Here is a description of how Medical Triage program works:
1. As soon as an injury occurs, the company’s medical doctor contacts each worker.
2. If the nature of the injury is not serious and the worker prefers not to go to see the doctor, the doctor follows the worker’s progress anyway.
3. If the worker goes to the clinic, the company physician speaks to the treating doctor, frequently ahead of time – prior to the appointment, giving whatever additional information given about the company and modified duty is needed.
4. The company doctor speaks again to the treating doctor after the worker is seen.
Click Link to Access Free PDF Download
“The 6-Step Process To Determine Workers’ Comp Injury Causation”
Benefits:
1. Workers feel looked after and reassured. The company looks good.
2. About 25% fewer visits to the clinic or emergency room. (For example; almost every back strain).
3. The company is in control of the situation right from the beginning, sometimes even before a claim is established. There is far less likelihood of a claim getting out of control.
4. There is less possibility of either over treatment (unnecessary physical therapy) or under treatment. (Example: If the company physician knows the injury will ultimately need to be seen by a hand surgeon, there is no point in having the primary care doctor do a lot of conservative treatment).
5. The treating doctor is well informed and in the best position to make knowledgeable decisions. (Example: A worker with a questionable injury asked the doctor for time off). The treating doctor found the information given by the company doctor, that the worker was just been laid off, very useful.
6. When a relationship is established with the worker to be getting better as soon as possible, it is less likely the worker will become a symptom magnifier.
Cautions: Have an experienced clinician with the right kind of background doing triage. It must be very clear the company doctor’s role is to answer questions and speak generally about what might be happening; the company doctor is not the treating doctor; the company doctor never tries to dissuade someone from going to the clinic.
Author: David Dubin, MD. is an emergency room physician who serves as a medical advisor for several companies. Formerly president of Aon Medical Consultants, he has been helping employers and insurance companies develop innovative cost containment programs and reduce workers comp costs for over 20 years. He can be reached at: [email protected] or 860-553-6604.
Click on these links to try it for yourself.
WC Calculator: www.ReduceYourWorkersComp.com/calculator.php
TD Calculator: www.ReduceYourWorkersComp.com/transitional-duty-cost-calculator.php
WC 101: www.ReduceYourWorkersComp.com/workers_comp.php
Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws are different. Consult with your corporate legal counsel before implementing any cost containment programs.
©2008 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law.
