The average cost of a physician answering service is $142/month, with rates being driven by the medical practices needs. As a doctor, you’re always on call. That’s the reality of your profession. However, you have many obligations too and can’t always be around to answer calls. That’s why you need a physicians answering service, designed specifically to provide telephone answering and paging dispatch service just for medical professionals.
But for many physicians, the question is how much will a medical answering service cost them? This guide will help you calculate the price. You can opt for live operator service with or without automated call screening, or even message dispatch service complete with secure messaging.
Physician Answering Service Pricing (Average / Month)
- $60 for 1-25 live calls per month
- $105 Covers up to 75 telephone calls
- $163 funds as much as 125 phone calls
- $325 supports an average of 250 calls answered
Keep in mind, these are national averages, and there are a number of items can can drive these prices up of down. Live operators can answer your physicians calls, forward them to the doctor via phone, schedule appointments, and provide basic information to patients, such as normal business hours and directions. If the matter is urgent, the call can be passed to the physician on call in your practice. Choose from a basic package or add on a la carte services: your choice. Keep costs low with our physicians answering service.
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Calculating The Cost of a Medical Answering Service for Physicians
No physician pays the same cost for their medical answering service, and knowing what determines the price will help you better manage your plan. Here are the primary cost drivers to manage your plan:
Number of Calls Answered: This may be one of the most difficult item to control. Call centers usually bill either by time or on a per call basis. The average rate per minute is $0.88. The average call lasts about 1.25 minutes.
Call Duration: Most physician answering service providers bill by time spent on the phone with your callers. If budget is an issue the doctor can cut costs by as much as 35% by limiting the information collected on each call. For example simply taking a caller name, phone number, and reason for call will cost about $1.39 per call, compared to as much as $2.85/call for scheduling office visits or completing online forms.
Online Calendars: If a medical practice needs appointment scheduled via an online calendar the price may be greatly impacted by the online calendar used. Using something like a Google online calendar will cost less because less training is needed compared to using custom office calendars unique to your healthcare practice. Usually a $100 fee is applied for training staff to use new in-house calendars for appointment scheduling.
The best way to get medical answering and message management solutions for your practice. Support for hospitals, physicians, primary care physicians, surgeons, dentists, pediatricians, and optometrists.
- After hours medical answering
- 24 Hours Virtual Receptionists
- Appointment Setting Services
- Appointment Confirmation Services
- HIPAA Compliant Secure Mobile Apps
- Secure SMS Text Alerts
- EMR Integration
- First Responder Messaging
- Physician Referrals
- On-Call Management
Whatever your practice or hospital needs, let us get you the best price.
Tell us how you plan to use your medical answering service and get an exact quote here.
Trending Innovations in Physician Answering Services
The healthcare landscape is undergoing rapid evolution, and physician answering services are not immune to these changes. As technology becomes more intertwined with medical practices, answering services are stepping up their game to provide more efficient, tech-savvy, and patient-centric solutions. Here’s a look at what’s trending in physician answering services.
Integration with Electronic Health Records (EHRs)
A significant shift is the seamless integration of answering services with EHR systems. Such integration allows operators to access relevant patient information quickly, ensuring that communications are both informed and efficient. It also aids in the scheduling of appointments directly, streamlining administrative tasks and enhancing patient experience.
Artificial Intelligence and Automation
The role of AI in healthcare is expanding, and answering services are embracing this technology. Automated chatbots can handle routine inquiries, appointment bookings, and even certain triage services. While they don’t replace human touch, they efficiently manage high call volumes and free up operators for more complex tasks.
Multilingual Support
With the U.S. becoming increasingly diverse, there’s a growing demand for multilingual support in physician answering services. This ensures clear communication with patients from various linguistic backgrounds, improving overall care quality and patient satisfaction.
Enhanced Data Security Protocols
Given the sensitive nature of healthcare information, there’s a heightened emphasis on ensuring data security. Answering services are adopting advanced encryption techniques, regular audits, and adhering to regulations like HIPAA to protect patient data.
Virtual Health and Telemedicine Support
With the rise of telemedicine, especially post-COVID-19, answering services are now equipped to support virtual health platforms. They assist in setting up teleconsultations, managing virtual waiting rooms, and ensuring smooth communication between physicians and patients.
As healthcare continues to evolve, physician answering services are proactively adopting technological advancements to cater to both doctors’ and patients’ needs. The focus is not only on efficiency but also on ensuring a seamless, secure, and patient-friendly experience. As these trends gain traction, they’re set to redefine the future of physician-patient communication.
