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Advantages of Using Telemedicine in the Workers’ Comp Industry
by Medical Review MEDICAL RECORD REVIEWSThe workers’ compensation industry is witnessing a major transformation with the use of telemedicine as an alternative to on-site medical care. Employers and insurers welcome the ability to provide remote medical care to injured or ill employees using video technology embedded in computers, tablets, and smartphones. There are regulatory obstacles in the way; however, telemedicine is becoming a more viable alternative in the workers’ compensation industry. Whether telemedicine services or face-to-face consultation and treatments, workers’ compensation benefits are granted only after a comprehensive review of medical records that entails processes such as medical record organization.
Telemedicine is the use of electronic communication technology to provide medical services to patients without an actual in-person visit. The objective is to improve the patient’s health status. Electronic communications or monitoring can be utilized for management of chronic conditions, consultation with specialists, medication management and follow-up visits – all of which can be provided remotely through secure audio and video connections.
A Promising Alternative to In-person Care
A survey of more than 550 workers’ compensation professionals for a Mitchell International Inc. study on telemedicine perception showed that 45% of respondents consider telemedicine as a promising alternative considering industry impact and cutting costs. The United States telemedicine market is estimated to grow at an annual rate of six percent over the next few years and reach almost $7 billion in value by the year 2020. Considering the promising nature of telemedicine, it was given its own panel discussion at the 2019 Workers’ Compensation Research Institute’s (WCRI) Annual Issues and Research Conference. According to Dr Stephen Dawkins of Caduceus USA, “...telemedicine is a tsunami that will change the paradigm of medical care.” As the perfect storm of improved healthcare services, telemedicine is already experiencing exponential growth in the commercial health sector, says Dr. David Deitz of Deitz & Associates. The American Telemedicine Association states that there were an estimated 1.25 million telehea
lth visits in the year 2016. Some other sources estimate that more than 400 million of U.S. medical visits could have been telemedicine encounters.
What kind of an impact has telemedicine made on workers’ compensation? Observers point out that telemedicine has been slow to impact the workers’ compensation sector. Regulatory obstacles are cited as the major reason for slow adoption. Regulators are mainly concerned about the fact that injured workers could be railroaded into visiting with doctors over the internet. However, it is to be noted that workers can opt out and choose hands-on treatment if they desire so. There is no doubt that the use of telemedicine would bring multiple advantages to workers’ compensation. Primarily, it eliminates geographical barriers and can be used in both rural and urban settings. The injured or sick employee gains access to treatment at the workplace, which would facilitate speedier return to work.
- The American Medical Association says that follow-up visits, generally conducted every 45 days after an injured worker’s preliminary diagnosis and the creation of the doctor’s first report, are one example of the 70% of clinical encounters that can be successfully carried out via telemedicine.
- According to 2016 research regarding the utility and effectiveness of telemedicine, in the field of physical therapy, clinical outcomes related to telehealth sessions may be equal to that of conventional in-person medical services.
Major Benefits of Telemedicine
- Availability of more physicians: A major challenge employers face is the reluctance of healthcare practices to accept workers’ compensation cases. This reluctance is largely due to the fluctuating healthcare insurance climates and the pressures a workers’ compensation patient could bring. Telemedicine provides a good alternative by making it easier to locate treating physicians who are willing to work with employers’ requirements.
- A clinician who is licensed in a particular state can practice in that entire state and provide care where there may not even be any center open at the time the medical attention is needed. Injured workers can be evaluated almost immediately after the injury via telemedicine services.
- In rural areas, where the nearest healthcare facility may be at a great distance, telemedicine will prove to be a great boon.
- Telemedicine is also very useful in locations where the available physicians are specialized in an area outside of the injuries suffered.
- Reduced missed appointments: Often, injured workers may find that their physician appointments coincide with work hours. This would necessitate him or her to take paid time off or schedule an appointment before or after work. As a result, many patients don’t follow up and if they start feeling better they may skip appointments. Missed appointments result in longer claims and the particular case remains open. In such cases, the employer will have to decide whether the worker can return to his/her job. If the worker is not yet fully recovered, there is the risk of re-injury and a prolonged claim. With telemedicine, a worker can check in at any time and prevent hassles associated with missed appointments.
- Eliminate transportation hurdles: Transportation poses a major hurdle, considering the costs of transportation and management around that transportation. Workers may take taxis and have the fare reimbursed, or participate in ride-share arrangements made by carriers and care managers. Whatever be the mode of transport, costs add up along with other hassles. Telemedicine rules out the need for transportation totally. Injured workers can obtain guidance from healthcare providers even without leaving their homes. Consultations can be done through video chats via smartphones or tablets.
- Considerable cost cuts: When using telemedicine services, the need for emergency room visits and related expenses can be avoided. Transportation expenses can be cut down as well. Studies show that telemedicine consult platforms save money compared to in-person treatments.
In addition to the above, telemedicine is advantageous in the following ways as well.
- It allows claims specialists to communicate and interact with various specialists more easily.
- It enables instant evaluation of the injury and helps determine the level of care required. It allows for immediate triage.
- Follow-up visits such as post-operative visits and those for second surgical opinions can be handled through telemedicine technology.
- Employees benefit from quicker and more efficient medical care options. Patient experience is enhanced by the fact that telemedicine can be used for collaborative visits between multiple specialists without having to travel to each of them.
- The clinical data provided by advanced digital devices could be even better than what a physician can see in person.
- Healthcare providers can monitor high-risk conditions and follow a patient’s progress and recovery closely. This would help prevent complications, delays in treatment, and possibility of re-injury.
With the introduction of telemedicine, a medical record review company assisting workers’ compensation lawyers will have to review telemedicine documentation as well. Telemedicine medical records would include copies of all patient-related electronic communications, lab tests and results, prescriptions, evaluations and consultations, records of past care and any instructions produced in connection with telemedicine. The medical chart must also include a copy of the informed consent to use telemedicine technology. Importantly, the telemedicine medical chart should be consistent with the documentation standards required for traditional medicine. The successful implementation of telemedicine and telehealth will work to ensure faster care and speedy recovery for employees. Of course, life-threatening or severe injuries may require in-person services but most workers’ compensation claims involving concerns such as sprains, cuts, strains and so on can be addressed using telemedicine. As a healthcare solution that can minimize obstacles for even a group of injured workers while upholding outstanding clinical standards, telemedicine is definitely worthy of consideration in the workers’ compensation industry.
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Created on Oct 21st 2019 01:57. Viewed 467 times.
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