Leveraging the Benefits of Nurse Triage

Patients, providers and employers benefit from the most effective allocation of limited health care resources.

The landscape of health care is constantly moving. Technology is transforming every aspect of the experience, from provider capabilities to patient expectations. Rising costs are a perpetual challenge. Time is limited. Resources are finite. It’s imperative that you manage them as effectively as possible. You need all the help you can get.

Employers and providers require new strategies to meet patient demands — now and into the future. You need an experienced partner with innovative solutions to stay afloat and thrive in this ever-changing environment.

OSF OnCall provides digital tools to deliver personalized health care services more efficiently and at scale. We help providers expand their capabilities to provide convenient and high-quality patient care, which in turn helps employers control rising costs and improve workplace productivity. We help provide the competitive edge your business needs to succeed.

Introducing Nurse Triage by OSF OnCall
Nurse Triage by OSF OnCall offers around-the-clock, compassionate guidance for patients seeking care advice, next steps in symptom management or emergency services. Phone triage ensures they can speak to a registered nurse when needed — and receive the right level of care at the right time. It’s patient-centered, highly efficient and easily accessible, 24/7/365.

Our triage team comprises trained registered nurses who utilize national, evidence-based practice guidelines and are continuously evaluated in high levels of care delivery. In collaboration with providers, they help patients navigate the most critical decisions for their unique circumstances.

How triage works
When a patient calls for assistance, the triage nurse will take their history and document their findings electronically. After performing an assessment, they’ll route patients to the appropriate level of care based on their needs and the severity of the situation.

They may offer advice for care at home, contact an on-call provider or send patients to the emergency room for a more severe condition. They’ll collaborate as needed with external disciplines to ensure patient needs are met. Some issues may even be resolved over the phone. In each case, the most appropriate resources are allocated efficiently at the right time — to those who need them most.

Creating efficiencies and cost savings
Patients, providers and employers alike will benefit from the most efficient use of resources through nurse triage services:

• Patients receive timely medical advice and high-quality care from trained professionals more quickly, even after hours. They’ll be happier and healthier, saving time and money by avoiding unnecessary visits, including costly trips to the emergency room. They won’t have to go far to determine their next steps — and may even be able to receive care from the convenience of their own homes.

• Providers benefit from a reduction in inappropriate calls and unnecessary visits, decreasing the burden on staff and allowing their teams to work more efficiently. That improves both patient and provider satisfaction and trust across the board. OSF OnCall can help hospitals centralize and standardize triage across multiple practices, improving workflow and scaling resources effectively to increase health care access for all. They may also be able to expand their market reach, treating patients who live farther from their physical facilities.

• Employers can expand employee benefits while keeping costs low. Earlier response times and more effective use of resources help their employees return to work more quickly. By improving the health and wellness of their workforce, they can expect to see reduced absenteeism, increased productivity and improved employee satisfaction. They may notice a reduction in worker injury and workers’ compensation insurance costs, while a reduced lag time in reporting can help control costs through proactive claims management.

With OSF OnCall driving improved efficiencies, all stakeholders involved will benefit from cost savings, both direct and indirect. Other benefits are less quantifiable but no less important. For example, anecdotal reports from patients who have used our triage service indicate they appreciated the kindness, empathy and reassurance they received from our nurses. Even a small touch of humanity can make all the difference in the world.

Meeting the challenge
Nurse Triage by OSF OnCall handles nearly 600,000 calls each year, routing patients to the right resource at the right time. With the rising costs of health care, the appropriate and effective allocation of your limited resources is a game-changer.

You need a partner who understands this challenging landscape and can meet the challenge with innovative solutions. Nurse Triage by OSF OnCall has proven to achieve better outcomes — and that’s a positive impact on your bottom line.

By partnering with Nurse Triage by OSF OnCall, providers will experience greater efficiencies so they can focus on the most pressing issues at hand. Employers will have a new tool to drive employee wellness, productivity and engagement. Give us a call or contact us online to learn how you can leverage the benefits of digital health — and take your business to the next level.