Call Intercept...it's SO quiet around here!

[WebmasterAlex]

Our phone company is offering a new service called "Call Intercept". If someone calls with anything other than a valid number on the caller ID, it requires them to record their name or company before our phone even rings. When we pick up the phone, we hear the recording and can then take the call, refuse the call, or play a recording that says we don't take telemarketing calls!
I can't BELIEVE how much less the phone has rung in the last 48 hours....
It even has a 4 digit code that you can give out so that if a friend of relative is calling in that has a blocked number it will over ride and the call will go straight through... (like when my DW calls from work)
It's only 5 bucks a month and I would pay 25...

 

[olena]

Around here, we call it privacy director. Whatever the name, my sanity sure loves it.....

 

[snuggles]

Oh WOW I sure wish that our phone company would offer that. Never fails, either everybody is asleep or we are eating...

 

[EROS]

Alex, "Call Intercept" has been driving me CRAZY when I call patients . Many hospitals do NOT make their number available via caller I.D. ; if no one is home with "Call Intercept" there is NO WAY to leave a message. The recording simply states that the "party is unavailable" and then ends the call.

 

[WebmasterAlex]

Hmmmm hadn't thought of that.. I guess you could use your cell phone.....or if enough people get it, the hospital will have to unblock their number.
Try dialing *82 before the number, it unblocks the caller ID but I don't know if it will work on the hospital system.

 

[EROS]

It comes up when I try to call patients from my home, where I also have my number blocked . If they're not home, there's no way that I can leave a message.

 

[WebmasterAlex]

actually...maybe it works different in different places but I just tested mine from my cell phone and it seems to know that we have an answering machine, after waiting out the music on hold I got the message "now connecting to an answering machine" and the answering machine kicked in.
Have you been waiting for that?

 

[WebmasterAlex]

well the *82 thing will definitely work from your home. Of course you are probably not overjoyed with the prospect of patients having your number.

 

[EROS]

I have been waiting, but just get a "click" . Most of my patients abandoned answering machines looooooooooong ago for voicemail; you must be a throw back to a simpler time .

In addition, you might have gotten through to the answering machine because your cellphone number is not blocked.

 

[SDAngel101]

when telemarketers call i just hang up.. they annoy me!!

 

[JasonLyons]

it would be worth dying from a disease, just to get rid of the tellamarketeers

 

[WebmasterAlex]

my cell phone number is definitely blocked. If I hit one of these I dial *82 then the number and it goes right through, try it. PM me if you want to practice on my call intercept

 

[EROS]

Thanks for the offer, but EROS doesn't want to be accused of making any of those crank calls that you receive @ 3:30 A.M . My reputation is bad enough around here.

*82 would disable my call block at home, but it doesn't seem to work with the big hospital systems. Some patients have willingly offered their override code

 

[WebmasterAlex]

I'm not suprised that it won't unblock the hospital... well my doctor sends me stuff via email maybe that is an alternative. I'd be careful with that one though.
Sorry Mr. Jones but you only have 30 days to live might be a little tough via email.

 

[EROS]

Originally posted by WebmasterAlex

Sorry Mr. Jones but you only have 30 days to live might be a little tough via email.

Don't laugh...........I'm not surprised these days by ANY E-Mail.

At the hospital, we now have CONDOLENCE E-Mail threads after the death of an employee's loved one. I still send written notes; I haven't quite gotten up to sending only an electronic expression of sympathy.

BTW, I never offer bad news even by phone. I insist that the patient come in........

 

[DaveH]

Originally posted by EROS
I never offer bad news even by phone. I insist that the patient come in........

Good for you Eros.

 

[Boots]

I have never heard of this, but I would pay $5 for it too!!!

 

[DaveH]

I just checked my system online. They offer this for $5 a month, you must also have caller ID to get it. So caller ID for $7.50 a month and Caller Intercept for $5 a month. That is what Verizon calls it.

 

[WebmasterAlex]

I had the caller ID already. It's worth every penny!

 

[aahmom1]

It's called Privacy Manager around here and I've had it for about 2 years now. Great isn't it?