TMCnet LOGIN
Webinars
Outbound Call Center Featured Article
Telework is Rx for Canadian Health Provider
January 28, 2010
Telework has long been known as the healthier way to work, in more ways than one. It reduces airborne illnesses from pollution, chiefly vehicle exhausts, and from disease spread in workplaces and injuries from vehicle accidents. It relieves the strain on budgets by cutting costs and boosting productivity. For these reasons telework is an excellent strategy for resource-strapped healthcare providers.
The Fraser Health Authority, which provides health services to over 1.5 million people residing in the communities south and east of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, the province’s largest and the fastest growing populated area, has been successfully “walking the walk” on telework.
(Full disclosure: I live in the Fraser Health Authority’s region; regional health authorities are responsible for providing health services in the province).
In 2009, after many years of planning, Fraser Health’s Transcription Services Leadership Team launched the first telework program for health authority medical transcriptionists in the province. The program is completely voluntary.
Fraser Health found that the telework program eliminated 40,000 kilometers (24,000 miles) of travel on the region’s roads; saved about $20,000 in gas charges; and saved approximately $5,000 in parking fees.
There has also been a positive improvement in staff morale reports Fraser Health. Teleworkers report they are “much happier” and are on average, realizing productivity gains of 20 to 30 percent.
The health authority realizes savings by not having to lease extra office space and all the accompanying costs. Although there are setup costs—of about $2,000--the increased productivity and decreased staff turnover mean cost savings resulting in a strong ROI.
“Stressed out workers are also more likely to be unhealthy, unmotivated and less productive,” says Fraser Health. “By removing the stressors of traffic congestion and parking woes while allowing employees to work in the comfort of their homes, the Transcription Teleworkers of Fraser Health report much high job satisfaction.”
The Fraser Health’s program timing is excellent. Telework is being promoted as an alternative mobility strategy to cope with the added traffic during the 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympic Games, which begins Feb.12 and runs through March 21.
The success of this program is being carefully watched to see if it can be used in other suitable areas, says the healthcare provider. There have been inquiries from other health authorities anxious to learn from the Fraser Health experience.
Telework can help health agencies like Fraser Health reduce dangerous and costly to handle illnesses resulting from air pollution, a major contributor to which is motor vehicle commuting from cars and buses both directly from usage and indirectly from road construction and maintenance.
No Breathing Room: National Illness Costs of Air Pollution, a report by the Canadian Medical Association published in 2008 that in that year alone as many as 21,000 Canadians will have died prematurely from the effects of air pollution. In 2008 there will have been over 9,000 hospital visits, 30,000 emergency department visits and 620,000 doctor’s office visits due to such emissions. The economic costs of air pollution in 2008 will have top $8 billion. By 2031, they will have accumulated to over $250 billion.
Fewer commutes also mean less accidents, and ER trips. Smartrisk reports that 3,000 people die and another 200,000 are injured every year in road crashes.
Fraser Health was recently named as one of B.C’s Top 55 Employers that offer the most progressive and forward-thinking programs. The judges specifically mentioned the health authority’s alternative work options such as telework.
“I think it is important for Fraser Health to adopt new technologies both for the sake of employees and to save taxpayer dollars that can better be used in the delivery of front line health care,” says Fraser Health President and CEO Dr. Nigel Murray. “Clearly ‘Telework’ is a win-win for everyone.”
“The ‘Telework ‘project is a way of using technology to ensure our employees are happy and work as efficiently as possible with the added benefit of reducing our overall carbon footprint,” adds Philip Barker, vice president of information management at Fraser Health.
The Fraser Health Authority, which provides health services to over 1.5 million people residing in the communities south and east of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, the province’s largest and the fastest growing populated area, has been successfully “walking the walk” on telework.
(Full disclosure: I live in the Fraser Health Authority’s region; regional health authorities are responsible for providing health services in the province).
In 2009, after many years of planning, Fraser Health’s Transcription Services Leadership Team launched the first telework program for health authority medical transcriptionists in the province. The program is completely voluntary.
Fraser Health found that the telework program eliminated 40,000 kilometers (24,000 miles) of travel on the region’s roads; saved about $20,000 in gas charges; and saved approximately $5,000 in parking fees.
There has also been a positive improvement in staff morale reports Fraser Health. Teleworkers report they are “much happier” and are on average, realizing productivity gains of 20 to 30 percent.
The health authority realizes savings by not having to lease extra office space and all the accompanying costs. Although there are setup costs—of about $2,000--the increased productivity and decreased staff turnover mean cost savings resulting in a strong ROI.
“Stressed out workers are also more likely to be unhealthy, unmotivated and less productive,” says Fraser Health. “By removing the stressors of traffic congestion and parking woes while allowing employees to work in the comfort of their homes, the Transcription Teleworkers of Fraser Health report much high job satisfaction.”
The Fraser Health’s program timing is excellent. Telework is being promoted as an alternative mobility strategy to cope with the added traffic during the 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympic Games, which begins Feb.12 and runs through March 21.
The success of this program is being carefully watched to see if it can be used in other suitable areas, says the healthcare provider. There have been inquiries from other health authorities anxious to learn from the Fraser Health experience.
Telework can help health agencies like Fraser Health reduce dangerous and costly to handle illnesses resulting from air pollution, a major contributor to which is motor vehicle commuting from cars and buses both directly from usage and indirectly from road construction and maintenance.
No Breathing Room: National Illness Costs of Air Pollution, a report by the Canadian Medical Association published in 2008 that in that year alone as many as 21,000 Canadians will have died prematurely from the effects of air pollution. In 2008 there will have been over 9,000 hospital visits, 30,000 emergency department visits and 620,000 doctor’s office visits due to such emissions. The economic costs of air pollution in 2008 will have top $8 billion. By 2031, they will have accumulated to over $250 billion.
Fewer commutes also mean less accidents, and ER trips. Smartrisk reports that 3,000 people die and another 200,000 are injured every year in road crashes.
Fraser Health was recently named as one of B.C’s Top 55 Employers that offer the most progressive and forward-thinking programs. The judges specifically mentioned the health authority’s alternative work options such as telework.
“I think it is important for Fraser Health to adopt new technologies both for the sake of employees and to save taxpayer dollars that can better be used in the delivery of front line health care,” says Fraser Health President and CEO Dr. Nigel Murray. “Clearly ‘Telework’ is a win-win for everyone.”
“The ‘Telework ‘project is a way of using technology to ensure our employees are happy and work as efficiently as possible with the added benefit of reducing our overall carbon footprint,” adds Philip Barker, vice president of information management at Fraser Health.
Brendan B. Read is TMCnet’s Senior Contributing Editor. To read more of Brendan’s articles, please visit his columnist page.
Edited by Patrick Barnard
More on Outbound Call Centers »
