If you do not want to use your personal cell phone number or want an easy way to create a dedicated patient line, Skype phone numbers are a good solution.
*Please note, your therapy sessions should still be done via a HIPAA compliant telehealth platform. Unless the Enterprise acct is purchased through Skype, they cannot guarantee HIPAA compliance.
Sign in to Skype: Access your Skype account using your credentials or create a new skype account.
Navigate to the Skype Number Section: Once logged in, locate the "Skype Number" option, usually found in the Skype services menu or under account settings.
Choose a Country: Select the United States for Help Therapy patient purposes
Choose the area code that you would like your phone number to have. You can change this by clicking the drop down besides “Choose a Different Location” and selecting a new area as below:
Review the Terms and Pricing: Before finalizing, review the terms of service and the pricing for the Skype Number. This usually involves a recurring fee, and prices may vary based on the selected country.
Updated as of 11-14-2023 *this will likely change.
Complete the Payment Process: If you agree to the terms and pricing, proceed to payment. Enter your payment details and complete the transaction.
Confirmation of Skype Number: Once your payment is processed, your Skype Number will be activated. You should receive a confirmation via email or within your Skype account.
Test Your Skype Number: It’s a good idea to test your new Skype Number by calling it from another phone to ensure it’s working correctly.
Add credits or a subscription to your Skype Account
To call within the United States, you will need to add minutes to your Skype account. To do this:
Go back to the main page of your Skype acct
Select “Add Skype Credits” - you do not need to get a subscription, you can pay as you go if you are going to be using this infrequently with patients.
Add the number of Skype credits you would like to (it’s usually around .02/minute)
You can also choose a Skype Subscription if you are going to be using the phone more often as it gives you unlimited minutes for a monthly fee (i.e. US mobile and landlines unlimited for ~$3.00/month *11/13/2023)
Choose the best option for you
Check out
To Use your Skype Number:
The easiest way to do this is to download the skype app on your phone and call out from there
You will see an icon of a phone key pad on the lower menu with “Phone” underneath it.
From there click on the raised blue key pad in the lower right hand corner and enter the number you would like to call. It will operate as a typical phone number with your purchased Skype Number showing up as the caller ID
For patients, you can provide them with this phone number and it will ring into your Skype account. You just need to have data or wifi to access.
Alternatives to Skype and Other solution articles to check out:
1. Google Voice: https://voice.google.com/u/0/about
2. Sideline: https://www.sideline.com/lp-2step-new/?campaign=homepage&adgroup=CTA2&creative=get-started-for-free
https://personcenteredtech.com/2016/05/31/therapy-business-line-cheap-hipaa-voip-services/