Top 7 Benefits of AI & Automated Phone Calls

published on 07 October 2024

Automated phone calls are revolutionising healthcare by combining Telehealth with AI. Here's why they're game-changing:

  1. Better Patient Follow-Up

  2. Faster Work Processes

  3. Lower Costs

  4. More Patient Involvement

  5. Easier Data Collection

  6. Better Medication Use

  7. Simpler Appointment Booking

Quick stats:

  • 78% contact rate across all age groups

  • 41% reduction in hospital readmissions

  • 70% reduction in no-shows

  • 25% diagnosis rate for pre-cancerous polyps in one study

Benefit Impact
Staff time saved 70%
Cost savings Up to $260,348 over 88 weeks
Patient engagement 95% rate with 4.8/5 star rating
Appointment booking 43% scheduled after hours

Automated calls are just one piece of the telehealth puzzle. As healthcare evolves, these smart systems will play a bigger role in keeping us healthy.

Better Patient Follow-Up

Automated calls are changing the game for patient follow-up.

They're persistent: These systems can call patients multiple times over two days. The result? A 78% contact rate across all age groups.

They catch problems early: By asking about discharge instructions and meds, issues don't slip through the cracks.

They keep people out of the hospital: One study found text messages cut readmissions by 41% within 30 days.

They shorten hospital stays: On average, automated follow-up cuts stays by 26%.

They help older folks: Patients over 85 often need extra support. 19% had questions about next steps, compared to 12% of younger patients.

"Automated follow-up isn't just efficient – it's transforming patient care across the board."

2. Faster Work Processes

Automated phone calls speed up healthcare tasks. Here's how:

Appointment management: AI handles bookings and reminders. This cuts no-shows and frees up staff.

Patient triage: Automated calls screen patients after discharge. At UCSF, a program reached 78% of patients within 3 days.

Payment processing: Jordan Kordosky from RevSpring says:

"Automating inbound pay-by-phone calls cut employee call volume by 20 to 30 percent."

Data processing: AI systems work faster than humans. Jorie's AI Bot is 500% quicker than manual processing.

24/7 support: AI chatbots handle routine tasks like scheduling and prescription refills around the clock.

These changes let staff focus on complex patient care.

3. Lower Costs

Automated phone calls slash healthcare expenses:

Staff savings: One healthcare org saved 2.275 full-time nursing equivalents weekly. Result? $260,348 net savings over 88 weeks for 1,753 patients.

Fewer no-shows: Missed appointments? A $150 billion yearly headache. Automated reminders can slash no-shows by 70%. More revenue, happier staff.

Cheaper payments: Automated payment calls cost 80% less per minute than humans. Jordan Kordosky from RevSpring says:

"Automating inbound pay-by-phone calls cut employee call volume by 20 to 30 percent."

Fewer readmissions: Each hospital readmission? $15,200. Automated follow-ups help prevent these. Medicare spends $26 billion yearly on avoidable returns.

Efficient panel management: Study shows automated call systems (ACS) crush outreach costs:

Method Cost per Completed Screening Cost per Completed Workflow
Standard $45.39 $31.32
ACS-assisted $15.85 $13.68

Always on: AI handles inquiries 24/7. No overtime pay. Better care, lower costs.

4. More Patient Involvement

Automated calls are changing the game in healthcare. Here's how:

Patients miss 23.1% of appointments without reminders. Automated calls fix this.

One health system used these calls for colorectal screenings. Result? They found pre-cancerous polyps in 25% of patients.

66% of Americans have gotten automated healthcare messages. Half felt more valued because of it.

A 2022 study showed automated texts cut hospital readmissions by 41%.

These calls also help patients take meds on time.

Metric Without Automation With Automation
Appointment No-Shows 23.1% Way down
Patient Feeling Valued N/A Up 50%
30-Day Readmission Risk Baseline Down 41%
Screening Participation Low Up 25% (one study)

Want to make the most of this? Try these:

  1. Use SMS. It gets a 45% response rate. Email? Only 6%.

  2. Make messages personal. Patients like that.

  3. Offer choices: text, voice, email.

  4. Send timely instructions. Like colonoscopy prep info.

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5. Easier Data Collection

Automated calls are a game-changer for gathering patient info. Here's why:

They're fast and accurate. No more scribbling on clipboards. Patients respond, and boom - data's in the system.

It's real-time. As patients answer, the info's there. No waiting around.

Staff? They're freed up. Less time punching in data, more time for patient care.

