Healthcare professionals
Healthcare professionals have discovered how VoIP technology can greatly enhance every aspect of the communication mix. Now, it’s about the cloud. Across the board, traditional phone systems for small businesses are being transformed by VoIP communication systems (Voice over Internet Protocol). When VoIP business phone systems are compared to conventional healthcare phone service, it’s really no contest. The benefits of VoIP are countless, and the advantages of switching make for a good business decision.
Switching from a traditional small business phone system to VoIP is simply about cost savings. And in some healthcare facilities, these cost savings can be quite significant. Without question, VoIP offers a huge range of communication features – all at an affordable price point. Whatever the scope of the features, a VoIP healthcare phone service delivers far more efficient than existing phone systems. VoIP is the economical solution that fully streamlines both internal and external communications. It’s very hard to argue with more features for less cost.
For healthcare providers to maintain a high standard of service, it’s essential to have solid and reliable communication. In bigger clinic settings, where healthcare workers are on the move, phone communication requires a more robust infrastructure than traditional “wire” systems.With VoIP, everyone can be seamlessly connected all the time, whatever the size of the facility. VoIP phone systems for small businesses allow for access from multiple locations – and because everything is cloud-based, there’s additional access from laptops, tablets, and smartphones.
Cloud-based VoIP system
Another important advantage of a cloud-based VoIP system is FLEXIBILITY. Based on growth and expansion, a healthcare organization can very easily scale up (or down) according to need. This is not an easy task to achieve with regular business phone systems and could end up costing a lot. Flexibility is key for many healthcare organizations because office systems and procedures are often being adjusted. Beyond the benefits of scalability, VoIP also makes it possible to add system features as required. It’s all about increasing operational efficiency and keeping costs in check.
Switching to VoIP from a conventional small business phone system makes abundant sense. At the same time, many healthcare facilities are simply fearful about the switching process. The truth is, with a good service provider, the shift to cloud-based VoIP is easy and straightforward. The switchover to VoIP does not have to be effort-intensive or time-consuming. Yes – change can be difficult – but setting up a cloud-based phone system is simpler than most anticipated. And with a reliable VoIP vendor, the new system and software can be installed and operational overnight.
At Vivant, we’re providing the healthcare industry with custom-designed VoIP systems to meet even the most demanding needs. If your facility operates from multiple locations – we have a solution. If your employees need to transfer calls between locations – we have a solution. We’ve even got system features if your team needs to “call transfer” to a cell phone or smart device. With Vivant, we make every effort to simply VoIP implementation and to provide you with a cloud-based phone system that meets your needs, improves productivity, and keeps costs down.
HIPAA Considerations for Healthcare VoIP
Phone calls, voicemails, and call recordings in a medical practice can contain protected health information (PHI). When you evaluate a VoIP provider, ask:
- Will the provider sign a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) if they may handle PHI?
- How are calls, voicemails, and recordings encrypted and stored?
- What access controls and audit logs are available?
- How are voicemail-to-email and call recording features configured to limit exposure of PHI?
For a deeper look, see our guide to HIPAA-ready phone systems and services. This is general information, not legal advice, so confirm requirements with your compliance officer.
Phone Features That Matter in Clinical Settings
- Auto-attendant and call routing: send appointment, billing, and clinical calls to the right team and route urgent calls appropriately after hours.
- Multi-location calling: transfer calls between sites and let staff work from any location.
- Mobile and softphone apps: keep providers reachable while they move between rooms or facilities.
- Voicemail transcription and notifications: speed up call-backs.
- Reporting: see call volume, wait times, and missed calls to improve patient access.
Browse more options in our guide to medical office phone systems.
Planning a Switch Without Disrupting Patients
- Inventory your lines, numbers, fax, alarm, and credit card lines.
- Design call flows with input from front-desk staff.
- Schedule number porting during a low-volume time.
- Register an accurate emergency address for each location.
- Train staff and have support ready on launch day.
Keep Patients Reachable Even If the Internet Fails
Because VoIP depends on your internet connection, pair it with a backup internet service so a single outage does not cut off patient calls. Learn more about our healthcare internet and phone systems.
Ready to take the next step? Talk to a Vivant specialist. Explore our SmartCONNECT backup internet.
