Are you looking to continue your rehabilitative treatment while practicing physical distancing and self-isolating?
Good news! pt Health now offers virtual physiotherapy, giving you the opportunity to receive treatment from the comfort of your own home through video conference technology.
Wondering how virtual physiotherapy works? In this Spotlight, we’ll share some first hand information from one of our physiotherapists with you.
Heather Parker, Clinic Team Manager and Physiotherapist at Greenwood Physiotherapy – pt Health has been offering virtual physiotherapy here for the past few weeks.
Today, we’re talking to Heather about her experience with this service so far.
Q: Tell us about the type of treatments you can provide through virtual physiotherapy.
A: Although hands – on physiotherapy treatment is very beneficial in a person’s recovery, there are many aspects of physiotherapy care that can be covered virtually.
Education is key when a person has had an injury or suffering from pain that will not settle. The usual means of communication for a client is even less now with emerg visits discouraged for non-urgent health issues.
Physiotherapy can offer education on the injury, explain specialist information on referrals/diagnostics. Exercises and self care are also a huge part of the education.
Home exercises can be reviewed and progressed virtually with follow-up emails to explain the home programs. The Physiotherapist can demonstrate or observe an exercise in a virtual care session to make communication very clear.
Self care can be reviewed with the client as well. This may be around pain management, self mobilizing if it is possible, products as well that could be beneficial. We have safe methods to deliver much needed product to the client to assist recovery.
Simply answering questions and reviewing a plan with them to assist in their recovery puts people on the right track during these uncertain times.
Q: What has the patient experience been like with virtual care?
A: I have seen a number of clients through virtual care to this point and have had very positive results.
Everyone is so patient with the new technology experience and are more than pleased at the end of a session to have questions answered, and to have a plan moving forward. I am still able to update their Family Doctor or specialist with a report to keep them informed.
Q: Can you share your favourite story of how you helped a patient with virtual care?
A: I do not have one particular story to share. I can say that I have discussed and worked through vertigo symptoms with clients, exercises, provided post fracture and post immobilization protocols for clients. Clients have all been very pleased with the results and truly appreciate the care and information they receive.
As for my own experience, I have had to overcome being camera shy. I now approach virtual care as a way to help those in my community that would otherwise be left in limbo with their symptoms and rehabilitation.
There can be a lot of useful information to gain from virtual care and I am happy to offer that service. The theme is “We are in this together” and with virtual care “We can accomplish your rehabilitation goals together”.
Learn More Or Book Today
If you’d like more information about virtual care or would like to book a virtual care appointment, please visit our Virtual Care page or call us at 1-888-314-2726.