Written by Dr. Patrick Howell, CEO, HealthWorks Medical, LLC
When an employee gets hurt or sick at work, the instinct is often to send them straight to the ER. After all, it’s fast, open 24/7, and seems like the safest option. But in most cases, occupational health is not only the better choice — it’s the smarter one for your business.
In today’s article, I’ll break down why dedicated occupational health clinics typically outperform emergency rooms in cost, care, and compliance when it comes to non-life-threatening work-related conditions.
What You’ll Learn
- The hidden costs of relying on ERs for work injuries
- Why occupational clinics provide more appropriate care
- How choosing the right setting protects your bottom line
- When to use ER vs Occ Health — and how to decide
Why It Matters to Employers
Workplace injuries and illnesses are inevitable. But how you respond to them isn’t. Employers who default to the ER may unintentionally expose themselves to:
- Higher costs (medical and work comp)
- Prolonged return-to-work delays
- Legal and regulatory headaches
- Unnecessary testing and treatment
Occupational health programs are designed with your workforce, your job roles, and your compliance needs in mind. It’s not just healthcare — it’s workforce-aligned healthcare.
What’s the Real Cost of the ER?
ERs are designed for life-threatening emergencies, not work-related musculoskeletal injuries, drug tests, or minor illnesses. Here’s what happens when you send a non-emergency employee to the ER:
- Sky-high costs: An ER visit can cost 10–20x more than an occ med visit for the same condition.
- Lost time: ER wait times are unpredictable — and they don’t prioritize minor workplace injuries.
- Wrong documentation: ERs aren’t focused on return-to-work or OSHA recordables.
- Overtreatment: ER providers may prescribe narcotics, order imaging, or make referrals you didn’t need.
- Bad optics: Every ER visit goes on your OSHA logs or insurance reports — even when avoidable.
Why Occupational Health Is the Better Fit
Trained in Work Comp Protocols
Occupational medicine providers understand OSHA, FMLA, ADA, and workers’ comp systems. They focus on documentation, causation, and compliant return-to-work plans.
Focused on Return-to-Work
Occ med aims to keep employees safe and productive. We offer modified duty guidance, physical therapy referrals, and functional assessments tailored to the job.
Lower Cost, Higher Value
Employers see an average of 40–60% cost savings when using occ med clinics vs ERs for non-emergency issues.
Integrated with Safety Programs
Occupational clinics like HealthWorks partner with you — integrating physicals, surveillance exams, drug screens, and injury care under one roof.
Faster Access, Less Downtime
We prioritize your injured workers, often seeing them same-day with a short wait time. Less downtime means better productivity and lower claim exposure.
When Should You Use the ER?
There’s a time and place for the emergency room. Send an employee to the ER or call 911 when there’s:
- Chest pain or difficulty breathing
- Severe bleeding or compound fractures
- Loss of consciousness
- Serious burns or head trauma
- Any life-threatening condition
Otherwise, call your occupational health partner first. Most injuries, exposures, and illnesses do not require the ER.
Takeaways
- ERs are built for emergencies — not work injuries.
- Occupational health saves you time, money, and compliance risk.
- Knowing where to send your employee makes all the difference.
- A strong occ med partner is part of your risk management strategy.
My Challenge to You
Audit your current injury response protocol. Ask yourself:
- Do supervisors know when to call the ER vs when to use occupational health?
- Is your workforce trained on where to go for treatment?
- Have you partnered with an occupational clinic that understands your job roles?
Need help? We’ve got your back.
Let’s Build Your Injury Triage Protocol Together
Email “OCC vs ER” to info@healthworksmedical.com and we’ll help you build a simple, clear decision tree for your entire team.