Below are communications sent by MTI America with information and resources
regarding the COVID-19 outbreak.
August 24, 2021
POMPANO BEACH, FL (August 24, 2021) – MTI will continue to exercise caution when transporting and providing in-person interpreting services for injured workers. Ensuring the safety of our injured workers, drivers, interpreters, and communities remain our priority.
Over the course of the past few months, MTI supplied nearly 10,000 masks to our drivers, in-person interpreters, and injured workers who did not have them. MTI will press forward with these efforts.
We are requiring all drivers to wear masks or face coverings and strongly recommend the injured worker follows suit (we will do our best to supply them to injured workers who are in need).
Internally, MTI is also encouraging all staff (the MTI family) to secure the COVID-19 vaccination. Cem & Janet Kus, the owners of MTI, are so passionate about protecting the MTI family and those they are in contact with that they are offering a monetary incentive for those who get the vaccine.
August 24, 2021
Our resilience and ongoing success in delivering superior service to our clients and their injured workers throughout the pandemic is a result of each of you working together towards the common goal of getting our industry to the new normal. I’m proud and humbled to say each of you have demonstrated flexibility, gratitude, and patience as we have transformed the way we operate and continue to navigate through this pandemic.
As surges in COVID-19 numbers and Delta variant uncertainties rise, it is evident this global pandemic still poses an ongoing impediment to MTI’s ability to bring back in-office employees and will require diligence and commitment from all of us throughout the remainder of the year to stay healthy and safe.
We encourage you to continue to take the following steps:
- Get the COVID-19 vaccine (learn more)
- Encourage those in your household to get vaccinated. The FDA approved the Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine for those 16 years of age and up
- Maintain social distancing
- Wear face masks as recommended
- Use proper hand-washing hygiene
- Monitor temperatures, symptoms, and overall well-being
We understand these measures may feel inconvenient and overplayed, but know they are necessary for the safety of all. I remain hopeful we will look back upon this period as a time of great resiliency, and we will emerge even stronger than we ever imagined.
Sincerely,
Janet Kus
President
April 16, 2021
Prior to scheduling transport services please confirm your injured workers are aware they must follow CDC guidelines and local county and state regulations. Both drivers and Injured workers are required to wear a face covering. MTI is providing over 10,000 masks to our drivers nationally to ensure our high standards of safety and health remain a priority.
Specifically, Tell Your Injured Workers:
- Do not take a trip with a driver if they have COVID-19, or other related symptoms
- Wear a mask or face covering while being transported to and from medical appointments
- Sanitize your hands frequently and ensure you do not leave masks, gloves behind in vehicle
- Sit in back seat only. Front passenger seat is to remain empty
- Keep windows open whenever possible
Please note:
All MTI drivers are required to wear a mask and adhere to CDC guidelines.
Thank you for your support in keeping our communities, drivers and injured workers safe and healthy. Now, more than ever, were #inthistogether
November 11, 2021
MTI is actively monitoring news reports on the Coronavirus (COVID-19), which is currently considered to present low health risks here in the United States. Nevertheless, we must all remain vigilant and take appropriate precautions to reduce our risks of being exposed.
Employee Health Advisory
At MTI, we hold a COVID vaccination contest where we award a $250 bonus to employees that received the vaccination. We urge our employees to observe these common health and hygiene practices recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
These include:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing. If soap and water aren’t available, use an alcohol-based sanitizer that is at least 60% alcohol.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Stay home until you are fever-free for 24 hours.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
If the COVID-19 virus spreads where the business operation is affected, our emergency response team will have real-time communication with our employees and clients to avoid misinformation. We have employees who telecommute throughout the United States, and offices in Pompano, FL & Tempe, AZ to ensure uninterrupted services. If you have any other questions, please contact your local sales representative.
November 10, 2021
Given the Delta variant and news that vaccines are not a silver bullet, the use of telerehabilitation continues to receive a lot of attention in the workers’ compensation industry.
Physical therapy (PT) is essential for helping injured workers return to work, and its benefits are clear. However, there are many reasons why an injured worker might not be able to get to PT—whether it’s transportation issues, mobility issues, a disability, or because they live in an underserved community. With the COVID-19 pandemic here for the foreseeable future and a large portion of injured workers now in isolation or under strict quarantine measures, it’s clear that standard PT is no longer a viable option for many.
The solution? Virtual physical therapy (virtual PT, also known as telerehabilitation), one of the many telemedicine options now available through MTI that makes it easy for workers, therapists, and other stakeholders to work together toward the goal of getting the injured worker back to work.
