For the last few years, telehealth technology has targeted rural populations, including individuals who often skip regular checkups or lack the money or transportation needed to get prescription medication, with the long-term goal of limiting their chance of hospital admission. Now, however, companies of all sizes are embracing telephonic nurse triage, as a workplace early intervention program for soft tissue injuries commonly referred to as musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) or other injuries to prevent minor issues from becoming OSHA recordable claims.

So, why is this early intervention telephonic methodology an important one for companies to consider? According to Curt DeWeese, PT,  Atlas Injury Prevention Solutions, it comes down to intervening quickly and efficiently to determine the appropriate approach to take in assisting an employee with an MSD or other injury concerns. Most MSDs, when caught early, resolve with ice, stretching and over-the-counter medicines and do not require an employee to visit a doctor, urgent care or emergency room. In fact, a telephonic triage nurse can often resolve minor MSD concerns without additional, costly medical care.

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