Is Telehealth Right for You?
Telehealth isn’t for everyone.
Believe it or not, telehealth can work extremely well for those who are looking for continued guidance from a physical therapist, but with more convenience and flexibility. However, not enough people know exactly what telehealth is, how it works, or even who provides telehealth services - and that’s why this blog post is for you! In this post, we’ll explain what telehealth actually is and what it involves, so you’ll be able to make a well informed decision on if it is right for you. So let’s dive in!
What is the technology used for Telehealth?
Telehealth Uses Electronic Information and Telecommunication Technology!
Contrary to popular belief, telehealth isn’t just seeing your physical therapist through the computer screen, it’s the use of any electronic technology to communicate with your healthcare provider. Yes, this could be the camera on your computer, tablet, or smartphone. But this could also be e-mail, online messenger, or even cellular text messaging.
Telehealth provides the same quality care you would have in-person, but with much more flexibility and convenience.
What do You Need for a Successful Telehealth Session?
Of course, using telehealth requires a basic understanding of telecommunication tech.
If you have difficulty using technology or don’t have someone close by to help set-up your telehealth session, you may benefit more from an in-person physical therapy visit.
Some other things you would need to have for a successful telehealth session include:
Hardware: computer, tablet, or smartphone
Audio: speakers or microphone
Video: internal camera or webcam
Connectivity: Broadband internet or WiFi
Space: A room large enough to perform basic movements and exercises
What does telehealth consist of?
When you compare telehealth and in-person visits side-by-side, they’re very similar.
Just like the start of an in-person plan of care, you will still start by doing an initial evaluation with your physical therapist, which includes asking important questions about your medical history and everything surrounding your injury, performing a movement screen, and providing an exercise program to get you back to the activities you love.
You’ll also be able to schedule follow-up visits with your physical therapist to monitor your progress and build upon your initial exercise program to ensure improvement if that is what you desire. And when both you and your physical therapist feel like you are ready to continue on your own, you’ll finish your plan of care with an exercise program to continue improving.
But just because you can continue on you’re own doesn’t mean you won’t still have access to your therapist!
The beauty of working with a physical therapist through a platform like PT Now is the incredible amount of flexibility to stay in contact with your physical therapist. Whereas traditional physical therapy clinics usually only allow you to e-mail your physical therapist, cash-based treatment platforms like PT Now allow you to e-mail or text your physical therapist, making access to your physical therapist much easier.
Imagine texting your physical therapist a question about your exercises after work hours and receiving a reply that same evening!
Telehealth, especially with the right provider, can provide a much deeper level of service and can be catered to your daily routine!
The Thing is, Telehealth Doesn’t Have to be Exclusively Online
Your plan of care can be altered depending on your specific individual needs.
Do your first few visits need to be in-person because you were initially dealing with a broken bone? No worries – you can transition to telehealth later on in your recovery journey.
Is your pain not so bad to where you don’t feel the need to drive all the way to your physical therapist’s clinic? No problem – you can schedule a telehealth visit from the comfort of your own home or work. There are plenty of ways to modify your visit to make it a combination of in-person and online appointments to fit your needs.
The bottom line: you can work together with your physical therapist to make telehealth work for you!
Where does telehealth take place?
In short, it depends on you!
The beauty of telehealth is that you can schedule a visit with your physical therapist from the comfort of your own home, at work, or even while on vacation. This way, you’re in a place you’re comfortable with. But more importantly, you’re able to show your physical therapist any specific thing that relates to your injury. For instance, you might need to show your living space to give your physical therapist a better idea of how you navigate around your home. Or, you might need to show your work station to your physical therapist so they can help you find a more comfortable, pain-free work position.
Your ability to use your location is a major advantage when it comes to telehealth!
The one caveat to this, however, is that you are only able to have a telehealth appointment in the same state that your physical therapist has a license.
For example, if you’re in California and your physical therapist has a license to practice in California, you’re good to go. However, if you’re in Nevada and your physical therapist only has a license to practice in California, you won’t be able to have that appointment. Doing so will put your physical therapist’s license at risk of revocation. Here at PT Now, we have therapists in multiple states, so you won’t have to worry about that!
The flexibility of location gives you a major advantage with telehealth!
When and How are Appointments Scheduled?
When you decide to take the plunge and try out an appointment, you’ll first submit a request that will include information such as what kind of appointment you’d like, what body part, and some times that work for you. Once sent, you will then receive three links:
1) A link to finalize the appointment
2) A link to a waiver form you must sign
3) A link to a form to fill out with more information about your area of concern,
It’s important to choose a time slot that not only fits your schedule, but might also relate to your injury. For example, you may want to schedule an appointment toward the end of the day if your symptoms tend to become more noticeable in the evening.
Why will Telehealth Work for You?
If you couldn’t already tell, telehealth is a wonderful way to meet your individual needs.
Here’s just a few more benefits of choosing a telehealth appointment:
It increases your access to healthcare by reducing barriers
It reduces your travel time, especially if you live far from your closest physical therapy clinic
It improves convenience by catering to your needs
It improves your engagement and self-management
It saves money
It can be adapted to your specific environment
Need we say more?
If you have any more questions or concerns, feel free to contact us here
And if you’re ready to make your telehealth appointment, click here