“The prevailing mindset has been that telemedicine will be more widely used sometime in the future,” said Marc Pyatt, Physical Medicine National Product Leader for MTI America. “However, the impact of COVID-19 is demanding we re-think that widely held belief. Through virtual PT, I can reduce my patient’s infection risks and serve those already quarantined by remotely treating them in their own homes. Telemedicine is the right tool for the job and the future is now.”
How Does Virtual PT Work?
Telemedicine is any clinical care done at a distance. Some forms of telemedicine have been around for a while—such as healthcare providers using email and videoconferencing to connect with patients.
However, recent advances in telemedicine go beyond communication to more advanced tools such as apps, tracking devices, and other gadgets like 3-D goggles, robotic gloves, and motion tracking. Virtual PT can allow healthcare providers to directly observe patients performing exercises and provide feedback in real-time. Because multiple people can participate in a virtual PT session, it also allows for consistent care coordination between multiple care providers.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual PT helps to support isolation and social distancing measures and frees up critical healthcare resources while still supporting long-term rehabilitation goals.
“Advances in virtual PT are making it possible to transform the traditional outpatient therapy model,” said Pyatt. “I can triage the in-clinic schedule so only the most acute and low-risk patients are seen in person while scheduling less complex and high-risk cases to be treated remotely. During the current pandemic and going forward this may be the preferred model for physical therapy.”
The Benefits and Challenges of Virtual PT
Virtual PT is just as safe and effective as traditional, in-person care—and may have even more advantages.
A recent study published in The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery found patients who received knee replacements and participated in virtual PT completed more days of therapy per week on average. This group also had fewer readmissions to the hospital and experienced less difficulty with knee function during particular activities than those who received traditional physical therapy.
Virtual PT is lower in cost, as well, due to reduced transportation expenses and less time spent traveling to and from an outpatient clinic from work or home. In addition, virtual PT provides convenience to the injured worker, particularly those who live in rural areas or have transportation or mobility/disability issues. Younger workers may also be more likely to use virtual PT and telemedicine given their comfort with technology.
With these advantages, it’s clear why telemedicine in general is a fast-growing trend. In fact, recent research shows that non-hospital telemedicine grew a whopping 1,393% from 2014 to 2018.
However, virtual PT is not without its challenges in both adoption and rollout. In some cases, an injured worker may require a more thorough checkup or exam than what a remote session can provide. Other challenges include privacy concerns, technology issues, worker reluctance, and slow adoption rates across the worker’s compensation industry.
“Implementing change is always challenging,” said Pyatt. “At MTI, we’re working to educate and communicate the research-based benefits and efficacy of telerehabilitation. It’s never been easier and more affordable to access virtual PT and quality providers through Internet platforms that are HIPAA compliant, encrypted, and secure.”
The MTI Virtual PT Advantage
MTI’s virtual PT/telerehab service offers personalized one-on-one sessions with a licensed therapist. It can even accommodate up to six people per session, allowing for greater clinical collaboration and continuity of care. The goals are to help decrease therapy session cancellation rates and keep injured workers progressing through recovery.
MTI’s telerehab program offers:
- User-friendly video therapy sessions
- Personalized physical therapy program
- Engagement that helps to ensure intended outcomes and compliance
- Real-time text messaging between the injured worker and therapist
- HIPAA compliant with encrypted end-to-end security and privacy
- Video remote interpretation for non-English speaking workers
At MTI, the focus is always on the future. Long after COVID-19 is gone, telemedicine will still be here—and may even continue to expand as it gains further acceptance among insurers and providers. The future is wide open. Improved technology in telemedicine may soon lead to reduced administrative costs, better access to care, and even improved diagnoses and treatment using artificial intelligence tools.
“MTI telerehabilitation will continue to be a more utilized service in physical therapy than before COVID-19,” said Pyatt. “I expect traditional, in-person outpatient services will become blended with virtual PT to reduce over-crowding in clinic’s common treatment areas. By strategically utilizing both in-clinic and remote physical therapy services, MTI can guide patients to recovery while reducing any risks both now and into the future.”
To learn more about the MTI telerehab program, visit: mtiamerica.com/telerehab
Get started now by submitting your telerehab referral to telerehab@mtiamerica.com.
April 16, 2020
The Coronavirus has spread to all of the United States and its territories. As of this writing, the CDC reports the national total of COVID-19 cases is 644,746 with 28,593 deaths. Additionally, over 22 million Americans have filed for unemployment. These numbers continue to change.
