You are looking for recommendations for a children’s ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist for your three year old. He has already had two sets of ear tubes and adenoids removed; however, he continues to be plagued with sinus infections and other problems. You like the doctor you are currently working with, but you are searching for a second opinion in hope’s of finding your son some relief. At the top of your requirements is a physician who is not so busy that they can spend a little little more time explaining and answering your questions.
Currently, you are with one of the most popular doctors in town, but her popularity means that there are a lot of patients who see her. As a result, you often feel as if the appointments are rushed and that there is no real avenue for discussions about other possible options.
Finding a Doctor Who You Are Comfortable with Is Key to Getting the Best Health Care
Whether you are looking for a family physician or a pediatrician, or you are searching for someone who can give you a second opinion about a specific condition, it is important that you are working with someone you trust and can communicate with. There are times, however, when navigating the network infrastructure to talk to a real person can be frustrating. In a time when so many more Americans are gaining access to health care insurance the one down side may be that some offices are even more busy. And while everyone wants to know that affordable health care is an option for all, it is also important to know that you have the time you need to address your individual health concerns with your family physician. Medical business phone systems attempt to ease the congestion of calls at a front desk, but can serve as a deterrent to people who are trying to get information quickly. The best network infrastructures provide types of business phone systems that are both functional for the staff, while at the same time being convenient for the patients.
Interestingly enough, at the same time that more and more people have health insurance, there is a shortage of providers who are able to see these patients. As the nation prepares to deal with an even bigger shortage in the future as a result of the graying of our nation, there is a real push to get more people to enter this field. From accelerated nursing programs to self care processes in place in medical schools around the nation, there is a concentrated effort to get and keep the best future people for these important careers.
New phone systems are too often confusing for patients who are trying to find care for the first time. It is far better, for instance, for new patients to get to talk to a real person than having to navigate a complicated telephone network infrastructure. And while the security solutions provided by some of these phone systems can be an added bonus, they are defeating the purpose if they are causing possible patients to hang up out of frustration.
Consider some of these facts and figures about the roles that phone network infrastructures can play in the kind of access that people get to health care and their insurance:
- The U.S. Chamber of Commerce estimates that employee theft costs employers between $20 billion and $40 billion a year; surveillance cameras can help, especially in medical settings where theft can involve life threatening narcotics.
- Up to 64 million U.S employees hold jobs that are compatible at least part-time telework. This is a representation of 50% of the nation’s workforce). In fact, voice over IP (VoIP) technology makes phone systems flexible and portable and has extended to the tele medicine platform.
- The VoIP industry as a whole grew more than $76 billion by the end of 2015, and the number of small office and home office subscribers is projected to grow to $262 million, an amount that represented a 50% increase since the year 2011.
- New phone systems attempt to ease the workload of staff while at the same time create convenience for patients.
