When you decide to work with a medical review officer, there are quite a few things to look for. This will ensure you can access as many services as possible. Not all officers provide the same level of service. Additionally, you want to work with one who can make it easier for you to operate your business while still being able to get the necessary drug testing taken care of.
Below are some tips on what to look for in a medical review officer.
Services Offered
The various services offered should be something that you look at. You don't want to hire an MRO and then find out that they don't provide all of the services that you need. Whether you work with a consortium or a general administrator, you only want to work with one. If they don't provide every service, you may of having to work with two. This could not only raise the cost, but also make it more difficult for you to manage the overall drug testing program.
Cost of Services
While you want to be compliant, whether it is with the DOT or anyone else, you do need to focus on the cost of services. You shouldn't have to spend more than what you can afford. A line item should be found in your budget for this kind of expense. Comparing the cost of services between several officers will make it easier for you to choose in a fiscally responsible manner.
Reputation
With the Internet, exploring reputation is easier than ever. You will want to find out what others have to say about a medical review officer. If they have had problems, you can likely expect to have similar problems. These can be avoided by crossing a particular officer off the list and moving on to another one.
Use of Electronic Data Management
Electronic data management makes it easier for you to get the data that you need about employees and their drug test results. You can get rid of the paper trail, and manage the process easier. It will also help you to get results faster, and share them across departments as necessary. If an MRO does not offer this service, you may want to consider going with a different officer.
Is Available for Support
There may be times that you will need to contact a medical review officer for support. This may include litigation support, implementing and testing program, or simply determining how to move forward with employees that don't speak English. Whatever the problem may be, you want to know that the person is available for you to contact.
Ultimately, you don't want to risk any issue with drug testing, or electronic data records. As a result, it's best to take some time to look at what a medical review officer can do. Make some comparisons and be confident that you are choosing the best one. This will make it easier for you to implement and maintain a testing program in the workplace.
