The Emergence of Telehealth Amidst Coronavirus Pandemic

4 min readApr 5, 2020

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Far away but still connected. Source: https://unsplash.com/photos/Q1p7bh3SHj8

As more regions face imminent lock-downs due to the COVID-19 spread, communities are becoming more weary. People are are choosing to forego necessary healthcare services such as physiotherapy, psychology and other allied health services.

In a time where health is crucial, healthcare services should be as accessible as possible. Basic human needs, such as mental and physical health services, should not be sacrificed in light of the current circumstances.

Fortunately, the way healthcare services are being delivered has been revolutionised, seemingly overnight. Once used as a way of communicating with remote or housebound individuals, telehealth is now the safest method of medical consultation. In order to reduce community spread, this has been presented as new option for many healthcare providers.

Understandably, with drastic changes, comes confusion and misunderstanding. What is telehealth? Am I eligible? How will it be funded?As a physiotherapist who is consulting through telehealth, let me answer some of your burning questions.

What is Telehealth?

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Telehealth uses household technology such as video conferencing or telephone communication to deliver healthcare consultations. Instead of having to travel to your clinic, you can access your healthcare provider instantly from home.

In many circumstances, you will be able to receive a diagnosis and treatment from devices such as your phone, laptop and computer. However, there will be situations where telehealth might not be appropriate for you. Consulting your healthcare provider would be the best way of finding out.

How do I set up Telehealth?

Depending on your healthcare provider, they will have different methods of communication. For example, your GP might prefer a phone call as opposed to a physiotherapist who’d rather video conferencing. Although most households should be well-equipped to conduct most sessions. The bare necessities for most telehealth sessions will/may require:

Telephone or mobile service
Internet
Tablet or laptop with microphone (a PC set-up with a headset and webcam can be an another alternative)

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Am I eligible?

Your eligibility for telehealth will depend on your healthcare provider and the type of health service(s) you are seeking. As a telehealth physiotherapist, we will typically screen a patient with a questionnaire prior to determine their viability. For example, we will look at important information such as the presenting condition and functional capacity (e.g. can you sit to stand?, can you walk >100m? etc.). However, every healthcare provider will set different criteria to determine eligibility. Your best bet will be to consult your health practitioner.

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How will this this funded?

Telehealth will be funded in accordance to your country’s and state’s regulations. Additionally, varying funding bodies will have different guidelines pertaining to funding for specific health services. Speaking for Australian funding bodies, the table below will highlight accessibility for physiotherapy only (references can be found at the bottom).

Is it effective?

Although telehealth will be novel to many healthcare providers, most of the practitioners’ skill-sets will still be translatable. Even physiotherapy, which is commonly associated with hands-on therapy, can be just as effective.

Hands-on treatment such as dry needling and massage are only a fraction of patient management. Other modalities such as exercise, lifestyle modifications and understanding the condition will be substantially more impactful for long-term recovery. And importantly, all replicable during telehealth consults.

There have been various studies which detail the effectiveness of using telehealth when compared to on-site consultations. One example a large study which looked at the efficacy of physiotherapy rehabilitation through telehealth on post-surgical patients. Interestingly, these researchers found that physiotherapy delivered through telehealth could be just as effective.

As telehealth continues to be adopted, more research will most likely be published supporting its efficacy. Even currently, there has been promising research conducted on it, particularly in conditions such as:

Post-surgery (e.g. hip/knee arthroscopies, shoulder impingement etc.)
Cardiorespiratory conditions
Lower limb injuries
Stroke
Low back pain

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Despite the chaos of the Coronavirus, innovation is as vital as ever. For now, telehealth is the present and future of healthcare. It might be daunting for both healthcare professionals and patients, but will ultimately become part of the norm. Given how tele-communication has revolutionised other industries, why not healthcare?