VoIP technology is increasingly being used by many types of industries, so this week we are going to look at VoIP Services for the NHS.
VoIP Technology
During the past few years, VoIP technology has been integrated more and more into the NHS. The flexibility and functionality it offers is particularly suited to the busy and varied ways that people work in the health sector.
How VoIP Is Used In The NHS
Even the most basic of VoIP systems will all have call waiting, caller id, voicemail and video calling. All of which are useful for any busy office, particularly places that have a high amount of calls coming in. A prime example of this is of course, Doctor’s surgeries.
We are sure that everyone has tried to phone for a doctors appointment first thing in the morning and been left to listen the phone ring and ring, wondering if it is ever going to be answered.
With the advent of VoIP technology this has made for a much better experience for anyone calling a surgery.
Instead of waiting for ages for a receptionist to answer, callers are met with several options, from leaving a voicemail, to arranging for a Doctor to call them back.
So, not only does the caller have a much better experience, it also lessens the burden of a receptionist having to cope with every single caller and means that any doctor can arrange their workload in a more efficient way.
The high quality and clarity of the calls also means it is a lot easier to understand voice messages from multiple callers.
VoIP Flexible Working
Many workers in the NHS will work from different locations, often at very short notice. With VoIP systems, people can take their office telephone number with them, wherever they are.
Also, the VoIP functions are also available, as long as they have an internet connection.
Which means that they can take the virtual office switchboard with them to another department, in a car or working from home.
VoIP Video Calls In The NHS
You may, or may not know, that video medical consultations are increasingly popular across Europe and of course in the NHS.
By using the high quality of audio and video that VoIP technology provides, this has slowly changed the way a lot of Doctors work.
Being able to carry out consultations over a VoIP video call has so many benefits.
For the patient, it means that they don’t have to travel to their doctors surgery, which has always been one of the downsides to having to attend a surgery, whether it is a physical injury or something that is contagious.
Also, some patients find going to a doctors surgery stressful and anxiety causing, so being able to talk to someone in the comfort of their own home could go some way to alleviating any stress or anxiety.
For the Doctor’s it should help their busy workload. They quite often have to balance working in surgery with home visits, working in other offices, team meetings and working from home.
Being able to have video consultations, means that they are able to treat more patients but not at the expense of any other work.
It also means that on some occasions, team meetings and even NHS staff training can be carried out via a VoIP video conference call.
As we are sure everyone is aware, the workload of everyone working in the NHS is quite often incredibly high, so anything that can help or save time is going to be of huge benefit.
VoIP Cloud Storage And The NHS
With VoIP systems storing everything in a cloud, it means that there is obviously less physical equipment or infrastructure.
Which apart from freeing up much needed space it also means that the VoIP functions can be expanded quickly. So extra phone extensions can be added, or custom voicemails can be recorded, so any changes to staff rotas can be accounted for and anyone calling won’t notice any dip in service or call quality.
Phone extensions can be locked for a particular worker. So, anyone trying to get hold of a particular Doctor or nurse urgently doesn’t have to write down different extensions or separate mobile numbers.
VoIP Cost Savings For The NHS
Finally, by using VoIP systems to make audio and video calls there will be, in the long term, substantial cost savings. Not only with the calls themselves, but also by helping with the workload and increasing the efficiency of NHS workers. VoIP has been shown time and time again to reduce the telecoms costs of organisations.
Get In Touch
If you would like to go into more detail about how VoIP systems can be of benefit for the NHS, then please do not hesitate to contact us.
Our team of trained experts will be more than happy to help.