AI receptionist vs voicemail
Most practices send missed and after-hours calls to voicemail. The caller hears a beep, and many hang up. Terva answers instead, in your practice’s name, every hour of the day.
Free plan: 30 minutes a month, no card. Set up in about five minutes.
| What happens | Voicemail | Terva |
|---|---|---|
| Picks up every callBusy desk, lunch and after hours, 24/7. | No | Yes |
| Answers the caller’s questionHours, fees, parking. From your website, once you’ve checked it. | No | Yes |
| Books the appointmentStraight into your PMS, set up with our team. | No | Yes |
| Tells your team about urgent calls straight awayThe caller hears your urgent pathway and the 000 safety line. Your team gets an email, at any hour. | No | Yes |
| Writes up every callA summary and transcript in your Queue. Nobody plays back messages. | No | Yes |
| Free to startTerva’s Free plan covers 30 minutes a month. No card. | Yes | Yes |
| Ticks | 1 | 6 |
8:14 pm. The front desk has gone home.
A patient wants a check-up and clean. Here is the same call, ending two ways.
Greeting“You’ve reached Kestrel Bay Dental. We’re closed. Please leave a message after the tone.”
ThenBeep.
She hangs up, or leaves a message for someone to play back tomorrow and return.
Terva“Kestrel Bay Dental, you’re speaking with the practice’s AI receptionist. How can I help?”
Caller“I’m after a check-up and clean. Anything next week?”
Terva“Tuesday at 8:30 am or Thursday at 4:15 pm. Which suits you?”
Caller“Thursday, thanks.”
An example call at a fictional practice.
AI receptionist or answering service?
Some practices pay an answering service instead of using voicemail. A person picks up, which some patients prefer, and they can follow your script for urgent calls.
Most plans take a message for your team to return. Booking into your practice software is often a separate plan, billed by the minute.
Terva answers, books into your PMS and writes up every call, and you can start free. If your patients expect a person on every call, an answering service may suit you better.
Questions practices ask
Something else? Book a demo and ask us.
Will callers know they’re talking to AI?
Yes. Terva answers in your practice’s name and says it’s your AI receptionist.
Do we keep our phone number?
Yes. You forward calls to Terva with call forwarding, so patients keep calling the number they know.
What happens with urgent calls?
The caller hears your urgent pathway and the 000 safety line. The call is emailed to your team straight away, at any hour. Other calls are emailed during clinic hours.
What does it cost?
Start free with 30 minutes of calls a month, no card needed. Reception is A$200 a month with 100 minutes included, then 80c a minute. No setup fee, cancel anytime.
Are calls recorded?
No. Each call has a summary and transcript in your Queue. Your data is hosted in Australia and isn’t used to train AI. Terva doesn’t send SMS to patients.
Let Terva take the next call.
Free for 30 minutes of calls a month. No card, about five minutes to set up, and you keep your number.