On-Site Clinics Decrease Costs
Many medium and large employers in their never-ending battle to reduce cost and to provide benefits to their employees are opting for on-site medical clinics. On-site medical clinics can decrease the cost of general health benefits programs and decrease the cost of medical care associated with workers’ compensation claims. On-site medical clinics have proven they can curb the fast-rising cost of medical care for both personal and work-related injuries and illnesses.
Some employers are hiring clinicians themselves, and others are using contracted providers who also provide software, protocols and other tools to support the clinicians.
Medical Care Provided at Work Site, Convenient & Effective Treatment
With the on-site clinic, the medical care is provided at the work site, which is convenient for employees who otherwise would have to leave work for care. Injuries and illnesses are evaluated by the clinic staff; many cases can be treated on site. Employees are referred to off-site medical facilities only if the injury or illness is beyond the scope of the medical professionals in the on-site clinic.
On-site clinics often use a variety of staffing models, including RNs, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants – with physician collaboration and direction as needed. Depending on the employer’s needs, on-site clinics can be staffed with a doctor. When properly managed, on-site medical practitioners can provide high quality medical care while reducing overall costs. They can also provide other health services such as wellness, and regulatory exams, etc. On-site clinics can include x-ray machines and pharmacy services, though costs and state regulations affect the feasibility of those services. Good providers of on-site medical clinics will tailor the services provided to the employer’s needs.
Benefits to Employees
The benefits to the employee injured on the job include:
- Medical services available when the typical doctor’s office is closed – evenings, weekends and holidays
- No appointment is necessary
- Immediate medical care following an injury
In addition to the workers’ compensation benefits, the employee also enjoys easy access to medical care, assistance with chronic medical problems and healthy living guidance.
Benefits to Employers
The benefits to the employer of the injured worker include:
- Evaluate and treat employee injuries immediately
- Avoids unnecessary and off-site medical treatment
- Referral to appropriate and screened preferred medical providers when off-site care is needed
- Improved outcomes and faster return to work, increasing productivity
- Assist in keeping all workers healthy and productive
- Reduces absenteeism
- Significantly lower cost for medical services for workers’ compensation claims
- Can provide physicals
- Drug screening
- Improved general health of employees
- Improved employee morale
- Increases employee retention
- Can coordinate pharmacy usage with your Pharmacy Benefits Manager
- Timely reporting of the injury and medical information to relevant parties.
- The First Report of Injury form is completed and filed with both the state and claims office.
Treat Workers Comp and Health Care
On the workers’ compensation side, the on-site clinics can treat lacerations, strains, sprains, other minor orthopedic injuries, abscess drainage, minor skin infections and other routine acute medical conditions. On the health care side, the on-site clinics can treat the whole gamut of minor medical conditions that causes employees to lose time from work including strep throats, colds, ear and eye infections, skin lesion removal and vaccinations.
Clinics Used For Any Site with 1,000+ Employees
On-site clinics are not just for industrial sites like factories, and mines or large office centers. On-site clinics can be operated for just about any industry where there are 1,000 or more employees in one location. Mobile and temporary clinics are used for large construction projects such asskyscrapers, power plants, and highways. All clinics need to be equipped with the necessary furniture, supplies, equipment, and medications.
The cost of drug testing for both employee applicants and existing employees can be significantly reduced by using an on-site clinic. Drug testing due to reasonable suspicion, random testing and post-accident screening can be completed by the on-site clinic. In many states the timely completion of a post-accident drug testing can be used to deny workers’ compensation benefits to employees under the influence of a drug at the time of their injury. A positive drug test result can be sent to a certified lab for further confirmation.
Be Sure to Select Quality On-Site Medical Provider
When an employer is selecting the on-site medical provider, select a medical provider who provides an on-going review of the quality of service they are providing. The service quality can be evaluated by patient reviews and comments, by clinic audits and by staff performance evaluations.
On-site clinics do carry costs and risks as well. To be successful, the staff needs to be trained for on-site work, and be supported with appropriate software, operating systems, supplies, medical direction, protocols, QA, and other infrastructure. The medical practice needs to carry malpractice insurance coverings the employer and be compliant with HIPAA, GINA, HITECH and other privacy regulations. In addition, some on-site providers may introduce conflicts of interest if they are financially tied to the off-site hospitals, clinics and pharmacies that they refer to.
For further information about on-site clinics, please contact us.
Author Rebecca Shafer, JD, President of Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. is a national expert in the field of workers compensation. She is a writer, speaker, and publisher. Her expertise is working with employers to reduce workers compensation costs, and her clients include airlines, healthcare, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality, and manufacturing. She is the author of the #1 selling book on cost containment, Workers Compensation Management Program: Reduce Costs 20% to 50%. Contact: RShafer@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com.
Editor Michael B. Stack, CPA, Director of Operations, Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. is an expert in employer communication systems and part of the Amaxx team helping companies reduce their workers compensation costs by 20% to 50%. He is a writer, speaker, and website publisher. www.reduceyourworkerscomp.com. Contact: mstack@reduceyourworkerscomp.com.
WORKERS COMP MANAGEMENT MANUAL: www.WCManual.com
MODIFIED DUTY CALCULATOR: www.LowerWC.com/transitional-duty-cost-calculator.php
Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker or agent about workers comp issues.
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I definitely agree the On-site Medical Clinic will provide a lot of benefits for the Employees as the details are provided in this article.
what is so interesting is that in the past most aerospace industries had these clinics available for treatment of employees. Then it became big business when outside resources were providing the same services. It was from experience in working in off site clinics that I became aware of how more money oriented than patient care oriented they were. Indeed there was many incidents that poor medical care was dispensed without thought of the patient’s recovery but how much money could be made by ordering extra unnecessary lab tests and/or x-rays. It would serve many better if onsite clinics were more the norm than not. The advantages outweigh the disadvantages regarding higher quality care when directly part of the workplace culture.