What trend allows for remote medical evaluations in workers' compensation?

The trend that allows for remote medical evaluations in workers' compensation is telemedicine. Telemedicine refers specifically to the use of telecommunications technology to provide medical care, which includes consultations, follow-ups, and evaluations conducted remotely. In the context of workers' compensation, this means that injured workers can receive medical advice and assessments without the need to travel to a provider's office, thus enabling quicker access to care and facilitating the claims process.

Telemedicine has grown significantly, particularly due to advancements in technology and the increasing demand for convenient healthcare options. This approach can help reduce costs associated with in-person visits and also allows for a broader reach, providing access to specialists who may not be available locally.

While telecommuting, video conferencing, and online counseling are related concepts, they do not encompass the full scope of remote medical evaluations tied specifically to the healthcare context. Telecommuting refers to working from home and does not directly involve medical evaluations. Video conferencing is a tool that can be used within telemedicine but does not inherently imply a medical evaluation. Online counseling, while a form of remote interaction, typically refers to mental health services and may not cover the broader range of medical evaluations involved in workers' compensation cases. Thus, telemedicine is the most accurate choice for this