Patient access and accessibility in technology assisted services
In this article, we look at patient access and patient accessibility, why they matter, and how technology helps people access the healthcare...
How many of the issues below fit what your practice is currently going through?
- Losing revenue because of missed phone calls,
- Frustrated patients not getting through,
- Mistakes made by an overwhelmed front desk team,
- High turnover rate of burned out employees,
- Juggling multiple tools that makes work harder, not easier.
If you’ve already started thinking about how to fix them, you probably came across voice AI technology. After all, automation can help with all of these problems.
The thing is, there are many AI solutions out there. Some are general purpose, designed for a broad range of industries. Some are more targeted, built with a specific case in mind.
So how to choose the one that will fit your needs the best?
Instead of a one-size-fits-all option, consider a solution built for healthcare—and even more precisely, for the specific type of medical practice you run.
In this guide, we’ll go through 5 reasons why choosing a specialty-specific AI technology just makes sense.
1. Your patients have different expectations than clients in another industry
A dermatology patient calling about a prescription refill has a different set of needs than someone trying to change a flight. They also speak differently and count on being understood in a specific medical context.
Health-related conversations also require an additional layer of empathy and sensitivity towards your patients.
But the issue here is actually twofold:
- If a voice AI system is built for multiple industries, the way it conducts conversations may not reflect how patients actually interact with your front desk.
- At the same time, these general purpose systems have to satisfy many different requirements, not all of which are relevant for healthcare.
A specialty-focused voice AI system understands the nuances that come up in conversations with patients because it was modeled on relevant data inspired by real calls made by real patients.
It also doesn’t waste resources on features that are simply unnecessary in the healthcare context.
2. Specialty-trained AI agents speak your language
When your AI front desk is powered by a specialty-aware agent, it’s like having a team member who already knows the ins and outs of your clinical workflows.
The AI agent understands what your patients mean when they say “I need my blood thinner renewed” or “Can I reschedule my injection?”
Generic systems may lack pre-built medical terminology and require costly, time-consuming training. This leads to longer onboarding times and more involvement from your team to make the system usable.
In contrast, a specialty-focused agent comes pre-configured for the terminology, visit types, and patient needs that are common in your specialty. That means faster setup, smoother calls, and fewer errors.
Hi, this is Mrs. Smith. I need a refill for my pain management medication.
My name is Susan Smith.
Yeah, that’s correct.
I have enough until the end of the week, so 3 days.
No, it’s been working fine. No side effects.
The same pharmacy is fine—City Pharmacy on Main Street.
That’s perfect. Thank you.
That’s all I needed. Thank you.
A specialty-trained AI agent can easily collect patient details, update your EHR, and notify patients when the refill of their medications is ready—freeing your staff to handle more complex tasks.
3. Integration is smoother when your EHR is already supported
A voice AI agent will be especially helpful for your team and patients if it integrates seamlessly with your EHR system.
Specialty-focused solutions are already invested in building, testing, and supporting integrations with the platforms most commonly used in your field. For instance, if you’re using athenaOne, the integration should work out of the box—it shouldn’t take months to get it up and running. If you’re a dermatology practice using ModMed EMA, a voice AI agent that is deeply integrated with this system will better match your processes and needs.
Vendors who understand your specialty also understand the workflows that matter most—like 24/7 accessibility for OB-GYN practices or prescription refills for pain management clinics.
You’ll simply get more value if the agent integrates directly with your EHR system rather than going through additional layers of integration.
4. Specialty focus = fewer surprises and quicker onboarding
When you choose a general-purpose vendor, the implementation process is often trial and error. It’s likely that the vendor will need to custom build conversation flows for your specialty for the first time, as well as devote more time to integrate with your EHR.
This adds risk, time, and, ultimately, cost.
But with a solution built specifically for your specialty, the workflows have already been tested with practices similar to yours. This gives you confidence that what worked for others will likely work for you—and the practice-specific adjustments that would still need to be made will be less extensive.
Such predictability and guidance matter.
We’ve been working with Talkie for over a year, and during this time, the solution has continued to evolve with new automation, reporting, and integration features. Talkie helped us during times of high staff turnover — it was always available. The latest feature, Talkie Voicemail, was immediately loved by the team and we’ve now extended it to almost all internal extensions.
5. It’s the outcomes that matter most
The ultimate goal of implementing AI voice agents isn’t just simply answering more calls, but rather the benefits that brings to your medical practice:
- reducing no-shows,
- keeping your providers’ calendars full,
- helping patients get access to care faster,
- and preventing staff burnout.
Solutions built with your specialty in mind are better equipped to deliver these outcomes—because they’re optimized for the specific kinds of calls, questions, and follow-ups that happen in your practice every day.
Clients who come to us often have already met with more general AI vendors, where their needs were just one of many. They quickly realize that by choosing a platform focused on medical specialties, they become the center of attention. With this specialized approach, they benefit from a more precise solution that truly understands their unique needs, making AI implementation faster and more effective.
You deserve a solution built for the specific needs of your practice
Regardless of specialty, every practice has its own set of unique needs and rules. It’s crucial that the automation you end up using allows for customization to reflect the specific way your practice operates and any unique circumstances you face.
This includes the ability to configure call routing rules, specifying the data required to create patient cases or tasks in your EHR, and the appointment booking rules that align with your workflows.
Additionally, it’s important to have the option of factoring in certain “unwritten laws” your team follows.
Whether it’s assigning Dr. Smith to pediatric appointments or making sure Dr. Johnson doesn’t work in the mornings, your voice agents need to know how to apply your internal rulebook automatically, just like a seasoned team member would.
The best solution strikes a balance between pre-trained, specialty-focused features and the flexibility to accommodate your individual needs.
Look for a solution that understands your world
Starting with a specialty-focused AI agent means faster results, fewer headaches, and better patient care. It means better understanding of your specific challenges, smoother integration with your EHR, and quicker outcomes.
As a practice manager, your patients trust you with their health. You should be able to trust your tools just as much.
Get a Demo of a Specialty-Focused Medical Voice Agent
