Virtual Triage: What Is It and How It Benefits Organizations
Recently, the United States has recorded an increasing number of organizations partnering with virtual triage partners to ensure better working conditions and the overall well-being of employees. In 2022, over 37% of adults in the United States used telemedicine, according to the CDC. However, many organizations still haven’t considered the triage system as they lack complete knowledge.
Triage refers to a system in which healthcare providers divide incoming medical cases by priority level so minor injuries, cuts, and illnesses can be treated on the spot and major ones can be shifted to emergency care. This system simplifies healthcare for organizations and facilities and helps employees get the most appropriate treatment and attention when needed.
This article guides you through what virtual triage is all about and how it can benefit organizations differently. You will also learn how a virtual triage partner can help keep your organization safe and productive.
What is Virtual Triage?
When it comes to workplace injuries, not all cases need urgent ER visits or treatment. Some can be treated with medications and on-the-spot first aid. To determine the level of medical urgencies, the healthcare system has introduced remote triage, where medical professionals, also known as triage nurses and triage doctors, connect with the patients remotely and assess their symptoms and conditions using video conference calls, web-based apps, etc.
For instance, if one of your employees has minor cuts, a virtual triage professional (nurse or doctor) can assess the situation and prescribe ointments and medications to avoid Emergency Room visits and unnecessary stress. On the other hand, if someone has shortness of breath, they may be directed to the ER, which an advanced medical practitioner recommends.
How does Virtual Triaging Work?
Virtual triaging connects the patient or the injured to the virtual triage specialist (a doctor or a registered nurse) through a virtual room. Once connected, the medical professional will try to triage the patient’s symptoms and collect all information required to assess the situation and determine the next step of the treatment. For example, triage doctors can virtually treat a patient with a minor cut. Instead of waiting for hours in a waiting room at the hospital, the patient gets immediate care, relief, and medication. Mentally and physically, this virtual triage puts him at ease. On the other hand, patients with severe injuries can be routed directly to the ER without delay.
Moreover, virtual triage partners can offer 24/7 access to medical services. This is very important for companies operating in industries like oil and gas, construction, petrochemical, manufacturing, energy, etc., since the chances of injury and accidents are higher in these industries, where locations are remote, and injuries can be hard to treat immediately.
All the triage nurses and doctors follow the Schmitt-Thompson protocols. These protocols ensure all medical cases are assessed and categorized correctly for treatment by virtual triage professionals.
Top Benefits of Virtual Triage for Organizations
Virtual triage aims to reserve emergency care for the patients who require it and avoid unnecessary burdens on medical facilities and expenses for organizations that want to promote safe workplace environments. Here are some of the key benefits a virtual triage partner can offer a business and its employees:
1. Reduces the Cost of Care:
When it comes to workplace injuries, the cost of having a safe working condition has increased over the years. According to a survey done on 450 organizations with over 8 million employees, healthcare costs will increase by around 6% in the coming year.
This means that cost-effectiveness is among the top reasons why virtual triage is being adopted, along with factors like DART and TRIR, to reduce the total cost of care.
Additionally, remote triage helps organizations avoid anniversary ER visits, saving overall healthcare costs without compromising the health of their employees.
2. Access to Medical Care
Injuries and accidents occur regularly in industries like Oil and Gas or construction-related workplaces. These organizations usually work at locations where urgent medical care is not easy. This is when virtual triage comes in with the immediate medical care required of your employees when needed. With round-the-clock support, your employees get access to quality care to get the appropriate treatment for their injuries, and the overall well-being of your workforce can be improved.
3. Improved Employee Return-to-Work Rates and Reduced Injury Metrics
Virtual triage services play a crucial role in helping employees recover faster and return to work sooner after injuries. By offering accurate diagnoses and timely treatment plans, these services reduce the number of lost workdays, which helps lower essential injury metrics like DART (Days Away, Restricted Duty, or Job Transfer) and TRIR (Total Recordable Incident Rate).
As a result, businesses minimize disruptions, boost productivity, and improve their EMR (Experience Modification Rate), leading to potential savings on workers’ compensation premiums.
4. Better Employee Recovery and Care
When you quickly assess medical issues to employees, they get the appropriate care required to fully recover as early as possible. Virtual triage professionals help patients with the correct prescription as soon as possible, reducing the risk of under- or medical treatment and hospitalization.
Usually, a triage nurse responds within 60 seconds and assesses the patients using the protocols to recommend the course of action as quickly as possible. If the injured employee requires offsite care, the nurse triage service sends detailed notes to the provider, giving them a head start on delivering the necessary treatment for a faster recovery.
5. Reduced Time Sitting in Waiting Rooms
Lastly, virtual triage helps with improved workflow for both organizations and healthcare systems by lowering the time waiting for hospital visits. When you promote workplace safety and partner with remote triage service providers, you provide immediate medical care on-site so that minor injuries can be treated with simple first aid or an appointment with a primary care physician. This leads to better outcomes in terms of employee health and productivity without any burden.
By keeping patients out of the emergency room, you can help reduce the burden on emergency facilities so that the workers who need emergency care can be treated.
Choose the Right Virtual Triage Partner for The Best Workplace Safety Management
Now that you know how virtual triage benefits your organization, the next step is to find a reliable virtual triage partner who understands your workplace requirements and has the right expertise to help you promote a safe work environment. This should align with your goals, budget, and, most importantly, legal requirements.
WorkPartners understand how important it is to maintain a safe work culture and follow the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations for organizations. Therefore, we have designed our services based on specific requirements across industries. From virtual triage services to MD interventions and workplace safe engagement, our experts guide you with the appropriate solutions that suit your organization most effectively.
To discuss, contact us today or give us a call at (800) 359-5020
You can also visit our office at 2038 Ford Parkway #464
St Paul, MN 55116.
