How might PT's utilize "telehealth"?
Started by jjjDPT
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The only immediate use I can see for telehealth in PT is checking on a patient's form when s/he's doing home exercises. And the patient must be fairly high-functioning to begin with. Would you be comfortable looking on a patient exercising alone, if s/he is at risk for falls?
We have to touch and feel most patients we work with, and that doesn't really fit the telehealth model. Think of the stuff you did in your clinical rotations; can any of that be done without you touching the patient at all?
Sometimes, there are solutions that are in search of a problem. But we don't want to be seen as Luddites, so let's jump on the bandwagon...
We have to touch and feel most patients we work with, and that doesn't really fit the telehealth model. Think of the stuff you did in your clinical rotations; can any of that be done without you touching the patient at all?
Sometimes, there are solutions that are in search of a problem. But we don't want to be seen as Luddites, so let's jump on the bandwagon...
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That's exactly how I feel about APTA supporting telehealth. It seems that it would have little practical use for (safe, quality) patient care. Although if it helps speed up the physician referral process, that may help patients get into the OP clinic sooner...that is assuming insurances continue to require a Rx...
For higher functioning individuals, here is an example of how telehealth is already being used: http://www.mobilitywod.com/consult/
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Can all PT services be administered via telehealth? No. But many can. It's not a replacement for traditional hands-on therapy, but should be considered a way to augment treatment. I work as a tech in a peds OP clinic, and we use bits of telehealth here and there. There are many tests & measures that can be video recorded by support staff (or parents) on location and then sent to the PT electronically for scoring. Do you need to have your hands on a patient to assess their ability to perform functional movements or activities? Or to discuss their satisfaction with their current level of function? While telehealth might not allow you to use your sense of touch, you still have full use of your eyes, ears, mouth, and brain. Obviously, telehealth is not feasible for certain settings, and is not right for all PTs. But to say that it has no practical use is being close-minded.
I always like to point out that when Rene Laennec invented the stethoscope in 1816, most physicians and professional medical groups rejected the idea and continued to believe that they only way to auscultate was to place the ear directly on the chest. It took decades for the stethoscope to become a common instrument. Even though it improved diagnostic ability greatly.
I'm not saying that all PTs should "jump on the bandwagon" and join the telehealth SIG. But don't reject the idea just because it doesn't seem all that useful right now. Don't limit your imagination to current technology. There are companies developing software for Xbox Kinect and other platforms specifically aimed at PT. What if you could feel and touch patients remotely?
But maybe I'm young and naive. Maybe three years in PT school will shake all the imagination out of me. Maybe I watch too much Star Trek on Amazon Prime and am still waiting for Tricorders.
I always like to point out that when Rene Laennec invented the stethoscope in 1816, most physicians and professional medical groups rejected the idea and continued to believe that they only way to auscultate was to place the ear directly on the chest. It took decades for the stethoscope to become a common instrument. Even though it improved diagnostic ability greatly.
I'm not saying that all PTs should "jump on the bandwagon" and join the telehealth SIG. But don't reject the idea just because it doesn't seem all that useful right now. Don't limit your imagination to current technology. There are companies developing software for Xbox Kinect and other platforms specifically aimed at PT. What if you could feel and touch patients remotely?
But maybe I'm young and naive. Maybe three years in PT school will shake all the imagination out of me. Maybe I watch too much Star Trek on Amazon Prime and am still waiting for Tricorders.
The porn industry would be the first to exploit this. Many people don't realize it, but that industry is a significant player in the software field. It spurred many technical developments in streaming videos, webcams, bandwidth optimization, authentication, etc.
One of my previous careers was in software, and one of our clients was a well-known company with an ironically biblical name. You guess the rest.
