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Applying Telehealth Technologies and Strategies to Provide Acute Care Consultation and Treatment of Patients With Confirmed or Possible COVID-19
- Source :
- Journal of Acute Care Physical Therapy
- Publication Year :
- 2020
- Publisher :
- Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc., 2020.
-
Abstract
- Background and purpose The COVID-19 pandemic continues to grow, with 19% of total confirmed patients classified as severe or critical experiencing complications such as dyspnea, hypoxia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, or multiorgan failure. These complications require rehabilitative care. Considering the contagious nature of COVID-19 and the necessity to decrease the volume of health care professionals entering confirmed COVID-19 patient rooms and becoming a potential disease vector, can audiovisual technologies employed by telehealth and telerehabilitation help? Case description This case discusses the Baylor Scott and White Institute for Rehab (BSWIR) Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PMR) department COVID-19 acute care therapy team's creation of a telehealth strategy to provide early rehabilitative intervention without increasing the odds of disease transmission. Outcomes The COVID-19 therapy team created a simple process for identifying and triaging care for patients with possible or confirmed COVID-19. These patients were evaluated and treated by the dedicated team using telehealth strategies. A structured risk-benefit analysis was used to determine when in-room care was indicated. Discussion Acute care physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language pathology telehealth strategies can add value by mitigating COVID-19-related harm and influencing recovery, while not unnecessarily becoming additional disease vectors consuming personal protective equipment. COVID-19 is not only an aggressive respiratory illness similar to acute respiratory distress syndrome but also highly contagious and a risk for health care providers. Telehealth strategies allow therapists to intervene early, opening the possibility to maximize recovery and prevent harm or decompensation. Telehealth strategies can be more prevention-focused while the patient is experiencing relatively good health with goals to maximize strength and endurance before the disease process evolves to critical illness. As COVID-19 progresses, therapy can help mitigate potential complications associated with prolonged intensive care unit stay and ventilator management.
- Subjects :
- Occupational therapy
medicine.medical_specialty
education
MEDLINE
Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation
Telehealth
Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine
01 natural sciences
law.invention
03 medical and health sciences
0302 clinical medicine
law
Telerehabilitation
Acute care
Health care
medicine
0101 mathematics
Intensive care medicine
Personal protective equipment
COVID-19 Feature Article
business.industry
010102 general mathematics
Rehabilitation
Intensive care unit
030228 respiratory system
business
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 21590524 and 21588686
- Volume :
- 11
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Journal of Acute Care Physical Therapy
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....9f13d067221c8b92cec79e92d8ca6844