Healthcare Technology and News: CRCA Implements NEC IP Communications Solution

The Colon & Rectal Center of Arizona (CRCA) has deployed NEC’s UNIVERGE SV8100 communications server, auto-call distribution (ACD), and UM8000 unified messaging solution. The NEC solutions have helped CRCA to reduce costs and provide a collaborative environment that allows enhanced patient care.

 

The Center has also implemented NEC’s NetLink to seamlessly integrate its two sites and enable centralized reservations with ACD. The design, implementation and management of the project were done by NEC UNIVERGE solutions exclusive dealer, Canyon Telecom.

 

Prior to the deployment, the CRCA had to deal with incompatible telephone systems that did not allow interoffice call transfers. The Center was also challenged by separate office appointment-setting functions, lost calls and extended hold-times for patients.

 

All these problems were solved by NEC IP communications solution and according to Dr. Elizabeth McConnell, founder, CRCA, the solution has cut their phone bills by 20 percent, and enabled the Center to operate with one less appointment clerk.

 

“Regardless of where anyone is, on any given day, the NEC solution provided by Canyon Telecom is completely seamless and helps everyone communicate effectively in order to allow us to give our patients the best care possible,” she added.

 

Following the implementation of NEC’s solution the Center is easy able to transfer outside calls between offices. Today, employees can reach each other with four-digit dialing, regardless of where they are located. ACD not only reduces caller hold times and distributes call volumes evenly among the office clerks it also provides call handling metrics. Thanks to the call handling metrics capability of the solution, CRCA is able to both improve office management and identify training issues.

 

Noting the importance of enhanced delivery and patient scheduling in the competitive environment of healthcare, Larry Levenberg, vice president and general manager, National Channel, NEC Unified Solutions said that this solution will continue helping unify CRCA’s communications as the practice continues to grow and evolve.

 

“CRCA’s needs aligned perfectly with our UNIVERGE360 framework in which the role of individual employees determines the best communications method and technology,” he added.

 

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