Calculate the Cost of Medical Answering Services

Calculating the cost of outsourcing your calls to a Medical Call Service in 2023 is fairly easy if you understand which call center solutions drive rates up and how you can better manage them. To help you discover what impacts pricing you can read the guide below to better understand just how much a medical answering service costs. In short, the average cost of a medical answering service is between $0.86 – $184 per call, with prices declining for healthcare facilities requiring higher inbound call volumes.

Of course this amount can be reduced or increased based the overall call length and/or the needs of the hospital or doctor’s office. Below is a table to help you calculate the actual cost of hiring a call center to answer your medical calls.

MEDICAL ANSWERING SERVICE PRICE GUIDE

Call Volume Per Month	Average Call Length	Low End $	High End $
50 Calls	1 – 2 Minutes	$69/Month	$147/Month
100 Calls	1 – 2 Minutes	$139/Month	$294/Month
200 Calls	1 – 2 Minutes	$278/Month	$588/Month
500 Calls	1 – 2 Minutes	$685/Month	$1470/Month
1000 Calls	1 – 2 Minutes	$1250/Month	$2940/Month
*Price ranges by call length and adds on

Pricing is often considerably reduced with 1,000 calls per month – contact us to discuss the best rates available.

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Exactly How Much Will the Service Cost You?

In most cases you will be offered a 1-2 week free trial. During this period the medical call center can determine the volume of calls you receive, the duration, and and special needs your practice may have. This data will allows the medical answering service to give you an accurate price quote for future services. It also give you the opportunity to make sure you like to value they bring to your business.

Most call centers bill in time based increments simply because the nature of their business is one that is very labor intensive. For every minute their operator spends on a call with your patients they too are paying a labor cost to their virtual receptionist. However, providers offer flat rate packages and pay as you go (by the call) but those may not be available when costs to provide services exceeds the ability to earn a profit.

What’s a fair price for a medical call service?

On the high-end you can expect to pay a medical answering service about $2.28 per phone call answered, and on the low-end about $0.79 a call. However, more expensive doesn’t always equate to better service, and with that in mind we recommend that you test at least three call centers and ask each one of them for a 1-2 week free trial so you are able to make sure they can fully meet your needs (i.e. appointment setting, answering within 3 rings, etc), and this also allows the contact center to examine your call volumes and give you an accurate quote.

How does the number of calls affect pricing?

Like many businesses the biggest expense of a contact center for doctors is labor costs. Medical call centers must remain open 24 hours a day, weekends and holidays, and therefore must staff hourly employees even during their ‘downtime’. These employees, understandably, also require health insurance, paid leave, and other standard benefits. So, in the same way a 3 minute taxi ride will cost more than a 20 mile ride, it’s only natural to expect the cost of 200 calls to be greater than that of 50 calls.

How Duration affects the cost of medical call centers

Similar to how the number of calls impacts the cost for service (due to labor costs), so does the average duration of your calls. Some healthcare facilities only need basic information collected on a call (about 45 seconds), while others use the 24×7 answering service to schedule appointments, which can take as long as 3-4 minutes. So a call lasting 45 seconds will cost around $0.65 while another call lasting 3 minutes can cost anywhere from $3.80 to $4.70.

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How Much Does It Cost to Patch / Transfer calls?

The call center will have you forward your lines to either a local phone number, or, if needed, a toll free telephone number. If you’re forwarding your calls to a local phone number transferred calls are generally free, however, if you forward your calls to a toll-free number there will usually be a small fee applied (usually around $20-$30 a month). The reason for this fee is when the call center transfers a call from their toll free number, even though the agents time has ceased,  the phone company still charges a fee for the usage on the toll free number. So, once the call is patched to a nurse or the doctor, that call could last 2 minutes or an hour, and therefore the call center has to estimate this time and bill it accordingly (usually a fixed rate per month or per call transferred).

Is there a cost for the answering service to schedule appointments for doctors?

There usually are no costs for most call centers to schedule appointments if they are using certain popular online calendars like Google calendar. However, some medical offices require operators to use their own in-house appointment scheduling software which requires the contact center to continually train their staff how to use it. Some services will charge a one-time fee of $120, but if the online appointment scheduler is complex that fee could go as high as $145 a month.

What services are included in the price of a medical answering service?

Not everything cost extra, and in fact most solutions from a phone answering service are built in to the rate. Standard packages include 24/7/365 call support, appointment reminders (when using certain software), message delivery via SMS test, email, or fax, bilingual operators, and more.

Why Use Medical Call Service  To Get Quotes on Phone Answering Services?