Check out these numbers:

Manual Process Automated Process
60% of time on paperwork Way less paper shuffling
$120 to redo a lost file Digital storage = no lost files
20-min average visits 12.5-min average visits

Real-world win: Adelante Healthcare in Arizona. They used automated messages for health campaigns. Result? 7.5% more colorectal cancer screenings.

"At Diagnostikare, everything starts with Infermedica API for patient intake. We're now serving over 20,000 patients through enterprise companies in Mexico." - Rafael López, Co-Founder & Managing Director, Diagnostikare.

Bottom line: Automated calls make data collection a breeze. They save time and boost patient care. For healthcare providers aiming to up their game, it's a no-brainer.

6. Better Medication Use

Automated phone calls are changing how people take their meds. Here's the scoop:

  • They remind you when it's time for your dose

  • They explain how much to take and when

  • They let you know when it's time to refill

Check out these numbers:

What It Does How Much It Helps
Boosts med-taking From 50-60% to 95% in some cases
Saves money $100 billion a year in the US
Saves lives 125,000 fewer deaths each year

Real-world examples:

A study with schizophrenia patients saw med-taking jump from 50% to 95% over three years.

PainScript's platform checks in with chronic pain patients daily, tracking how well they follow their care plan.

Mike Linnert, CEO of Actium Health, says:

"To meet patients' expectations, achieve loyalty and drive improved health outcomes, healthcare systems and providers need to think beyond patient engagement, to patient activation."

Actium Health's CENTARI platform shows what AI can do:

  • 62% of patients made appointments after calls

  • Hospital quality rating up by 2.25 stars

  • 5 stars on almost all med-taking measures

The takeaway? Automated calls make taking meds easier. They save cash, boost health, and keep people alive. For healthcare providers who want better results, it's a no-brainer.

7. Simpler Appointment Booking

Automated calls make booking appointments a snap. Here's why:

Book Anytime: Patients can schedule 24/7. 43% of self-scheduled appointments happen after hours.

Quick Booking: Automated systems cut booking time from 8.1 minutes to under 60 seconds.

Show Up More: Automated reminders slash no-shows by 41%.

Check out these results:

Benefit Result
Appointment boost 5.7% to 14% in 6 weeks
Weekly online bookings 400+
Yearly savings per employee $5,000

One health system saw a big jump in scheduled appointments just weeks after going automated.

"Healthcare systems need to think beyond patient engagement, to patient activation", says Mike Linnert, CEO of Actium Health.

AI-powered scheduling can:

  • Match patients to the right doctors

  • Send auto confirmations and reminders

  • Gather pre-visit info

The result? Happy patients, relaxed staff, and a smoother healthcare system. Everyone wins.

Conclusion

Automated phone calls are changing healthcare. Here's why:

  1. Faster diagnoses: AI-powered calls help spot diseases quicker than humans.

  2. Lower costs: Automation can cut yearly expenses by half.

  3. Always available: Patients get health info 24/7.

  4. Less waiting: AI handles lots of calls, reducing wait times.

  5. Fewer no-shows: Automated reminders work well.

  6. Smart decisions: AI uses patient data to help diagnose better.

  7. Staff focus: Automation frees up staff for important tasks.

What's next for automated calls in telehealth?

Trend What it means
More AI Quicker diagnoses, personalized care
Virtual helpers Support anytime
Remote checks Real-time health data

Healthcare providers should think about using AI phone systems. Why? One study found that just using automated reminders cut no-shows from 11.8% to 6.9%.

"When we automated pay-by-phone calls, we handled 20 to 30 percent fewer calls ourselves." - Jordan Kordosky, Senior Product Manager, OmniChannel

As telehealth grows, automated calls will be key. The trick? Finding the sweet spot between machines and humans for the best patient care.

Things to Think About When Using Automated Calls

Automated calls in healthcare can be tricky. You need to balance tech with personal care and keep patient info safe. Here's what to keep in mind:

Don't forget the human touch

Automation's great for efficiency, but it can't replace real people. Train your staff to use tech while still giving patients personal care. This way, you free up time for meaningful patient chats.

Keep patient info private

Healthcare providers have strict rules for automated calls:

What to do How to do it
Get permission Ask before leaving messages with family or on voicemail
Keep it short Stick to 60 seconds or less
Stay on topic Only health info, no billing or marketing
Don't overdo it Max one call a day, three a week

Follow the rules

You've got to stick to HIPAA and TCPA guidelines:

  • Sign agreements with phone companies for HIPAA

  • Start each call with your name and contact info

  • Always give an opt-out option

Build patient trust

Patients might not like automated systems at first. To fix this:

  • Show that the system can chat naturally

  • Use simple, clear language

  • Point out the perks, like faster follow-ups and reminders

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