ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT: The COVID-19 pandemic has propelled an unprecedented global implementation of telemedicine and telerehabilitation as well as its integration into the healthcare system. Here, we describe the clinical implementation of the A3E framework for the deployment of telerehabilitation in the inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation continuum by addressing accessibility, adaptability, accountability, and engagement during the COVID-19 pandemic. By using an organized, coordinated, and stratified approach, we increased our telerehabilitation practice from 0 to more than 39,000 visits since the pandemic began. Learning from both the successes and challenges can help address the need to increase access to rehabilitation services even beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.
Subject(s)
COVID-19/epidemiology , Health Services Accessibility , Pandemics , Telerehabilitation/methods , Humans , SARS-CoV-2 , Social Responsibility , United States/epidemiologyABSTRACT
This article outlines a multidisciplinary approach to implementing a telehealth program in the acute care hospital setting during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Telehealth has been used in many practice areas, although it can be a particular challenge to establish in an acute care hospital given the fast-paced environment. However, the COVID-19 pandemic presented a unique situation. In-person treatment interactions became increasingly high risk for both patient and provider, and there was an emerging need to conserve personal protective equipment and limit exposure. In response to these developments, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech language pathologists treating an adult population turned to telehealth to supplement in-person treatment. This article outlines the clinical reasoning and practical application to implementing a telehealth program in an acute care hospital and includes regulations, identified successful strategies, barriers, considerations, decision-making algorithms, and discipline-specific interventions.