227: What You Should Know About Telerehab To Improve Access And Equity With Dr. Jennifer O’Neil, PT, PhD and Dr. Alan Lee, PT, DPT, PhD

Have you ever wondered how to effectively use telehealth to provide care? Maybe you’re already using it and want to know how to improve. In this episode of the I Love Neuro Podcast, host Erin Gallardo sat down with two leading experts in the field - Dr. Jennifer O'Neil and Dr. Alan Lee - to learn the latest research about telehealth.

Dr. O'Neil, a physiotherapist and professor at the University of Ottawa, shared her passion for using telehealth to improve access to rehabilitation services. She became interested in this area after seeing how much time she spent traveling to see her patients in Canada's vast countryside. Her doctoral research focused on implementing intensive home-based telerehabilitation programs for people living with traumatic brain injuries. She also discussed her work on a telehealth falls prevention program tailored for Francophone communities, highlighting the importance of addressing health equity.

Dr. Lee, a physical therapist and professor at Mount Saint Mary's University, provided historical context on the development of telehealth in physical therapy. He talked about the contributions of the international physical therapy community, including the recent publication of a clinical practice guideline (CPG) on telehealth from the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). This guideline covers everything from video conferencing to remote monitoring and asynchronous visits.

The experts shared their insights on key considerations for implementing telehealth, such as safety, patient satisfaction, and the importance of shared decision-making with patients. They emphasized the need for standardized terminology and the inclusion of qualitative research to better understand the nuances of telehealth delivery.

Erin asked about the barriers and best practices for clinicians using telehealth, how to use telehealth with people with cognitive difficulties, tips for using telehealth with groups vs individuals and how to overcome some of the common barriers that clinicians face when using telerehab. The speakers highlighted the importance of preparation, digital literacy, and adapting clinical skills for the virtual environment. They also discussed the latest changes in billing and reimbursement, as well as their opinions on whether telehealth visits should cost the same as in-person visits. 

Download the CPG here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38513257/

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