NWCDN Members regularly post articles and summary judgements in workers’ compensations law in your state.
Select a state from the dropdown menu below to scroll through the state specific archives for updates and opinions on various workers’ compensation laws in your state.
Contact information for NWCDN members is also located on the state specific links in the event you have additional questions or your company is seeking a workers’ compensation lawyer in your state.
Does telemedicine have a place in workers’ compensation? This practitioner was undecided on this question until a week ago when participating in a conference devoted to the benefits of using telemedicine in workers’ compensation. The presentation was offered by Concentra, and it made a strong case for telemedicine as a useful adjunct to workers’ compensation treatment.
The way it works is simple: an injured worker connects on a computer or a mobile device to a clinician by video. Clearly telemedicine makes good sense for minor medical issues such as sprains or contusions. Concentra estimates that 30 percent of initial injuries and 60% of injury rechecks can be treated via telemedicine.
What are the savings? Among them is that there is no need to transport the injured worker to a medical facility and no need to provide coverage for that injured worker while out of the work site. There are fewer hours of lost time. Perhaps the biggest financial savings is not incurring ER charges or urgent care bills.
One type of New Jersey worker who clearly benefits from telemedicine is the over-the-road trucker who may be injured a thousand miles from home. The telemedicine patient can be seen on the road, at work or even in the home. The worker can request text notification regarding when the clinician is available to treat, thereby avoiding waiting times in medical offices.
The follow-up treatment involves sending paperwork by secure email to the employee as well as reports to the employer by email or other communication.
Will telemedicine replace occupational health centers? Clearly not, because serious injury case are not appropriate for telemedicine. It does seem to this practitioner that telemedicine will grow rapidly around the state for many types of injuries. Clinicians will need to be careful in limiting the use of telemedicine to minor cases and recognizing when an in-person visit to a physician must be made. Many workers will no doubt prefer telemedicine in many situations. Care may be improved by prompt telemedicine, eliminating the problem of workers who delay their own treatment because they do not want to take the time off from work to travel to an occupational clinic.
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JohDoes telemedicine have a place in workers’ compensation? This practitioner was undecided on this question until a week ago when participating in a conference devoted to the benefits of using telemedicine in workers’ compensation. The presentation was offered by Concentra, and it made a strong case for telemedicine as a useful adjunct to workers’ compensation treatment.
The way it works is simple: an injured worker connects on a computer or a mobile device to a clinician by video. Clearly telemedicine makes good sense for minor medical issues such as sprains or contusions. Concentra estimates that 30 percent of initial injuries and 60% of injury rechecks can be treated via telemedicine.
What are the savings? Among them is that there is no need to transport the injured worker to a medical facility and no need to provide coverage for that injured worker while out of the work site. There are fewer hours of lost time. Perhaps the biggest financial savings is not incurring ER charges or urgent care bills.
One type of New Jersey worker who clearly benefits from telemedicine is the over-the-road trucker who may be injured a thousand miles from home. The telemedicine patient can be seen on the road, at work or even in the home. The worker can request text notification regarding when the clinician is available to treat, thereby avoiding waiting times in medical offices.
The follow-up treatment involves sending paperwork by secure email to the employee as well as reports to the employer by email or other communication.
Will telemedicine replace occupational health centers? Clearly not, because serious injury case are not appropriate for telemedicine. It does seem to this practitioner that telemedicine will grow rapidly around the state for many types of injuries. Clinicians will need to be careful in limiting the use of telemedicine to minor cases and recognizing when an in-person visit to a physician must be made. Many workers will no doubt prefer telemedicine in many situations. Care may be improved by prompt telemedicine, eliminating the problem of workers who delay their own treatment because they do not want to take the time off from work to travel to an occupational clinic.
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John H. Geaney, Esq., is an Executive Committee Member and a Shareholder in Capehart Scatchard's Workers’ Compensation Group. Mr. Geaney concentrates his practice in the representation of employers, self-insured companies, third-party administrators, and insurance carriers in workers’ compensation, the Americans with Disabilities Act and Family and Medical Leave Act. Should you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Mr. Geaney at 856.914.2063 or by e‑mail at jgeaney@capehart.com.n H. Geaney, Esq., is an Executive Committee Member and a Shareholder in Capehart Scatchard's Workers’ Compensation Group. Mr. Geaney concentrates his practice in the representation of employers, self-insured companies, third-party administrators, and insurance carriers in workers’ compensation, the Americans with Disabilities Act and Family and Medical Leave Act. Should you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Mr. Geaney at 856.914.2063 or by e‑mail at jgeaney@capehart.com.