How to answer “how much does it cost?” honestly on a clinic’s phone
Sado AI team · · 4 min read
In short
“How much is it?” is one of the most common questions a clinic gets. Answer it without hiding or inventing, only from the price list. The formula is simple: give the price, say what it includes and what might change it, then offer a booking. For services priced only after an exam, give the “from” price and a range. Keep a separate price list for the phone and update it with every change. An AI operator answers only from that list too.
Why “come in and you’ll find out” is a mistake
Someone asking the price usually calls several clinics and compares. After “come in and you’ll find out” or “the doctor will tell you”, they go where they got a price. The opposite mistake is giving a rough guess: if the patient then sees a different sum, trust is gone and a complaint follows.
Prepare a price list for the phone
The till’s price list isn’t enough for the phone: it has service names but not what each price includes. For every service, fill in a line:
- The exact price, or a “from” price and a range.
- What it includes: for example, exam and advice included, tests not.
- What changes the price: the doctor’s grade, the area, the number of sessions.
- The repeat-visit rule, if you have one: for example, a follow-up within 7 days costs less.
- Discounts and their conditions: for whom, and when.
- Payment methods and the date the list was updated.
The answer formula in 4 steps
- Give the price: “A cardiologist visit is 250,000 so‘m.”
- Say what’s included: “That includes the exam and an ECG.”
- Say what could change it: “If the doctor orders extra tests, they’re paid separately, and we’ll tell you the price first.”
- Offer a booking: “There’s a free slot tomorrow; shall I book you?”
These prices are only an example. If you don’t know a price, don’t guess: say “I’ll check and call you back in 15 minutes”, and do it.
Difficult questions
| Question | Honest answer |
|---|---|
| “Why are you so expensive?” | Say what the price includes; don’t run down other clinics |
| “How much is the operation?” | A “from” price and range; the exact sum after the doctor’s exam |
| “Any discounts?” | Only current discounts with their conditions; promise nothing yourself |
| “What will the whole treatment cost?” | That becomes clear after the doctor’s exam; give the first visit’s price |
Keep the price talk short: after two or three sentences, offer a booking. Long explanations tire people; an exact price and a free slot make the decision easy.
Sample call
Sado: Assalomu alaykum, Barhayot clinic, Malika speaking.
Caller: Hello. How much is a visit to the cardiologist?
Sado: A cardiologist visit is 250,000 so‘m, including the exam and an ECG. If the doctor orders extra tests, we’ll tell you the price first.
Caller: And if I need an echocardiogram too?
Sado: That’s separate, 300,000 so‘m. I can book both on the same day if you like.
Caller: Yes, Thursday please.
Sado: Thursday at ten with the cardiologist, then the echocardiogram. May I have your name?
The prices in this call are examples too: on the phone, quote only figures from your own price list.
How an AI operator answers price questions
An AI operator for incoming calls quotes prices only from the price list the clinic gave it and never makes one up. Asked about a service that isn’t listed, it says reception will call back and creates a task. After the price it offers a booking. When prices change, update the operator’s facts too; Sado’s team does the setup with you. To see which services callers ask about most, ask Yordamchi, the portal’s assistant: it answers questions about your calls. More: AI phone receptionist for clinics. Try it live or call 78 778 01 23.
Questions
Should we give prices on the phone or at the visit?
On the phone: otherwise people go to the clinic that gave them a price. If the exact sum comes after an exam, give the “from” price and a range.
Can the AI operator promise a discount?
No. It mentions only the discounts the clinic gave it, with their conditions, and never offers one that isn’t listed.
What should we do when prices change?
Update the phone price list that day and tell reception. If you use an AI operator, update its facts as well.