For home health providers, the first point of contact is often by telephone, and so it helps to have fully-trained and experienced workers answering the phones for you as the first port-of-call.
There is a lot more to a medical answering service than an out-of-hours message-taking service. Today, there is a lot more that a medical call-answering service can do.
Scheduling Appointments
Being able to make an appointment with their healthcare provider is very important for patients. They want to know, as an outcome of their call, that their concern will be dealt with. It brings peace of mind to any caller with a health issue that their query will be followed up with the relevant person, and this is where setting appointments is a key benefit of using a service like Reception HQ US.
These virtual receptionists responsible for answering calls will not only schedule the appointments but will also send reminders to both the healthcare provider and the patient of the time and date of the appointment. This system results in fewer missed appointments and more efficiency in the schedule. In addition, the receptionists can answer basic questions, such as the arrival time or what to prepare for any upcoming procedure.
Preregistration Process and Follow-Up
Any registering for tests and procedures can be done over the phone ahead of a patients’ appointment time. This can all be handled by a team of virtual receptionists and this speeds up the process, meaning that on the day of the appointment things can go a lot more smoothly as the patient knows what to expect.
Since the introduction of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in the US, hospitals are under pressure to try and prevent re-admissions to hospitals. The call answering service can also provide post-discharge phone calls to stop patients needing to make a return trip to the hospital, or alternatively they can help identify patients who may be at risk of needing to be readmitted.
Dispatching
Not only will your medical answering service be able to take messages, set appointments, and provide advice about registration, virtual the receptionist can also contact a home health provider at their preference. You can agree on a protocol with your call answering service, and then they’ll know when it’s appropriate to contact you directly, or simply take a message to be passed on and received later.
This system is extremely beneficial to the patient and can reduce any unnecessary trips to the hospital. Methods of contacting home health providers include home phone, cell phone, text message, or e-mail. Usually, the home health provider is requested to call the patient back in order to be able to speak to them directly.
Other Services
There are a few more services that your virtual receptionist can provide. Really, that depends on your needs, and the instructions you give. Most home healthcare providers have found hiring a call-answering service is very useful to both them and the patient. A virtual receptionist is more than just an out-of-hours message taking service.
It has become apparent that a medical answering service has become one of the most essential factors for any home health provider. It is an essential communication channel between you and your clients that can lead to more efficiency, cost savings, and overall greater customer satisfaction. An answering service such as this is one way to help your patients receive better access to care.
0 Comments