7 Benefits of Telephonic Nurse Triage

By Art Pedraza
Posted: November 2, 2018

Reduce construction claim expenses and the severity of claims through telephonic nurse triage

You’ve done everything from implementing safety rules and conducting jobsite inspections to training and even recognizing employees for their safe practices. You’ve really changed the safety culture of your company and reduced claim frequency. Fantastic, now how do you impact the outcome of those claims that will happen no matter what safety/loss control measures you implement?

How do you provide the quickest treatment to your injured employee and gracefully handle what occurs on that jobsite? The simple answer is telephonic nurse triage.

Telephonic nurse triage is not new to construction. Contractors and industrial companies with a large number of claims use it. Even workers’ compensation (WC) carriers hire these third parties as ways to help their clients reduce claim costs. And while telephonic nurse triage isn’t for every contractor, for many, it has improved both treatment and claim reporting procedures that help adjusters with their claim assessments.

Nurse triage is a process by which a third party professional interviews an injured employee at the jobsite, typically within minutes of injury. The professional is a trained nurse that assesses the severity of the injury and recommends an initial path of treatment, such as self-care, or for more serious injuries, directions to a clinic or hospital. Because every call is recorded and fully available (a key differentiator among vendors) it locks down the story with the best possible documentation.

Here are 7 helpful benefits of telephonic nurse triage:

  1. Shifts Responsibility – Relieves the foreman or safety director of pressure and responsibility to take the employee’s statement.
  2. Access – Contact is available 24/7/365 via telephone; the next best thing to having an on-site nurse.
  3. Decision Support – A medical assessment at the time of the incident helps get the right choice of first aid attention and decision support about what to do and where to seek treatment.
  4. Quicker Reporting – Helps staff complete the Employer’s First Report of Injury, cutting down on reporting lags that are critical to claim resolution.
  5. Clear Communication – Language barriers of injured employees providing injury details are overcome.
  6. Documentation – Transcripts or recorded statements can be produced that help claim professionals investigate claim circumstances or negotiate claim settlements.
  7. Trust – Reinforces social interaction, care and trust between employer & employee.

On their own, any of these benefits can be a difference maker for a company that has a few WC claims per year. Take advantage of these benefits and see how nurse triage can reduce your claim expenses! 

Contact a member of the 'A' Team to discuss nurse triage in greater detail.

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