An AI phone assistant is an automated virtual assistant that answers calls to schedule appointments, and handles other patient inquiries using artificial intelligence voice technology. Zo, Zocdoc’s AI Phone Assistant, helps medical offices eliminate patient hold times, reduce missed calls, and streamline scheduling—even after hours.

An AI answering service like Zo uses conversational AI to engage, understand, and respond to patient phone calls. Zo can book appointments, share office hours, and route urgent calls—all while staying HIPAA-compliant and customized to your practice’s workflows.

Absolutely. Zo acts as an AI appointment setter that automates routine scheduling tasks, reducing staff workload and improving patient satisfaction. It integrates seamlessly with your scheduling system, so there’s no double-booking or data entry.

Zo uses advanced conversational AI tailored for healthcare and supports your practice’s unique scheduling rules. It understands medical terminology and integrates with your scheduling software to update existing patient records or create new ones when needed. More importantly, it understands your practice scheduling rules and nuances like which providers serve which locations, their in-network insurances, and the length of time required for each appointment.

Unlike traditional IVRs, patients never have to wait on hold or listen to a long menu of options to get help. You can set Zo up to route to the right departments. For example, if callers have a question about billing, Zo can route them directly to your billing department.

Yes, unlike after hours call services, Zo is available 24/7 to answer patient calls, book appointments, and provide essential practice information. Appointments are booked directly into your EHR. Zo ensures no call goes unanswered—even those during off-hours—so you never miss an opportunity to connect with your patients.