There is one less excuse for employees of the City of Kansas City, Mo., to put off seeing a doctor. In an effort to make it more convenient than ever for its employees to access medical care, the Kansas City Health Care Trust, along with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City (Blue KC), have partnered with Mosaic Life Care to bring expert medical advice directly to City Hall.
Mobile kiosk telemedicine features the next generation of health care. It connects patients with medical professionals, without the hassle of driving to appointments, making it easier than ever for people to take care of themselves. City officials believe this is an innovative way to reach employees who would otherwise go undiagnosed or untreated. It also provides value to taxpayers by proactively working to lower future health care costs.
“The Kansas City Health Care Trust is offering the medical kiosk to employees because we understand their lives are busy and are only getting busier,” said City Councilman John A. Sharp, Board chair for the Trust. “It’s an excellent way to make it easier on employees when they have minor illnesses or injuries. Not only is it convenient, but it is also affordable, with no copays or deductibles. Employees do not have to pay a thing to receive care.”
“The Kansas City Health Care Trust is offering the medical kiosk to employees because we understand their lives are busy and are only getting busier,” said City Councilman John A. Sharp, Board chair for the Trust. “It’s an excellent way to make it easier on employees when they have minor illnesses or injuries. Not only is it convenient, but it is also affordable, with no copays or deductibles. Employees do not have to pay a thing to receive care.”
The medical kiosk, which opened on July 1, is available to City of Kansas City, Mo., employees, retirees, and their spouses and dependents ages 18 and older, who are enrolled in one of the City’s Blue KC health plans. If they are covered under any of the City’s Blue KC plans, they can talk to a doctor or nurse practitioner on a computer monitor for no deductible and no copay—all without ever leaving City Hall.
Located on the 8th floor of City Hall, the medical kiosk operates during regular business hours, 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. – 5p.m. Monday – Friday, which means that during the workday, employees can see a provider online for a range of issues including minor illnesses and injuries, symptoms from a chronic medical condition and even general health and wellness concerns.
The doctor is in
At the medical kiosk, employees are greeted by a registered nurse, who then notifies the provider (doctor or nurse practitioner) that a patient is at the kiosk. The nurse then reviews their medical history and symptoms and obtains vitals. Within 30 minutes, the virtual provider will perform a physical assessment with the nurse’s facilitation. The provider can diagnose, treat and even write or call-in prescriptions. If more information is needed, the provider can also schedule a follow-up visit, test or other treatment.
“Personal touch is still very important in this technology age,” said Jill Monroe, City Wellness Program Manager. “Having a registered nurse there to triage the patient prior to the physician coming online is a big plus. The nurse will be able to provide more in-depth education so patients fully understand their care, go over potential measures to help prevent the issue from reoccurring, and be available for follow-up, if necessary.”
All Mosaic Life Care providers are local—licensed in the state of Missouri—and Mosaic uses secure technology to transmit images and dialogue. The provider is available within 30 minutes of the patient arriving at the mobile kiosk site, and the visit generally takes 10 to 15 minutes.
“The medical kiosk ties in nicely with the many other health initiatives the City offers,” Sharp said, including the KC Health Care Trust Employee Clinic located at the City Health Department. “It’s a great complement to the Clinic, which offers immunizations, annual and school physicals, blood draws and other medical services that the kiosk does not provide.”
Why use telemedicine?
Telemedicine allows for reliable and convenient visits with trained and certified medical providers. Some reasons to use the telemedicine kiosk include:
- I feel like I should probably see a doctor, but can’t really fit it into my over-booked schedule.
- I’m travelling tomorrow and can’t get away from work.
- I don’t have transportation today.
- My doctor’s office is closed and I don’t want to go to an urgent care clinic or hospital.
- I just moved and don’t know any doctors in my area.
The Medical Kiosk is equipped to treat:
- Mild asthma
- Minor headaches
- Sprains, strains
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
- Bumps, cuts, scrapes
- Burning with urination
- Coughs, sore throat, ear and sinus pain
- Eye swelling, irritation, redness or pain
- Minor allergic reactions
- Minor fevers, colds
- Rashes, minor burns
- Back pain
- Chronic medical conditions (diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, etc.)
About the Kansas City Health Care Trust
After struggling with rising health insurance costs for some time, the City of Kansas City, Mo., decided to take a new approach to better manage such costs. Therefore, in 2008-2009, the City, with full support of the City Council and its labor unions, began studying a self-funded option. Since November 5, 2009, the Board of Trustees for the Trust has been responsible for administering the City’s partially self-funded health care plan, which replaced the City’s fully insured health care program on May 1, 2010. This partially self-funded plan has resulted in substantial cost savings for taxpayers, City employees and retirees, while maintaining a high level of benefits and offering a comprehensive wellness program.