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Nurseline: A health resource for employees

New medical advances for the treatment of many chronic and acute illnesses contribute to the confusion around health care decisions. Individuals can be overwhelmed when they try to understand such things as medical test results, drug options and long-term implications. While the familiar phrase "knowledge is power" holds a lot of truth, information overload is not such a "good thing."

When people become overwhelmed with information, something needs to give. Whether it's reduced concentration or lost time, employees consumed with health issues can't function at 100 percent on the job. Employers can now help employees through the health care maze and data overload.

A health resource
Ceridian Nurseline offers employees an invaluable resource to access the expertise of registered nurses regarding health and medical issues, as well as an assessment of care needs. Through nurse consultations, Nurseline callers have received information that can have a lasting impact on their life.

For example, when one individual contacted Nurseline, the nurse consultant determined that the symptoms could be an allergic reaction and triaged the caller to the emergency room. On a subsequent follow-up call, the individual reported she was feeling better and had been referred to an allergist for a potential food allergy.

Another caller sought information from Nurseline about care following a bee sting. Again, the symptoms indicated a potential allergic reaction, and the nurse helped the caller understand the need for emergency room treatment. After the caller's ER visit and successful treatment, she contacted Nurseline to personally thank the nurses for their help.

Nurseline callers have received guidance on many important health care decisions. After calling Nurseline:

• More than 50 percent of callers in 2004 changed their pre-call decision on seeking care after speaking with a nurse; 40 percent were redirected to a lesser degree of care.
• Emergency room visits decreased from a pre-call intent of 14 percent to a post-call 12 percent.
• One-third of callers who initially were going to the emergency room were redirected to a non-emergency room setting.
• Urgent care visits decreased from a pre-call intent of seven percent to a post-call four percent.
• Office visits decreased from a pre-call intent of 51 percent to a post-call 36 percent.
• Home treatment increased from a pre-call intent of 28 percent to a post-call 48 percent.

Knowledgeable and reliable
Nurseline is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year with both English- and Spanish-speaking nurses and language translation in over 140 languages. Nurseline offers access to nurse consultations, available through a toll-free number. These consultations provide tangible support for a variety of concerns, such as:

• Decisions on how to handle a minor illness and whether a doctor should be contacted.
• Details about diagnosed medical conditions.
• Information on medication and treatment options.
• Self-care options and educational information.

Ceridian Nurseline also provides other options for employees interested in information on a specific health topic. This includes the menu-driven Audio Health Topic Library (available in English and Spanish) which has hundreds of recorded messages on medical and health issues. Ceridian also offers a variety of communication materials -- life articles, self-assessments, newsletters, brochures, magnets, flyers, and postcards -- to help program managers manage and increase program participation.

Employer results
Ceridian Nurseline offers an attractive return on investment for employers. Health improvement programs that integrate demand management have shown potential cost savings estimated at $2,562 per employee per year. (Goetzel R, Guindon A, Turshen J, Ozminkowski R, January 2001 "Health and Productivity Management: Establishing Key Performance Measures, Benchmarks and Best Practice." Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine)

Ceridian provides quarterly usage and outcome reports to help employers evaluate the main health concerns and issues among their employees. The data not only determines how Nurseline assists individuals with health decisions, but also helps employers during the development of benefits packages. This can also include the proper management of acute events in reducing the overuse of medical interventions -- which is a contributor to higher insurance costs. Metrics data is available by:

• Participant - new and repeat participants and demographics.
• Case - utilization.
• Service - types needed and provided.
• Outcome - comparison of caller initial and final intent for level of care.
• Annual satisfaction report - evaluates employee satisfaction with the service.

The right knowledge is power. Ceridian Nurseline can help your employees understand their options and make the best health care decision possible based on the right information.