Why Accents Shouldn’t Stop You From Hiring Optometry VAs

Veterinary clinic owners often feel stuck in a frustrating cycle: the payroll budget keeps rising, but the output doesn’t. More team members are on the schedule, pay rates have increased, and yet…the same headaches persist.If you’re an optometrist thinking about incorporating remote Optometry Virtual Assistants to support your practice, there’s a concern you might not say out loud, but you’re definitely thinking about it:

“What if my patients can’t understand them?”

It’s a valid concern. We’ve all had awkward customer service calls where we couldn’t follow what someone said due to a strong accent. You don’t want that same experience playing out in your own clinic, especially not with your patients.

That hesitation is normal. At Teem, we’ve built a process to address that concern for you.

You’re Right to Be Cautious Because Accent Clarity Matters

You’re not overly concerned. You’re being smart.

In a healthcare setting, especially in optometry, clear communication isn’t just a “nice to have.” It directly affects patient safety, satisfaction, and whether they come back. This is particularly true for older adults, who may already struggle with hearing loss or cognitive challenges.

Clarity = Trustworthiness

When your patients hear clear, confident, natural communication, they trust your clinic. They follow instructions better. And they come back.

But if they’re asking, “Can you repeat that?” or “I didn’t catch that,” it chips away at their experience, even if your care is excellent.

That’s why you’re right to care about clarity. And why it should be a top priority when delegating tasks to a remote staff.

What Most Outsourcing Models Get Wrong

Most outsourced staffing companies source talent wherever there’s the least labor cost. That often means working with people who’re fluent in English, but whose accents, speech patterns, or phrasing don’t align with your patients’ expectations.

They may sound fine to you, but your patients might struggle to understand.

Common Pitfalls of Typical Outsourcing Companies

• Heavy regional accents unfamiliar to U.S. patients
• Repetitive, script-like delivery that sounds impersonal
• No visibility or control over who’s speaking to your patients

That disconnect leads to confusion and negative reviews, even if the person on the phone is doing their best.

Why We Source From Latin America, and Why It Makes a Difference

At Teem, we intentionally hire from Latin America because we’ve found that our clients’ patients respond better to:

• Softer, more neutral accents
  
• Higher cultural proximity to U.S. communication norms
• Aligned time zones for real-time interaction and team collaborationerything, coverage will always be available.

Our assistants sound natural, warm, and easy to understand—so your patients never feel like they’re speaking to “an outsourced rep.”

We’re Extremely Selective Because Your Front Desk Isn’t Just a Task Hub

In the last month alone, over 15,000 people applied to work with Teem. We hired fewer than 50.

Why? Because we don’t just test for English fluency. We screen for:

• Accent clarity
• Natural pacing and flow
• Empathetic delivery in high-stress or clinical situations

Your Optometry Virtual Assistant represents your brand. We take that seriously.

What Makes Our Process Efficient

We go beyond the resume and ask:

“Would you trust this person to talk to your patients, without supervision?”

Here’s How It Works:

1. We start by understanding your clinic’s specific needs, including communication style, hours, and language preferences.
2. Our team then custom-sources candidates who match your desired skills, tone, and personality.
3. You’ll receive at least three hand-picked, pre-screened candidates to interview and compare.
4. We continue refining options until you find a VA who feels like the perfect long-term fit.

Once selected, your VA is onboarded with the help of a dedicated Success Manager for a smooth transition and ongoing support.

You Still Get Full Control, Including Voice Fit

Even after our internal screening, you’ll have the opportunity to hear your VA before making a decision.

We give you the option to:

• Listen to sample calls
• Conduct a short voice screening
• Provide preferences around tone, phrasing, or communication style

You know your patients best—we make it easy for you to match with someone they’ll feel comfortable with.

Don’t Settle for Pretrained, Get a Teem Virtual Assistant You Can Train Your Way

Here’s something important to know:

Teem VAs are not pre-trained or pre-scripted before joining your clinic.

And that’s a good thing.

Instead, we give you access to Teem University; a flexible training platform where you can:

• Enroll your VA in courses that match your systems and workflow
• Assign learning journeys that your trainee can access at their own pace.
• Add modules based on your practice’s evolving needs.

This means you’re not stuck with a one-size-fits-all VA, you’re developing someone who grows with your team.

Teem VAs Aren’t Bots. They’re Real Human Professionals.

You don’t want a faceless voice or a robotic script.

You want someone who:

• Communicates clearly
• Sounds warm and trustworthy
• Handles your patients with the same care you do

Teem Virtual Assistants are real people who integrate directly into your phones, EHR, and email systems. They become part of your workflow, and part of your brand.

Final Thoughts: Accent and Language Concerns Are Real But Not With Teem

If you’ve been hesitant to outsource because you’re worried about accents, language clarity, or how your patients will respond, we get it.

That concern is valid. But when you work with Teem, it’s already addressed.

Our assistants are carefully selected, vetted for communication fit, and trainable through Teem University to match your exact expectations.

If you’re ready for a VA who sounds professional, speaks clearly, and connects with your patients, reach out to Teem here.

We’ll help you find someone your patients trust from the very first “hello.”