The digital transformation that our society has undergone throughout the 21st century has been instrumental in shaping how the world functions in 2020 and beyond. There have been numerous aspects of our world that have changed as the Internet and other technologies have become progressively more ubiquitous than ever before.
Numerous businesses and industries have been impacted by the rise of technology’s popularity and one of the most integral of these has been the healthcare field. Healthcare has been drastically altered by the rise of technology, with new medical technologies, novel insurance protocols, and other new logistical technologies as well. One of the latter types of technologies that is not technically a medical tool but has still been integral in shaping the field has been telehealth.
Telehealth has risen in prevalence in recent years, and this is because it is such a useful technology. Patients can see their practitioners from the comfort of their homes, which has proven to be extremely useful. One of the subsects of medicine where telehealth has become increasingly popular is physical therapy. Telehealth in the physical therapy field has become incredibly useful for patients and therapists alike. Understanding this facet and learning how to apply it into your PT practice is crucial for your patients and staff.
Utilizing Telehealth in Physical Therapy
As the physical therapy industry has experienced many changes throughout the 21st century, one of the most integral advancements has been telehealth. Physical therapy telehealth has become more useful than ever and many practices utilize this technology to benefit patients who are unable to leave to come to the office. Physical therapy telehealth requires a good Internet connection and a device with a webcam; however, there are numerous other aspects that need to be considered before creating this type of program. Successfully managing a telehealth program within a PT practice is critical and will require the knowledge of what exactly to do.
Building a PT Telehealth System
There are a variety of ways to get an effectual physical therapy telehealth system employed in your practice, and learning about the top approaches is essential. The best telehealth systems need a streamlined process for payment, scheduling, registration, check in, and more, so setting all of these elements up before getting started is vital. Having therapists work with patients to create a set system is also instrumental, as most patients will not have equipment in their homes and will need to learn how to do stretches and exercises without them. Technical difficulties is another issue that your staff as well as patients need to be aware of, as not all patients will be tech-savvy enough to effectively set up their webcams, and there may be connection issues as well. Understanding telehealth in the physical therapy industry is necessary if you want to have an excellent system for your practice.
Final Thoughts
The Internet has positively affected the healthcare industry in a myriad of ways and telehealth is certainly one of the most impactful. Utilizing a telehealth system in a physical therapy practice is an excellent way to service more patients and let them have an excellent experience.