Telehealth is dramatically revamping the practice and learning landscape of post-physical therapy degree life. Previously considered a convenience, it has rapidly gained necessity status, morphing how therapy is rendered, taught, and experienced.
This transformation is breaking traditional norms and setting new benchmarks in accessibility, affordability, and safety. Explore this evolution of telehealth’s influence on physical therapy.
Brief History of Telehealth
The idea of telehealth isn’t new. It has its roots in the nineteenth century, pioneered by the advent of telephones and radio — a far cry from today’s advanced virtual technology.
However, recent progress in the internet and digital communication technology has given it a big push. While initially recognized in fields like psychiatry, physical therapy has been somewhat of a latecomer to the party.
Incorporation of Telehealth in Physical Therapy Practice
Telehealth began entering the mainstream of physical therapy on the coattails of necessity. Rising healthcare costs, the escalating need for accessible care, and recent global events like the COVID-19 pandemic have highlighted the importance of telehealth.
Simultaneously, physical therapy degree programs around the world began highlighting the importance of telehealth, integrating it into their curriculum to ensure therapists are equipped with skills and knowledge for this new era. While the process is gradual and still ongoing, it’s clear that telehealth has found a permanent home in physical therapy practice and training.
Advantages of Telehealth in Physical Therapy Practice and Training
Telehealth comes with many benefits that are changing the game in physical therapy practice and training. From enhancing accessibility to reducing costs and ensuring safety, these are a few ways telehealth impacts the discipline of physical therapy in a positive and transformative way.
Accessibility and Convenience
Not everyone has the luxury of visiting a physical therapy office multiple times a week. Work schedules, distance, and mobility issues can make regular appointments a challenge.
Telehealth enables patients to attend sessions from their homes, breaking geographical barriers. Similarly, for physical therapists in training, the ability to learn and practice virtually can significantly reduce logistical challenges.
Affordability
Telehealth can cut the costs associated with traditional physical therapy visits. The elimination of travel costs, minimized need for rented clinic space, and reduced overhead can lead to lower prices for patients. For students pursuing a physical therapy degree, online lectures and demonstrations can potentially reduce educational costs.
Safety During Pandemic
During crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of telehealth comes into sharp relief. For high-risk individuals, being able to continue their therapy at home without risking exposure to the virus can be a lifesaver. Similarly, for therapists in training, telehealth offers a safe way to continue their education without putting their health at risk.
Telehealth is playing an increasingly important role in reshaping the landscape of physical therapy. Through increased accessibility, affordability, and safety, this innovative approach makes therapy more attainable to the masses while altering how future physical therapists are trained.
Challenges and Solutions in Residential Telehealth
Despite the many advantages, telehealth in physical therapy also presents unique challenges, primarily technological and physical obstacles. However, innovative solutions are continually emerging to address these issues, easing the path towards a successful telehealth transition.
Technological Barriers
Though telehealth brings immense benefits, it’s not without its obstacles. One of the most significant is technological barriers. The digital divide — varying ability and resources to access advanced technologies — can leave some patients behind. Additionally, not everyone is tech-savvy, posing challenges to therapist and patient communication.
Physical therapists are providing tech-support sessions and user-friendly instructions to help guide patients through the setup process. Additionally, efforts are being ramped up globally to reduce the digital divide, making technology increasingly accessible to all.
Physical Limitations
Despite the convenience and accessibility telehealth offers, it cannot fully replicate the hands-on adjustments and physical contact achieved in a traditional physical therapy session. With innovative workarounds like using household objects for exercises and detailed verbal or visual guidance for self-adjustment, therapists are finding ways to surmount these challenges.
The Future of Telehealth in Physical Therapy
Looking ahead, the integration of telehealth into physical therapy appears to be not just a fleeting response to a global crisis, but rather a lasting shift. Some predict hybrid models — a mix of in-person and online sessions — will become the norm.
Certainly, physical therapy degree programs are predicted to continue adopting telehealth modules to ensure upcoming therapists are well-equipped for the digital age. The future might even include advanced virtual reality and augmented reality technologies, transforming the practice of physical therapy even further.
Telehealth’s Revolutionary Role in Physical Therapy
Adopting telehealth is about making therapy more accessible and affordable for all. For future physical therapists, having telehealth proficiency as part of a physical therapy degree will be essential.
Telehealth has already made an indelible mark on the practice and training platform, and it’s clear that this is only the beginning. With this inevitable shift, the goal remains steadfast: providing optimum care for those who need it, wherever they may be.
