The Process for the Formulation of the International Telehealth Position Statement for Occupational Therapy

Abstract

The World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) consists of 84 member organizations representing over 420,000 occupational therapists internationally (WFOT, 2014). In 2014, WFOT published the WFOT Telehealth Position Statement on the use of telehealth in occupational therapy. The process for the formulation of the official document involved reviewing WFOT member organizations’ telehealth position statements and data collected from a survey sent to member organizations’ delegates in April 2014. Qualitative data from 39 countries yielded factors to consider in five key areas: licensure/registration requirements, the cost of technology, privacy and security, reimbursement/payment models, and other issues (e.g., need for collaboration/transfer of knowledge, client selection, provider competencies, standard of care). The WFOT Telehealth Position Statement addressed each of these areas. The collaborative effort resulting in the development of the WFOT Telehealth Position Statement serves as a model for other international organizations.

Pediatric Teleheath: Opportunities Created by the COVID-19 and Suggestions to Sustain Its Use to Support Families of Children with Disabilities

“…For decades, research has been ongoing to identify how technology could be used to increase access to rehabilitation services for individual with disabilities, mostly by decreasing time and costs related to travel distance (Camden et al, 2019;Edirippulige et al, 2016;Iacono et al, 2016). Prior to the COVID-19, organizations such as the World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT) and the World Confederation of Occupational Therapists encouraged clinicians to embrace telehealth (Jacobs et al, 2015;WCPT and INPTRA, 2020). Yet, many technological limits and barriers at the patient-, clinician-, organizational-and system levels have limited the uptake of telehealth thus far.…”

Patient Satisfaction with Telehealth in Rural Settings: A Systematic Review

“…Telehealth is the remote delivery of health-related services through telecommunication technology to clients for diagnoses, treatment, and prevention of disease and injuries, research and evaluation, and continuing education for health care providers ( Koivunen & Saranto, 2018 ; Bagchi et al, 2018 ; Jacobs et al, 2015 ). There are many different identified categories of telehealth, including but not limited to telecardiology, telemedicine, and telerehabilitation.…”

“…Patient satisfaction leads to returning customers, improved patient retention, profitability, an increase in money spent on public health, positive clinic outcomes including improved safety, accessibility, comprehensiveness of care, and overall quality of health care ( Prakash, 2010 ; Xesfingi & Vozikis, 2016 ). Several studies stated low patient satisfaction as an outcome of barriers such as inadequate training on use of telehealth technologies, internet connection issues, privacy concerns, or patient preference for in-person communication ( Bagchi et al, 2018 ; Balestra, 2018 ; Breeden, 2016 ; Cary et al, 2016 ; Chedid et al, 2013 ; Hall et al, 2013 ; Jacobs et al, 2015 ; Lade et al, 2012 ; Parker et al, 2018 ; Russell et al, 2010 ). While two studies stated that patients preferred telehealth or that the benefits of telehealth outweighed the barriers ( Desko & Nazario, 2014 ; Levy et al, 2015 ), others indicated that patients still preferred standard in-person therapy despite high patient satisfaction with telehealth services ( Lade et al, 2012 ; Russell et al, 2010 ).…”

Combined Effects of Telehealth and Modified Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy for Individuals with Chronic Hemiparesis

“…A newer approach is Internet-based constraint-induced movement therapy (iCIMT); iCIMT is a mCIMT approach that incorporates telehealth. Telehealth allows delivery of therapy services to individuals who may not have the ability to frequently access the clinic, as both mCIMT and CIMT approaches require consistent adherence for therapy sessions (AOTA 2018; Jacobs et al, 2015 ). The rise of telehealth allows for therapy services to be provided through technology, including telephones, videoconferencing, personal digital assistants, smartphones, and virtual reality ( McCue et al, 2010 ).…”

“…The rise of telehealth allows for therapy services to be provided through technology, including telephones, videoconferencing, personal digital assistants, smartphones, and virtual reality ( McCue et al, 2010 ). Technology-based rehabilitation services may benefit individuals who have difficulty traveling to a clinic setting, those in rural areas, or even patients with chronic conditions that require frequent visitation (AOTA 2018; Jacobs et al, 2015 ). This is a client-centered approach, providing increased access to CIMT and mCIMT programs.…”