Remote triage uses digital consultation systems to provide care to the patient. The growing population and limited availability of healthcare facilities in remote areas have posed challenges in providing much-needed healthcare. During the time of the pandemic, remote triage provided quick access and convenience. Remote triage also provides healthcare efficiently to elderly patients and those with mobility issues. In the case of workplace injury triage, remote triage successfully delivers first aid treatment to reduce the impact of the mishap.

Remote triage involves estimating the urgency of the patient using digital aids such as online messaging, video and audio consultations, and telemedicine remote triage software.

Benefits of remote triage : 

• Improved access to medical care: Patients residing in remote areas with little to no access to healthcare and elderly patients incapable of visiting the medical facilities frequently, stay deprived of the care they need. With remote triage, it is easier to address their medical needs.
• Immediate availability of an expert 24/7: Remote triage-trained nurses or healthcare staff are available round the clock. For instance, workplace injury triage requires immediate attention, however in remote worksites, it is unlikely to provide medical services promptly. Remote triage can help in assessing the situation and guide you to the best treatment reducing risks of major losses.
• Patient convenience and satisfaction: With the help of remote triage, patients can conveniently connect to the healthcare nurse or doctor over audio or video call giving a better picture of the scenario thereby making it easier to implement the correct treatment plan.
• Reduces costs and waiting time: Remote triage reduces unnecessary visits to the health centers. This reduces costs and hour-long waiting times.
• Reduced staff burnout: Remote triage offers better patient flow and management, with fewer visits to the ER, which lowers the workload on the healthcare professionals as well. Remote triage staff can also work from the comfort of their home.
• Efficiency and resource management: Remote triage sorts out the cases based on severity and urgency which helps in efficiently utilizing resources. 
• Pandemic response: At the time of pandemic like covid 19, remote triage became an important tool for minimizing the risk of infection transmission.

Remote triage process flow: 

• Initial evaluation: Telecommunication channels allow the initial evaluation of symptoms and medical background. With video consultation, it is convenient to accurately appraise the need for urgent medical help.
• Symptom assessment and documentation:  Symptom evaluation helps in choosing the standard protocol for treatment implementation. Furthermore, remote triage software records the medical record of the patient for future reference.
• Triage decision-making: Based on the symptoms and medical history of the patient, the professional will decide whether or not the patient needs referral to ED. In workplace injury triage, the remote triage professional instructs the injured on the first aid treatment prospects.
• Follow-up: With remote triage, it is easier to follow up and monitor the progress of the treatment.

Remote triage professionals: 

Triage nurse: Registered nurses offer remote triage services in most cases. They carefully assess the symptoms and decide on referrals in emergency cases.

Triage doctors: Triage doctors offer better evaluation and medical help on the case.

Non-licensed professionals: Some states have permitted unlicensed professionals to perform these duties but they have no authority to provide any medical advice. They usually direct the call to a nurse or a physician assigned for the triage.

Risks involved : 

Digital limitations: as remote triage depends on technology entirely, it might not be effective for people with limited digital skills.  Network availability also constrains remote triage services.

Diagnostic limitations: without face-to-face interaction, accurate diagnosis is challenging.

Privacy and security: online platforms are not a secure place. A breach of sensitive medical information poses a threat to the privacy of the individual.

Remote triage with work partner USA

Work partner USA offers a very comfortable, flexible remote triaging experience with licensed MDs. MDs bring unparalleled expertise in critical thinking and emergency management. They offer rapid interventions reducing the impact of emergencies and tailoring the best treatment plan suited to the requirements.