We have given the current Covid-19 situation a great deal of thought and feel that the right decision moving forwards is to move 100% of our home/community appointments to Telehealth.
Our main priority is to look after the health and wellbeing of the children and families we work with in addition to protecting our staff. As the virus spreads rapidly, we need to consider our responsibility to reduce social contact to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and 'flatten the curve'. Continuing with Telehealth appointments will allow your child to still have access to essential physiotherapy advice without the risk of the virus spreading further.
What is telehealth?
During your telehealth appointment you will be connected via the internet from your home to your physiotherapist who will conduct the appointment from a different location.You and your child will see the physiotherapist on your phone/computer screen and talk to each other and engage in activities. The physiotherapist will watch your child, advise you on progress and changes in exercises and activities so your child continues to progress physically. It is vitally important that your child continues with physiotherapy treatment until we can move back to face to face contact.
What are some examples of ways a telehealth appointment can be used?
Many paediatric healthcare services have decided to offer telehealth appointments instead of face to face sessions to reduce the spread of Covid-19. During the social isolation period there is likely to be a decrease in people's physical activity levels which will lead to reduced strength, endurance and cardiovascular fitness. Telehealth appointments can help to ensure that your child is still able to access physiotherapy assessment and treatment and maintains/improves their strength and fitness during this period.
There are many ways that a telehealth appointment can be used for physiotherapy:
To assess a child's movement/motor skills (when doing face to face appointments we mostly assess through observation, so provided the picture is clear, we can do this via telehealth too)!
To brainstorm ways to motivate your child to do their physio exercises (e.g., exploring different play ideas and games)
To discuss your child's goals and make sure they are still meaningful and relevant to you. If your goals haven't been discussed for several months or if you had a NDIS plan review recently, telehealth provides a good opportunity for you to have this discussion.
To discuss ways that you can integrate your child's physiotherapy exercises into daily routines (i.e., educating you about how you can identify opportunities for your child to work on a physical skill as an incidental part of your day)
To provide you with feedback about the way you are assisting/facilitating your child's physio exercises, or for older children, to provide feedback to them about their technique
To provide you with advice about how to progress your child's exercises so that they are still getting the maximum benefit out of their physio program
To run the session as an intensive exercise/training session with the goal of increasing physical activity levels for the duration of the appointment (this is well-suited to school-aged children who are able to engage directly with the physio and follow instruction)
What is the fee for a telehealth appointment?
Telehealth sessions will be charged at the standard NDIS rate of $193.99 per session.
Which media platform will be used? How do I use it?
The media platform we will use for appointments is Zoom. We will provide you with instructions on how to use this platform.
Is Zoom safe?
Zoom is end-to-end encripted making it safe and confidential. Many hospitals and medical practices have chosen Zoom for this reason, as well as it being easy to use, fast, and reliable.
How do I book a telehealth appointment?
To book an appointment, please email admin@littlemoversphysio.com.au.
We welcome any questions you might have about telehealth appointments. Please contact us on admin@littlemoversphysio.com.au or 0438 028 220 to discuss.