What to Know Before Your First Telehealth Physiotherapy Consultation
In the rapidly evolving landscape of healthcare, the rise of Telehealth has brought about a paradigm shift in how individuals access and engage with various medical services. Among these, Telehealth Physiotherapy stands out as a convenient and accessible way to receive rehabilitation services remotely. If you're gearing up for your first virtual physiotherapy consultation, it's natural to have questions and uncertainties. So let’s explore what you need to know before your Telehealth Physiotherapy appointment to make the most out of this innovative and effective approach to care.
Understanding Telehealth Physiotherapy
What is Telehealth Physiotherapy?
Before delving into what to expect from your first session, it's crucial to understand the essence of Telehealth Physiotherapy. This modern approach leverages technology to connect patients with physiotherapists through virtual means, such as video calls, online platforms, and digital communication tools. This allows for remote assessments, personalised exercise programs, and ongoing support, all from the comfort of your home. For more information on this – have a look at our previous blog post.
Preparing for Your Telehealth Physiotherapy Consultation
What is Telehealth Physiotherapy?
Once you have booked your first appointment, whether it is a starter call or a full initial appointment, you want to make sure that you are set up to get the most out of your consultation.
1. Technical Setup:
Ensure that your device (computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone) is equipped with a camera, microphone, and stable internet connection.
Familiarise yourself with the chosen platform or app for the virtual consultation. Test the audio and video functionalities beforehand. The secure video call link will open up 10 minutes prior to your appointment to check this. However, if you are concerned about your setup, use a separate video call provider e.g. Zoom, Facetime, or Facebook Messenger to trial your connection.
If you have any questions or concerns, email our support team at help.neostream@gmail.com and we can assist with getting you set up.
2. Comfortable Space:
During your appointment, you may be asked to show parts of or your whole body and perform movements and/or exercises to assess and/or treat your area of concern.
Choose a quiet and well-lit space for your appointment, preferably with enough room for movement. Clear any obstacles to create a safe environment for performing exercises. Ideally, you will have a space where you can show yourself performing exercises in standing, lying (on the ground or on a bed/ couch) and have the ability to perform an exercise against a wall. We usually recommend a portable device like a laptop or smartphone over a desktop computer as it allows greater flexibility with your setup.
If you cannot find a space that is quiet perhaps because of kids, pets, family, friends or if you’re in public - that is a-okay! Just be mindful that this may impact our therapist’s ability to hear you or your ability to engage fully. We are always happy to work with you in whatever environment you are in!
3. Attire:
What you wear to your appointment can impact the effectiveness of the therapist's assessment. Depending on what your appointment is for, this will change what we would recommend you wear.
In general, wear comfortable clothing that allows the physiotherapist to assess your movements easily. For example, if you are seeing us for shoulder pain, wear a singlet/tank top that shows this area. Depending on what the issue is your therapist may ask to see your back, so in this instance, an open-back sports bra can be appropriate for those who are not comfortable disrobing into their normal undergarments. If you are not comfortable taking off these articles of clothing, that is completely fine, just note this may impact the therapist's ability to assess you.
4. Equipment:
Equipment may be helpful in both the assessment and treatment portion of the consultation.
For assessment, having a tape measure with you can help increase the accuracy of the assessment. Having a gym/yoga mat to increase comfort for any floor-based assessment/treatment will greatly assist the assessment too.
If you have any exercise equipment (therabands, dumbbells, kettlebells etc) have them close by, or in an area easily accessible in case your therapist prescribes exercises that will require these items.
If you don’t have access to any equipment, that is totally fine. Our therapists will be able to assess and provide you with appropriate exercises without equipment or they can recommend appropriate equipment to buy online/locally.
5. Medical History and Relevant Information:
Have your medical history, previous treatment records, and any relevant diagnostic reports on hand. This information will assist the physiotherapist in tailoring your treatment plan.
6. List of Questions and Concerns:
Prepare a list of questions or concerns you would like to address during the consultation. This ensures that you cover all relevant aspects of your condition and rehabilitation goals.
