What an AI receptionist is
An AI receptionist answers inbound calls with a language model instead of a menu. It understands the reason for the call, answers routine questions such as hours, directions, and refill status, and decides what happens next: resolve it, transfer the caller live, or create a task for staff with the details captured.
Voicemail
Takes a message.
Phone tree
Routes by button.
AI receptionist
Resolves the call.
In a medical office it works alongside the front desk. It absorbs calls during lunch, after hours, and in surges so fewer calls ring out to voicemail. Whether it can book directly depends on access to the schedule; many practices keep scheduling in the EHR. Because calls carry patient information, it must run under a signed HIPAA BAA.
Answering calls is one job Rivvi does, not the product. Rivvi is a HIPAA-compliant AI workspace with an action layer on top. When the schedule lives in the EHR, Rivvi transfers the caller live to the right person, navigating the practice's phone tree if needed, or creates a finished task. Calls, texts, the website widget, and a phone number are on Team.