Telehealth for physical therapy

Original Editor - Shahd Mohammed

Top Contributors - Shahd Mohammed Abdelhafeez Hamed, Kim Jackson and Vidya Acharya  

Introduction

online physical therapy session.

The World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT) and the International Network of Physiotherapy Regulatory Authorities (INPTRA) was convened in 2017 to develop key recommendations for global practice and regulation, resulting in a white paper approved by the WCPT and INPTRA boards on March 18, 2020. The task force defined digital physical therapist practice as health care services, support, and information provided remotely via digital communication and devices.

The video below gives you an overview of what online physiotherapy is.

Benefits

1. Benefits to patients

• The ability to reach physical therapists and get the service if the patients are in rural, faraway places.
• Increases patient satisfaction by letting them avoid prolonged waiting in clinics and the save them the time and cost of transportation.
• Helps those with critical conditions regarding movement, it's safer for them.
• Increases the chance of following the program regardless of the patient's location.
• The patient manages to self-observe and monitor their condition and progress.
• Increases flexibility as service users can schedule therapy at times that best suit them.

2. Benefits to physical therapists

• Expands the ability to bring about greater workforce efficiencies including reduction in travel between care settings and continuing professional development
• Allows greater control of content and format of self-management information and resources (i.e., consistencies)
• Increases the ability to monitor standards of care and service user outcomes
• Provides opportunities to think and work more creatively by leveraging the advantages afforded by ever-evolving technology options.

How to get the most out of it?

To make sure this approach will work efficiently, there are certain conditions and rules to be considered both from the patients' and physical therapists' perspectives.

Patients must be confident that

• They are receiving high quality, safe, and evidenced-based care.
• The results and outcomes of this approach are the same as the in-person one.
• This approach doesn't eliminate the opportunity to meet face to face with your physical therapists for consultations if needed.
• The instructions and the program will be clear and easy to understand.
• They shouldn't worry about the privacy of their personal and health data, same laws apply.
• Physical therapists are doing their jobs fully.
• Respect and social preferences considerations will be the main priority in interaction.

Service providers must be

• Sure that this approach in giving services is approved by their workplace or organization.
• Fully aware of the advantages of this form of service and use it creatively.
• Trained to use the technology and its updates regularly.
• Have access to the needed technologies.
• able to help and support the patients in all possible ways.
• Willing to continually review the effectiveness of the chosen mode and make improvements as needed; and
• Able to demonstrate that they are practicing in a manner compliant with the regulatory framework that governs their practice.

Current limitations

Although there are many documented advantages with digital practice models, it is important to consider the current limitations inherent with this format of health care delivery Some of these limitations will be reduced or eliminated over time through strengthened evidence base and improvements in technology, regulation, public and professional acceptance, and uptake rates. Other limitations will require ongoing consideration as it is anticipated that previously unconsidered limitations may only be revealed as digital practice develops and grows.

Examples of these limitations may be:

• Different social and cultural preferences among countries, like appropriate eye contact, appropriate image recording, the therapists' gender in case disrobing is required.

• Language barriers, if there will be a need for an interpreter.
• If internet connectivity is inadequate. In some circumstances, poor or absent internet connectivity may impact the ability to deploy digital practice options.
• The success of digital consultations is dependent on the ability of both the therapist and service user’s ability to appropriately and confidently use the technology and to troubleshoot it when required.
• The integrity and privacy policies of the Camera apps used. 
• The physical set up on both sides (e.g., lighting, camera resolution, camera height, audio quality, background, etc.) can affect the quality of the service provided.
• Not all cases and conditions can get the benefits of this new approach. 
• Inadequate technology training and limited knowledge.