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.
Nirali Mehta, Clinic Team Manager and Physiotherapist at Stratford Physiotherapy Centre – pt Health, has been offering virtual physiotherapy here for the past few weeks.
Today, we’re talking to Nirali about her experience with this service so far.
Q: Tell us about the type of treatments you can provide through virtual physiotherapy.
A: I know we all wish we could go back to the clinic tomorrow morning and start seeing patients face-to-face the way we are all used to and were comfortable with, but we know we can’t.
Unique challenges require unique solutions: one distinctive solution I look to is telehealth technology. Not being able to provide face-to-face care does not change the quality of care I deliver or its outcomes.
Arguably physiotherapy is in an excellent position to provide virtual care. There are so many types of treatment we provide in our regular practice and can still continue to provide through the virtual medium.
Some of my personal experience includes:
- Evaluation and re-evaluation of client condition. In order to maintain continuity in care, evaluation plays a major role. I am still able to evaluate and re-evaluate through virtual care, which provides me with a baseline to formulate a patient’s treatment plan.
- Prescription of exercises and progress of home exercises. Home exercise programs are a key element in the progress of a patient’s condition. Virtual care helps me to demonstrate and execute exercises with patients. I’m also able to provide patients tips. Through screen sharing, I’m able to show them videos that demonstrate how to do the exercises correctly.
- Education. Education is the most important tool in physiotherapy rehab. Without education, it’s impossible to meet goals. Virtual care is an eminent medium to continue to educate patients about their condition, recovery, outcomes, and expectations.
- Active participation and engagement. I have noticed that I’m able to connect with patients very easily through this one-on-one approach through virtual care. I have also noticed tremendous improvements in patients’ participation and engagement in their rehab. A patient’s engagement in their own rehab crucial for success.
Virtual care also helps increase patients’ independence in their rehab program.
A: So far it has been fantastic! I feel my patients feel more empowered through the virtual sessions. They really appreciate this service, as it helps to manage their condition.
It’s a great tool for many, as they can choose their own treatment time and environment, and it’s easy to contact their therapist. I guess I am building stronger therapeutic relationships with my patients now than before, because it’s more one-on-one.
Q: Can you share your favourite story of how you helped a patient with virtual care?
A: In the past week, my patients have reported that they found virtual care very helpful. They really enjoy the education, way of exercise demonstration, sharing videos and resources to help them manage their condition. They even teach exercises to their family members!
Personally, I believe that in respect to the current situation, virtual care carries more benefits than drawbacks. I have not seen any major drawbacks.
As for myself, virtual care has definitely been an eminent tool. I’m looking forward to implementing this tool in my practice once the COVID-19 crisis is over.
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.