“Doctor’s office. Can you please hold?” The next few minutes will either make or break the patient experience. A long hold can introduce doubt and indecision when all they did was call to reschedule their appointment. 

Long hold times in healthcare can negatively impact patient satisfaction and retention. A study by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found when patients are on hold for less than two minutes, they report a more positive perception of patient access to care and overall satisfaction. However, when hold times exceed two minutes, frustration grows and that once positive perception shifts to that the practice is difficult to reach. Make them wait for longer than five minutes? More than 90% of callers are likely to disconnect.

If your wait times are even approaching two minutes long, it's a clear sign that your front office may be overwhelmed, and patient satisfaction could be suffering.

Fortunately, there’s a solution to this growing issue: patient communications automation. By introducing AI-powered tools like virtual receptionists, you can drastically reduce, if not eliminate, hold times, streamline operations, and improve both staff efficiency and patient satisfaction. With a virtual agent handling routine tasks, your front office can focus on what truly matters: delivering exceptional patient care. You might wonder what an AI agent can do for your practice, but the real question is, what can't it do?

Automating the Front Desk:

Here are the key benefits of automating with an agent:

1. Always here for your patients: Your font desk team deserves a break, but your patients need immediate assistance. With AI available 24/7, you can ensure patients have access to crucial information – appointments, treatment options, and billing – whenever and wherever they need it. Let AI shoulder the load, reducing burnout and giving your staff the chance to focus on higher-value tasks.
2. Boost your front desk's effectiveness: Your front desk team is the heart of your practice, but they’re often overwhelmed by routine tasks. Automating appointment reminders, cancellations, and general inquiries gives them the time they need to focus on in-office patient care. It’s not just about efficiency, but rather giving your team the time to shine in the areas where they truly make a difference.
3. Simplified scheduling, faster appointments: Scheduling doesn’t have to be a headache. Let AI handle it. It automatically syncs appointments, sends reminders, and updates calendars in real-time. No more missed appointments. No more lost revenue. Just smooth, reliable scheduling that keeps your office running like clockwork.
4. Ongoing care, every step of the way: Patients often feel disconnected once they leave your office. With AI-powered follow-ups, you ensure they never feel forgotten. Whether it’s checking in after a procedure or reminding them of health goals, the virtual agent keeps them engaged and committed to their health journey. It’s not just a visit, it’s an ongoing relationship that shows you care.

Purpose Built for Healthcare: MAIRA by Medsender

Not all AI is created equal. As in any industry, only purpose-built solutions can truly make a difference. Your AI agent must be designed specifically to handle the complex demands of healthcare administration. Generic, off-the-shelf automation tools simply lack this ability. MAIRA was built specifically to automate and refine administrative workflows in healthcare practices. 

MAIRA isn’t just automation. It’s relief. It’s fewer ringing phones, fewer frustrated patients, and a front desk that can focus on the needs of patients present in your office.  MAIRA users report seeing calls handled by humans drop by as much as 80%, leaving your team with more time to focus on caring for patients, not juggling endless tasks. 

See how MAIRA handles patient interactions in real time: 

It’s time to give your front desk a break

Why keep struggling with outdated workflows when a smarter, faster solution is ready for you? See how MAIRA can transform your front office today: Try MAIRA today