TELEMEDICINE
THE BENEFITS OF
TELEMEDICINE IN WORKERS ’ COMPENSATION
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According to Forbes , we saw 10 years of telehealth adoption in about eight weeks .”
Since COVID-19 began , companies providing telehealth services have seen a massive shift to digital care . In the workers ’ compensation arena from March 2019 to March 2020 , there was a 4,347 % increase in the use of telehealth .
The shift occurred because many workers ’ compensation programs see it as the only way to ensure continuity of care due to delays in injury recovery from virus related visit restrictions to clinics . Another factor is an employee can get prompt treatment without leaving work .
Telemedicine is also a good solution for injured workers or other employees who may skip going to see a doctor entirely for fear of being contaminated by the virus .
TELEMEDICINE TECHNOLOGY FOR MANAGING WORK INJURIES IS STILL RELATIVELY NEW .
In addition , more employers are realizing the time savings gained from telemedicine . And when the pandemic is over , the trend will likely continue .
To take full advantage of telemedicine , apps have been developed to provide the workforce with convenient access to care for relatively minor injuries . This enables employees to promptly and securely connect with licensed clinicians via smartphone , tablet , or computer with a webcam and microphone . Once a company has implemented the program , the process is very straightforward . An employee informs their supervisor or safety personnel of their work-related injury . After receiving clearance to obtain care via telemedicine , the injured employee — having their photo ID ready — will open the app and connect with a care coordinator to complete patient intake . The care coordinator will ask questions regarding medical history and the purpose of the visit . Once the initial intake is completed , the employee will be queued in a virtual waiting room to see the appropriate clinician for their health issue . When completed , the care coordinator will schedule another visit if needed .
Types of injuries that are ideal for treatment via telemedicine include the following : low-grade strains / sprains , first-degree burns , contusions , abrasions , rashes , tendonitis , and bloodborne pathogen ( BBP ) exposures .
To keep injured worker care on track , telemedicine is useful for injury recheck on wounds , lacerations , second-degree burns , moderate cervical and low back injuries , sprains , strains , contusions and routine postoperative checks . Other telemedicine providers have stepped up their programs to include physical therapy appointments and making sure patient medical devices are working properly . This is particularly important because if an injured worker isn ’ t using medical equipment correctly , it can cause other injuries and further delay care . Telemedicine services also speed up equipment repairs .
Even after COVID-19 ends , workers ’ comp programs may continue to rely on telemedicine for more treatments . The
programs are frequently as effective as in-patient physical therapy visits , and they can offer injured workers more flexibility regarding when they receive treatments . Some providers note that a combined in-person and telehealth physical therapy approach results in a quicker recovery for injured workers .
Always keep in mind that telemedicine is not appropriate for serious or lifethreatening conditions . For such conditions , continue to seek emergency medical assistance immediately . When choosing a telemedicine platform , make sure it uses HIPAA-compliant technology to ensure your employee ’ s health information is protected . +
BY : ERIC P . WOKAS , CSP ARM RISK CONTROL CONSULTANT JGS INSURANCE
Eric Wokas has over 25 years of experience as a risk management consultant working for various major property / casualty insurance carriers including Continental , Zurich and Gerling as well as Aon an international insurance brokerage firm . At JGS Insurance Eric Wokas continues to assist clients in development and implementation of practical solutions in reducing risk .
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