We live and exist in an era of uncertainty. This is no truer than for the healthcare industry, which is on the front lines, adapting to ever-changing expectations and healthcare best practices. As your practice, clinic, or healthcare facility grapples to adapt, don’t overlook the possible role that your venerable medical answering service can take to help you navigate these challenging times.
Answer Your Calls When Your Staff Gets Busy
More is now expected—even demanded—of healthcare professionals and support staff. This means they’re busier now than ever before. Your front office staff experiences pressure from these extra expectations too. It comes not only from their heightened workload but also from the fallout of everyone else’s. Answering the telephone, although important, now seems like an even bigger interruption to their workday, detracting from the hurting people who are there in person, seeking to receive the healthcare services they need.
When your staff gets busy, don’t fret about the ringing phone. Let your medical answering service answer it for you. It’s what they do best, and it’s one less thing for you to worry about.
Answer Your Calls When You’re Short Staffed
Not only must you now expect more from your staff, but there’s also an increased likelihood that they may not be able to make it into the office. This is either because they’re sick or someone they’ve been around is sick, requiring that they self-isolate for ten days, two weeks, or even longer. This means fewer people in the office to do the same amount of work.
The situation is more dire than staff who on occasion get too busy to answer the telephone. This is a pervasive, daylong situation. This means an increased likelihood of patients on the phone not receiving the attention they deserve or that you want to give them. The solution, again, resides with your healthcare answering service. They can take calls for you all day long, freeing your front office staff to attend to what’s happening in your office.
Answer Your Calls If You Must Close Early
What happens if something dramatically changes and you must react in an instant? In severe cases, you might need to vacate your facility and send everyone home. Just don’t leave until you’ve notified your trusted answering service and redirected your calls to them. Their qualified staff will present your operation to callers in a professional way that will make you proud—and won’t alarm patients.
Answer Your Calls When You Can’t Open
Though healthcare is most definitely an essential function, that doesn’t mean you will always be able to be open as normal. You might need to shut down for a few days, restrict your hours of operation, or scale back your weekly schedule.
Regardless of the situation, keep your answering service in the loop so they can cover for you, answering your phones during regular office hours when you’re unable to do it yourself.
Summary
As you adjust to meet healthcare’s changing requirements, don’t forget to factor in your medical answering service as part of the solution. They’re standing by, available 24/7, to help you however they can, whenever you need them.
Their support is only a phone call away.
Learn how medical answering service from MedConnectUSA can help your practice, clinic, or facility. Then get a free quote to discover how affordable their healthcare communication services are. Peter Lyle DeHaan is a freelance writer and call center authority.