Physician Answering Services

 

If we go back few years, there wasn’t any concept of emergency call centers, healthcare call centers and even physician answering service. They have recently popped up mainly due to the upcoming health hazard and risk of life. Same can be said for physician answering services, as this virtual call center is very new to the world and also to the medical arena. The main aim of the physician answering service is to bridge the gap between the doctor and the patient. Means at any point of time or emergency the patient can easily have an access to doctor. This means it not only saves time but also a life which is at the risk of death. This connecting port always endeavors for sending the right information to the right person at the right time. This means a certain life can be saved and also person gets the hassle free service.

Seeing the risk of life, now you can find physicians answering service at every hospital, medical institutions, nursing homes and many more places. And you’ll be surprised to know that, nowadays majority of the physicians, pharmacists and other health care facilities are also opting for these very handy medical and emergency call centers. The main highlight of this physician answering service is that they have multiple advantages as this turnkey physician referral system takes care of their after hours referral calls, scheduling appointments and even fielding emergency calls. But all in all it is the person or patient who is the beneficial end.

According to the medical experts these emergency and medical call centers are the boon in disguise for the people as they are the perfect platform that takes away the stalking factor away in state of emergency. And the another highlight is that, now patients have an easy access to the physicians as all they have to do is select a physician on the basis of ZIP code or distance or even AMA medical specialization. Getting access to a physician wasn’t so easy before.

Majority of the health care call centers also equipped with e germane information to respond to the queries of the patient regarding the physicians. This means that the patient will get the exact and authentic information and guidance. Also this physician answering services or even doctor on call acts as a mediator both benefiting from the association. Thus next time if you are in any emergency just call the physician by selecting the area ZIP code and he will be at your service in a moment.

Nicholas Koutrakos is a well known author, writes on health care services. For more information visit http://www.call4health.com

Answering Machine Software

The wonderful thing about advancing technology is that your phone and PC are very close to being one. There is now software available that allows you to answer your calls, or allow your calls to be answered and sent to an “answering machine” through your computer. No longer will you have to have that irritating answering machine as part of one of your phones, or a separate entity altogether, there is now software that you can download directly to your computer that will allow you to use your computer as an answering machine.

The levels of capability through this software will vary. Some of the software will take the voice messages and transfer them to .wav files and you will be able to listen to them through software installed on your computer that can play a .wav file. Most recent computers will have that software pre-installed so you won’t have to go out and buy additional software. Some of the internet answering machine software is so technologically advanced that it will include caller id when a call is coming through and call waiting. Some of the software will even allow you to use your PC as a telephone connection in which you can speak with the caller through the PC.

The software that will allow you to use your PC as a telephone will also allow you to screen and/or block unwanted calls. No longer will you have to pick up a phone call as you are sitting down to dinner only to have someone go on a three minute diatribe about how you really need life insurance. You can avoid that call altogether by allowing your computer to do the work for you. As with caller ID if you see that a phone number is unfamiliar, you have the option of not answering the phone. If it truly is someone that is trying to reach you for something, they will have the option to leave a message.

An internet answering machine will even work for you when you are online. If you are busily working online and a call comes through, an internet answering machine will take the message which you can return at a time that’s convenient for you. In this way, you do not have to have extra hardware throughout your home, you will have your phone answering device hidden within your computer which will be one less thing that you need in your home.

An internet answering machine will save you space, time, and energy. You will not have to worry about tapes in answering machines being full or needing replacing. You will not have to worry about a full inbox in a digital answering machine. These problems will not occur if you use your PC as your answering machine. This will store your messages for you even when you are online and not able to get to your phone. This advance in technology makes communicating easier for everyone and organizes your messages nicely for you to return when you have time.

For detailed information on the answering machine software by Callwave , visit The Internet Answering Machine at http://www.theinternetansweringmachine.com

Answering Machine Software

The wonderful thing about advancing technology is that your phone and PC are very close to being one. There is now software available that allows you to answer your calls, or allow your calls to be answered and sent to an “answering machine” through your computer. No longer will you have to have that irritating answering machine as part of one of your phones, or a separate entity altogether, there is now software that you can download directly to your computer that will allow you to use your computer as an answering machine.

The levels of capability through this software will vary. Some of the software will take the voice messages and transfer them to .wav files and you will be able to listen to them through software installed on your computer that can play a .wav file. Most recent computers will have that software pre-installed so you won’t have to go out and buy additional software. Some of the internet answering machine software is so technologically advanced that it will include caller id when a call is coming through and call waiting. Some of the software will even allow you to use your PC as a telephone connection in which you can speak with the caller through the PC.

The software that will allow you to use your PC as a telephone will also allow you to screen and/or block unwanted calls. No longer will you have to pick up a phone call as you are sitting down to dinner only to have someone go on a three minute diatribe about how you really need life insurance. You can avoid that call altogether by allowing your computer to do the work for you. As with caller ID if you see that a phone number is unfamiliar, you have the option of not answering the phone. If it truly is someone that is trying to reach you for something, they will have the option to leave a message.

