As client calls reach the Startel, a screen specifically programmed for the individual client pops up automatically.  The top left tells our friendly, local operators what should be said to answer the call.  The screen below would be answered "Good morning. Dr. Smith's office. This is Tammy." by Tammy in the morning.

The large field in the lower left gives information on the client company such as type of business, hours of operation, address, fax number, and dispatch instructions to make our operators sound knowledgeable about your organization when we are taking your calls.

In the lower right is the message slip.  The message slip above would have the operator ask for the caller's name, the patient's name, the number where the call could be returned, and the nature of the call.  The computer automatically fills in the "CID" field with Caller ID of the caller in case they should give a wrong number.

Finally, above the instructions is a field that contains temporary information indicating the whereabouts of the office and who is on-call.

Once calls are taken, they can be held, placed on voice mail, faxed to the client, e-mailed to the client, called out to a residence or cell phone, alpha paged, or sent to a PCS phone.

Messages are kept in the system for a week and on archive cartidges for a year.

When we program for your company, we design a database that reflects, as closely as possible, the manner in which you do business. If you are using computer entry, we design a database that contains the same number and types of fields currently used by your system, along with any additional fields required. For example, your system may not have an "Operator" field or a "Station" field and indeed may have no need for these fields, both of which we automatically include as part of the database design. In this case, though we may use these fields internally, we will deliver to you only those fields you require.

Once the database has been designed, we will export the accumulated data on a schedule mutually agreed upon. This information is provided in one of two forms:

1) Fax

2) File

FAX

Should you elect information delivery via fax, we require that you operate a dedicated fax machine. Dedicated simply means that the phone line connected to your fax machine is not answered by a human but is answered only by the fax machine.

FILE

Should you elect delivery via file, the data is exported in a format that can be utilized by your system. Readily available formats are: dBase IV, and Standard ASCII (Comma Delimited, Quote Enclosed, Return Separated Records). Other formats can be accommodated but must have a special routine written for this purpose. This exported data is stored on the our network for retrieval by you via the Professional Inbound 2000 Electronic Bulletin Board System or sent to you via Internet Email.

Delivery via Internet requires only that you possess an active Email account.

Please bear in mind that database design for retrieval via fax is comparatively easy but database design for retrieval via PC is a technically demanding task requiring complete accuracy and understanding and must be understood. This is a job that can be correctly handled only by your technical department.