ABSTRACT
To investigate occupational therapists' experiences with home assessments and modifications in VHA, while comparing virtual to in-person home visits. A preliminary qualitative study using semi-structured individual interviews. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Home Based Primary Care (HBPC). Purposefully selected occupational therapists implementing home assessments and modifications for rural Veterans (N=3). Not applicable. Semi-structured individual interview via Microsoft Teams. Home visits to conduct home assessments and modifications for rural Veterans were standards of care delivery. However, travel restrictions and social distance during the COVID-19 pandemic required a shift toward virtual care. Our preliminary results show that the VA Video Connect (VVC) application allows occupational therapists to provide instant feedback and training to Veterans when new equipment is installed in the Veteran's home, without the need to drive long-distance. However, the VVC does not allow occupational therapists to measure physical features of the home, such as door threshold height and hallway width. Participants also reported difficulty evaluating Veterans' functioning, such as balance, strength, and gait pattern. Thus, the VVC improves access to the services but requires additional assistance from caregivers compared to in-home assessments. Initial home assessments are recommended to be conducted during home visits, but follow-up visits can be conducted via telehealth depending on Veterans' and caregivers' ability to utilize telehealth devices and perform self-assessments. The study team has no conflicts of interest to report.
ABSTRACT
To investigate occupational therapists' experiences with home assessments and modifications in VHA, while comparing virtual to in-person home visits. A preliminary qualitative study using semi-structured individual interviews. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Home Based Primary Care (HBPC). Purposefully selected occupational therapists implementing home assessments and modifications for rural Veterans (N=3). Not applicable. Semi-structured individual interview via Microsoft Teams. Home visits to conduct home assessments and modifications for rural Veterans were standards of care delivery. However, travel restrictions and social distance during the COVID-19 pandemic required a shift toward virtual care. Our preliminary results show that the VA Video Connect (VVC) application allows occupational therapists to provide instant feedback and training to Veterans when new equipment is installed in the Veteran's home, without the need to drive long-distance. However, the VVC does not allow occupational therapists to measure physical features of the home, such as door threshold height and hallway width. Participants also reported difficulty evaluating Veterans' functioning, such as balance, strength, and gait pattern. Thus, the VVC improves access to the services but requires additional assistance from caregivers compared to in-home assessments. Initial home assessments are recommended to be conducted during home visits, but follow-up visits can be conducted via telehealth depending on Veterans' and caregivers' ability to utilize telehealth devices and perform self-assessments. The study team has no conflicts of interest to report.
ABSTRACT
Date Presented 04/02/2022 There exists a paucity of data-driven guidelines specific to practicalities implementing telerehabilitation. This study explicates gains in practical knowledge for implementing telerehabilitation that were accelerated during the Veterans Health Administration health care systems' rapid shift to telerehabilitation during the COVID-19 pandemic and contributes clinical reasoning considerations, supportive strategies, and practical approaches for engaging veterans in telerehabilitation. Primary Author and Speaker: Consuelo Kreider Additional Authors and Speakers: Mackenzi Slamka Contributing Authors: Jennifer L. Hale-Gallardo, John C. Kramer, Sharon Mburu, Kimberly Findley, Keith J. Myers, Sergio Romero
ABSTRACT
Telerehabilitation provides Veteran patients with necessary rehabilitation treatment. It enhances care continuity and reduces travel time for Veterans who face long distances to receive care at a Veterans Health Administration (VHA) medical facility. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a sudden shift to telehealth-including telerehabilitation, where a paucity of data-driven guidelines exist that are specific to the practicalities entailed in telerehabilitation implementation. This paper explicates gains in practical knowledge for implementing telerehabilitation that were accelerated during the rapid shift of VHA healthcare from out-patient rehabilitation services to telerehabilitation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Group and individual interviews with 12 VHA rehabilitation providers were conducted to examine, in-depth, the providers' implementation of telerehabilitation. Thematic analysis yielded nine themes: (i) Willingness to Give Telerehabilitation a Chance: A Key Ingredient; (ii) Creativity and Adaptability: Critical Attributes for Telerehabilitation Providers; (iii) Adapting Assessments; (iv) Adapting Interventions; (v) Role and Workflow Adaptations; (vi) Appraising for Self the Feasibility of the Telerehabilitation Modality; (vii) Availability of Informal, In-Person Support Improves Feasibility of Telerehabilitation; (viii) Shifts in the Expectations by the Patients and by the Provider; and (ix) Benefit and Anticipated Future of Telerehabilitation. This paper contributes an in-depth understanding of clinical reasoning considerations, supportive strategies, and practical approaches for engaging Veterans in telerehabilitation.