Many practices look at price when determining which call answering service to work with. However, finding the right company involves so much more than asking how much do answering service charge.
The kind of call answering services you pick can either make or break your practice. With callers calling in to book appointments, report an emergency, or even consult your services, it is essential that they find solutions to their problems, and also feel appreciated.
When a caller feels like another number, or when they don’t get the solutions they were hoping to get, they may bounce off to the next best option – which is a loss to you and your practice. That’s why the importance of working with a high-quality doctor’s answering service can never be overemphasized.
Beyond the question, how much do answering services charge, we’ll tell you how to tell the dozens of call answering services apart.
They are flexible
Your office has its processes, and that applies to all other medical facilities. So, the first trait that you should look for in a call answering provider is their flexibility. Why? Because you do not want cookie-cutter solutions. What works for one practice might not work for you. The right provider understands the needs of different offices and customizes their operations accordingly.
They should be compliant
Not all call answering providers adhere to the industry regulation – which is a big red flag. Remember, your patients will be leaving personal information because they believe they can trust you to keep it safe. It will be a blow for your practice if this information finds its way to the wrong hands. That’s why you have to ensure that the medical answering service you are working with is HIPAA compliant.
They should be reliable
One of the main reasons why you are bringing in a third-party company to help with your call answering needs is to ensure that no call goes unanswered. It bits logic to outsource this service, only for your clients to go on voicemail or not reach you at all. Again, the call answering company should make it easier for you to know who called and what their needs were. But imagine a situation where the reports you are receiving are full of errors. That would be stressing, to say the least. It’s for these reasons that you should always look for a dependable company. Take time to ensure that the provider uses state-of-the-art technology and that all records of after-hours calls are available through your service portal in real time. It’s an added advantage if the company provides secure messaging through email, texts, fax, and voicemail.
They are efficient
In addition to reliability, a good doctor answering service should be available 24/7 365 days. This way, you are sure that patients who are calling in after-hours receive the attention they deserve. Find a provider who ensures fast nurse callbacks, prompt scheduling, low cycle time, quick response times, and affordable monthly rates.
They have a long, proven track record
You can tell a good call answering service by how consistent they have been in delivering quality solutions. You’ll know this by talking to their past clients, reading reviews, checking whether they have any awards, and finding out how long they have been in business. Apart from that, you can also confirm whether they have a professional, knowledgeable, and trained agent as well as the latest technology to facilitate their service deliverability. A proven track record of success simply shows you what you can expect working with the company.