Practice Considerations for Adapting In-Person Groups to Telerehabilitation

Abstract

The Coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has shifted research and healthcare system priorities, stimulating literature on implementation and evaluation of telerehabilitation for a variety of patient populations. While there is substantial literature on individual telerehabilitation, evidence about group telerehabilitation remains limited despite its increasing use by rehabilitation providers. Therefore, the purpose of this manuscript is to describe our expert team’s consensus on practice considerations for adapting in-person group rehabilitation to group telerehabilitation to provide rapid guidance during a pandemic and create a foundation for sustainability of group telerehabilitation beyond the pandemic’s end.

Telerehabilitation: A Practical Remote Alternative for Coaching and Monitoring Physical Kinetic Therapy in Patients with Mild and Moderate Disabling Parkinson’s Disease during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Technology progress can offer the opportunity to safely deliver an integrated healthcare model at a distance and even a simultaneous interaction and training of two or more patients with PD [ 44 , 45 ].…”

“…Technology progress can offer the opportunity to safely deliver an integrated healthcare model at a distance and even a simultaneous interaction and training of two or more patients with PD [44,45]. e client can access and find on the Internet numerous resources and get support from some of the best online therapy services in 2022 [46].…”

Improving Functional Communication Outcomes in Post-Stroke Aphasia via Telepractice: An Alternative Service Delivery Model for Underserved Populations

“…The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for an alternative service delivery model resulting in accelerated acceptance of telehealth. Patients, SLPs, caregivers, and policymakers have begun to close the divide between the perceived barriers and the true barriers of telehealth (Gustavson et al, 2021).…”

“…Additionally, the Coronavirus of 2019 further reduced access to SLT due to patients' reluctance to attend inperson therapy, staff shortages, delayed home health referrals, outpatient clinic closures and reductions in operating hours (Gustavson et al, 2021). The pandemic has exacerbated isolation, stress, mental health, and physical, and cognitive issues among individuals with disabilities, who are already more likely to be economically disadvantaged and have inequitable access to health care (Ertelt, 2020;Gustavson et al, 2021). Furthermore, the pandemic has further highlighted the disproportionate disparities among individuals with disabilities including PWA (Ertelt, 2020).…”

Emergency Management During Telehealth

“…Although patient safety is identified as a competency for telehealth by many professions,15–17 there is limited guidance on how to ensure patient safety in this setting. One article by Gustavson et al18 provides general safety considerations to implement for group telehealth settings; however, limited detail is provided for clinicians to be able to use in their practice. Thus, the purpose of this report was to add to the body of literature by presenting safety procedures developed during a Veterans Affairs (VA)-affiliated telehealth physical therapy program treating medically complex older adults.…”