There are two very important reasons why healthcare professionals use Medical Call Service to get quotes on answering services, and that’s time and money. We offer you a free solution to access our affiliates who are some of the nation’s best answering service providers. Simply advise us as to your healthcare facilities call answering needs and we’ll match them up with suppliers that can handle them. Then, you’ll work directly one on one with each call center as they offer up their best price points in hopes of earning your future business. We’ve already done the research so you don’t have to, however, you are never under any obligation, and if you believe you can still find a better call center at a better rate you’ll be free to continue requesting pricing information from their competitors, but we’re betting you won’t need to!

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Factors That Influence Medical Answering Service Costs

Medical answering services are an essential part of any healthcare practice, providing patients with round-the-clock access to medical professionals. These services are designed to provide a variety of benefits, including appointment scheduling, answering patient inquiries, and providing triage services. However, many practices are hesitant to utilize medical answering services due to concerns about cost.

The cost of a medical answering service can vary widely depending on the needs of the practice. However, the benefits of these services typically far outweigh the cost. Here are some of the factors that influence the cost of a medical answering service:

• Number of calls: The more calls a practice receives, the higher the cost of the answering service will be. However, practices that receive a high volume of calls may find that the cost is worth it, as it allows them to provide better patient care and improve patient satisfaction.
• Type of service: There are a variety of medical answering services available, each with its own pricing structure. Some services provide basic answering and message-taking services, while others provide more comprehensive services such as appointment scheduling and triage. Practices should choose the service that best meets their needs and budget.
• Customization: Some medical answering services offer customization options that can increase the cost. For example, a practice may want to customize the greeting that patients hear when they call, or they may want to receive notifications via text or email when certain types of calls come in.
• Hours of operation: Practices that require 24/7 coverage will typically pay more for an answering service than those that only require coverage during business hours. However, 24/7 coverage may be necessary for practices that provide emergency care or have patients with chronic conditions.

While the cost of a medical answering service may seem high, the benefits can be significant. Here are some of the reasons why practices should consider using a medical answering service:

• Improved patient satisfaction: Patients appreciate being able to speak to a medical professional when they have questions or concerns, and a medical answering service can provide this service 24/7.
• Better patient care: Medical answering services can provide triage services that help ensure patients receive the care they need in a timely manner.
• Increased efficiency: Medical answering services can help practices streamline their operations by handling routine tasks such as appointment scheduling and message-taking.
• Reduced workload: By outsourcing their answering service needs, practices can reduce the workload of their staff and allow them to focus on providing patient care.

In conclusion, while the cost of a medical answering service can vary widely, the benefits of these services typically outweigh the cost. Practices that are considering using a medical answering service should carefully evaluate their needs and choose a service that meets their needs and budget. The result will be improved patient satisfaction, better patient care, and increased efficiency.

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Medical Answering Service Buyer’s Guide

In today’s fast-paced healthcare industry, medical practices and healthcare facilities need to provide reliable and efficient communication services to their patients. One way to do this is by using a medical answering service. A medical answering service is a call center service that provides medical professionals with a dedicated team of trained operators to handle incoming calls and messages from patients.

If you’re considering purchasing a medical answering service, here’s a buyer’s guide to help you make an informed decision:

1. Determine your needs: Before you start looking for a medical answering service, determine your specific needs. Do you need a 24/7 service or just after-hours coverage? Do you need bilingual operators? Do you need a service that can handle appointment scheduling or urgent calls? Having a clear understanding of your needs will help you choose a service that can meet them.
2. Research: Do some research to find out what medical answering services are available in your area. Look for providers that have experience working with medical practices and facilities. Read online reviews and testimonials to see what other medical professionals are saying about their experiences with different services.
3. Check for HIPAA compliance: As a medical practice, you need to protect your patients’ privacy and comply with HIPAA regulations. Make sure the medical answering service you choose is HIPAA compliant and has procedures in place to protect patient information.
4. Evaluate their technology: The medical answering service you choose should have state-of-the-art technology that allows for efficient call handling and message delivery. Look for services that use advanced software to route calls, track messages, and provide real-time reporting.
5. Consider their pricing: Medical answering services charge differently based on their services and packages. Look for a service that fits your budget while providing the level of service you need. Also, find out if there are any hidden costs, such as set-up fees or per-minute charges.
6. Ask about their staff: The quality of the operators who will be answering your calls is critical to the success of your medical answering service. Ask about the training and experience of their staff. Find out if they have bilingual operators or if they have experience working with medical practices and facilities.
7. Look for a service with backup: Emergencies can happen, and you don’t want your medical answering service to be down when you need it the most. Look for a service that has a backup plan in place in case of power outages, technical difficulties, or other issues.

In conclusion, a medical answering service can help medical practices and healthcare facilities provide efficient and reliable communication services to their patients. By following this buyer’s guide, you can find a service that meets your needs and budget while providing high-quality service and protecting your patients’ privacy.

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