If you are a doctor, it is important for your patients to be able to get the care they need when they need it. Since you cannot answer every call that comes into your office, having a live answering service available to take calls during hours when the office is closed is important. The following guide walks you through a few of the things that you need to consider when you have a live answering service taking calls from your patients. 

Be Sure the Company Does Background Checks

Before agreeing to hire an answering service to answer phone calls for your office, be sure to ask if the operators are required to pass a background check before being hired to work for the business. The operators will have access to your patients' private information and you need to be sure that they will be trustworthy and not use the information in an illegal way.

Create a Dialogue for the Answering Service to Use

When you hire an answering service to talk to your patients, you want to be sure that there is a dialogue for the operators to use when they are talking to the patients. Be sure that they are kind, respectful, and courteous so that your patients will feel comfortable calling when they need help.

Provide them with Access to Your Database

In order for the operators to provide your patients with the best service possible, the operators will need access to certain elements of your database. The operators will need to be able to access the portion of the database that has pertinent information the operators can use to identify who they are speaking to and to your schedule. This will allow them to make appointments for your patients.

Set Restrictions as to What Information Can Be Released

Let the company know if there are any restrictions as to what information can and cannot be shared with the patients. Let the company know if your personal number is only to be used to by the operators to contact you directly when an emergency occurs with a patient or if they can release your number to the patients.

Once all of these factors have been taken into consideration, finding the right answering service (such as A Tel Communications) to suit your needs should be easy. Having a live answering service ensures your patients can get the care they need when they need it.