An AI medical answering service answers patient calls and texts with software instead of putting them on hold or taking a message. PrepQ, from PrepQ LLC, is an AI answering service designed specifically for procedural practices in 14 specialties. Each practice gets a dedicated phone number patients can call or text at any hour, in English or Spanish. Routine questions — prep instructions, medication timing, recovery expectations — are answered instantly from a library of more than 7,500 responses written by board-certified physicians and approved by the practice's own clinicians. Unlike a traditional answering service, nothing is improvised and nothing waits for a callback: approved answers are delivered in seconds, while urgent symptoms and unmatched questions escalate immediately to the office or 911. Practices see every exchange in a dashboard, go live the same day without EHR integration, and pay a flat monthly rate per provider.
How it works
1 — Patients call or text
One dedicated number, printed on appointment confirmations and your voicemail greeting. No app, no login, no hold music.
2 — Approved answers in seconds
The AI matches each question to your practice-approved answer and delivers it by voice or text — 24/7, English and Spanish.
3 — Everything logged
Your dashboard shows every question, answer, and escalation, so the after-hours conversation is never a black box.
Built for 14 medical & dental specialties
Every specialty ships with its own physician-written answer library — explore yours.
How is an AI answering service different from a traditional medical answering service?
A traditional answering service employs operators who take messages and page someone; the patient still waits for a callback. PrepQ resolves the question itself — instantly — whenever the answer is one your practice already approved: prep instructions, medication timing, activity restrictions, appointment logistics. Only the exchanges that genuinely need a human reach your team, with the full context logged. That's the difference between deferring the call and eliminating it.
What happens when a patient has an urgent problem?
Escalation is built in and conservative. Messages suggesting urgent symptoms trigger an immediate instruction to call 911 or the practice, and questions with no approved answer are referred to the office rather than improvised. The AI never triages beyond its approved content, and every escalation is visible in the practice dashboard.
Can the AI answering service handle both phone calls and texts?
Yes. PrepQ works over SMS text messaging and natural voice calls on the same dedicated number, in English and Spanish, 24 hours a day. Patients simply call or text like they would the front desk — no app download, portal login, or password.
How much does an AI medical answering service cost?
PrepQ costs a flat $250 per month per physician (MD/DO) and $125 per month per APN, NP, or PA — unlimited staff seats free, no per-call or per-message fees, no setup fee, and no long-term contract. Compare that to per-minute or per-call answering-service billing that grows with exactly the call volume you're trying to eliminate.
How long does setup take?
Most practices are live the same day. PrepQ stages the answer library for your specialty, your clinicians review and approve it in about an hour, your dedicated number is assigned, and patients can start using it immediately. No EHR integration is required. Schedule a 15-minute demo at prepq.health or try the live line: text a question to (888) 688-2393.