Summer 2012 Issue

Health care providers are increasingly being asked to show improved patient outcomes through continuity of care. At the same time, there is a demand to decrease cost through better utilization of health care dollars. Telephone triage plays an important role in satisfying these demands.

A recent study by the World Health Organization reports that as many as one in ten patients in developed countries is actually harmed while receiving hospital care. In addition, patients often end up in emergency rooms when they could have received care at home and visited their doctor the next day. The costs associated with these unnecessary hospital visits include overloaded emergency rooms, infections acquired in hospital, and ineffective use of healthcare dollars.

Last year, a large, leading provider of healthcare services serving a four-county region of 1.5 million people was looking to reduce healthcare costs. Their medical center was established in 1995 and includes over 80 physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants. The center has chosen to remain anonymous for this case study..

TriageLogic has been approached by several organizations who received funding towards controlling soaring health care costs. Many of these organizations have now become clients because TriageLogic was able to help them improve care while decreasing costs. In this article, we review and explain the process involved in setting up a nurse triage system and the different options for clients looking into setting one up.

In the weight loss world the gurus simply chalk anyone not getting results up to being lazy (not exercising enough) or being a pig (simply not eating strict enough). To me, there is nothing more ignorant than this in all of health and fitness. Anyone who truly understands biochemistry realizes this is almost as bad as telling someone who has a chronic disease they are not trying hard enough to get well.

TriageLogic’s CEO and co-founder, Dr. Ravi Raheja, was recently featured in the national publication Healthcare Call Center Times along with Sue Altman, COO of Phoenix-based Schmitt-Thompson Clinical Content.

Using the iPad speeds the triage process because navigation is easier and protocols load faster. Due to their portability and ease-of-use, iPads provide the ability to work remotely and flexibility that many call centers are now offering their nurses.

TriageLogic appeared on 21st Century Health’s award-winning international television series. The 21st Century Health program featured affordable and efficient triage software solutions that support patient calls during office hours as well as after hours.

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