Everything’s up to date in Kansas City—Missouri, that is, and with respect to getting city employees in and out of the doctor’s office.

That’s the word from the Great Heartland, where city leaders decided it was high time to put modern medicine to work. Tired of hearing employees say they didn’t have time to go to the doctor; the city responded by creating a kiosk in City Hall that is getting employees in and out of the clinic in 45 minutes or less.

“There is one less excuse for employees of the City of Kansas City, Missouri, to put off seeing a doctor,” the city said in a news release. “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.”

Ah, the homage to the taxpayer—you knew it had to be there somewhere.

The medical kiosk opened on the eighth floor of City Hall on July 1. Staffed during business hours, the kiosk is designed to connect employees with “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.”

Right there at the kiosk, employees can:

Have their medical history, symptoms and vitals reviewed by a registered nurse at the station;
Have the information sent online to a clinician;
Receive an assessment;
Schedule a follow-up appointment.

And all within 30 minutes, guaranteed.

Here’s the list of symptoms and conditions the kiosk is equipped to address:

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.)

The city thinks the kiosk combines the best of the virtual and in-person care models that will lead to a healthier workforce.

“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.”

Instant Insights /

Kansas City kiosk designed to create healthier workforce

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