| Upon hiring a professional answering service, you | | | | outages. If in place, it wouldn't hurt to ask how |
| are putting your full trust in knowing that no | | | | often these systems are tested. |
| matter what happens, the professional operators | | | | - Nearby emergency facilities - Has the company |
| will be there to answer the calls and assist to the | | | | teamed up with a local recovery facility to assure |
| needs of your patients when you are unable to. | | | | that they would be able to have access to |
| That is the insurance a reliable call center will | | | | equipment and support they might need to |
| provide when it creates disaster recovery | | | | continue uninterrupted service to your patients in |
| initiatives. | | | | the case of a natural disaster? |
| When you are selecting a medical call center to | | | | - Redundant phone lines - Ask if the company has |
| represent you during your off hours, weekends | | | | phone lines from several different telephone |
| and vacations, it may be a good idea to inquire to | | | | service providers, so that if one route is disrupted |
| see what kind of disaster recovery methods they | | | | for some reason, they would be able to reroute |
| have in place. It's not only good for you to know | | | | to another. |
| that if a natural disaster occurred in any part of | | | | - Alternate locations - In case of emergency, the |
| the country that their services would continue, | | | | company should be able to route your patient's |
| but also the more of these initiatives they have in | | | | calls to a location in another part of the country, |
| place, the clearer is the sign of a quality call | | | | with no interruption of your service. |
| service establishment. | | | | In short, there is no need for a natural disaster or |
| The following are a few examples of the | | | | other type of emergency to keep your patients |
| systems you should be looking for to assure that | | | | from being able to reach you or get the precious |
| your service would continue, even in the case of | | | | medical information they may need during your |
| a major weather disaster or other type of | | | | unavailable hours. When choosing an answering |
| emergency. | | | | service, be sure that they have some kind of |
| - Backup power for both short and long-term | | | | disaster recovery plan in place to continue their |
| outages - Ask if the company has an | | | | service with you regardless of what may |
| uninterrupted power source for short-term power | | | | happening outside the office doors. |
| loss, and/or a generator for use during long-term | | | | |