your Business Associate. No legal gymnastics. No shifting liability to individual contractors. We’re in this together.

Employee Treatment = Your Service Quality

Let’s talk about something that directly impacts you: how these companies treat their employees.

HelloRache’s Employee Reality

According to multiple employee reviews on Indeed and Glassdoor:

• 2-month unpaid training period (yes, you read that right, two full months without pay)
• No salary increases
• No bonuses
• Nightshift schedules that wreck employee health

The result? High turnover, burned-out VAs, and multiple TikTok videos of fired employees sharing “brutally honest” experiences.

Think that doesn’t affect you? Think again. Unhappy, financially stressed, exhausted employees don’t provide great service. Period.

HelpSquad Health’s approach: We believe that taking care of our team means they’ll take care of your practice. Our VAs receive competitive compensation, paid training, and shifts that fit their schedules. Happy VAs = better service for you. It’s not complicated.

The Trust Factor: Where Are The Reviews?

Here’s something interesting: try finding HelloRache reviews on major platforms like TrustPilot or Clutch.

Can’t find them? Neither could we.

Meanwhile, competitors in the space (like Wishup and yes, HelpSquad Health) have verified reviews with ratings like 4.7 and 4.9.

Even Scam Detector gave HelloRache only a 67.5 “medium-risk” trust score, not exactly confidence-inspiring for a company that’s been around since 2017.

One healthcare practice owner, Trish O’Brian (Pediatric Occupational Therapist & Owner of Springboard Therapy Practice), stated: “I had a terrible experience working with Hello Rache’s virtual assistant. It’s more pain than it’s worth” before switching to a competitor.

HelpSquad Health’s approach: We actively encourage reviews on verified platforms. We’re proud of our service and we want you to hear from real clients. Transparency builds trust.

Technology Gap: Welcome to 2017

HelloRache’s virtual assistants are trained in “basic EHR systems” and “traditional communication tools (phone, fax, email).”

Wait… did you just say fax? In 2025?

While competitors offer:

• 50+ AI tools integration
• 70+ No-code platforms
• Cloud-based efficiency tools
• Workforce management apps
• Modern collaboration software

HelloRache is still stuck in the “give them your password” era.

HelpSquad Health’s approach: We’re tech-forward. Our VAs are trained on modern tools, AI assistants, and cloud-based platforms that actually improve efficiency. We meet you where healthcare technology is TODAY, not where it was in 2017.

Pricing: Are You Actually Saving Money?

HelloRache markets itself with “the lowest pricing in the industry” at $9.50/hour.

But here’s what they don’t advertise:

• Is lowest pricing really the type of quality you’d like for your medical practice?
• Their pricing is inconsistent across platforms (some sources cite different hourly rates)
• No clear information about what happens when your VA is sick or unavailable
• No mentioned backup coverage

HelpSquad Health’s approach: Transparent, competitive pricing with no hidden fees. Plus, we transparently include backup coverage and account management in our pricing so there are no hidden fees.

Support When You Actually Need It

HelloRache offers:

• Email support ([email protected])
• No mentioned support hours
• No clear replacement policy timeline

So if your VA is sick, quits, or isn’t working out… good luck getting a quick resolution.

HelpSquad Health’s approach: 24/7 customer support with dedicated account managers. Need a replacement? We handle it immediately, not “sometime in the next batch.” And HelpSquad Health has a phone number to call plus 24/7 live chat support on their website.

What Healthcare Professionals Are Actually Saying

We could fill this with our own marketing speak, but let’s look at what actual users experience:

About HelloRache:

• “Ridiculous” unpaid training period
• “Terrible experience… more pain than it’s worth”
• Waitlists and batch hiring delays
• Multiple “Why I left” videos from former employees
• No reviews on trusted platforms

About Helpsquad Health: We’re building our reputation one satisfied client at a time, and we’re doing it the right way, with verified reviews, transparent practices, and VAs who actually want to be there.

“I can’t say enough about the outstanding phone answering service we used! The management team was incredibly easy to work with and communicated effectively every step of the way. The support staff, based outside of the US, was professional, eager, and genuinely took the time to understand our specific needs. Once they were on board, they executed every request quickly and efficiently. It’s rare to find a team that’s this dedicated, responsive, and capable.”

– Chief Operating Officer

The Bottom Line

You deserve better than misleading marketing, questionable HIPAA compliance structures, and a company that won’t take full responsibility as your Business Associate.

Healthcare is complicated enough. Your virtual assistant service shouldn’t add to the complexity, it should simplify your life.

HelpSquad Health was built by people who paid attention to what’s broken in this industry:

• Helpsquad Health sign proper BAAs because we’re your Business Associate
• Helpsquad Health treat their employees well because it results in better service for you
• Helpsquad Health are transparent about timelines, pricing, and what you’re actually getting
• Helpsquad Health use modern technology because it’s 2025, not 2017
• Helpsquad Health provide real support when you need it, not just an email address