What is telepractice
Telepractice is an assessment, education and therapy service via web-based video conferencing.
Allied Health Professional’s and Private Practice owners can use this digital platform to connect with people with disabilities in remote areas throughout Australia, allowing patients who don’t have access to local programs to receive the support they need.
Why telepractice works
Quality telepractice caters to the individual’s needs and although digital, aims to provide a person-centred approach. It ensures family members and carers are at the centre of the decision making for the patient.
Sessions often take place in the family home, at school or preschool, on in a local community location set up with the necessary technology. This could be an early childhood clinic or public library.
During a telepractice session, individuals may be encouraged to interact directly with the AHP via online activities, or the AHP may coach a parent or other significant individual to apply for therapy-based programs.
No two telepractice models are the same.
How it benefits the patient
While telepractice is a technology-based approach, the focus has always been on developing a model that provides an opportunity for AHP’s to build collaborative relationships with family members and individuals centred around the patient’s life.
Do you need to be technically savvy?
In a word, no!
Neither the Practice Professionals or the patients require any special understanding or level of technology skills to participate in a telepractice session.
Technology is the quintessential piece of a successful telepractice however the technology is ultimately designed to provide a solid foundation for building good patient relationships.
Various types of technology may be used such as email, apps, instant messaging, telephone, real-time video conferencing, telephone, asynchronous video (the therapist sends a video file and then the client videos them taking action and returns a video file), audio clips, and photos.
The variety of technology options that can be leveraged allow the Practice Professional to align to the patient’s needs, preferences, and interests.
Allied health professionals now have a flexible relationship focused technology option available to allow them to overcome accessibility obstacles for children and adults where communication is a large part of the treatment or educating parents about how to provide care/therapy makes telepractice revolutionary for allied health professionals.
This is an exciting new frontier to consider for Private Practice owners.
If you have an experience with telepractice, we would love to hear from you. Please contact Nicole Nott.
