Telehealth surge in rehab. It's here to stay! (RTS Newsletter #1)

Every two weeks, we deliver practice-transforming insights on technology and innovation in rehab.

The goal is to bridge the gap between clinical expertise and innovation, all with a touch of humor.

Buckle up; it's about to get functional here. Until then, here is our first one—enjoy!

The Balance Check 🩺

This week, we're tackling everything from AI in OT to robots. We'll explore how telehealth is reshaping PT, how Instagram raises awareness for pelvic floor treatment, and how you can turn your smartphone into a mini rehab clinic. Buckle up for a quick trip through the future of therapy!

Community Spotlight 🚀

❋ Why are you excited about the Rehab Tech Stack newsletter and community?

Sarah: There isn’t enough great technology and innovation content explicitly written for the rehab community. There are so many innovators in rehab, and we should do a better job celebrating them! I'm excited to play a part in that!

❋ What innovative technology or approach have you implemented in your practice, and how has it improved patient outcomes or your clinical workflow?

Sarah: I’m not in the clinical workspace, but here is my tech-stack that has helped me tremendously in running a small business: 

• Asana (project management)

• Ahrefs (SEO tracking)

• Google Analytics/Search Console (Website health)

• Google Drive (for collaborating on content)

• Riverside (Podcasting platform)

❋ Is there a particular area of rehab therapy where you think technology could make a big impact but hasn't yet?

Sarah: I’m watching how doctors have more and more solutions for point of care clinical decision support. (And they earn continuing education tools like UpToDate!) I can’t wait for rehab therapy continuing education to move past being course-focused, to focusing on researching best practices in real time.

❋ What advice would you give to other therapists who want to integrate more technology into their practice?

Sarah: Dabble widely, but research heavily any tool you add to your tech stack. It is often a pain to switch to a new technology, once it gets added to your workflow.

Rehab Roundup 🌐

• AOTA expands on Dr. Shruti Gadkari’s 2023 work in OT Practice. It explores AI's potential role in occupational therapy treatment planning, offering a neutral snapshot of its current and possible future contributions to the field.

• Social media, particularly Instagram, has played a crucial role in raising awareness and normalizing pelvic floor physical therapy, especially for pregnancy and postpartum care.

• VA's speech therapy program, now offers comprehensive care through both in-person and virtual services, with 98% of its 500+ therapists providing some form of telehealth for veterans.

• A new Alabama law allows patients to see a physical therapist without a doctor's referral for up to 11 visits or 30 days, aiming to improve access to care, though some conditions still require a referral.

Tech Toolkit 💪

Researchers in Korea have developed SPINDLE, a robotic rehabilitation system combining virtual reality (VR) with customized resistance training for individuals with tremors. This system aims to enhance strength and dexterity for activities of daily living (ADLs), potentially improving patients' quality of life.

Key features and benefits:

• Personalizes therapy based on individual needs

• Provides an engaging VR environment, increasing motivation

• Offers real-time feedback, with task scores ranging from 9.7 to 13.1 seconds at optimal resistance

• Demonstrates comparable range of motion to natural ADLs

• Identifies optimal resistance levels for various tasks (e.g., 0.45 Ns/m for gear task, 0.33 Ns/m for jar task)

• Allows for potential at-home use, increasing therapy accessibility

For therapists seeking to apply similar principles, a simplified approach could involve using smartphone VR apps simulating ADLs in combination with resistance bands or small weights. This method would provide engaging, task-specific training for patients with mild to moderate tremors, incorporating visual feedback, gamification, and resistance training in an accessible format.

Indie Insights 💡

According to the recent research by Single Aim, telemedicine in rehab therapy has shown surprising resilience and growth since the pandemic, with physical therapy (PT) telehealth services growing by 30% since 2022. This unexpected surge demonstrates patients' increasing acceptance of remote therapy options, particularly for follow-up sessions, home exercise program monitoring, and certain assessments. 

This trend opens up new avenues for patient care and practice expansion for therapists. Tele-rehab is proving especially valuable in reaching underserved populations, providing continuity of care for patients with mobility issues, and offering flexible treatment options that fit into patients' busy lives. It’s outperforming just about every category, with the exception of Mental Health. 

Demand for tele-rehab is surging, with 20-30% of therapist job searches targeting remote work, despite only 2% of positions being fully remote. This gap indicates growing therapist interest in telehealth, either full-time or in hybrid models. Opportunities abound in preventive care, ergonomic assessments for remote workers, and chronic condition management. 

The days of a subpar virtual experience are soon to be gone! As technology advances with wearables, motion tracking, and virtual reality, tele-rehab's scope and effectiveness are set to expand, offering therapists innovative tools to enhance patient care.

Refer & Earn: Spread the Rehab Tech Revolution! 🚀

Know a therapist craving industry insights with a side of humor? Refer them! They'll get the scoop, you might snag cool perks. Win-win!

Want to learn more about Indie Health?

Indie is on a mission to improve the quality of life for rehab providers and their patients by combining technology with world-class rehab therapy. 

Click here to request early access. We have limited spots available!