| tter how efficient your medical practice may be, | | | | during office hours, a patient can schedule an |
| a live front desk receptionist cannot always be | | | | appointment over the Web or on the phone with |
| available to your patients. There will be times | | | | a 24/7 backup receptionist. But, you may ask, |
| when your medical clinic receptionist or office | | | | what if there is an emergency? Surely, it must be |
| assistant will be either busy or out to lunch, not to | | | | irritating to be unable to reach a live medical staff |
| mention the hours when your office is closed. | | | | member. Many virtual receptionists are able to |
| From the caller's point of view, there is a matter | | | | route urgent phone calls to a live staff member. |
| that needs to be addressed... and no one is there. | | | | In the case of a dire emergency, the patient can |
| Furthermore, when a caller would like to schedule | | | | even be connected directly to the doctor. |
| a simple appointment or inquire about office hours, | | | | With the aid of virtual receptionists, many of the |
| it can be annoying to hear the phone ring | | | | tasks performed by medical office receptionists |
| incessantly, or to get an answering machine | | | | are now being accomplished faster, at a fraction |
| message. And in the case of an emergency, the | | | | of the cost. The online service requires no install |
| patient may just seek another more available | | | | or in-house maintenance, as well. A virtual |
| health care provider. | | | | receptionist can answer phones, schedule and |
| One possible solution is to outsource a human | | | | cancel appointments, place reminder calls, take |
| remote receptionist service. This option can be | | | | voice mail, or direct emergency calls to a medical |
| affordable but inadequate when the remote | | | | staff member-24 hours a day, 7 days a week. |
| receptionist does little more than take a message | | | | As a result, the receptionist can focus on |
| and/or give out very basic information. A more | | | | receiving patients, pulling medical records, filing |
| specialized or trained part-time receptionist might | | | | insurance paperwork, and answering the phone. |
| be better at meeting your patients' needs, but | | | | Patients feel that their needs are being met, |
| this daily expense can have a negative impact on | | | | whether they are in the office, or on the phone. |
| your total revenue. Moreover, in an emergency, | | | | Furthermore, some types of software allow for |
| even the best-trained after hours staff can do | | | | 24/7 medical reception services over the Internet. |
| little more than relay your message to the doctor | | | | Consider installing an automated 24/7 medical |
| only to have to wait for his or her response. | | | | reception system in your office or private medical |
| Why not provide your patients with the services | | | | practice. The more choices your patients have, |
| of a virtual medical office receptionist? | | | | the better service they will receive. With services |
| When live staff is not available, most patients | | | | they can trust, your patients will be likely to |
| would prefer to have their needs met by an | | | | return for more follow-up visits and regular |
| automated system that can immediately perform | | | | check-ups. |
| the task at hand. Rather than have to wait to call | | | | |