Telerehabilitation

Abstract

TelerehabilitationThe purpose of this paper is to provide the current position of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) regarding the use of telerehabilitation technologies by occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants 1 to provide occupational therapy services, based on the existing research. This document examines the research and issues related to telerehabilitation for evaluation and intervention, telemonitoring, practitioner qualifications, ethics, and regulatory issues and reimbursement. Occupational therapy practitioners 2 are the intended audience for this document, although others involved in supervising, planning, delivering, and paying for occupational therapy services also may find it helpful.Telecommunication has prompted the development of an emerging model of health care delivery called telehealth, which involves "providing health care, health information, and health education across a distance, using telecommunications technology.…It allows physicians, nurses, and health care specialists to assess, diagnose, and [provide interventions to clients] without requiring both individuals to be physically located in the same place" (Center for Telehealth and E-Health Law, 2010, para. 1).