Telehealth with MMI Occupational Therapy
Telehealth allows patients to meet with healthcare providers in real-time or ”virtually” through an audio and/or video connection to the Internet. During the COVID-19 crisis, MMI Department of Occupational Therapy providers are available for telehealth consultation to address a patient’s fine motor delays, sensory difficulties, feeding deficits and limitations in participation of activities of daily living; i.e. dressing, transfers and functional mobility needs.
Frequently Asked Questions about Telehealth
No, occupational therapists have been providing services in this manner to improve patient access to care for years. In many cases, clients have paid out of pocket for occupational therapy services to enhance their care.
Based on CDC recommendations to maintain social distancing and the highly contagious nature of COVID-19, MMI strongly believes telehealth appointments are the safest way to protect the health of the individuals, children, families we serve, our providers, and entire community until the public health emergency (PHE) is lifted.
Yes. Telehealth offers the opportunity for patients to stay connected with their occupational therapist (OT) regardless of the ability to get to a clinic and can eliminate delays in receiving care. OTs are specialists trained to evaluate the environment, task and client through observation. This does not change with telehealth. Occupational therapists can use telehealth to provide services where the client lives, works, learns and plays. OT treatment is usually very hands-on, but practitioners can use telehealth as a service delivery model to:
- Help clients develop skills to improve their participation with completion of activities of daily living;
- Incorporate assistive technology (AT) and/or adaptive techniques;
- Modify work, home or school environments;
- Improve role competence, health and wellness, and quality of life.
The appropriateness of telehealth for a client is determined on a case-by-case basis using the therapist’s clinical judgment and includes considering various factors including activity demands, performance skills, performance patterns, contexts and environments.
We encourage you to check with your insurance plan’s member services department to verify coverage. You can find the number to call on the back of your insurance card.
Our team will contact you to set up a day and time for an appointment. You will then receive a secure ”Zoom” link via email inviting you to your scheduled appointment. When you click the link, it will connect you to your provider in real time.
Here are some steps you might consider:
- Set up a space for the visit within range of your computer’s camera and audio. Remove unnecessary distractions, turn off the TV or music to eliminate background noise, make sure that there is space for movement and get any equipment that might be useful or that you may have questions about.
- Try out your computer connection and speakers 10 minutes before your session to be sure you are ready.
- Have toys/activities/equipment and questions prepared so you can efficiently address what you would like to problem-solve with your provider during the session.
- If using your phone or tablet, it is recommended to close all other programs that may be running in the background. This improves the quality of your connection.
If you have additional questions or want to schedule a telehealth appointment with an occupational therapist, call the Munroe-Meyer Institute Department of Occupational Therapy at 402-559-6580.