How Can Remote Triage Services Reduce Costs on Workers’ Claims and Healthcare?

Did you know in 2022, U.S. employers reported a staggering 2.8 million non-fatal workplace injuries and illnesses? According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, that’s a 7.5% increase compared to 2021. These injuries and illnesses don’t just impact worker productivity and healthcare costs; they impose a significant financial burden on businesses, a burden that needs urgent attention.

These stats suggest employers must focus on the new standard for managing a workplace injury: cost-effectiveness, efficiency, and promptness. Enter remote triage services let by doctors on call, a revolutionary approach leveraging telemedicine to deliver timely and expert medical care to injured employees, regardless of location.

Remote Triaging Services: What is it?

Remote triaging is emerging as a promising solution in the US as a way of accessing timely primary care advice, by cutting down the barrier of location. Also, when remote triage services are led by doctors it becomes even a more reliable service for employers who can not only use such services to ensure timely treatment to employees, but also cut expensive costs to the Emergency Department.

It is ideal for situations where healthcare facilities are not immediately available physically. A healthcare triage professional can remotely assess the patient’s injuries or health issues and offer medical opinion on how to get treatment and move ahead.

Benefits of Remote Triage Services

By leveraging virtual communication channels and doctors-on-call service, employers can effectively manage workplace health concerns and determine the urgency of their conditions. Remote triaging is a convenient and efficient way to access healthcare services. It involves communicating with healthcare professionals using technology to receive recommendations for further medical evaluation, home care instructions, or referral to in-person medical facilities.

Remote triaging benefits include enhanced accessibility to healthcare services, lower waiting times, and better resource allotment.

This service has helped companies not only lower costs and worker

What Makes Doctor Remote Triage Services Better than Nurse Triage?

While many organizations in the US are still familiar with traditional nurse on call or nurse triage programs, it is essential to understand that they may be limited by the nurse’s general medical expertise and reliance on workers visiting a fixed location within the workplace. This can lead to uncertainties in examination and potentially less accurate diagnoses.

Doctor triage services led by general physicians, on the other hand, offer a more comprehensive and efficient system.

A specialized team of doctors offer medical consultations for work-related injuries and illnesses through video. They provide fast and accurate diagnoses during the initial consultation, and remote consultations are available from anywhere with a phone or internet connection, eliminating employee travel time.

For example, our Medical Doctor Early Injury Intervention service helps organizations get immediate medical attention for their injured employees. Our medical doctors are available for immediate consultations around the clock and understand the importance of quality and timely treatment of injuries sustained at the workplace.

The Value of Remote Triage Service for Employers and Employees?

Remote triaging services are slowly evolving as a critical component of modern healthcare services, providing invaluable services to employers and employees. Here is how remote triage services help-

Early Assessment for Cost Reduction

Imagine a factory worker having a shoulder strain while handling heavy machinery. You can utilize Remote triage to consult an occupational medicine doctor promptly. In such cases, the doctor analyzes the strain and prescribes physical therapy within hours of the injury. Early intervention prevents severe injuries and reduces healthcare costs.

Unlike traditional nurse triage, a remote doctor triage possess the expertise to make quicker and more precise diagnoses during the initial consultation. This allows for early intervention, a crucial factor in minimizing the severity and duration of an injury.

No Need for Expensive Emergency Room Visits and Unnecessary Appointments

Remote triage services are a great way to address employees’ health concerns and treat them with initial plans. These consultations can help employees avoid costly and unnecessary emergency room visits by offering precise diagnosis and care instructions. Moreover, they can eradicate the need for non-urgent doctor’s appointments, giving employees and healthcare providers more time to focus on other things.

In the US, employers must cover medical expenses for work-related injuries under workers’ compensation laws. Remote triage consultations help minimize costs while fulfilling this obligation.

Lower Workers’ Compensation Premiums

Workplace injuries have become common in the US and mainly impact employers’ compensation premium rates. Remote triage services can reduce both elements, leading to significant cost savings over time.

Example

Let’s say a manufacturing company has implemented a remote triage program that has been in place for a year. The program will display effectiveness by reducing the reported injuries by 20% and the average cost per claim by 15%. This results in a substantial decrease in workers’ compensation premiums, directly impacting the company’s bottom line.

Better Employee Return-to-Work Rates

Lost workdays due to workplace injuries can impact an employer’s EMR. This rating system plays an essential role in specifying workers’ compensation premiums. Reducing lost workdays via remote triage can contribute to a positive EMR, leading to cost savings for the business.

Additionally, accurate diagnoses and treatment plans fostered by remote triage can lead to quicker recoveries for injured employees. This means that employees can return to work faster, which in turn reduces the number of lost workdays and associated productivity losses.

Lower DART and TRIR Rates

DART (Days Away, Restricted Duty, or Job Transfer) and TRIR (Total Recordable Incident Rate) are metrics that businesses use to track workplace injuries and illnesses. Remote triage services can help us reduce DART and TRIR rates. This reduction directly translates into increased productivity, decreasing the chance of lost workdays or limited duty.

Medical Professionals Leading the Way With Remote Assistance

Occupational Medicine Doctors: Specialists with extensive experience and training diagnose and treat work-related injuries and illnesses, resulting in faster and more accurate initial consultations and more effective treatment plans.
Registered Nurses: While occupational medicine doctors often lead remote triage consultations, registered nurses can also play a vital role. They can provide initial assessments, collect information about the employee’s injury, and assist the doctor in formulating a treatment plan.

Your Remote Triage Partner for Better Workplace Health

Workplace injuries are increasing in the United States, creating a financial burden for businesses and increasing the risk of violating Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations. To address these challenges, remote triage services in Minnesota have emerged as a powerful tool for businesses, helping them show their commitment to employee safety by prioritizing employee well-being through early intervention and early diagnoses.

Work Partners is committed to help you minimize the risk of workplace injuries, get timely medical assistance for your employees as well as reduce healthcare costs. If you want to know more about our comprehensive remote triage services, talk to us today!

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