Practice by Numbers' AI Receptionist can now have complete phone conversations with patients in multiple languages, making it easier for practices to assist callers who prefer a language other than English.
When a caller speaks a supported language, the AI Receptionist can continue the conversation in that language while providing the same scheduling, eligibility, and practice information assistance available in English.
No setup is required. Multilingual voice support is automatically available for practices using AI Receptionist.
Supported Languages
AI Receptionist currently supports voice conversations in:
English
Spanish
Hindi
Mandarin
Canadian French
Russian
Korean
Note: Multilingual support currently applies to voice calls only. SMS and web chat conversations remain in English.
How Language Switching Works
Every AI Receptionist call begins in English using your practice's standard greeting.
A caller can switch to another supported language at any point during the conversation in two ways: Ask AI Receptionist to switch languages
The caller can simply request another language. For example:
"Can you speak Spanish?"
"¿Habla español?"
AI Receptionist will immediately continue the conversation in the requested language.
Speak in a supported language
If the caller responds with a complete sentence in a supported language, AI Receptionist can recognize the language and continue the conversation in it.
The caller does not have to select a language from a menu or change any settings before calling.
What Doesn't Trigger a Language Change
AI Receptionist is designed to avoid accidentally changing languages based on a single word or unrelated background conversation.
A language switch generally won't be triggered by:
Single words or common phrases such as "hola," "gracias," "sí," or "merci"
Patient or provider names
Street or city names
Numbers, dates, or spelled-out letters
Background speech from another person or a television
Occasional words from another language
It's also perfectly fine for callers to mix languages naturally. For example, a caller speaking Spanish can use an English word such as "appointment" without causing the conversation to switch back to English.
If a caller wants to return to English, they can simply ask AI Receptionist to switch back.
What Happens If a Language Isn't Supported?
If AI Receptionist detects a language that isn't currently supported, it will not attempt to respond in that language or substitute a similar language.
Instead, AI Receptionist will continue using simplified, slower English to help the caller.
If the conversation still cannot progress, AI Receptionist can offer options to connect with the practice or leave a voicemail.
The Same AI Receptionist Experience—in More Languages
Switching languages doesn't change what AI Receptionist can do. Callers continue through the same workflows and practice-defined processes available during an English-language call.
This includes:
Scheduling and appointment workflows
Eligibility checks
Practice information
Phone numbers, dates, and provider information
Security and verification steps
AI Receptionist safety guardrails
Important information such as verification codes, phone numbers, dates, and provider names is communicated with clear, deliberate pacing regardless of the language being used.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to enable multilingual support?
No. There is no additional setting to configure. Supported languages are automatically available for AI Receptionist voice calls.
Can I choose which languages my practice supports?
Currently, the supported languages are automatically available to practices using AI Receptionist and cannot be individually enabled or disabled.
Why does AI Receptionist still greet callers in English?
Every call begins with the practice's standard English greeting. After the greeting, callers can request a supported language or respond with a complete sentence in one, and AI Receptionist will continue the conversation in that language.
A patient said a few words in another language, but AI Receptionist stayed in English. Why?
AI Receptionist intentionally avoids switching languages based on individual words or short phrases. This prevents patient names, provider names, background conversations, and other brief phrases from accidentally changing the language of the call.
The caller can use a complete sentence in the supported language or directly ask AI Receptionist to switch.
Can callers switch languages in the middle of a call?
Yes. Language switching can happen at any point during the call. A caller can request another supported language even after the conversation has already started.
Does multilingual support work for text messages?
Not at this time. Multilingual support is currently available for AI Receptionist voice calls only. SMS and web chat continue to operate in English.