We understand the past few weeks have been extremely difficult for our customers and providers. As a family-owned business, unburdened by commitments to external investors, MTI America is blessed to keep all our employees currently working. We are taking every opportunity to increase our capabilities and support by cross-training our staff, enabling the delivery of a seamless care coordination experience with superior cost-effective outcomes.
We remain dedicated to our employees, customers, and injured workers and we are committed to providing quality, cost-effective care to our clients, all while remaining compliant with mandated social distancing guidelines. In response to the ever-changing needs of our customers and injured worker, we have implemented several innovative technology resources to ensure business continuity and minimize disruption during this unprecedented time.
Virtual at-home Physical therapy (PT)
| MTI’s Virtual at-home Physical therapy is expected to increase by 75% during the pandemic |
Telehealth services have been deployed to all injured workers who want or need them. Virtual at-home Physical therapy provides personalized one-on-one sessions with a licensed therapist. These services are expected to help decrease the cancellation rate of much-needed therapy appointments and keep workers progressing with their recovery. Workers can also choose to transfer back to traditional in-person care at any time.
Our provider network team is working diligently to continually recruit and credential licensed physical therapists to meet and exceed your expectations.
Learn More About Telerehab: https://www.mtiamerica.com/telerehab/
Enhanced Communication
We have installed a state-of-the-art phone system that offers you maximum self-service flexibility. With each call, you have a choice of the channel including chat, text, email, or a call with a representative.
| MTI’s VRI services have already experienced a 100% increase in demand |
We offer on-demand video remote interpreting (VRI) that allows those who are deaf or have hearing deficits to communicate with a hearing person at the same site via videoconferencing. This provides the benefit of face-to-face communication with the simplicity of over-the-phone interpretation. VRI can be accessed by simply using your phone, tablet, or video-equipped computer.
VRI features include:
- On-demand in-person interpreting with no advanced scheduling needed (certified interpreters require 24-hour notice)
- Professional, easy-to-use interface with clear, high-quality video and audio feed
- Chat function, available in-language for written instructions available in up to 14 languages including:
| American Sign Language
Arabic Bosnian Burmese Cantonese Farsi French |
Haitian Creole
Hmong Karen Korean Mandarin Nepali Polish |
VRI benefits include:
- 100% HIPAA compliant video communication
- Decreased patient wait time for an interpreter
- 24/7/365 availability
- Reduced risk of infections
- Reduced costs
Learn More About VRI: https://www.mtiamerica.com/video-remote-interpretation/
Safety First
To ensure safety and well being and to do our part to help “flatten the curve”, we are delivering
N-95 masks to our proprietary network of transportation and translation professionals nationwide.
Durable Medical Equipment
We continue to proactively identify and anticipate any potential durable medical equipment needs and supply chain disruptions — rescheduling and reordering as necessary with comparable qualified providers and suppliers.
Stay connected
We are committed to staying connected so we will continue to distribute weekly resource materials to you via our MTI COVID-19 web page. https://www.mtiamerica.com/mti-covid-19/
Webinars
Remember to stay informed and maintain your CEUs.
View our latest webinar, Helping Patients Recover During the COVID-19 Pandemic, available Friday, April 17 for on-demand viewing at WorkCompCentral. https://ww3.workcompcentral.com/education/course/course_pk/1306.
Stay tuned for information about our next webinar: The Future of Virtual Telehealth Hearing Screening.
We know we will emerge stronger than ever—together. Stay healthy, stay safe, and keep your social distance.
Best Regards,
The MTI Family
As of today, 11/22/21, the CDC is not differentiating dental from other health care settings.
MTI sat down with Laura Gorman, MTI’s Dental Product Lead to get the latest updates in the dental industry. At this point, the CDC is not differentiating dental from other health care settings. Gorman said, “With the COVID restrictions previously in place, many people were unable to schedule routine health care examinations, however, that is no longer the situation.” She went on to say patients should continue their routine dental care per their dentist’s recommendations. As always, Gorman encouraged us to schedule examinations, cleaning, and treatment as recommended.
The CDC’s latest update:
The updated Infection Control Guidance for Healthcare Professionals about Coronavirus (COVID-19) is applicable to all U.S. settings where healthcare is delivered, including dental settings. Dental healthcare personnel (DHCP) should refer to this guidance, which includes a section specific to dental settings, for infection control considerations during the COVID-19 pandemic. As of September 10, 2021, the Guidelines for Dental Settings will display a web banner noting that the page will no longer be updated, and webpage visitors will be redirected to the Infection Control Guidance for Healthcare Professionals about Coronavirus (COVID-19) page.
