fpt
  • ABOUT
  • Services
  • FORMS
  • CONTACT
  • MORE
    • 2022 Thank you
    • Blog
    • STORE

The "why" behind healthy

ASK A QUESTION
CALL FPT

What is telehealth in physical therapy?

3/20/2020

 
​Woodrow Wilson said “If you want to make enemies, try to change something”.
 
Normally I’d say that is very true, but the interesting case of Telemedicine in Pennsylvania is one thing disproving this axiom. Finally, after years of being one of 9 states in the country without formally addressing the ability of a physical therapist to perform electronic (non face to face) visits via telehealth, Pennsylvania has abruptly changed its stance.  And those of us ahead of this curve are thrilled. Prior to this earth shakingly fast policy shift, the total ignorance of the modality was supported by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) another snail paced organization not addressing it by refusing to reimburse for the service.  As Woodrow Wilson (never) said,  if CMS doesn’t pay, no other private insurer will pay, therefore, well, very few physical therapy (providers) businesses offered a service patients would have to pay out of pocket for.  
 
Why did this happen inside of 72 hours after years of inattention?  The reality of sheltering in place required by the coronavirus has been more effective than any dollars donated to our PA political action committees. First patients drove it with the simple question, "why can't you..."  followed by soon to be laid off physical therapists scratching their heads and saying, I don’t understand my Practice Act and ultimately business owners realizing they can make money with it...especially since CMS couldn't explain their 20th century position on the matter and chose to begin reimbursing providers (and somehow having the time to whip together a multi page policy on the matter) immediately. 
 
How can telemedicine work for physical therapy patients who may be in need of joint mobilization and manual treatment, or at the very least stretching or tactile cuing?  Well it cannot replace hands on care. That is the unique service we supply and patients will always need, but it is not the only intervention we offer. Telehealth encourages renewed focus on education, patient understanding of their issue(s) and the home execution of the patient's portion of their plan of care. This often gets lost in the collaborative environment of the face to face visit.  Using Skype, Facetime, Clocktree (my portal) or simply a phone call,  electronic visits offer a chance to focus on self-management, exercise technique, environmental set ups and even modifications and home decision making. Ultimately putting the patient back in the driver’s seat managing their health. 
 
If you’d like to experience a session with me and you are a current patient of mine you have 2 options:  you can reach out directly through Clocktree telehealth a service I have had a relationship with since 2017. If you choose this you must Register first to access the online booking link. Or you can call me directly to set up an appointment.  
​ 
Thank you and hang in there!
Clocktree Appointments click here
Phone Contact
Hans Duvefelt link
3/20/2020 11:57:43 am

Thanks for the link. Interesting that people are doing physical therapy via telemedicine. Like I said in my blog post, medicine is changing rapidly because of recent events. Things will never be the same as they used to be.

FPT link
3/20/2020 01:06:25 pm

Right back at you on that statement - which is what spurred my post as well. Kind of mind blowing how fast the pace of change has been in many sectors over this past 1-2 weeks.
I have appreciated your columns, particularly the January one about not having labs order PRIOR to the yearly physical. Good to understand why that is impractical and ill advised. Your posts also jive well with current thinking in my profession about over medicalization of care, which spurred me to get a book called "Saving Normal" out of the library, I think you're familiar, also pretty interesting. Thank you.

Clarence Price link
6/9/2022 12:24:15 pm

Interesting


Comments are closed.

    Author:
    Nancy Foley, PT, DPT
    Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Orthopedic Physical Therapy
    ​and

    Sean Crandell DPT, ATC

    When people understand why some activities may be safer or better than others, or why a condition might get better with activity modification, or why asking better questions of their doctor leads to better outcomes,  healthy things happen.
    ​Sure, health is the first wealth but knowledge and facts are how you get return on that investment.

    Archives

    December 2022
    November 2022
    June 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019

    Perspectives for Patients:

    ​Telehealth in America
    Bunions
    Carpal Tunnel
    Dizziness and falls​

    Knee ligament injuries
    Knee pain and strength​​
    Meniscal injuries
    ​
    Neck pain

    Plantar fasciitis
    ​
    Pregnancy and LBP

    Running and arthritis
    Running form 
    ​Running and mileage
    Safe Driving

    All

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • ABOUT
  • Services
  • FORMS
  • CONTACT
  • MORE
    • 2022 Thank you
    • Blog
    • STORE