case #1: tele-physical assessment in an occupational ... · saving lives. protecting americans. 9...

9Saving Lives. Protecting Americans.

Case #1: Tele-Physical Assessment in an

Occupational Therapy Practice

Aileen Deogracias, OTR/L

Owner and Occupational Therapist

Therapy Works, PC

Lawrenceville, GA


Goal: To Encourage Healthcare Providers to TRY a Telehealth Visit

• Outline for Talk My Practice—Pre-COVID-19 vs. Now

Occupational Therapy Assessments via Telehealth

Lifehacks for Telemedicine


Population: Gwinnett County,

Georgia, special needs families,

medically-fragile, multiple disabilities

Services: Pediatric Outpatient

Occupational Therapy, Physical

Therapy, and Speech Therapy.

Telemedicine Before COVID:

0%/100%

Pre-COVID-19

T H E R A P Y W O R K S , P C


Pre-COVID-19

• Georgia Telehealth Act

SB 118

To modernize the Georgia Telemedicine Act;

To rename the Telemedicine Act the Telehealth Act ;

To revise the definition of telemedicine and telehealth; and

To provide for pay equity for health care providers using telemedicine

Enacted May 2019 and effective January 1, 2020

OT was NOT included

o GOTA Telehealth Task Force created in Sept 2019 to advocate for inclusion


Population: Gwinnett County,

Georgia, special needs families,

medically-fragile, multiple disabilities

Services: Pediatric Outpatient

Occupational Therapy, Physical

Therapy, and Speech Therapy.

Telemedicine Before COVID:

0%/100%

Telemedicine Initially: 100%/0%

Telemedicine Now: 75%/25%

During COVID-19

T H E R A P Y W O R K S , P C


Occupational Therapy Assessment

• “Snapshot” of a patient’s level of function

• Occupational Profile

Person

Environment

Roles and Occupations

Performance

• Medical History

• Clinical Observations

• Standardized Test

• Patient/Caregiver Interview


Occupational Therapy Assessment

• “Snapshot” of a patient’s level of function

• Occupational Profile

Person

Environment

Roles and Occupations

Performance

• Medical History

• Clinical Observations

• Standardized Test

• Patient/Caregiver Interview

+ Telemedicine

• “Come” into the home

• Understand the patient’s environment

• Problem solve with families

• Involve additional family members

• Record patient capabilities

• Increase ease of team consultation and collaboration



1. Know the platform and be prepared to teach it.

My telemedicine lifehacks are…




2. There will be push back.





2. There will be push back.

3. Try one session and see if it’s a good fit.



References

• "About Occupational Therapy". American Occupational Therapy Association. Retrieved 2017-05-24.

• Christiansen, CH, Baum, MC & Bass, JD. (pp 84–104) (2011) In Duncan, EAS (Ed). Foundations for Practice in Occupational Therapy. (5th Ed). London, Churchill-Livingstone.

• "What is Telehealth?". The Center for Connected Health Policy.

• “What is Telemedicine?". Washington, D.C.: American Telemedicine Association. Archived from the original on 8 May 2013. Retrieved 21 August 2011.

• Georgia State Telemedicine Fact Sheet

https://www.aota.org/About-Occupational-Therapy.aspx


Connect with Me

• [email protected]

• www.linkedin.com/in/aileen-deogracias

• www.gaota.com

• www.aota.org

mailto:[email protected]://www.linkedin.com/in/aileen-deograciashttp://www.gaota.com/http://www.gaota.com/


Your Telemedicine Questions,

Answered

Please submit your questions through the Q&A box

case #1: tele-physical assessment in an occupational ... · saving lives. protecting americans. 9...

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