As of March 17th, 2020, Physical Therapists are allowed to treat patients through telehealth to reduce the number of people who are exposed to the COVID-19 virus. On the face of it, this may sound like good news. But, let’s take a better look.
Telehealth – A Major Assumption
One of the first things we’re overlooking in a rush to replace in-person physical therapy that we’re not talking about. Seniors and stroke victims often don’t have computers or smartphones in the home. If they are recuperating from surgery, and are trying to rehabilitate themselves, they may not be able to use the computer if they have one. This puts a whole class of PT patients at a disadvantage when they don’t have options for care.
How Are We Protecting Your Health When You Come In For a Visit?
We’re in the business of improving your health. We have always maintained a clean treatment environment for our patient’s safety. But, we are even more conscientious about that now. We take care to clean surfaces after every treatment. Our everyday uniform now includes a mask. We keep patients separated from one another.
One significant advantage we have at Kinetic Physical Therapy is private treatment rooms. This is in addition to the big open space that is so common in our profession. Our office design makes you feel comfortable and safe, as it should. You can work on your rehab with peace of mind.
What Your Physical Therapist Can’t Do at a Telehealth Appointment
Although your Physical Therapist may indeed be able to get a general sense of your ability to move through a video chat, physical therapy often calls for a specific knowledge of how the structures of the body are moving together.
The bottom line is, the successful Physical Therapy practices rely on personal interaction between the patient and therapist, and rehab and relief that is achieved through manual techniques to help the patient. This can’t occur over video chats through telehealth. Your PT won’t be able to mobilize joints or provide beneficial techniques such as massage or dry needling. They won’t be able to measure strength, flexibility, tissue tension, or pain to palpitation.
All these treatments and modalities disappear when we replace in-person appointments with telehealth initiatives.
The Future of Telehealth for Physical Therapy
In a global pandemic, it is understandable that we may need to attempt to treat our patients without being in contact with them. In the Physical Therapy profession, telehealth is not a permanent answer, as so much of our treatment plans depend on physical contact between the therapist and the patient.
At Kinetic Physical Therapy, we look forward to the day when we see you again in our practice and can treat all our patients effectively. Until then, stay safe!
