By Maureen Suhr, PT, DPT, PCS
“Listen to your patient; he is telling you the diagnosis.”
-Dr. William Osler, father of modern medicine
An experienced physical therapist will say the most powerful tool in their toolbox is their power of observation.
Virtual care is an enhancement to the therapist’s power of observation.
In virtual care, where the tactile sense is absent, therapists place a heightened reliance on verbal communication and movement patterns to craft an effective treatment plan.
Virtual physical therapy enhances visibility into the rehabilitation process both for therapist and patient.
In ViewFi Virtual PT, the therapist meets with the patient, records videos and images, digitally captures accurate ROM, and uses this data to involve the patient in their care. Patients can visually track their progress and see side-by-side images of their increasing motion, altered posture, or improved functional performance.
Virtual PT empowers patients.
In the clinic, we try to make our patients active participants in their care, but they often rely on us for manual interventions and cues. When something hurts, patients want their therapist to “fix” them. With virtual care, the PT teaches the patient how to mobilize themselves or how to maintain proper alignment without tactile input from the therapist. The education goes deeper as patients learn about their anatomy and the effects of force imbalance. The therapist works with the patient in their home environment ensuring that the program is feasible for them, applying real-life solutions to real-life problems. Patients take an active role in their recovery, generating an internal locus of control that impacts the future of their healthcare participation. Patients invest in their progress and health which leads to successful program completion and greater outcomes.
Virtual PT has the power to move the needle on how and when patients access healthcare.
ViewFi Virtual PT brings world-class therapists to homes across the nation. Geographic and physical access to care are no longer barriers. The ease of participating in effective, individualized therapy from the comfort of home encourages patients to seek care sooner. Accessing the right care without delay improves outcomes, reduces disability, decreases cost, and reduces co-morbidities.
Virtual PT will elevate the physical therapy profession.
Virtual care provides therapists with the most accurate tools, drives evidence-based intervention, and makes both therapist and patient more accountable. Virtual physical therapy makes us better therapists. It empowers our patients to invest in their progress. It encourages patients to seek care sooner. It improves outcomes. It improves population health.