The best estimate is that an optometry office with one doctor spends approximately $35,000 per year answering the phone. Offices with multiple doctors can easily spend over $100,000 per year.
About 75% of patient phone calls can be answered routinely. Schedule an appointment, change an appointment, and tell the patient when their eyeglasses will be ready.
More complicated calls regarding billing issues, insurance deductibles, and exam follow-up concerns require additional attention.
AI is here and can help. Start with an always-available backup operator. AI support for the times your staff cannot answer the phone. Asking a patient in the office to wait while your receptionist answers the phone and says “please hold” is not good for anyone. RingIQ backup service is always ready to answer your office phone after 3-Rings, nights, weekends, and holidays. Then consider the days when one of your staff members is out either sick or on vacation. AI can step in and answer the phone automatically, helping to fill the gap so your patients don’t pay the price.
Today, voicemail isn’t good enough. We know from 500,000 patient phone calls that 80% of patients will hang up on voicemail during business hours, and half never call back.
Is it time for your practice to get AI help? RingIQ.ai new 3-Ring Backup is here now. Your office will see immediate results and open a path to more support later this year.
