What is Telephony Integration?
Telephony integration is the process of connecting a hospital’s telephone system to its computer systems. This allows for the automation of many of the tasks involved in handling phone calls, such as transferring calls, looking up patient information, and displaying call notes.
Benefits of Telephony Integration
There are many benefits to telephony integration with hospitals. Some of the most common benefits include:
- Improved Efficiency: Telephony integration can automate many of the tasks involved in handling phone calls, which can save time and improve efficiency. For example, telephony integration can be used to automatically transfer calls to the appropriate department or person or to automatically look up a patient’s record when they call. This can free up employees to focus on other tasks, such as providing patient care or generating leads.
- Improved Productivity: Telephony integration can help to improve productivity by reducing the amount of time employees spend on administrative tasks. For example, telephony integration can be used to automatically send email notifications when a call is received, or to automatically log call details. This can free up employees to focus on more important tasks, such as generating sales or providing patient care.
- Improved Patient Care: Telephony integration can help to improve patient care by providing employees with the information they need to answer patient questions quickly and accurately. For example, telephony integration can be used to automatically display a patient’s record on a computer screen when they call or to automatically retrieve call notes. This can help employees to resolve patient issues more quickly and easily, which can lead to improved patient satisfaction.
- Reduced Costs: Telephony integration can help to reduce costs by reducing the number of employees needed to handle phone calls. For example, telephony integration can be used to automatically transfer calls to a call center or to automatically route calls to the appropriate department or person. This can help hospitals to save money on salaries, benefits, and office space.
How Does Telephony Integration Work?
Telephony integration works by connecting a hospital’s telephone system to its computer systems. This connection allows the two systems to communicate with each other.
When a patient calls the hospital, the call is routed to the telephony integration system. The telephony integration system then retrieves the patient’s information from the hospital’s computer system and displays it on a computer screen.
The healthcare provider can then use the information on the computer screen to answer the patient’s questions or to schedule an appointment.
Types of Telephony Integration
There are two main types of telephony integration: hard-wired telephony integration and software-based telephony integration.
- Hard-wired telephony integration: Hard-wired telephony integration requires a physical connection between the hospital’s telephone system and its computer system.
- Software-based telephony integration: Software-based telephony integration does not require a physical connection between the telephone system and the computer system. Instead, the two systems communicate with each other over a network.
Choosing a Telephony Integration Solution
When choosing a telephony integration solution, it is important to consider the specific needs of the hospital. Some of the factors to consider include:
- The size of the hospital: Larger hospitals may need a more sophisticated telephony integration solution than smaller hospitals.
- The type of hospital: The type of hospital may also affect the type of telephony integration solution that is needed. For example, a hospital with a large emergency department will need a different type of telephony integration solution than a hospital with a large outpatient clinic.
- The budget: The cost of telephony integration solutions can vary widely. It is important to find a solution that fits the hospital’s budget.
Conclusion
Telephony integration can be a valuable tool for hospitals. By automating many of the tasks involved in handling phone calls, telephony integration can improve efficiency, productivity, and patient care, and reduce costs. If you are considering implementing telephony integration in your hospital, it is important to do your research and choose a solution that is right for your needs.