How Dental Offices Use Virtual Receptionist Services to Improve Patient Care

happy dentist in a mask and gloves on the background of the assistant who treats teeth patient

Customer satisfaction is as important in the dental industry as any other. Having a live person answer the phone is crucial in providing people with the attention and care they deserve. In fact, studies have shown close to seven out of ten people will hang up and look for a different service provider if someone doesn’t answer their call directly.1 With the dental industry struggling to get back on its feet during the COVID-19 pandemic, you can see why an answering service for dentists can be so critical.

What Is a Virtual Receptionist?

Female technical support agent working in office

You may not have the budget to hire an in-house receptionist, especially during uncertain times and if patients aren’t returning in fears of circulating coronavirus and its variants. However, a virtual receptionist can serve the same role. They can give each caller individualized attention, answering the phone, fielding questions, and taking and forwarding messages during and after business hours.

At AnswerMTI, our virtual receptionists are trained agents who learn about your business from the start. They use unlimited scripting to provide any type of greeting and forward information to clients who call, no matter what time it is. Your call-handling needs are taken care of whether there’s call overflow, the office is closed in an emergency, or your staff has gone home for the evening.

How Dental Offices Use Virtual Receptionists

happy middle aged male dentist in white coat at dental clinic office

A virtual receptionist provides full phone support with our fully featured dental answering service. There are numerous roles and tasks a call center agent can manage, so an answering service for dentists can help with:

  • Appointment Setting/Scheduling Services: The receptionist has full access to your calendar and knows when your business is available. They can set the appointment on the scheduling application you prefer, because AnswerMTI has some easy integration options.
  • Answering Emergency Calls: A caller with a dental emergency can reach your office whether someone is there or not. If an unanticipated crisis or natural disaster has prevented your business from opening, we can keep an open line of communication with your patients regardless of call volume.
  • Transferring Important Messages: Virtual secretaries can answer the phone with your preferred greeting and provide a professional yet personal approach. They are highly trained in providing quality customer service and can notify you of important calls via text, email, or any method you choose.
  • HIPAA-Compliant Remote Help: Remote assistance is always available, no matter where in the country your dental office is. Patient information is protected from disclosure, as well, since our answering service complies with the statutes of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.

Benefits of Virtual Receptionists for Dental Offices

Business people wearing headset working in office to support remote customer

Using an answering service for dentists allows your business to better utilize internal resources. Even if you don’t have the budget to pay a staff of receptionists, someone is there to answer the phone. Besides, spending the day taking phone calls can distract from the real goal: fantastic patient care.

A virtual receptionist gives your business a professional appearance, from fast response times to the manner in which they answer patient calls. Improved customer service involves no unanswered calls or automated messages that can discourage clients from continuing the call. Service is also available 24/7. Calls can be screened, questions answered and messages taken at any time.

Overall, virtual receptionists can help increase productivity. Many dentists operate small businesses with limited staff. Larger operations can benefit, also, as their offices are generally quite busy. So, a live medical answering service can improve just about every aspect of your dental business, for just one low monthly fee.

How AnswerMTI Can Help

Portrait of technical support agents in office

AnswerMTI has been providing call support for dentists since 1982. Friendly and professional, our team is based in the U.S. and serves customers in every region of the country. We are committed to providing a seamless caller experience and learning your business’s brand, voice, and terminology. To benefit from call support with caring human interaction, start your free trial of our answering service for dentists today!

Source:

  1. https://marketplace.ada.org/blog/dental-business/the-benefits-of-a-telephone-answering-service-for-your-dental-practice/