GP Surgery and Health Authority 03 Numbers
 PASA Registered |
03 Surgery Connect
A Powerful Phone System that puts Patients before ProfitSurgery Connect Medical Telephony system combines a patient friendly non-geographic local rate 03 Number with comprehensive call handling and appointment systems.
With public disquiet about the use of tariff bearing 0844 numbers by Doctors' Surgeries, plus the Department of Health considering a ban on use of 0844 numbers by the NHS (adhering to it's original charter to be free at the point of access), local call rate 03 numbers are expected to become the preferred choice for GPs and Health concerns (BBC Article).
03 Background
Ofcom, the UK Telecommunications regulator, has issued the 030 number ranges, e.g. 0300 and 0303, for health organizations requiring a national presence, but without callers incurring the additional charges associated with calling an 08 number. Charges for calling 03 numbers are the same as calling standard 01/02 numbers, even from a mobile where they are included in call plans and bundled minutes.
Many medical practices currently use 0844 numbers linked to an in-house or 'virtual' (exchange based) phone system. The revenue generated by the 0844 number is used to offset some of the cost of the call handling service, but in fact typically only a quarter of the revenue generated is fed back to the practice and in the case of many of the providers, the rentals charged are so high that the practices are not really benefiting.
Additionally some 0844 systems have calls artificially extended by unnecessary extension of the pre-queuing messages e.g. "We will now connect you to... surgery", with the sole intention of inflating revenue for the providers.
There is sometimes a misconception that advanced features are only available on 0844 numbers.
03 Surgery Connect Patient Communication
03 Surgery Connect provides a fully automated patient phone system offering a powerful range of features, at significantly lower rental than existing providers, and at no extra cost to the caller above local rate.
Surgery Connect runs alongside existing communications infrastructure and can be managed via the Internet. This adds up to low setup and maintenance costs, unlimited call capacity, minimal training requirement and high resilience.
Patient Friendly Call Queuing
The system is designed to get callers through to a live operator as quickly as possible. In peak periods, when queuing is inevitable, Surgery Connect will optionally give the patient all the information they need to make the experience as painless as possible, such as informing them of their queue position or average wait times.
Call Overflow
When practices are closed, linking enables calls to be taken by another practice, or patients can be directed to an Out of Hours service using the simple-to-use web administration. Surgery Connect can also incorporate recorded information services, secure voice mail and direct links to appointment systems for unattended booking.
Call Queue Wallboard
Calls being held in a queue can be displayed on a wallboard providing immediate feedback on call handling. A variety of parameters, such as time in queue, can be displayed.
03 Surgery Connect Benefits
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03 Surgery Connect Features
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Surgery Connect Suites
03 Surgery Connect can be enhanced with additional Surgery Connect services. Surgery Connect is comprised of 5 patient communication suites:
| "Highly convenient, time saving, and makes communication simple between hospital and patients and their families at home. Families respond to it readily as most people are very familiar with texting these days. I would highly recommend it to other health care professionals. We hope to be able to improve our communication particularly with teenagers by using this system." Sister Julie Flett, Paediatric Cardiac Transplant Liaison Sister, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne. |
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Surgery Connect Incall A Medical Industry specific version of X-on's PhonePresence Virtual PBX system (included in 03 Surgery Connect). |
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Surgery Connect iRemind iRemind keeps patients informed about appointments via SMS, Voice and Email, with the option to confirm or reschedule their appointment. iRemind can also be used as a marketing tool to keep patients up to date with practice news. |
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Surgery Connect Noticeboard The Voicebank Phone-in Noticeboard service reduces the level of incoming calls by providing patients easily accessible practice and medical information 24 hours a day. |
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Surgery Connect Messaging Voicemail and unified messaging for confidential message exchanges between patients and staff. |
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Surgery Connect Alert Emergency notification to groups or individuals by SMS and voice. |
Medical Practice Efficiency
Surgery Connect can be applied to any area of the medical services industry such as GPs, Primary Care Trusts (PCTs), Hospitals, Medical Specialists, Osteopaths, Dentists, Dieticians, Sports Physicians, Podiatrists, Chiropractors and Naturopaths. Improvements in patient communications reduces practice costs and enhances patient satisfaction.
Surgery Connect Information
For more details visit the dedicated site for Surgery Connect.
For further information on 03 Surgery Connect please call 0370 345 5577 or contact X-on.