Telemedicine adoption spreads during pandemic

A managed care company on Thursday reported a 650% increase in telephonic rehabilitation referrals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

One Call Care Management Inc., a Jacksonville, Florida-based company that provides physical therapy for injured workers and in 2017 expanded its offerings to include online telerehab, said in its report that adoption pre-pandemic was “not widely offered by adjustors,” as poor perception of telerehab services and “technology barriers” resulted in the lack of use.  

“As a result, many injured workers relied heavily on brick-and-mortar facilities for treatment of common workplace injuries, such as those affecting the back, shoulders and knees,” One Call said in a white paper.

The pandemic helped push 5% of the population into using some form of telehealth since the outbreak began, translating to approximately 16.5 million new users with 88% saying they would it use again, according to the white paper.

The aging workforce, defined as those 55 and older, has also been responsive to the option, as they represented 35% of recent telerehab adopters, according to One Call.

More insurance and workers compensation news on the coronavirus crisis here.