Empowering Pediatric Practitioners: Leveraging Telerehabilitation for Improved Outcomes

Telerehabilitation has emerged as a viable solution for pediatric therapy services, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the research article "Feasibility and Acceptability of Clinical Pediatric Telerehabilitation Services" by Tanner et al. (2020), telerehabilitation can maintain high levels of patient satisfaction and provide essential services even under challenging circumstances.

Here are key takeaways from the research and practical steps for practitioners to implement telerehabilitation effectively:

1. Understanding Feasibility and Acceptability

The study demonstrates that telerehabilitation is both feasible and acceptable to families. Patient satisfaction rates remained high (97.73%) for telerehabilitation visits, indicating that this model can successfully replace in-person visits when necessary.

2. Rapid Implementation Framework

The study outlines a three-stage process for rapid implementation:

• Building Foundations: Establishing structural supports, documentation, billing procedures, and technology.
• Initiating: Ensuring space and access for clinicians, providing staff education, and rolling out phone and video visits.
• Refining: Ongoing staff education, expanding and refining clinical services, and integrating telerehabilitation as a continuing model of care.

3. Key Components for Success

Several factors contributed to the successful implementation of telerehabilitation:

• Consistent Communication: Open forums for discussion and feedback ensured comprehensive roll-out.
• Leveraging Existing Resources: Utilizing evidence-based practice, research, and quality improvement teams to synthesize and disseminate information.
• Educating Families: Scheduling teams played a crucial role in preparing families for their first telerehabilitation visit.

4. Addressing Challenges

While the implementation was largely successful, some challenges remain, including:

• Access to technology for bilingual families and those without internet or phone access.
• Ensuring equitable access to care for all patient populations.

5. Future Directions

Further research is needed to evaluate the long-term impact of telerehabilitation on patient outcomes. Practitioners should advocate for the continued use of telerehabilitation to improve access to care and offer innovative treatment approaches.

To read the original research paper, please follow this link: Feasibility and Acceptability of Clinical Pediatric Telerehabilitation Services.