Call Center Outsourcing for Health Care Organizations
By JamesSmith
Nov 21, 2009 - 8:20:10 PM
Call center outsourcing generally makes sense for a health care organization. It allows you to focus your energies on the main aspects of your business as well as your core competencies and in a cost-effective, efficient manner.
Health care organizations considering call center outsourcing need to understand that there are many call center vendors from which to choose. And while many of them may be qualified, some are more qualified than others. You may find one that has state-of-the-art technology but is less than a state-of-the-art service provider. Or you may find exceptional call center infrastructure but the agents do not have the appropriate skill sets.
That is why it is imperative to do extensive due diligence. You will avoid hiring a vendor that may not suit your specific needs and thereby not meet your expectations.
When researching health care call center outsourcing, it is important to consider several factors. You will want to make sure that the company you go with has substantial health care industry experience. That may seem obvious on the surface. However, you had be surprised at how many call centers out there that do not exhibit a sure-fire understanding of the intricacies of health care.
What is more, it is crucial that the health care call center you entrust with your business has worked with major HMOs and pharmaceutical companies, handling their telesales, telemarketing, and inbound call center requirements using the latest call center technology.
You will also want to go with a call center that has a track record of success. More often than not, these will be call centers that are staffed by teleprofessionals who are more than just knowledgeable. They have practical experience to better serve your customers. For example, a call center for a pharmaceutical company might require licensed health care agents working for them as well as the call center being HIPAA compliant. These service providers will ensure that the service they provide is of the highest quality.
When you hire a qualified health care call center referral service, you can be assured of receiving world-class service along with a wealth of services that will serve you well in the long term. Surveys are a major part of the work that is done. These include surveys for physicians, hospitals, and patients. They are invaluable when it comes to learning what you can do to improve your business practices.
The right health care call center will also be proficient in dealing with a wide array of programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid. Winback programs and retention programs are also a top priority for maintaining your customer base while top-of-the-line lead generation will expand that base exponentially.
Clinical trials and drug launches require special treatment and know-how. Experienced health care call centers can handle these sensitive topics with the utmost professionalism and confidence for the most desired results.
A few service offerings include event and class registration, patient scheduling, health plan update notifications, database updating, message management, pharmacy support, and information request handling and 24/7 availability.
The benefits to health care companies from using a qualified call center are innumerable and cannot be overstated. Overall performance will be optimized, which, in turn, will improve the all-important bottom line. An enhanced competitive and strategic position will be realized as well.
Customer acquisition efforts will result in new customers. Retention rates will improve. Labor costs will be cut. Ramp-up time will be decreased. Time to market will be decreased. Market share will be gained.
Outsourcing to a dependable health care call center will minimize costs and maximize quality, consistency, and accountability.
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