TELEPHONE TRIAGE

摘要

There is strong evidence that telephone-based assessments can help facilitate a timely return to work for people with common health problems, a government review into telephonic assessment methods has found. The review, Telephonic support to facilitate return to work: what works, how and when?, was commissioned following the government's proposal for the Health and Work Service (HWS), which will provide health and work advice to GPs, employees and employers.The service is set to launch in autumn 2014. The review provides an evidence base for the use of telephonic methods in four key areas where telephone-based support may be used: assessment and triage; case management; information and advice; and return to work. As well as academic literature, researchers used evidence from professional practice and grey literature sources, and also looked at evidence around implementation issues including safety, acceptability, timing, cost-benefit and required skills.