Some medical practitioners make a mistake when it comes to their telephone. They assume that as long as their phone is answered, nothing else matters. This is shortsighted and rife with problem-causing risks. In fact, this perspective is just plain wrong. How you manage your phone calls matters a lot. Therefore, medical answering service excellence is key.
Patients will judge you and the quality of your medical services on several factors, one of which is how they’re treated when they phone you. This is most pronounced when they call after hours. This makes sense, because they often make these calls during a time of medical concern or emotional anxiety, which are sometimes extreme.
This is not the time to force them into an automated solution or subject them to voicemail jail. What they want is to talk with a real person, one who they can communicate with and who will understand their situation. They want the empathy that only another human can provide. That’s why medical answering service excellence matters.
Patient Health is Key
The health of your patients is of paramount concern. It’s a priority. It’s why you do what you do.
Yet a mishandled call can put your patients’ health at risk, and in a worst-case scenario, even their life. That’s why an answering machine is out. That’s why automation fails to meet the expectations of today’s patients. That’s why you need a medical answering service, but not just any answering service will do.
You need medical answering service excellence. This is the best way to make your patients’ healthcare a priority. Their health matters. That’s why your medical answering service matters.
Patient Satisfaction is Essential
After addressing the physical aspects of their healthcare, patient satisfaction is essential. This starts with your bedside manner and extends to the professionalism and courtesy of your staff.
However, don’t overlook your answering service. They play a critical role in ensuring patient satisfaction. A bungled call is hard to overcome, even with the best medical response and compassion.
Yet when you insist on medical answering service excellence, you select a provider that aligns their service with the high professional standards that you expect from yourself and your staff. Having the right answering service reinforces all the good interactions you and your staff have with your patients.
Patient Lifetime Value Counts
The health of your patients is key, and their satisfaction is essential. These combine to maximize the customer lifetime value of your patients. This business term stands as a reminder that you need a profitable operation for the long-term if you hope to continue to meet the needs of your patients.
In short, you want them to come to you with their healthcare needs and not go to someone else. That’s why medical answering service excellence matters. They serve as a critical means to help you retain patients so you can continue to meet their healthcare needs, both today and throughout their lives.
Conclusion
When it comes to having your phone answered after office hours, not just any solution will do. If you want the best for your patients and your practice, select a provider that places a priority on medical answering service excellence.
Your patients will thank you.
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