What is Telehealth?
An emerging trend in global health, Telehealth refers to the delivery of health care services via a number of modes of telecommunication, including instant messaging, email, voice and video calls.
Rapid advances in telecommunication technology, and a large percentage of the population owning smartphones, tablets and computers, has enabled health professionals to adapt their services to be provided to those who are unable to access them in person- whether it be due to living in regional areas, lack of transport, or illness.
A growing number of clinical studies investigating the effectiveness of Telehealth in the delivery of health care services have shown that it is safe and secure, cost effective, and can in many cases (not all) be equally as effective as an in-room consultation.
Wanneroo Physiotherapy is pleased to be able to offer Telehealth voice and video consultations to our current patients and the broader community as of Monday 23rd March.
Is my condition suitable to be assessed and managed via Telehealth?
Not all conditions are not suitable for a Telehealth consultation. Some require a more thorough, in-room physical assessment to determine the diagnosis and best course of management. If you are unsure, call to check with one of our physiotherapists prior to booking.
How can I book a Telehealth consultation?
Telehealth consultations may be booked by calling reception on 9405 1566.
What can I expect from a Telehealth consultation?
For the most part, a Telehealth consultation is much like any other medical appointment, except you will be speaking to your physiotherapist on-screen rather than in person.
You may wonder how your physiotherapist can diagnose and manage your condition without touching you. A diagnosis is usually formed through completing both a subjective (verbal) and objective (physical) assessment. The subjective assessment involves a series of questions from which your physiotherapist can gain all the information they require to determine your likely diagnosis, while the objective assessment aims to confirm this. For an objective assessment performed via video call, your physiotherapist is able to observe the injured area, ask you to touch the injured region on their behalf to feel for areas of tenderness, observe range of motion and flexibility, observe functional movements and balance, and much more. This should provide your physiotherapist with enough information to confirm the diagnosis- if it doesn’t they will recommend you attend for an in-room consultation.
A common misconception of physiotherapy is that the management of a patient’s condition consists primarily of “hands-on”, manual therapy techniques- when really this forms only a small part of a much broader management plan. While physiotherapy may once have been defined by this passive approach, in recent times there has been a shift towards education and exercise rehabilitation- empowering patients with the information and guidance they need to take a more active approach to their recovery outside of the treatment room. It is true that we are unable to be “hands-on” during a telehealth consultation, however we are able educate you about your condition, the factors which may be contributing to your condition, and how to address these factors- which may include self-applied manual therapy.
Pre-Consultation- Subjective Assessment
Upon booking a Telehealth consultation you will receive email confirmation containing a link to follow at the scheduled appointment time. To complete the consultation, you will require a smartphone, tablet or computer equipped with a camera and microphone. No additional apps or software are required. If a video call is not possible, there are other platforms through which telehealth consultations can be conducted- please discuss this with your physiotherapist
If you are not currently being treated for your condition at Wanneroo Physiotherapy, you will also be sent an online questionnaire to complete, and if necessary your physiotherapist may request further information such as GP/specialist reports, radiology reports, and possibly even pictures of the injured region.
Video Consultation- Objective Assessment and Management Advice
During the video consultation your physiotherapist will ask any final questions required to fill gaps in the information you have previously provided them, before asking you to complete a series of physical tests relevant to the affected region. This will be followed by a detailed explanation of the diagnosis and prognosis, the contributing factors, and any management advice- including demonstration of rehabilitation exercises.
Post-Consultation- Self Management and Exercise Rehabilitation
Your rehabilitation exercises will be sent to you after your appointment via a free app called PhysiApp. Using PhysiApp, you can view narrated videos of your exercises via the smartphone app (or on your desktop computer). You’ll never forget to do your exercises thanks to in-app, email or SMS reminders, and your physiotherapist can track your compliance, progress and feedback- allowing them to provide you with better support. Clinical studies show that apps like PhysiApp can help improve outcomes for its users.
Can I Claim My Telehealth Consultation On My Private Health Insurance?
As per the Australian Physiotherapy Association: “Despite evidence to suggest that video consultations are cost effective, safe and well-received by consumers, private health insurers do not provide a rebate for physiotherapy services delivered via video consultation.”
