Therapy clinics have a lot to gain from embracing teletherapy, and teletherapy certification can help them to learn all they need and show that to their peers and the parents of their patients. The healthcare industry is changing quicker than ever with the prevalence of COVID-19, forcing many therapists and patients alike to try out teletherapy for extended periods whether they wanted to or not.
Contributed by Martha Aki, ECI Program Director, Katy Independent School District, ACAS
As the Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) Program Director in Katy, Texas, I have seen firsthand how telepractice benefits special education and early childhood development professionals and those they serve.
COVID-19 has impacted the way schools operate on a global scale and the pandemic has forced us to start thinking about education differently. While COVID-19 has not
Many occupational therapists have had to adjust their practices significantly during the times of COVID-19 due to stay at home orders or other interruptions.
This has forced a number of OTs to start doing telehealth, with some planning on incorporating it moving forward and others planning on going back to ‘normal’ and only doing in-person services. Some practices closed during stay at home orders and didn’t offer telehealth or telepractice at all.
These OTs are missing out on a number of benefits for both the OT and their clients, which as time goes on will leave them at a distinct disadvantage relative to the other OTs who have embraced the advantages of the medium.
The healthcare landscape for Occupational Therapists (OTs) has shifted dramatically due to COVID-19 and this shift has many OTs looking to incorporate telehealth into their current practice to continue services regardless of conditions.
“With the COVID-19 pandemic having already set the stage for a massive increase in telehealth consults, the research firm sees an even bigger future – as demand for one-stop virtual visits and remote patient monitoring grows as much as seven-fold.”-Healtchare IT News
While COVID-19 has quickly changed the way we view healthcare and
As teletherapy and telepsychology grow in popularity, patients want to know that they can trust and rely on these virtual services. Though telepractice has been around since the 1990s, it is only recently gaining substantial traction, making it a newer model that doesn’t have a solidified standard. Most practitioners have very little training on the differences of telepyschology to in-person services.
This can make it challenging for mental health professionals to get started because they feel lost, confused, and lack the resources and support they need.
Clinics of all types have had to make significant adjustments to therapy since the onset of COVID, forcing many to abruptly transition to teletherapy only models for at least the short term.
It now seems that the new normal is to never know when the next time we might have a stay at home order forcing therapists to yet again do extensive teletherapy, regardless of whether it is their preference or not. It also applies across professions- whether your clinic has occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, psychologists or even physical therapists.
Rural health clinics (RHCs) and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) can save significant amounts of money and staff time by properly utilizing telehealth services, among other benefits. Many people were forced into using telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic, as 27 percent of people used telehealth for the first time when surveyed at the end of May, including numerous seniors. Many of these people would not have tried telehealth before, but of those that have 79 percent said they would continue to use it after the pandemic.
Using proper materials in teletherapy (or telepractice) can make a significant difference in the gains made by patients of a speech-language pathologist (SLP).
A speech-language pathologist (SLP) plays a significant role in the lives of children who need help with language and communication. Whether working in schools or in a private practice, SLPs have the opportunity to take their services online with a teletherapy practice.
Many speech-language pathologists (SLPs) have had to adjust their practices significantly during the times of COVID-19 due to stay at home orders or other interruptions.
This has forced a number of SLPs to start doing telepractice, with some planning on incorporating it moving forward and others planning on going back to ‘normal’ and only doing in-person services. Some practices closed during stay at home orders and didn’t offer teletherapy or telepractice at all.
These SLPs are missing out on a number of benefits for both the SLP and their clients, which as time goes on will leave them at a distinct disadvantage relative to the other SLPs who have embraced the advantages of the medium.
