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Industrial Health and Telehealth in Kentucky
This document discusses the launch and success of an industrial telehealth program in Kentucky. It began in 2004 when a rural doctor and a self-insured coal company partnered to improve healthcare access and costs for employees. They established on-site clinics staffed by nurse practitioners who were overseen through telehealth by the doctor. This innovative approach successfully identified chronic health conditions, increased treatment compliance, and reduced healthcare costs by $7 million within a few years while improving productivity. Key factors in its success included strong leadership support, convenience for employees, and improved health outcomes.
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Industrial Health and Telehealth in Kentucky
- 1. Industrial Health andTelehealth in Kentucky Rob Sprang, M.B.A. Director, Kentucky TeleCare University of Kentucky College of Medicine Lexington, KY Mid-Atlantic Telehealth Resource Center Inaugural Conference Innovation Panel #1 8:30am Friday, March 16
- 2. Telehealth in Kentucky before2000 • Program launched in 1994 at UK • First encounter 1995 • No Medicaid/commercial reimbursement • Most encounters supported by grant funds • < 50 sites, primarily in Eastern KY
- 3. Telehealth in Kentucky,2000-Today • Legislative Mandate • Reimbursement • statewide initiative • Training Centers • BOD • Nearly 200 sites – Created a “network of networks” • Traditional healthcare sites • Prison telehealth (state and federal) • Industrial Telehealth
- 4. Launch of IndustrialTelehealth • First meeting in May 2004 - FP MD in rural community • Self Insured Coal Company • • • • • • Aging workforce Difficult to recruit new workers New wellness focus Uncovering chronic disease Medication compliance Accessing higher level of care for employees/dependents • Cost of care vs. productivity • Initial investment in mobile clinic with NP • Soon moved to clinics at each mine
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- 7. View from outside theback of the mobile clinic Videoconference system, stethoscope and external camera
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- 9. View from the cabto the back of the mobile clinic Patient sits in the chair on the left
- 10. Dr. Wells’ viewinto the mobile clinic
- 11. How telehealth technologyis used • Physician oversight/consultations for local Nurse Practitioners • Primary care from mines or corporate office to Dr. Wells • Healthcare education to the corporate office staff “Lunch and Learn” • Medical Specialty consultations to mine sites and corporate offices
- 12. How did itwork? • Claims data = 8-12% of employees have risk factors and chronic disease diagnosis, after Health Risk Assessment, actual = 95%+ • On site clinic staffed by NP • No out-of-pocket for pharmacy (generics) and visits (in the network) • Deliver meds to jobsite • Drug costs down $1M first year even with dramatic increase in diagnosis and treatment • In 2011, corporate healthcare costs dropped $7M from previous year with 40,000 visits
- 13. Why did itsucceed? • Senior Leadership supported the effort • The first NP was quite attractive • Employees were most interested in their family going to the doctor. Initially, their own health has been secondary. • The new system is so easy to access - no cost to the employee. • NP clinic was #2 job satisfier behind 4 on/4 off work schedule. • Proper diagnosis, proper treatment, better health, higher productivity, lower costs
- 14. Rob Sprang, MBA Director,Kentucky TeleCare University of Kentucky Co-Project Manager, Kentucky TeleHealth Network 859-257-6404 [email protected]