Did you know that injured workers have 24/7/365 access to speak with a registered nurse (RN) after a workplace incident? If you purchase workers’ compensation coverage with VML Insurance Programs, you have access to the Nurse Triage 24 (NT24) program.
Through a toll-free number dedicated to VMLIP members, an injured worker can speak directly with an RN to assist with triage and treatment advice. The RN will obtain a history of the injury and, with the employee, determine the best course of action based on the symptoms reported. The RN’s recommendation can range from self-care advice to recommending the employee seek treatment. Treatment options could be through a panel physician or emergency care.
However, the ultimate decision regarding treatment is the employee’s.
In VMLIP’s 2014-2015 fiscal year, nearly 3,300 workers’ compensation claims were reported using NT24. The average time holding to speak to an RN was approximately 33 seconds.
The services provided by the employer during the first few minutes following a work related incident largely determines the nature, duration, cost and eventual outcome of a workers’ compensation claim. Triage services have been proven successful in significantly reducing claims costs and reducing the time employees are out of the workplace.
NT24 also aids in injury reporting. While providing triage, the RN also takes a comprehensive report containing the details of the incident and provides it directly to VMLIP and the member contact(s). This type of report helps the claims examiner to make claim adjudication decisions more quickly. Data is delivered securely to VMLIP within minutes of the call.
If your entity has not yet signed up for NT24, contact Robin Duvall at: rduvall@vmlins.org to find out how to get started. To learn more about NT24, see the NT24 brochure here.