An internet answering machine will even work for you when you are online. If you are busily working online and a call comes through, an internet answering machine will take the message which you can return at a time that’s convenient for you. In this way, you do not have to have extra hardware throughout your home, you will have your phone answering device hidden within your computer which will be one less thing that you need in your home.

An internet answering machine will save you space, time, and energy. You will not have to worry about tapes in answering machines being full or needing replacing. You will not have to worry about a full inbox in a digital answering machine. These problems will not occur if you use your PC as your answering machine. This will store your messages for you even when you are online and not able to get to your phone. This advance in technology makes communicating easier for everyone and organizes your messages nicely for you to return when you have time.

For detailed information on the answering machine software by Callwave , visit The Internet Answering Machine at http://www.theinternetansweringmachine.com

Making a Living from Home by Answering Sales or Customer Service Calls for Companies

Working at home for a large company is a good way to make a living yet still maintain independence. To cut costs on office space, many companies are allowing some of their workforce to work from home. This trend is beneficial for anyone who doesn't like working in cubicles and listening to noisy co-workers gossip. Most jobs of this nature are in sales or customer service. Working from home is not for everyone. Here are the usual requirements for most telephone home agent jobs.

A computer with reliable internet service

In order to communicate with clients and the home office, workers need to be computer-literate and own a recent-model computer with high-speed internet service. Dial-up is usually not allowed, because it is slower by nature. Most companies require high-speed or cable internet. You simply download your company's software into your computer. They assign you ID numbers to plug into the sign-in screen, to hook your computer to the company's system. This allows your supervisor to monitor your calls, and help you when needed. Since the boss isn't there with you in-person, he or she usually will communicate with you through telephone, email and instant message instead.

Printer and other accessories

It helps to have a printer to print out documents sent to you from your bosses. A hands-free headset is a necessity, if you don't want to spend the day holding the phone to your ear. Your company may assign equipment to you, if they have special items you will need to do the job right. Another good item to have is a tape-recorder, for playing back phone calls to your boss. Most companies record their calls, and of course, tell the caller that the call is recorded. This is for the safety of both customer and the company. If a customer has a question about the sale, they can pull up that call and hear it later, to see what the concern was. Whatever items your company requires, go with their recommendations so you will be in sync with the company's needs and preferences.

A quiet environment

Let me repeat, a quiet environment. Loud pets, kids or other distractions need to be kept out of the room you work in while you are on the phone. If the caller hears mayhem in the background, they will wonder what kind of company this is, and not be willing to buy from you. Would you give your credit card number out to someone with a barking dog or screaming child in the background? Paying customers are righfully, wary of things like this. Hire a babysitter or put the dog outside while you work, to avoid having to explain yourself to your customer, and possibly, your boss.

An organized work space

What I did was buy a three-ring notebook and a large package of clear page-protectors at an office supply store, when I was in training. Trainers and teachers almost always hand out a volume of important guides and reference material to employees. To do the job right, it shouldn't end up as a pile of unorganized papers on your desk. Put each of them in your notebook, in order, and use them. If a customer asks you a question, it is important to get to those answers quickly, if you don't know it by memory. Memorize the material in your book and revise it whenever new material is sent to you. It makes work easier and more efficient to keep your home office as organized as possible.

A comfortable chair that is easy on the spine

Trust me, if you sit in an uncomfortable chair day in and day out, you may end up with lower back problems if you don't get a more supportive replacement. That happened to me, and I had a chair with lumbar support, so I had to run out and get an ever better one! After three years of sitting as I work, I had a herniated disk and was unable to walk or even sit up for ten weeks. It was torture. Word to the wise, get the most supportive and comfortable chair that you can afford. If you get neck problems, get a cervical pillow (for the neck region of your spine.) If the lower back gives you trouble, get a lumbar spine wedge pillow to help make you more comfortable and take the pressure off of your lower spine. Our spines control just about everything in our bodies, in some way, so it is a necessity to be kind to your spine.

If solitude and a quiet environment appeal to you, then working as a home agent may appeal to you. Whether it's processing orders, selling or handling returns, working on the phone is an interesting job that can be both frustrating and entertaining (overly mental callers are my coworkers' and my favorites, because they make the day go faster.) Go with the flow, and remember that the customer pays your salary. Give them the courtesy and attention you would want in return. Doing this will help to insure your success as an independent home agent.

Carolyn McFann is a scientific and nature illustrator, who owns Two Purring Cats Design Studio, which can be seen at: http://www.cafepress.com/twopurringcats . Educated at the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York, Carolyn is a seasoned, well-traveled artist, writer and photographer. Besides handling numerous assignments in the US, she has lived and worked in Cancun, Mexico. Clients include nature parks, museums, scientists, corporations and private owners. She has been the subject of tv interviews, articles for newspapers and other popular media venues.

Can You Make Money Operating a Phone Answering Service from Home?

