Definition
AI triage for occupational health is the automated, AI-supported intake conducted after an employee reports sick. The employee has a first conversation with a digital assistant that asks adaptive follow-up questions and builds a structured dossier. The occupational health physician or case manager then opens the human consultation with real insight, not an empty record.
The numbers
~5.5%
Average sickness absence rate in the Netherlands — historically high and persistently above the long-term average.
CBS · Quarterly sickness absence figures
~1,500
Registered company physicians in the Netherlands for more than 7 million workers — a ratio the NVAB has flagged as a concern for years.
NVAB · Capacity outlook for occupational medicine
#1
Psychosocial workload (PSA) is, according to TNO/NEA, the most reported work-related cause of absence — exactly the kind of signal easily missed in a rushed intake.
TNO · National Survey on Working Conditions (NEA)
Weeks
OVAL reports that wait times for a first consultation with a company physician run into several weeks in parts of the market — while the first 72 hours are the most decisive for recovery.
OVAL · Sector report on occupational health services
Figures are indicative; consult the most recent publication from each source for exact percentages.
How it works
From sick report to a prepared first consultation — without the employee filling in a form or the professional searching for context.
After reporting sick, the employee is invited to a conversation with the digital assistant. No static form, no waiting: a calm conversation at their own time and place, in plain language.
The assistant asks open questions and adapts follow-ups based on the answers. Complaints, context, working conditions and absence signals are explored within clear protocols — never diagnoses, always facts and experience.
Responses are summarised into a dossier the occupational health physician or case manager can read before the consultation: the employee's story, relevant signals and attention points, presented in a structured way.
The professional opens the conversation with context. No time lost on basic questions, more attention for what truly matters. The medical assessment, the advice and the final responsibility remain with the occupational health physician.
Boundaries
Positioning
AI triage sits in front of your case management system. It handles the first 72 hours; the rest of the trajectory continues to run on the systems you already use.
Triagen works alongside existing occupational health software such as Otherside, Visma Verzuim (formerly VerzuimSignaal and Dotweb) or AFAS Verzuim — it does not replace them, it strengthens them.
Frequently asked questions
AI triage is the automated first intake after a sick report. A digital assistant runs an adaptive conversation with the employee, asks follow-up questions and delivers a structured dossier to the occupational health physician or case manager. The goal is that the first human conversation starts with insight rather than information gathering.
No. AI triage is a supportive tool with human-in-the-loop. Medical assessment, guidance and final responsibility always sit with the professional. The AI collects and structures; the human decides.
No. AI triage is the triage layer in front of the case management system. Triagen works alongside existing occupational health software such as Otherside, Visma Verzuim (formerly VerzuimSignaal and Dotweb) or AFAS Verzuim. Structured dossiers are delivered into those systems, so the rest of the trajectory continues in the tooling you already use.
Health data is special category personal data under the GDPR. Triagen processes it on an explicit legal basis, with EU hosting, strict access controls and logging. Medical confidentiality under WGBO and Wet BIG remains fully intact: medical information is only visible to the occupational health physician; the employer sees only what is necessary for guidance.
Triagen is working toward full NEN7510 and ISO27001 certification, with August 2026 as the target certification date. Security controls, access management and logging are set up according to those standards, and a Letter of Intent is available on request. For the EU AI Act, AI triage is deployed as a supportive tool with human-in-the-loop and explainable outcomes: decisions are traceable, models are documented, and risks are controlled in line with the requirements for AI systems in healthcare contexts.
Yes. The structured intake moves the first substantive step from days to minutes, helping occupational health services and employers meet WvP deadlines — particularly the problem analysis — comfortably within the legal framework, without pressuring the employee.
More practical questions? View the full FAQ · Visit the Security page.
A 30-minute demo shows how AI triage fits your occupational health service or internal team — without disrupting the existing system landscape.
