The Benefits of Hiring a Medical Answering Service
Are you wondering if there are any significant benefits to hiring a medical answering service? Learn about the many benefits here.
Does your medical practice’s phone ring non-stop? You might want to consider getting some help. Otherwise, the patient experience could suffer.
You could struggle to help your patients during an emergency, too.
The telephone answering services industry in the US has grown by 6.7% over the past three years. More practices are recognizing the benefits of hiring a medical answering service.
With a professional doctor answering service, you can save time and money while helping your patients. On the fence? Here are six reasons you should consider hiring a medical office answering service right away.
After reading this guide, you can make a more informed decision for your practice and patients. Read on to discover the benefits of choosing a medical answering service today.
1. Boost Personal Time for Physicians
Some doctors feel the pressure to remain available to their patients at all hours of the day. While some patients need their doctors after hours, it’s not practical. After all, you need to catch up on sleep to provide patients with the best possible service.
If you’re worried about remaining available to your patients, consider finding a doctor answering service.
Your patients will have an easier time reaching your offices at any time of the day. If there’s an emergency, they can find the answers they need.
In some cases, an emergency doesn’t warrant a visit to the emergency room. Your patients might only need to ask a quick question. With a medical office answering service, you can provide them with the help they need.
Meanwhile, you can get the time you need.
After all, doctors deserve time to recharge just as much as any other busy professional. Otherwise, you could experience burnout. You might struggle to help your patients in the future as a result.
Hiring a medical answering service will give you the opportunity to take a vacation or day off without stress. You can relax without worrying about your patients. Instead, you’ll have peace of mind that the answering service is handling it.
With a medical office answering service, you can rest easy knowing your patients are in good hands.
2. Improve the Patient Experience
Patients are starting to take more control over their own health. In light of COVID-19, more people are trying to avoid visits to doctors’ offices, too. Instead of visiting in person, however, they’re more likely to call.
If you’ve noticed an increase in calls to your practice, consider a doctor answering service.
It’s important to remain available to your patients. Unfortunately, you only have so many hours in the day. With a doctor answering service, you can remain available day and night.
You could improve the patient experience by offering them immediate access to the help they need.
Your patients will feel reassured knowing they can reach someone at any time. Even if it’s not their doctor, they’ll feel taken care of.
Offering 24-hour support to your patients can improve your overall office image, too.
You can show patients that you’re reliable. It can also prove that you have the knowledge they need to help with any situation. A medical office answering service could improve your brand’s reputation.
If you’re unable to help patients when they need help most, they might grow frustrated. They’ll hang up and call another medical professional instead. They might decide to choose a different doctor altogether.
Before that can happen, consider getting a medical answering service phone number.
3. Save Money
Not many doctors realize that medical answering service rates are usually low.
For some services, you’ll pay between 75 cents and $1.25 per minute. You can schedule a consultation appointment to get a more accurate quote.
At the same time, you won’t have to worry about paid vacation, time off, sick days, or health benefits. You won’t have to pay a full-time staff member an hourly rate, either.
You also won’t have to worry about a surcharge of after-hour calls. In fact, the service can handle overflow calls from multiple locations, too.
Instead, you can call a medical answering service and establish a plan that suits your budget. Since the service doesn’t cost much, you’re putting money back into your pocket.
4. Remain Available During Emergencies
What happens if a hurricane or snowstorm hits? Your patients might require immediate medical help.
Not every medical practice is prepared for a mass emergency, though. Hiring a doctor answering service can give you peace of mind. You won’t have to let a flood or power outage slow you down.
Instead, you can let your medical answering service handle the situation for you.
They can keep your patients up-to-date.
Make sure you choose an answering service that’s HIPPA-compliant. You don’t want to violate the act by violating patient records or information.
5. Reduce the Workload
Your office team is already busy trying to help patients in person. Hiring an answering service can improve their workload. They won’t have to dedicate a portion of their time to calls.
Instead, you can choose a convenient, high-quality service that will benefit every member of your team. At the same time, you won’t have to hire another full-time employee.
6. Improve Your ROI
Choosing a medical answering service can also improve your profit.
Usually, patients have a problem that can wait until business hours. If they can’t get someone on the phone, however, they’ll feel discouraged. They might decide to go to a walk-in clinic or another office.
You could lose a patient and future business as a result.
Before that can happen, consider working with a medical office answering service. You can take every call and ensure your patients receive guidance. Remember, improving their experience could encourage them to stay.
You can retain loyal patients, which will benefit your practice in the long run.
Remain On-Call: 6 Benefits of Hiring a Medical Answering Service ASAP
Don’t let non-stop calls impact your productivity or focus. Instead, help every patient with a medical answering service. Choosing a doctor answering service can benefit you and your patients.
Help your practice grow with an efficient answering service today.
Eager to get started? We’re happy to help.
Request a free answering service quote.