As of today, 4/6/2020 the recommendations of government agencies and professional associations remain consistent to only provide dental treatment for emergency cases.
These measures are taken to safeguard the dentist and staff, the patient and those coming to the office/practice/clinic with the patient. These recommendations assure there is no contact minimizing risk of infection to all involved. As well dental practices are asked to turnover supplies such as masks, gloves and other equipment that is new or unopened and can be used by providers in hospitals or other settings in contact with patients.
The ADA, CDC define dental emergency as:
- Toothache not relieved by over the counter pain meds
- Facial swelling
- Temporary crown lost or broken
- Fractured implant prosthesis
- Loose implant
- Gum swelling
- Pus or bad taste emanating out of an area
- Loose crown or bridge
- Post op complication to a recent implant, periodontal or extraction surgery
There are a few practices open for emergencies, but dental emergencies handled in the dental office are best as the patient is not seeking treatment in an Emergency Department or other facility treating for Covid 19.
There may be changes in dental practice after the virus is managed but these are just possibilities.
According to the CDC…
Infection control practices may be reviewed and updated based on new guidelines from CDC, NIH, ADA, etc…. including how these practices are taught and enforced with documentation.
Many procedures, such as drilling or ultrasonic scaling, send germs in the mouth into the air and this may make use of masks such as N95 necessary in dental offices.
Implement mechanisms and policies that promote situational awareness for facility staff including infection control, healthcare epidemiology, facility leadership, occupational health, clinical laboratory, and frontline staff about known or suspected COVID-19 patients and facility plans for response.
There should be someone designated to communicate with community health services regarding exposure(s) and dissemination of material to staff. Additional information about recommended practices for terminal cleaning of rooms and PPE to be worn by environmental services personnel is available in the Healthcare Infection Prevention and Control FAQs for COVID-19
Scheduling and waiting areas
There may be fewer patients scheduled at one time and patients may be asked to wait in their car and call when they arrive, and they will be contacted when they are ready to be taken back to the exam/treatment room.
Waiting rooms will be rearranged, magazines and other shared items might be eliminated. Coffee/water stations may be eliminated or at least reconsidered with precautions in place.
The initial intake of patients may be revised to include questions regarding recent travel and symptoms such as fever, cough, shortness of breath and review of medical history. There should already be in place questions regarding medical history, medications, etc… but there will be a renewed sense of urgency about this information, and checking the temperature and reviewing recent travel will be new.
March 17, 2020
As the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to grow across the US, we want to assure you that we have taken steps to safeguard our operations. Maintaining your expected level of service is our top priority.
How we have prepared
We understand that robust continuity management and technology disaster recovery plans require a well- executed emergency response team to be nimble and informative to our clients ensuring critical functions and processes are restored and identified efficiently.
As many other organizations in our industry are announcing, we are taking several steps to prepare in the event we must modify the way we accomplish our day-to-day work.
- We will continually communicate to our clients through email and our website to minimize operational and financial risks (https://www.mtiamerica.com/mti-covid-19/).
- Our internal response team is supported by our in-house clinicians and medical director to ensure best practices are implemented to alleviate and address potential business interruptions.
- Ongoing communication with claim professionals and injured workers to insure 90-day medical supplies daily to high-risk injured workers and those with significant co-morbidities.
- Review ongoing strategies for pre/post-surgical, immobile, non-English speaking injured workers potentially in need of telehealth services that may require access to essential technology components and engaged communication.
- Evaluated our supply chains (critical vendors and suppliers) to understand their preparedness and identify any geographical disruption that may impact our ability to perform critical and essential processes.
- Issued temporary business travel restrictions of our sales force, telecommuters, meetings conferences and events.
- Strengthened our IT network infrastructure resources to enable remote working capability of our employees.
- Provided current travel guidance and FAQ and training on prevention of pandemic infections to all employees, providers and independent contractors.
- Implemented internal communications and activated our employee hotline to quickly respond to contraction of or suspected cases of the virus.
MTI is closely monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic to advise our clients of up to date information. We are passionately committed to provide you with world class service in an uninterrupted manner. We will continue to keep you informed as circumstances change and appreciate your partnership throughout this event.
Successful business continuity during crisis is a result of advanced planning and careful execution. You can count on us to be there for you.
