AI phone calling agents are transforming the healthcare industry by addressing challenges that occur outside the doctor’s office. Patient care doesn’t just happen during treatment; it also relies on effective coordination and communication.
Some of these challenges include:
- Care coordination and scheduling appointments.
- Providing post-discharge information.
- Conducting follow-up calls to ensure recovery.
These virtual assistants, designed to sound and respond like real human operators, provide round-the-clock patient support, reduce administrative workloads, and improve the quality of care. They ensure seamless and efficient communication while being cost-effective to implement and maintain.
What are AI phone calling agents?
- AI phone calling agents are built to sound and respond like human operators, making interactions feel natural.
- Available 24×7, they can handle any number of calls simultaneously without delays.
- They are significantly cheaper to set up and maintain compared to traditional call centers or additional staffing.
- These agents can:
- Scheduling appointments.
- Answering frequently asked questions.
- Providing follow-up care instructions.
- Relaying medical information securely.
- Integrating seamlessly with electronic health records (EHR) systems.
Why are AI phone calling agents are an advantage
- Available 24/7 patient support
- Healthcare providers can’t always be available, but patients may have urgent needs at any time. AI agents provide reliable, around-the-clock assistance. For instance, a patient experiencing symptoms late at night can call to get immediate guidance or schedule a next-day consultation.
- Cost savings
- AI phone agents handle routine tasks like appointment reminders or FAQs, reducing the need for additional staff. This allows healthcare providers to allocate resources to more critical patient care activities while minimizing overhead costs.
- Consistent service
- AI agents ensure patients receive consistent and accurate information. For example, they can standardize responses to common questions about medication dosages or appointment policies, reducing errors and confusion.
- Patient satisfaction
- Timely responses and reliable service improve the patient experience. Whether assisting with post-discharge care or answering questions about medical reports, AI phone agents make patients feel cared for and valued.
Use cases of AI phone calling agents for healthcare
Inbound calling use cases:
- Appointment scheduling
- Patients can call to book appointments. AI agents check the calendar, schedule slots, and send reminders. They can also provide information on required documentation or pre-visit preparations.
- Managing patient inquiries
- AI agents handle inquiries such as:
- “What are the clinic’s operating hours?”
- “How do I refill my prescription?”
- “What is the process for a lab test?” This reduces the administrative burden on healthcare staff.
- AI agents handle inquiries such as:
Outbound calling use cases:
- Medication adherence reminders
- AI agents can remind patients to take their prescribed medications on time, improving treatment outcomes and reducing the likelihood of complications.
- Post-discharge follow ups
- Proactively calling patients to remind them of annual check-ups, vaccination schedules, or health screenings encourages preventative care, improving overall community health.
How can you test and implement AI phone agents in healthcare and clinical practices
| Step | Action |
| Audit and Planning | Assess current processes, identify areas for AI automation, and ensure compatibility with tools. |
| Implementation | Test with real scenarios, and train staff on using the system. |
| Optimization | Review performance metrics, update policies and details, and schedule regular system improvements. |
At Augment, we believe that the healthcare sector is in for a wave of changes rippling off of the artificial intelligence page. It’s why we’ve invested so much time, effort, and care into building solutions with patient-centered care.
If any of the above resonated, let’s talk. Our engineering team works directly with healthcare businesses and to craft AI phone agent solutions to fit their unique business needs and technology stacks. Schedule a time using the button below and get on the phone with one of our best and brightest.