Analysis of the Utilization of Telehealth to Enhance Healthcare Outcomes
Rachelle Colyer, SPT; Megan McCarthy, SPT; Andrea Sanders, SPT; Erin Stengel, SPT; Brooklyn Swantek, SPT
Faculty Mentor: Mohamed Kohia, PT, Ph.D., MS
Rachelle Colyer, SPT; Megan McCarthy, SPT; Andrea Sanders, SPT; Erin Stengel, SPT; Brooklyn Swantek, SPT
Faculty Mentor: Mohamed Kohia, PT, Ph.D., MS
Institution(s): Rockhurst University Department of Physical Therapy, Kansas City, MO
Purpose/Hypothesis: Forty percent of the population worldwide has internet connection and 95% own cell phones. Given the variety of options that come with using technology, it is an ideal resource for communicating with patients and health care providers to improve health care outcomes. The purpose of our research was to critically review the literature to examine how telemedicine has been utilized to manage patients with cardiovascular, orthopedic, stroke, neurologic and vestibular disorders. We worked directly with the In- Hand Health© app which is currently being used in the Kansas City Metro area to identify barriers and facilitators of its use.
Subjects:
Methods/ Materials: CINAHL, Cochrane, PubMed, Medline, and Google Scholar were searched using the following keywords: telehealth, telemedicine, tele-rehabilitation, physical therapy, vestibular, orthopedics, musculoskeletal, cardiac, and stroke. Articles included were systematic reviews, meta-analysis, pilot studies, surveys, case studies, randomized control
trials, and quasi-experimental pre/post studies. Level of evidence of each paper was based on the Oxford Center for Evidence Based Medicine classification.
Results: Five papers that examined the use of telemedicine in cardiopulmonary rehabilitation found that telemedicine reduced hospitalization/readmissions, decreased mortality rates, improved health outcomes, and increased patient quality of life in patients with chronic respiratory conditions
and cardiac failure. Eight papers reviewed the role of telemedicine in people with musculoskeletal injuries including chronic pain, rotator cuff injury and low back pain. Telemedicine was found to be effective in remote evaluation and
increased patient compliance with home exercise by providing timely and individualized feedback. Nine papers examined the role of telehealth in patients after a stroke, neurological and vestibular dysfunction. Patients with stroke
reported that telemedicine increased their self-confidence, movement, and function. In patients with stroke, migraine, Parkinson’s Disease and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, telemedicine was successful in conducting remote specialist assessments and treatments and monitoring exercise performance.
Conclusions: Telemedicine has the potential to increase patient compliance by increasing communication and real time feedback, providing detailed home exercise programs, and a platform for patient accountability. Telehealth also can evaluate and treat patients in rural communities in a timely and effective manner.
Funding Source: No additional sources of funding
Purpose/Hypothesis: Forty percent of the population worldwide has internet connection and 95% own cell phones. Given the variety of options that come with using technology, it is an ideal resource for communicating with patients and health care providers to improve health care outcomes. The purpose of our research was to critically review the literature to examine how telemedicine has been utilized to manage patients with cardiovascular, orthopedic, stroke, neurologic and vestibular disorders. We worked directly with the In- Hand Health© app which is currently being used in the Kansas City Metro area to identify barriers and facilitators of its use.
Subjects:
Methods/ Materials: CINAHL, Cochrane, PubMed, Medline, and Google Scholar were searched using the following keywords: telehealth, telemedicine, tele-rehabilitation, physical therapy, vestibular, orthopedics, musculoskeletal, cardiac, and stroke. Articles included were systematic reviews, meta-analysis, pilot studies, surveys, case studies, randomized control
trials, and quasi-experimental pre/post studies. Level of evidence of each paper was based on the Oxford Center for Evidence Based Medicine classification.
Results: Five papers that examined the use of telemedicine in cardiopulmonary rehabilitation found that telemedicine reduced hospitalization/readmissions, decreased mortality rates, improved health outcomes, and increased patient quality of life in patients with chronic respiratory conditions
and cardiac failure. Eight papers reviewed the role of telemedicine in people with musculoskeletal injuries including chronic pain, rotator cuff injury and low back pain. Telemedicine was found to be effective in remote evaluation and
increased patient compliance with home exercise by providing timely and individualized feedback. Nine papers examined the role of telehealth in patients after a stroke, neurological and vestibular dysfunction. Patients with stroke
reported that telemedicine increased their self-confidence, movement, and function. In patients with stroke, migraine, Parkinson’s Disease and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, telemedicine was successful in conducting remote specialist assessments and treatments and monitoring exercise performance.
Conclusions: Telemedicine has the potential to increase patient compliance by increasing communication and real time feedback, providing detailed home exercise programs, and a platform for patient accountability. Telehealth also can evaluate and treat patients in rural communities in a timely and effective manner.
Funding Source: No additional sources of funding