“It is mutual trust, even more than mutual interest, that holds human associations together."
-H. L. Mencken.
Parents entrust you with their children’s healthcare not because you are a pediatrician, but because you are a pediatrician they can trust. With that trust comes a high-level responsibility...responsibility to provide the best pediatric care and to make parents feel that they’ve made the right decision in choosing your pediatric office. Presumably, you have a lot of patients, from infants to teens, which means you have the challenge of running an efficient office without leaving your patients feeling like just another number. There are some best practices pediatricians should follow to improve the patient experience, but simply put, communication is key. Those efforts should start before the family ever enters your office, and your business phone system can help. In fact, your phone system can improve family communication and set the tone for a positive patient experience. Here’s how…
CHALLENGE:
Managing after-hours calls has become cumbersome and time-consuming
SOLUTION:
Voicemail to Text/Email
As you know, kids get sick at all hours of the day, and that means parents have questions at all hours of the day. Listening to lengthy voicemails can be time-consuming and tedious, especially at 3:00 am. When concerned parents call after-hours, you’ll want to handle their calls efficiently. That’s where voice to text/email comes in. With "voice to text" you can quickly review the content of the caller’s message without having to listen to it. This allows you to respond to patient concerns faster, better prioritize what issues need to be addressed immediately, and saves time.
CHALLENGE:
Your pediatric office’s receptionist is bogged down with calls during peak hoursSOLUTION:
Auto Attendant
Whether it’s when your office opens or in the 3 o’clock hour right after school, your office likely sees an influx of calls periodically throughout the day. Providing responsive care can be a challenge during this busy times, but fortunately, you can put your phone system to work for you! A property structured auto attendant can direct callers to information on the insurance you accept, office hours & directions, and even send them to a voicemail box where they can request their children’s patient records or school forms, all without your receptionist ever picking up the phone. It’s like having an additional person in the office to help manage calls. Just be sure to follow best practices in order to get the most out of your phone system’s auto attendant.
CHALLENGE:
Patient education efforts are falling flat
SOLUTION:
Messages On Hold
Recent studies in pediatric medicine are proving the importance of providing family-centered care. Simply put, family-centered care is a focus on “empowering each child and family to discover their own strengths, build confidence, and make choices and decisions about their health.” Your messages on hold provide an excellent opportunity to share useful health tips and improve patient education in your pediatric practice. When callers are on-hold you have a captive audience, making it the perfect time to craft your messaging according to their needs. Whether it’s information about cold and flu prevention, pointers on how parents can prepare their children for immunizations, or simply keeping patients aware of important practice changes, your phone’s hold messaging system may be the answer.
Want more information about what professional phone system messages can do for your pediatric practice? Click the "learn more" button below to access more details and listen to message examples!
