Routiq vs A Virtual Assistant.
What A Virtual Assistant says it does: A remote human who answers calls and handles admin for an hourly rate, often through an offshore VA agency. Routiq pairs Robyn, who answers every channel and re-engages lapsed patients, with Abby, who checks the wording against published AHPRA advertising guidance first. Here is the honest comparison.
| Routiq | A Virtual Assistant | |
|---|---|---|
| Built for | Australia | Remote, often offshore |
| Practice systems | Cliniko, Nookal, PracSuite | Any, with training and access |
| Channels | Phone, SMS, WhatsApp, Web chat | Phone, Email, Admin tasks |
| Patient re-engagement | Yes. Robyn works the rebooking report and writes follow-ups | Partially, see below |
| AHPRA-aware checking | Yes. Abby checks messaging against published AHPRA advertising guidance | No public equivalent |
| Pricing | AUD $199 per location per month, or $159 billed annually. No setup fees. 7-day free trial. | Offshore VA rates commonly run $10 to $25 an hour depending on market and agency; a 20-hour week lands around $10,000 to $26,000 a year. |
What A Virtual Assistant does well
- ✓ Human flexibility across mixed admin: billing follow-ups, inbox triage, data tidying
- ✓ Cheaper per hour than local hires
- ✓ Scales up and down with your hours
Choose A Virtual Assistant if
- Your admin problem is broader than reception: billing, claims, spreadsheets, inbox.
- You want one person who learns your quirks and carries context between tasks.
Choose Routiq if
- Coverage. A VA works their hours; Robyn answers at 2am and takes three calls at once.
- No training or turnover. VAs leave and take the training with them. Robyn ships knowing Cliniko, Nookal and PracSuite.
- Wording risk. A VA improvising patient messages is an AHPRA exposure. Abby checks every outbound message against published guidance.
The verdict
A good VA is a genuine option for mixed admin, and plenty of clinics are happy with one. The gaps are coverage and consistency: one human, one timezone, one set of hours, and messages written on the fly.
Routiq is narrower and deeper: reception and re-engagement, every hour of every day, with the wording checked. If the pain is specifically the phone and the lapsed-patient list, the purpose-built tool wins. If the pain is everything-admin, hire the VA and give them Robyn to handle the phones.
Common questions
Is a VA or an AI receptionist cheaper?
At 20+ hours a week, most VA arrangements cost more per year than Routiq's $2,388. Below a few hours a week a VA can be cheaper, but coverage gaps are where bookings are lost.
This comparison uses public information, last checked 8 August 2026. Spotted something out of date? Email daniel.welsh@routiq.ai and we will fix it.
See Robyn work your rebooking report.
7-day free trial. No setup fees. Live in a day on Cliniko, Nookal or PracSuite.
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