The Telehealth Physiotherapy Experience
It is common for people to feel unsure, nervous, anxious or even afraid before coming into a physiotherapy consultation. Whether face-to-face or online, many people have had negative experiences with the health/medical industry or have difficulty entering new experiences and environments.
We hope at NEOstream that our therapists provide you with a safe, comfortable experience. We pride ourselves on our therapist's ability to be empathetic listeners, which will hopefully help you feel more at ease during the appointment.
Knowing what may happen in the appointment can help you prepare for what will come. Your appointment/ consultation will generally contain the below:
1. Virtual Assessment:
The initial part of your consultation will generally involve a virtual assessment of your condition. The physiotherapist will ask you questions about your current condition and relevant past medical and personal information. The physiotherapist may ask you to perform specific movements to observe range of motion, joint function, and any areas of discomfort. This is done to understand your current level of function, assess and diagnose your injury, or get an understanding of how your injury/disability is affecting you, and understand how to best create a treatment/rehab plan.
2. Discussion and Goal Setting:
Following the assessment portion, you and your physiotherapist will engage in a detailed discussion about your condition, symptoms, and goals. This is an opportunity to share your experiences and preferences about what works for you and what you want to get back to doing, allowing the physiotherapist to tailor the treatment plan to your unique needs, timeframes and preferences.
3. Exercise Prescription:
Based on the assessment and discussion, the physiotherapist may prescribe a personalised exercise program. They may demonstrate exercises via video, provide written instructions, provide a longer-term structured exercise program and email exercises with photo/video links to educate and help assist with your treatment plan.
4. Education and Empowerment:
Telehealth Physiotherapy emphasises patient education. Expect to receive information about your condition, self-management strategies, and tips for optimising your rehabilitation at home.
Research has shown that being well-educated about your condition can improve your recovery outcomes. We hope that with education, you are more capable of managing your condition now and in the future, and less reliant on us as physiotherapists (which will save you money, stress and pain in the long term).
5. Follow-Up and Monitoring:
At the end of your appointment, you will discuss the need for or frequency of follow-up appointments and how progress will be monitored. This may involve ongoing virtual check-ins, the use of wearable devices, or other remote monitoring tools.
Overcoming Challenges
1. Technical Issues:
Be prepared for potential technical glitches. Have a backup device ready to ensure disruption of the consultation is as minimal as possible. If you have the time, we recommend troubleshooting common issues in advance on your chosen device for the consultation.
2. Communication:
Clearly communicate any challenges or discomfort you experience during the virtual session. This open communication is essential for the physiotherapist to make adjustments and ensure your safety and effectiveness of the consult.
3. Privacy and Confidentiality:
Choose a private space for your consultation to maintain confidentiality. Ensure that your virtual environment is secure and free from potential interruptions. Your consultation will take place on a secure platform through the Cliniko platform. If there are technical difficulties that require switching to a different video call platform, we are happy to change platforms however please note this may reduce the security of the call.
Having the consultation in a public space is a-okay, this is part of the reason why NEOstream exists - to bring you convenience and flexibility! Just be aware that you will be asked to share personal medical and personal information about yourself (in case you do not want this type of information to be heard/shared with those around you).
Embrace Innovation
Embarking on your Telehealth Physiotherapy journey can be both exciting and transformative. By adequately preparing for your first virtual consultation and actively engaging with your physiotherapist, you set the stage for a positive and effective rehabilitation experience.
Remember, Telehealth Physiotherapy is not just a bridge to traditional in-person care but a dynamic and patient-centric approach that has the potential to revolutionise how you approach and achieve your wellness goals. Embrace the convenience, embrace the innovation, and embark on your path to optimal health through the power of Telehealth Physiotherapy!
NEOstream brings the buzz of telehealth to your fingertips 👨💻. Ready to redefine your physiotherapy experience? Here’s your chance – book your initial appointment and feel the NEOstream difference firsthand! 🙌
