Laurie's Blogs.

So, this blog sort of jumps out from way out of the blue!  I just happened to come across a postcast on the topic and it got me thinking! https://www.evidenceinmotion.com/blog/2018/12/05/clinical-podcast-adopting-telehealth-initiatives-dr-alan-lee/  

I am also on a huge Facebook group – Canine Conditioning and Body Awareness Exercises – and often folks are seeking a canine rehab person to do a distance consult for them.  I admit, I’ve never really jumped into that.  I still like to touch the dog, and am a huge lover of manual therapy.  Oh yeah, and I’m too busy to add anything new onto my ‘to do list’, so I try not to!  

However, I’ve been very curious about those who do.  How does it go?  Are you happy with providing this service?  Do you follow up?  And so on!  (I still have yet to answer those questions.  Hmm… I see a survey coming up!

Anyways, the podcast brought up a whole next round of questions that I didn’t think about… nor do I think that all of the people who are offering distance consults are thinking about either!  The podcast brought up various questions.  I’m just going to list them off here!

•What are the regulations around providing TeleMedicine?  Hmm… better check out what the Vet Boards and Associations have to say about this! (See below.)

•How are you dealing with privacy and security components?

•What is your legal accountability for providing this service?

•Have you thought about or created a Business-Associate agreement?

•How will you get paid?

•Do you have / provide / advertise an unambiguous Telemedicine disclaimer?

•In what way are you screening for appropriateness for Telemedicine candidacy?

I’m going to admit, I hadn’t thought of any of these things!!!  I simply never wanted to do phone/web consultations, so these questions never crossed my mind.  However, I fully recognize that many pet owners don’t have access to any trained animal physiotherapists / rehab veterinarians / rehab practitioners for miles and miles in many locations, and had always thought, “Good for you!” about the practitioners that did offer these services. 

However, in learning more about this topic, I feel the need to counsel others.  Read up on the legalities!  Think about how to protect yourself!  Think also about protecting the public too!  Treat a distance consultation just like you would any other business… putting in the time to make sure you do it right.

It seems to me that physical rehabilitation might be a perfect candidate for telehealth.  Conditions are rarely life or death.  Often simple advice can yield huge improvements.  It seems like a win-win!  Unfortunately, the current bureaucracy might be the biggest hindrance for everyone involved!  But it sounds like something worth fighting for!  

Okay… so for those of you doing it, here’s your survey.  Let me know how your providing consults currently (no names, no worries… just getting a picture of the current landscape)!

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NKWM5XN

Have a great week folks!

Cheers,

Laurie

Resources:

Some Policies:

https://www.avma.org/KB/Policies/Pages/Telemedicine.aspx

https://www.canadianveterinarians.net/documents/veterinary-telemedicine-position-statement

https://www.vsbwa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Guidelines-on-Veterinary-Telemedicine.pdf

Information & resources:

http://www.apta.org/Telehealth/

https://newgradphysicaltherapy.com/telehealth-practice/

https://thenonclinicalpt.com/telehealth-physical-therapy/

https://physiotherapy.ca/blog/it-time-mainstream-telephysiotherapy-canada