Heartland Session Sneak Peek: Telehealth in CRT

Published in Complex Rehab on August 18, 2021

Celebrating 20 years, Heartland Conference will feature rehab-focused sessions, social events, expanded exhibit hall, and hands-on training through U.S. Rehab’s Tech Training.

There’s a lot in store for our community of rehab professionals, and we can’t wait to see you in person. One can’t-miss session will provide insight into the ever-changing telehealth landscape.

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed us ALL in many ways. Some realized that certain business travel can be substituted with virtual, thus saving money and allowing more time at home with family and friends. Homecare was and continues to be essential in reducing the spread of viruses for those most at risk. For many, life’s priorities were reevaluated. Telehealth became a viable, and oftentimes necessary, option for health care visits.

Telehealth Landscape

Telehealth is nothing new. However, pre-pandemic it was limited to remote areas, and the patient had to go to an originating site. It has since greatly expanded due to the PHE as it met the need for social distancing while enabling the patient to "see" their physician from their own home. Telehealth was essential to protect against the spread of the virus, and the realization of how a delay with an in-person face to face due to the challenges of travel (weather, cost, viability) can severely impact the patient’s health by not receiving the medical equipment needed in a timely manner. We’ve seen a tremendous adoption in healthcare, including complex rehab in the form of face-to-face visits, LCMP evaluations, and service and repair, but is it here to stay?

Looking Ahead

As the proverbial access to telehealth “cliff” may be on the horizon, there are multiple perspectives that must be addressed, ranging from payor adoption, navigation of when, where, why, and how to use it, to the efficacy of this modality. What we do know is that patients are more or equally satisfied with this method. It provides access to care that may not have otherwise been available and allows the complex rehab provider to reduce expenditures while optimizing outcomes. Being stagnant and comfortable has never suited business well, especially healthcare. Telehealth is not a trend, but part of our future.

Heartland Featured Session

During this panel discussion, U.S. Rehab’s Dan Fedor, Greg Packer, and Kyle Walker, along with University of Pittsburgh’s Associate Professor and Vice Chair of Education and Training Mark Schmeler, PhD, OTR/L, ATP, will explore the history, efficacy, application, and future of virtual services in complex rehab technology. View the entire education track for the rehab community, as well as Tech Training, by visiting www.vgmheartland.com/agenda.

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