Top Benefits of Remote Treatment for Workplace Injuries  

In 2023, as per reports from private industry employers, the number of nonfatal workplace injuries and ailments in the USA was estimated to be 2.6 million in the USA. Of these, 946,500 cases required days away from work (DAFW). 

There is no denying that workplace injuries are not only common but can also interrupt your business operations and lead to losses due to reduced productivity or fewer workdays. Moreover, you might attract penalties from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) if your number of recordable incidents shoots up. 

How do you tackle such scenarios efficiently and cost-effectively? Remote treatment for workplace injuries is the answer.  

Read on to learn more. 

What Should Employers Know About Remote Work Injuries?  

No matter which heavy industry you operate in—mining, construction, oil and gas, or chemicals—workplace injuries involving cuts, bruises, burns, sprains, and even fractures are common. However, since your worksite is probably in a remote location or hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies are not nearby, immediate medical help might seem challenging. 

Sending an injured employee to the nearest Emergency Room (ER) might be time-consuming and aggravate their symptoms. Plus, your OSHA recordable rate will increase, and you might incur significant expenses even for minor injuries that don’t require an ER trip. Delays in receiving medical aid might also make injured workers anxious. You might also have to deal with a large compensation claim if the employee is dissatisfied with your approach toward their treatment or feels the workplace is not safe enough. 

Seeking workplace injury treatment online can address all the above issues effectively. 

A remote triage team led by licensed doctors can guide you in the right direction so that you (the employer) and the injured worker are satisfied with the outcome. 

8 Benefits of Remote Treatment for Workplace Injuries

Connecting with a doctor-led triage team when it comes to workplace injuries has multiple advantages, as detailed below: 

1. Timely Medical Attention: If a worker gets injured, you can call a number and connect with a licensed MD for a telephone or video chat. It takes seconds, there is no unnecessary delay, and doctors are available around the clock. The patient doesn’t have to visit a hospital and wait for their turn or panic until an ambulance reaches the site. The employee or their supervisor can speak to a doctor immediately. 
2. Systematic Determination of Urgency: Besides noting the patient’s name and demographic details, the doctor delves into their medical history, type of injury, symptoms, work profile, and shift. In a video chat, they look closely at the injury and observe the patient’s symptoms visually. In a telephonic chat, they note the injured worker’s voice, tone, speech, and breathing pattern. Doctors also ask probing questions to gauge the severity of the injury and the level of urgent care needed.  
3. Accurate Diagnosis and Guidance: Since the doctors who attend to workplace injury calls are experienced in various occupational health problems (both simple and complex), they can provide accurate diagnoses and suggest whether the patient needs an ER visit or the injury can be treated onsite. 
4. Tailored Treatment: One of the top benefits of telehealth for workers is that doctors suggest a tailored treatment plan for every injury or ailment. Whether a patient needs first aid, medications, or therapies, triage doctors explain what is required and give specific instructions. If the patient needs to visit the ER or go for an in-person consultation with a specialist, the doctor recommends the best possible option and shares all the relevant information with the hospital or clinic. This ensures the continuity of the treatment process. 
5. Mental Support and Follow-Up: Doctors offering telehealth services also handle the patient’s queries, doubts, and worries, helping them relax and recover faster. They also follow up on the recovery process and suggest tweaks in the treatment if necessary. 
6. Business Continuity: Since online workplace injury treatment happens promptly, affected employees recover quickly and resume work with minimal delays or time off. You can run your business as usual and minimize interruptions, downtime, and losses.  
7. Reduced Costs: Availing remote treatment helps minimize ER visits, especially for minor injuries that can be handled with first aid or simple therapies and medications onsite. This reduces your employee healthcare cost. Since prompt treatment also means fewer hospitalizations, long leaves, or disability, you can control your workers’ compensation cost. 
8. Better Compliance with OSHA regulations: Handling workplace injuries through remote triage services means fewer ER visits. This helps you keep OSHA recordables low, avoid unnecessary penalties, and maintain (or improve) your reputation when it comes to workplace safety. Both existing and potential employees think positively about you as a brand and employer, and you also get to attract the best talent.   

Conclusion 

Overall, there are many benefits of telehealth for workers if you operate in a heavy industry where injuries are common. You can not only ensure that injured employees get immediate medical attention, mental support, and the treatment they deserve but also benefit from lower healthcare and compensation-related expenses, business continuity, and improved OSHA compliance. Contacting remote treatment services also helps you determine the urgency and severity of every situation and allocate resources accordingly. 

By availing of doctor-led workplace injury triage services, you can also build and promote a safer work environment, prevent injuries more efficiently in the future, and boost your reputation as a careful and concerned employer.  

Join Hands with WorkPartners to Benefit from Doctor Triage Services 

At WorkPartners, worker safety and well-being are closely linked to your business’s operations, success, reputation, and profitability. Hence, if you are looking for a triage medical assistant remote in St. Paul, MN, our certified and qualified occupational doctors are available 24/7 to care for your injured employees physically and emotionally, from prompt intervention for workplace injuries to speedy recovery and OSHA compliance. We also offer specially designed trauma kits packed with essential supplies to deal with workplace accidents swiftly. 

Contact us today to learn more about remote triage. For early injury intervention, call (800) 359-5020. If you have any other concerns or questions, call (651) 323-8654 or email info@workpartnersusa.com.