Why Your Medical Office Should Use an Answering Service

Working or managing a medical office can certainly be chaotic. Between emergencies, patient scheduling, and patient calling it’s almost impossible to operate smoothly without help. This constant need to be reachable puts great strain on clinics, and this is where answering services come in.    

With such services employed at your doctor’s office smooth communication is enhanced. Patients become more pleased and the staff is given some space to breathe. All in all, there are many reasons why many clinics might want to consider employing answering service for medical offices.  

1. The Patients Are Demanding

Let’s face it– if we could pick and choose when we would like to get sick, we probably all would. People fall sick at the oddest hours, and because of this, they need assistance no matter what time it is. Anyone who has a worrying fever or is taking medicine might just seek out additional help.  

That is exactly where phone answering services come into play. If patients are sick, have questions or want to get in touch with a specific doctor, these services are helpful.

Sure, it’s not a substitute for the care that your team renders within the working hours. But it does help you go beyond the traditional 9 to 5 operations. Wondering how? Well, think about how comfortable a patient would feel knowing that their concerns are not likely to go unaddressed over the weekend.

2. Alleviate the Burden on Your Staff

Your front desk staff is already multitasking as a receptionist and scheduler, problem solver and sometimes a miracle worker. Answering services relieve some of this pressure by providing professional services such as routine calls, appointment booking, and dealing with basic questions. 

Consequently, this results in fewer disruptions throughout the day so your staff can channel their energy towards something else. They can ensure quality care is provided to the patients. Also, it brings down the chances of staff drowning in stress hence allowing for a win-win situation. 

3. No-Show Appointments Could Stay Home

This has happened to all of us. Be it no show or the patient failing to show up at the right time. Ending up turning the entire appointment time slot into a shambles. Utilizing an answering service can be of assistance in this matter by setting reminders or the patients can rearrange the appointments. 

After the automated scheduling function gets in place along with post call, you will notice significantly fewer empty spots.

4. Always Be Professional, No Matter how Many Calls You’re Receiving

Picture this: your phone continues to ring with patients in need while the front desk isn’t letting up. Is this a good scenario? It leaves a bad impression and could evoke a feeling of neglect from patients. This is why answering services are important in ensuring that every single call is attended to. This is irrespective of how packed your office is.  

There are professional operators who are trained to attend every call with warmth and compassion. What's more impressive is that even when your team is fully exhausted they will leave a good impression on the customers. Sort of like having an extra two arms but not really having the extra office space.  

5. HIPAA Requirements and Compliance as an Assurance

With high stakes information such as medical information, confidentiality is always prioritized. Most answering services are certified for HIPAA compliance and work with strict regulations for each case. If they don't, one can tell that answering service isn’t good enough for you. These services make sure your office is in line and compliant with all regulations while being able to provide additional services. These include secure message servicing and other aspects of patient sensitive data.  

Not only is it about the legalities but it is also the trust you create with patients. That guarantee that all their health information is protected instills faith in your practice.  

6. Multilingual And Other Language Services For Your Patients’ Requirement 

Supporting a multilingual answering service might help if your patients don’t all speak English.

Critical communication networks can always be established – no matter the language and no matter the culture.  

Multilingual operators can guarantee that a patient does not go unheard and unvalued. This is a good approach that promotes your practice as well.  

7. Respond To Emergencies Accurately

In medical life, there do exist situations of extremes but not every call one answers is life threatening. The answering service in charge can filter the calls effectively because there are times when there are real emergencies. Every second matters.  

This, in turn, provides a multitude of benefits since it reduces the amount of time sacrificed and wasted on insignificant tasks. 

Conclusion

In the world of healthcare, when answering service is available everywhere, having one is no longer a luxury. Sky's the limit once you have the service. The service brings the patients and the firm closer, optimizes the workflow and the channels used to communicate with the patients.  

Installing one can make the doctor concentrate more on doing what he does best- tease patients. I mean treat them. In case your practice is yet to incorporate one then now is the right time to get started.