Home Forums Does Anyone Know a Good Answering Service?

The pager service at my hospital just got rid of the pagers and is sending all pages out via text messages.

I am looking for a service that can page me from the same number/s each time so that I can set alerts for my phone.

Any suggestions would be appreciate.

Thanks

Well, you can use the one we use in Kansas (Maine here). They are rude and horrible, but they do get the calls through. Seriously. But, they answer for god knows how many companies. They may use the same number, though. It's weird, though, when I call them, they seem very nice.

Have been using perfectserve.com for the past ~5 years. A flawless computerized answering service that costs $99/month for unlimited calls. Would never go back to a "human" system again.

Hi DrAC,

Sounds rather interesting. Certainly better than Kansas! Checked out the site. Can you give more information on how you use it. If it goes to your pager, then I suppose you get number only. But, the app on your phone could take a recording. One thing that would be VERY cool would be the app somehow getting their phone number (if it weren't blocked). Would be nice to always have the number correct.

Google voice. It's free. You get text with transcript and email with recorded call and transcript as well. Try to beat it.

Hey there

I also use google voice. The text transcription SUCKS but you cant beat free and I actually have a message on my office phone saying if you need dr mody immediately, call him on the cell and it is that google voice number which rings on my cell phone but it shows up as the google voice number so i know to answer "ESMI, dr mody speaking" rather then "yo what up"...and if you are internationally and have wifi on the phone and in the area you are or on the computer you can check your messages any time for free ...

ketan

I use a voicemail pager.
If you call the office the message says: "If you have an urgent problem, going on for less than 24 hours call our pager at 555-555-5555."

When they call the pager the message states: "You have reached the urgent pager. You can put in your number or a text message at the beep. We will not give refills on non urgent medicines, call the office."

The pager goes as a text message to both my and my NP's phone. On my iPhone all I have to do is press the highlighted number and they are called back* Frequently they leave a text message so I know the issue before they call.

I use DirectPage (directpage.com) Their listed cost is $143.00 per year but I usually have done it with discounts for under $100/yr.



*(I have caller ID blocked (Settings - Phone - Show My Caller ID - OFF)

In regards to PerfectServe: when a patient calls, they enter their call back telephone number and can then leave a message to send to office mailbox to be addressed during next business hours or you can be called on your cell phone if the patient needs to reach you for after hours "emergency". When the physician listens to the patient message, he has several options:
Press 1 to have message repeated, Press 2 to save message, Press 3 to delete message, Press 5 and you automatically call back the patient to the telephone number the patient entered. Some of the nice things about the system is that you never have to write down the patient's telephone number because pressing 5 on your phone will dial their number directly and the patient sees the answering system phone number- not the doctor's private cellphone number on the caller ID.
The system is very high tech and offers so many features- most of which are beyond what I even require. Several of my friends are also using PerfectServe and are faithful customers. I have rarely needed any help or support with the system but when I have called them they answer their help line immediately with an instant fix!- makes the support we are used to here at Amazing Charts and Updox look just awful.
Also, once I began using this answering service, I threw away my beeper- no need for it. It is truly a dinosaur now

Who is your phone provider? If it is one of the newer VOIP ones, they can very easily set it up (for free) so that patients can hear an after hours msg "We are closed etc. etc etc........press 9 if you have an urgent question and want to reach the doctor." When they press 9, call rings on your cell phone where you can either answer or let it go to voicemail and call them back.

I find answering the call right away is SO much more efficient than getting their msg and their number and then calling them back.....and they don't answer.....you leave a voicemail......they call back as you are leaving a voicemail.......

Also, there seems to be a counterintuitive effect on patients of the doctor being very quickly and easily available--- they call less.
Or maybe we have just been lucky.....

I agree with the free voip option.
It has worked well for us.

Wow, what great ideas. So nice there are so many options. I am going to look up all the options. I am especially excited about perfectserv.com.
Thanks

I guess you got grandfathered in on a lower rate. The current rate is $119 after hours or $199 ATC. I am still signing up for it. There is a 30 day trial as well. It looks like you might get some sort of a referral bonus for getting people to sign up. Please pm with your contact info so I can put it on the form. Thanks

We go live with Perfect Serve next Wednesday. Looking forward to it. I really like the fact that I will have a way to call patients back with my office number instead of having to block my cell number.

Vicki, keep us informed on how it goes please

Will do Kody!
We go live next Wednesday, but the outgoing calls via the app on my phone already works. It is wonderful to have my practice number show up when I call a patient or a nursing home. It also keeps a list of the numbers I dial so if I have to call back, that number is there.

Sounds cool. I always worry, though, that they input the wrong number. I am not sure all calls will allow Caller ID, although that would be good. My answering service gets some via Caller ID.

Perfect Serve works nicely.
The staff/customer service are outstanding.
There are some issues using it in rural areas.
If you live in urban area, there would be no problem.
I especially like the feature to call the patient from my phone
and it presents my office number.

Vicki- I am glad to hear that PerfectServe answering service is working well for you. We have been using it for several years and do not recall ever hearing a complaint from any patient who had problems using it (unlike our prior answering services). Once it is set up its almost on autopilot. It has simplified our lives.
If you have poor cellular reception in your home area it could create a problem receiving a call, but then the same would hold true for any service trying to reach you on your cell phone. I have my personal preferences set to call my cell except 11pm to 7am call my home phone. If I do not pick up the page within about 15 minutes, it will temporarily switch preferences.

Hi Doc AC
I love the ability to change your preferences too whenever you want.
The front office likes it too.
This way they get the message from the patient, not second hand.
Thanks for pointing me in this direction.