Why Traditional IVR is Killing Your Patient Experience (And What’s Next)

We have all been there. You have a toothache, you are frustrated, and you call your dentist only to be met with: *"Press 1 for appointments, press 2 for accounts..."*

In 2026, traditional Interactive Voice Response (IVR) isn't just outdated - it’s a barrier to care. Patients, especially those in pain, don't want to navigate a maze of buttons. They want to be heard.

The Friction of the "Button Menu" IVR systems were designed to save staff time, but they do so at the expense of the patient. The friction of listening to a long menu leads to drop-offs, and potential patients hanging up before they ever speak to a human. For a private clinic, every dropped call is a lost opportunity.

Enter Natural Language Understanding (NLU) Clero replaces the "Press 1" menu with a simple question: *"How can we help you today?"* Our AI understands context. If a patient says, *"I've lost a filling and I'm in a lot of pain,"* Clero doesn't send them to a generic queue. It recognises the urgency, checks your emergency slots in Dentally or SOE, and offers a booking immediately. No buttons, no waiting, just solutions.