Deciding To Use A Physician Answering Service

If you have a busy medical practice you may have reached the point when you require some additional office support. This may mean that you are ready to hire a professionally trained medical answering service. These are far more than a traditional answering service in that they are capable of doing more than simply answering a phone and collecting a message.

Today's vast range of communication technologies makes it easier than ever to enjoy near-instant messaging. How is that applied to a physician answering service? Most of the better providers are able to easily convey information and messages to their clients across a broad range of technologies including all kinds of wireless devices, email, fax and traditional telephone messaging. In addition to taking and delivering messages many are able make or re-schedule appointments, provide triage nurse services and remain well in compliance with HIPAA standards and regulations.

This is not as "simple" as it may sound. Consider that a standard answering service is usually an overseas operation where non-English speaking staff is trained to simply take calls and convey messages to the best of their abilities. This is the reason that people often complain about dialing into customer service or technical support call centers because it is often a frustrating experience.

Additionally, even a domestic call center can frustrate a caller who must wade through an often lengthy automated process where they "press one for..." and ultimately reach a live operator only to be put on hold or transferred. Clearly this is far from the type of service that someone with a medical issue or even emergency will be prepared to tolerate.

Today's better medical answering service providers are able to staff phone banks with trained operators who are totally HIPAA trained to handle medical situations in accordance with state and federal laws. Additionally, the preferred services use dedicated operators which means that at no time during a conversation will the patient be placed on hold (which is usually to allow an operator to take other calls). If any "on hold" periods are necessary it is best to work only with a medical answering service that will play a personalized message from the doctor or medical office and also one that guarantees that the patient will wait thirty seconds or less for an operator to return.

Working with a physician answering service gives a practice of any size a professional reputation and a great system for constant communication with patients.

About the Author:

MedConnectUSA is a leading provider of medical answering services and telemessaging services. MedConnectUSA has been serving the health care industry since 1991. MedConnectUSA handles routine and emergency calls for the medical industry only and all calls are answered by HIPAA trained, US operators.