A phone answering service is definitely something you can operate from home as a home-based business. There are some turn-key business opportunities where companies actually recruit home-based phone answering service providers, generally to accept inquiry calls for product information. Some of these involve sales, some involve technical support, and some are as simple as taking down a person's address and phone number and scheduling them for a follow-up call or visit, or taking a message.

Another option is to start your very own phone answering service and to build your own client base. Sometimes this is a better alternative than going with turn-key opportunities because, with a turn-key operation, if the company you are working for goes under, your business is shot. When you've built your own client- base, it may hurt your business to lose a client, but you can always get busy finding new clients to compensate for the loss of business.

One woman I knew signed up to answer phones for a company that sold tarot readings. She figured it was a scam, but there were no start-up costs involved, so she decided to give it a try. The way the phone answering service worked was, when she was ready to answer phones, she dialed a number and signed into the system. When she was signed in, inquiry calls were forwarded to her home phone. She got paid a flat fee for every phone call she answered through her phone answering service, and then got paid a bonus if she scheduled an appointment with the tarot reader for the caller. She received weekly checks for the calls that she took, plus the bonuses.

The benefits of this type of arrangement are, you don't have to do much work to get started, and you can work when you want to. The main disadvantage is, it is an opportunity that could be here today and gone tomorrow. Stability is sometimes a concern if you are depending on the income and the company shuts down, or even decreases their marketing because your volume of calls depends upon their efforts, not your own.

If you start your own phone answering service, you may have some trouble getting clients. Only certain types of businesses actually hire phone answering services and many of them are declining due to the availability of cell phones. Even so, some service conscious entrepreneurs and service providers who simply do not want their customers to have to speak to voice mail, and some don't want their work interrupted by phone calls, so there is still a demand for home-based phone answering services.

If you open your own home-based phone answering service, you can define a broad target market and get clients that are not local; however, in many cases, the best place to get clients is from your community. Entrepreneurs who provide services at a customer's home or place of business are great targets for a home-based phone answering service. Plumbers, electricians, painters, contractors, roofers, carpet and tile layers, landscapers, home remodelers, home decorators, and so forth are good examples. For instance, if they are roofing a house, they don't want to stop what they are doing to answer the phone, and having office staff to answer the phone is not usually financially viable for small trade businesses such as these. Your home-based phone answering service may be just what they need to keep their business professional without the overhead costs of an office.

Some home-based phone answering services provide services for standard office tasks as well. Typing, entering data into a bookkeeping system, preparing bills and other mail, or filling orders are some services you can offer that are complementary to a phone answering service. By offering additional services, you will make the most of your time, rather than just sitting around waiting for the phone to ring. With a little thought and innovation, and a good sales pitch to pick up clients, you can make money from a home-based phone answering service.

Christopher J. Enders. Are you at the end of your rope, fed up and confused by all the scrambled internet marketing advice you're getting? Whether you are new to internet marketing, or a website owner who wants to make more money from your website, learn the proven strategies that will sky-rocket your internet business at http://BiznessTips.com

How You and Your Business Can Benefit from an Answering Service

A large number of individuals dream of owning their own business. A number of those individuals are able to make that dream come true. If you are one of those individuals, there may come a point in time when you have too much business. Too much business often means a large amount of money. Instead of complaining about too much business, there are many business owners who take action. This action often involves outside assistance, such as an answering service.

An answering service is designed to provide your customers with a real voice instead of an automated answering machine, when you are unavailable to answer their calls. Answering services operate all around the world. Their goals are the same, but there are many individuals and companies who operate in different ways. Despite the different ways of operation, it is possible that your business can benefit from an answering service.

The first step in determining whether or not your business can benefit from an answering service is to determine whether or not your business needs to use one. This can be done by examining the type of business you run, the type of clients that you have, and the number of clients who communicate with you on a daily basis. These are just a few of the many factors that should be examined.

When it comes to the type of business you have, you should determine when people will need your service. A retail store may not necessarily need an answering service. This is because most customers are aware that retail stores have set hours. However, if you operate a law firm, plumbing business, or another business along the same lines, you may need to use an answering service. Customers who need your services at a specific time want to be able to talk to a real person. An answering service could help to keep those customers from turning to a competing business.

The type of clients you have is similar to the type of business that you have. As previously mentioned, lawyers and repair workers should be available at just about anytime of the day. Crime and roof leafs do not have a set schedule. Since you do have a life, an answering service could not only benefit your business, but your personal life as well.

In addition to the type of clients that you have, you will also want to examine the number of clients that you have. If you are a small business with only a few clients, you may be able to handle them all on your own or with other inside assistance. Many business owners turn to answering services when their workload becomes too much to handle. An answering service could prevent you and your other employees from becoming overworked.

If you feel that your business needs an answering service, you should examine your options. Once you find the perfect answering service to work with, it is likely that you will be pleased with the results. Very few business owners have complaints when it comes to using a professional answering service.

Ira Spere is a writer for EFLS . com where you will discover a wealth of resources on an answering service and other related information.