During her morning shift at a medical transport company, an emergency medical technician closed her left index finger in the door of a vehicle while checking the onboard oxygen. She reported to her advisor that her fingernail was split open and the skin had been severed, indicating she required immediate medical treatment. After notice of the injury, she was advised by her company to contact MedCall Advisors to report the injury and seek immediate care.

Instead of obtaining medical treatment at a costly emergency room, through tele-emergent care the employee was able to speak directly to an Emergency Medicine physician to receive the necessary assessment she needed. MedCall’s Workers Compensation Application made it easy for her to send a picture directly to the ER Physician, who provided the appropriate treatment for her injured finger. The doctor assured her that a hospital visit was not required. In fact, the injury could be safely treated through soaking the finger in antibiotic ointment and applying a proper dressing.

As a result, the cut healed within five days, and the employee was able to avoid going to the emergency room due to MedCall’s medical assessment. Her decision to pursue tele-triage as a way to care for her injury quickly provided a multitude of benefits for both her and her company. In addition to offering the proper care, MedCall created a work status report directed to the employee’s company, as well as a First Report of Injury to the insurance carrier. These real-time notifications are transmitted simultaneously at a much lower cost than other alternatives.

A delivery truck driver called and stated that while he was carrying a box, he tripped over a cable. He said he dropped the box and caught himself with one arm, “popping” his wrist. It was badly swollen and causing severe pain. During the video consultation, the MedCall physician asked, “When you fell, did you hit your elbow, shoulder or hip”?  The worker said no, that all of his weight went to his wrist. About 30 days later, the worker called to file an amended report stating his hip was bothering him and he was seeking an x-ray.  He stated that when he dropped the box, he must have landed on his hip as well, because it had become increasingly sore. MedCall amended the report but immediately notified the carrier of our concern about this claim.  After being confronted with his own words stating twice to the medical assistant and again to the ER physician that he did not land on his hip, and facing the risk of committing fraud, he eventually confessed that his hip was injured in a subsequent recreational activity.

A long-haul truck driver began to feel numbness in the left side of his face. Due to the stress of this situation, he neglected to contact MedCall Advisors, although he had been instructed to do so by his employer. With assistance from his dispatcher, he identified a 24-hour urgent care clinic (please note: the dispatcher was at risk for making an incorrect medical decision by directing the driver to an urgent care rather than an emergency room). When the driver reached the urgent care clinic, the entire side of his face was paralyzed. Two physicians came out to assess, and fearing that the patient was having a stroke, said they could not treat him.  He was directed to the emergency room. Once back in his truck, the driver noticed his MedCall sticker on his dashboard and called our number. The medical assistant bypassed reporting and immediately connected the driver to an ER physician, who had the man download the MedCall app on his smart phone so he could examine the man’s face. Two minutes later, the physician correctly assessed the totality of symptoms and concluded the driver was not having a stroke, but rather suffering an episode of Bell’s palsy.  The medical assistant identified the nearest pharmacy to fill the physician’s prescription for antibiotics and steroids. The driver was able to continue on his path and pick up the prescription.