Search
Close this search box.
Search
Close this search box.

Patient Handling Skills: A Must-Have for Medical Call Centers

doctor with a heart hand gesture

With the growing need for healthcare services, there is also a great demand for call centers supporting the medical industry. A healthcare call center provides services that cater to patients, including appointment scheduling, insurance verification, and medical information.

These services can also be a huge help, especially to those who are elderly or have disabilities. They can also help free up your staff to focus on providing direct care to patients. And now, it also demands that your staff have essential skills fit for the healthcare profession.

Let’s discuss the essential skills a medical call center agent must have.

Patient Handling Skills

What is really important about medical call center agents is their ability to handle patients.

These agents need to be able to handle a wide range of concerns, from simple questions to urgent medical attention, especially in times of emergencies. They also need to be able to do it compassionately and empathetically.

Shedding Light on Empathy

Let us shed light on why this trait is number one. Having empathy is a must in any call center industry. Whether you are talking to catering for a patient, a customer, or a client, once you are a service provider, you face people with needs.

So this is especially important to those in the industry of healthcare.

Patients are often going through difficult times, and they need to feel like they are being cared for by people who understand their situation. An empathetic and caring staff can make a difference in the patient experience.

The Act of Active Listening

Aside from empathy, you need to be an active listener. These are for both being in a patient care environment and a call center environment.

The two industries need staff to listen to any type of concern. Passive listening is simply hearing what is being said. You may be able to repeat back what was said, but you may not fully understand the meaning or intent of the message.

On the other hand, active listening involves paying attention to the speaker’s words, body language, and tone of voice. You also try to understand the speaker’s point of view and what they are trying to communicate.

Create a Safe and Soothing Environment for Medical Call Centers

Medical call center agents can create a safe and soothing environment for patients. This can improve the patient experience and make patients more likely to receive the necessary care.

In addition to these tips, healthcare call center agents can also use the following strategies to create a safe and soothing environment for patients:

customer service representatives on a call on the floor

Use Calming Language

Medical call center agents should avoid using jargon or medical terms that patients may not understand. They should also use a calm and soothing tone of voice.

Create Comfortable Environment

The call center should be clean, well-lit, and comfortable. Patients should have access to water and snacks.

Offer Privacy

Patients should be able to speak in private. Even if agents need some data to record a call for evaluation purposes, set a time for them to have time to express their needs in private. 

Give questions when the call is being handled incognito so the patients will feel relief.

Provide Support

Medical call center agents should be able to provide patients with support and information. They should also be able to connect patients with the appropriate healthcare providers.

Handle with Care: Call Centers for Healthcare

Before you leave this blog, remember that the key to any patient is to handle every call with care.

Practice to heart the strategies suggested above. Remember to create a safe and soothing environment for patients. It will greatly affect a patient’s experience on the other end of the line. Remember, your goal is to let the patients receive the care they need and make them feel better.

By following these strategies, medical call center agents can create a safe and soothing environment for patients. This can improve the patient experience and make patients more likely to receive the necessary care.

Check here other related article: How do Call Center Services Help Healthcare?

Please fill out the information below and a member of our team will be in contact with you shortly.