WORKER’S COMPENSATION INJURIES HAPPEN LET TELEMEDICINE HELP MAKE THE BEST OF THE INEVITABLE

INJURY FREE? 1000 DAYS SINCE LAST OSHA RECORDABLE INJURY – SOMETHING LIKE THIS IS WHAT ALL BUSINESSES STRIVE FOR – BUT HOW DOES IT HAPPEN? A NUMBER LIKE 1000 IS NOT AN “ACCIDENT”! THIS IS NOT THE SAME AS “INJURY-FREE”. THERE WERE A NUMBER OF INJURIES THAT OCCURRED AT THIS SITE DURING THIS 1000 DAYS…SO WHAT DID THIS SITE DO TO KEEP ALL THESE INJURIES FROM BECOMING NEEDLESSLY OSHA RECORDABLE? THEY HAD A SKILLED OCCUPATIONAL MEDICAL TEAM THAT AGGRESSIVELY TREATED AND FOLLOWED EVERY INJURED EMPLOYEE. THE EMPLOYEES (AND THEIR UNION) WERE VERY PLEASED WITH THEIR CARE AND THAT THEY DIDN’T HAVE TO MISS WORK. IS THIS A POSSIBLITY FOR YOUR EMPLOYER?

YOUR WC PROGRAM TODAY… HOW ARE INJURIES BEING HANDLED NOW? WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST ISSUES? WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE?

YOUR WC PROGRAM TOMORROW… WHAT WOULD YOU THINK IF YOUR INJURED EMPLOYEES: COULD BE SEEN IMMEDIATELY 24/7/365? DIDN’T HAVE TO LEAVE THE SITE FOR EVALUATION, TREATMENT, AND EVEN X- RAYS? COULD BE EVALUATED, TREATED AND FOLLOWED BY PROVIDERS THAT SPECIALIZE IN OCCUPATIONAL INJURIES AND WORKER’S COMPENSATION? DIDN’T GET NEEDLESSLY WRITTEN OFF WORK OR GIVEN AN UNNECESSARY PRESCRIPTION FOR OPIATES? IT WOULD BE LIKE HAVING AN ON-SITE CLINIC FOR A FRACTION OF THE COST! …AND SPEAKING OF COSTS SAVINGS – TELEMEDICINE CAN SAVE YOUR COMPANY A BUNDLE!!

WHAT IS TELEMEDICINE? THE TERM TELEHEALTH INCLUDES A BROAD RANGE OF TECHNOLOGIES AND SERVICES TO PROVIDE PATIENT CARE AND IMPROVE THE HEALTHCARE DELIVERY SYSTEM AS A WHOLE. TELEHEALTH IS DIFFERENT FROM TELEMEDICINE BECAUSE IT REFERS TO A BROADER SCOPE OF REMOTE HEALTHCARE SERVICES THAN TELEMEDICINE. - CHIRON HEALTH A TELEMEDICINE DEFINITION ENCOMPASSES A MUCH BROADER RANGE OF HEALTHCARE SERVICES THAN JUST REAL-TIME MEDICAL CONSULTATIONS OVER VIDEO. TELEMEDICINE INCLUDES ANY CLINICAL SERVICES PROVIDED VIA TELECOMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY - eVISIT

NAME A TYPE OF DEVICE THAT CAN BE USED IN TELEMEDICINE. PRIZE QUESTION NAME A TYPE OF DEVICE THAT CAN BE USED IN TELEMEDICINE.

WHAT’S APPROPRIATE FOR VIRTUAL TREATMENT? COMMON WORK-RELATED ISSUES THAT CAN BE TREATED VIRTUALLY: ABRASIONS/MINOR SKIN WOUNDS CONTUSIONS STRAINS/SPRAINS INFECTIONS MINOR HEAT/COLD/CHEMICAL EXPOSURES MINOR BURNS INSECT BITES DERMATITIS/OTHER RASHES MINOR EYE IRRITATION MINOR RESPIRATORY IRRITATION MINOR EAR IRRITATION (E.G. FROM EAR PLUGS) MINOR NERVE IRRITATIONS/EXTREMITY NUMBNESS OR TINGLING THIS LIST IS NOT COMPREHENSIVE – MANY MORE COMPLAINTS CAN BE TREATED VIRTUALLY.

TELEMEDICINE/VIRTUAL CLINICS BECAUSE WORKER’S COMPENSATION INJURIES ARE DIFFERENT FROM REGULAR INJURIES, OCCUPATIONAL TELEMEDICINE AND VIRTUAL CLINICS FILL A NEED FOR THE QUALITY EVALUATION, TREATMENT AND MANAGEMENT THESE INJURIES REQUIRE FOR A SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME. WHAT OCCUPATIONAL PROVIDERS OFFER THAT OTHER PRACTITIONERS DON’T: THEY ARE FAMILIAR WITH STATE AND FEDERAL REGULATIONS AND CAN OFFER ADVICE ON A NUMBER OF WORKER’S COMPENSATION ISSUES IMPORTANT TO THE EMPLOYER THEY ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE EMPLOYER – - WHAT THE EMPLOYEE’S JOBS TRULY ENTAIL - WHAT THE EMPLOYER’S EXPECTATIONS ARE THEY CAN PROVIDE THE FOLLOW-UP/GUIDANCE THAT’S SO IMPORTANT TO GOOD PATIENT OUTCOMES THEY CAN PROVIDE A SINGLE POINT OF CONTACT FOR EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES ALIKE

PROVIDES SIGNIFICANT COST SAVINGS! BOTTOM LINE: A WORK-RELATED INJURY MANAGED TELEMEDICALLY BY AN EXPERIENCED OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL: RECEIVES GOOD CARE MANAGEMENT AVOIDS UNNECESSARY OSHA RECORDABILITY KEEPS THE EMPLOYEE AT WORK HAS GOOD EMPLOYEE/PATIENT AND EMPLOYER OUTCOMES PROVIDES SIGNIFICANT COST SAVINGS!

QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR TELEMEDICINE/VIRTUAL CLINIC PROVIDER WHAT IS THEIR AVAILABLITY? WHAT IS THEIR PRIMARY FOCUS OF CARE? DO THEY HAVE MORE THAN ONE? DO THEIR PROVIDERS HAVE OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE EXPERIENCE? ARE THEY AFFILIATED WITH A BRICK AND MORTAR CLINIC? WHAT METHOD DO THEY USE FOR VISITS? PHONE OR VIDEO? WHAT IS THEIR PROCESS FOR FOLLOW-UP WITH INJURED WORKERS? DO THEY HAVE PARTNERSHIPS WITH PROVIDERS THAT CAN PROVIDE DIAGNOSITICS ON-SITE, OR PROVIDERS THAT CAN GIVE NON-OSHA RECORDABLE CARE? WHAT IS THEIR PROCESS FOR COMMUNICATION WITH MANAGEMENT? HOW DO THEY BILL? WHAT EQUIPMENT DO THEY PROVIDE TO THE EMPLOYER? DO THEY PROVIDE TRAINING IN HOW TO USE IT? HOW EASY IS THEIR EQUIPMENT TO USE? DO THEY PROVIDE MEDICAL RECORDS? HOW DO THEY STORE THEIR MEDICAL RECORDS? CAN THEY COMPLETE STATE OR OTHER REQUIRED FORMS VIRTUALLY?

QUESTIONS??? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME! LUCINDA@TAPTOTREAT.US

PRIZE QUESTION WHAT YEAR DID THE TENNESSEE WORKER’S COMPENSATION REFORM ACT OF 2013 TAKE EFFECT?

MANY THANKS TO VW FOR HOSTING US!