Technology Is Shaping The Future of Physical Therapy

By Heidi Jannenga, PT, DPT, ATC, co-founder and chief scientific officer, WebPT.

In advance of the COVID-19 pandemic commenced, only 2% of bodily therapists were being offering telehealth consultations. Because then, telehealth has progressed into an integral element of the rehab treatment field. This was no easy feat, as actual physical therapists have prolonged been still left out of telehealth.

According to WebPT’s 2021 State of Rehab Remedy report, 44% of remedy industry experts noted using videoconferencing or digital conference software package for the initially time in 2020, and 40% described using telehealth software package for the to start with time. As interest in distant providers carries on past first pandemic lockdowns, our entire business wants to flex and embrace new technological know-how. Here’s what to know.

The increase of telehealth

The changeover to telehealth has introduced numerous advantages to actual physical remedy (PT) suppliers, alongside with a couple problems. When it’s accurate that telehealth will hardly ever swap arms-on therapy, it is an really promising alternative method of care delivery—and a real video game-changer for the industry. In point, our exploration has uncovered that 9 in 10 remedy experts have people displaying curiosity in telehealth services. This is no shock, considering the fact that telehealth features the ease that today’s sufferers want.

Telehealth permits PTs to access a a great deal broader range of patients than they would otherwise be able to address. Several individuals live in remote regions or do not have the time to travel to a clinic, building telehealth an best alternate. It also expands access to care for people who may possibly otherwise in no way obtain PT remedy. This is very critical, because 90% of people who could profit from PT never get it. At the same time, telehealth supports income diversification to safeguard clinics versus foreseeable future crises.

An additional advantage of telehealth is how it lets bodily therapists a new perspective into their patients’ life and to master how to deliver the most effective help possible. For example, PTs can now see a patient’s household and get clues about their atmosphere, which aids them provide additional custom made treatment and information. For instance, do they have stairs in their residence, are there transitions from tough flooring to carpet, or do they dwell by itself?

At last, PT and OT have been proven to be advantageous for these who have experienced critical COVID-19 cases, specially people who are battling with muscle and respiratory weak point. These patients are in a position to obtain the enable they need to have by telehealth without having placing other individuals at threat. Also, a 2022 JAMA examine displays that “telehealth encounters for persistent conditions had identical costs of adhere to-up to in-individual encounters for these disorders.” Entirely, we can count on telehelath to perform a increased job in running ongoing conditions—including individuals ideal addressed with actual physical treatment.

Shifting health outcomes as a result of tech

Virtual services are not merely a bandage that carried us through the pandemic—they’re a powerful answer that is here to remain. Therapists should reframe their standpoint on how they use telehealth and change how they see care delivery—and their sights need to be mirrored in their enterprise practices, procedures, and advertising and marketing initiatives.

This incorporates tracking individual outcomes to safe the capacity to produce telehealth and assert PT’s value in healthcare all round. CMS has invited PTs, OTs, and SLPs to obtain and share data proving that telehealth therapy is a practical treatment solution. The APTA, WebPT, and other folks are presently advocating for the passage of legislation that would relieve limits on telehealth coverage underneath the Medicare system.

Wanting ahead, technological innovation will enjoy an even greater function in telehealth by way of distant therapeutic checking (RTM). For case in point, Keet Health and fitness (just lately acquired by WebPT) is modifying the PT game with their electronic overall health system that brings individuals and providers together. Working with wearable products and software package, vendors can monitor remote treatment and improve plan-of-care adherence, all when optimizing results and profits sources. The introduction of RTM codes has served PTs handle and bill for remote treatment, allowing this variety of procedure to be totally leveraged to reward each people and providers. RTM is right here to stay—and it’s the potential of PT.

Winning over skeptics

Lots of PTs who were doubtful at very first have now overtly embraced telehealth with each arms. For example, Steve Windwer, CEO of Bay State Bodily Therapy initially considered this mode of services shipping belonged on the fringe of treatment. But now he thinks that telehealth should be a therapy option out there to all clients, regardless of where by they stay. Steve has observed that sufferers of all ages like the experience, his no-displays have reduced, and the cost of care has been lowered. Countless other PTs have had in the vicinity of-identical ordeals as Steve, proving how important telehealth is.

We require to make confident CMS and other payers continue on to understand the benefit of telehealth for rehab treatment. Therapists need to also stay informed and have a voice in the coverage rules for telehealth shifting forward. I advise traveling to connectwithcare.org to keep informed and understand how to get concerned in telehealth decisions. By coming alongside one another to acquire motion, we will be equipped to continue to make a significant impression with this highly effective answer.

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