Your patients are calling—but are you ready to answer?
For many medical clinics, receptionists don’t have time to handle non-stop phone calls. So, they outsource this task to medical answering services.
The right service can save your clinic plenty of time, improve patient satisfaction, and increase efficiency. However, you need to be sure to find the right service for your business.
To find out more, keep reading to learn how to choose the right answering service for your needs.
Make Sure Your Medical Answering Service is HIPAA Compliant
Your number one priority should always be finding an HIPAA compliant answering service. HIPAA, or the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, is designed to keep patient data safe.
It’s designed to protect the privacy and security of patients, so your answering service needs to be compliant. Otherwise, your clinic is at serious risk of large fines.
To be compliant, the answering service’s staff must be fully trained in HIPAA procedures, so you can have peace of mind that your patients are protected.
Work Out Which Features You Need
When hiring a medical office answering service, it helps to first work out which services you need. Some of the most commonly-used features include:
- 24/7 call answering
- Live answering of calls by a receptionist
- The ability to send automated appointment reminders or call patients as a reminder
- Call recording
- Over-the-phone payment processing
- Teleconferencing abilities
- Message taking
Many clinics, especially larger ones, need a medical answering service that can handle all of the above.
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Consider Your Budget
Smaller clinics might be on a tight budget, so should research the costs associated with each service before hiring.
Most services will charge by the minute for each call, but there might be other costs associated with the service, including additional fees for holidays. Your service should be transparent with all of their fees, so you know what to expect before signing up.
Find a Company That’s Professional
Another important consideration—make sure the company you hire has a reputation for being professional. After all, many patients will think they’re calling your clinic directly when they phone in.
So, if the person who answers doesn’t treat them with patience and care, they might be turned off and switch to another clinic. To find a service with great customer service skills, it helps to read online reviews and ask other doctors for recommendations.
Use These Tips When Deciding on Medical Answering Services
When researching medical answering services, the tips above are sure to help. Take your time in making a decision, as it’s a serious investment that can make a big impact on your business.
Once you find the right company, they should be able to get everything set up for you, ensuring a smooth transition. Get started today and your patients are sure to love the convenience of professional telephone support!
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