Telemedicine has been around for a while but COVID-19 accelerated its utilization significantly as in-person, non-emergency physician visits became more difficult during the height of the pandemic and mandatory lockdowns. According to a recent McKinsey report, “telemedicine use has increased 38x from the pre-COVID-19 baseline.” Increased consumer willingness to use telemedicine, more providers willing to offer telemedicine, and federal and state regulatory changes enabling greater access and reimbursement have put virtual health front and center.
In addition, increasingly more employers, especially those providing essential services, became motivated during COVID-19 to use telemedicine in Workers’ Compensation to diagnose and treat minor work-related injuries. Now more than ever before, telemedicine is viewed as much more than just a short-term solution used during the pandemic but as a long-term, viable alternative to treat employees with minor injuries. To that end, Prescient National is rolling out a new telemedicine program with Concentra Telemed to offer a virtual health solution to employers and their employees.
What Is Telemedicine?
Telemedicine provides remote clinical services for non-emergency medical problems and injuries between a patient and physician via video and other technology. It’s convenient for patients as they have 24/7 access to care from anywhere and it eliminates the need for an in-person visit to receive medical advice or treatment. All you need is a computer or a mobile device with a webcam and a secure, broadband Internet line.
Telemedicine and Workers’ Compensation Injuries & Illnesses
The utilization of telemedicine in Workers’ Compensation provides several key benefits for employees, including obtaining responsive triage, assessment, and diagnosis for workplace injuries and illnesses; having immediate access to personalized treatment; and receiving continued follow-up care – all without an in-person physician or clinic visit. The employer benefits as well by telemedicine’s ability to minimize the lost duty time that’s involved with in-person physician visits and facilitate the back-to-work process.
Type of Work-Related Injuries Ideal for Telemedicine
Telemedicine is suitable for any minor injury that can be diagnosed visually. This includes first-degree burns, minor sprains and strains, bruises, contusions, abrasions, scrapes, rashes, dermatitis, and repetitive injuries like tendonitis. It can also be effective to assess some blood pathogen exposures.
Scheduling a telemedicine visit with Concentra is simple. The employer authorizes the use of telemedicine for the injured worker. The employee can either log-in to the Concentra website or download the Concentra app to sign in and be placed in a virtual waiting room. A Care Coordinator will then conduct a patient intake and once completed connect the employee with a Clinician for evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of the injury. Concentra can help an employee navigate the sign-in process and is flexible in helping employers set up tailored communication tools.
It’s important to note that employees are not required to utilize telemedicine. Also, employees must be able to have their virtual health visit in a private setting. If they are at work, employers must provide an appropriate, secure area for the visit to be conducted.
If the employer is unsure whether telemedicine is the route to go or is uncomfortable in making the decision to recommend telemedicine for a specific injury, Concentra will provide triage to determine if the injury is suited for telemedicine. Concentra will also help determine if an employee is safe to go back to work or return with certain modifications.
In addition to performing triage for an employee injury, treatment and follow-up will be provided. The practitioner, after examining the patient, can prescribe non-narcotic medications (antibiotics for a cut, pain medications, supplies for burns, etc.), order lab tests (in the case of a blood pathogen exposure), and X-rays (for a twisted ankle, for instance), and will follow up accordingly with the results and the course of treatment.
How Does the Cost of a Telemedicine Consultation Compare with an In-person Doctor Visit?
A minor workplace injury utilizing telemedicine typically resolves in two or three visits and costs an average of $300 – about the same as an in-person doctor’s visit. The cost will vary by state and depends on the injury. The savings with telemedicine is in reducing lost work time and improving work injury case management.
How Can an Employer Conduct a Post-Accident Drug Test with Telemedicine?
Employers use a Post-Accident Drug Test (PADT) to help determine the root cause of an accident. Just as an employer requires PADTs for injured workers who go to the emergency room or a doctor’s office, the same requirement exists with telemedicine. If the employee is physically at the employer’s location, a swab test can be administered at the facility. If this is not possible (as with remote workers), the employer should contact a certified lab that offers PADTs for the employee to get tested within hours of the injury. If the employer already contracts with a lab for post-hiring drug testing, it is likely that lab will offer post-accident testing services.
Note: If an employee refuses a PADT, the claims handler may be able to proceed as if the result of the test were positive.
Business as Usual
The reporting procedure to Prescient National for workplace injuries is the same for employers utilizing our telemedicine program with Concentra. Employers will provide the injured employee with an authorization form, ensure privacy for the telemedicine visit, and have the employee log into the platform to begin the process and receive the care he or she needs. The employer would then submit the claim to Prescient using their usual first reporting method.
Prescient National is committed to helping employers mitigate Workers’ Compensation claims, provide coverage solutions, and help to streamline the claims process. Our partnership with Concentra is part of our commitment to help employers and their employees get the treatment they need in the most effective way possible, minimize the potential for injuries to worsen, and get workers back on the job as soon as they are able.
