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Implementing Telehealth in Your Practice STAT: Practical Guidance from Experienced Telehealth PTs

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Telehealth and telePT are increasing in scope and availability to providers and patients. As adoption and uptake of these delivery innovations has expanded, physical therapy research and education has been slow to address the nuances of clinical reasoning and patient management in a setting in which the patient is not in the same location as the clinician. In this panel, providers across specialties will discuss how they are implementing telehealth in their clinical practices. Providers will discuss how they manage patients and deliver effective care from a distance in pediatric, neurological, women’s health, orthopedic settings. The presenters will provide insights into current practice models and the research surrounding digital care delivery. Additionally, they will explain clinical decision making in digital care delivery and traditional clinical settings to optimize outcomes.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Describe differences in clinical reasoning and patient management decisions between in-person and telePT settings across specialties
  2. Employ strategies for patient assessment remotely
  3. Apply evidence to improve clinical decision making in a Telehealth PT setting
  4. Understand best practices for telehealth PT implementation across specialties

Todd Norwood

PT, DPT, FACHE

Todd is currently Director of Clinical Services at Physera where he leads a nationwide team of exclusively telehealth physical therapists. He first became involved in telehealth in 2016 and has practiced almost exclusively telehealth-based PT since 2017. He completed an orthopaedic physical therapy residency in 2012 and has been a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy since 2013. He became a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Sports Physical Therapy in 2015. His outpatient practice focused on orthopedics and sports including sports specific injury prevention programs and bike fitting in addition to traditional clinic-based practice and sideline sports coverage. Todd received his B.A. in Human Biology from Stanford University where he was twice the captain of the cycling team and received his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from University of Southern California in 2011. He has been invited to present on telehealth by the North American Spine Society, American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and American Physical Therapy Association.

Ellen Morello

PT, DPT

Ellen is Physera’s Senior Clinical Program Manager where she manages clinical operations of a nationwide Telehealth Physical Therapy network. She has been practicing telehealth as a physical therapist since 2017. Ellen’s treatment approach is focused on Psychologically Informed PT Practice and she believes Telehealth is the ideal environment for treating patients who would otherwise have difficulty accessing care. She holds a B.S. in Physiology and Neurobiology from the University of Connecticut and a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from New York Medical College, where she received a full scholarship through the New York City Department of Education. She has been an adjunct professor in the DPT programs at New York Medical College and at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell. She has been invited to present on telehealth Physical Therapy practice by the American Physical Therapy Association, American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine, American Telemedicine Association, New England Telehealth Resource Center, and the Personal Connected Health Alliance.

Sarah Gallagher

PT, DPT

Sarah is the founder of The Dizzy Clinic. She has been treating clients with dizziness and vertigo in various settings for over ten years. Sarah has worked as a physical therapist and is co-owner of South Valley Physical Therapy in Denver, Colorado, a clinic specializing in vestibular and neurologic conditions. At South Valley PT she began to identify that many clients did not have access to expert care. Sarah began to consult clients using videoconferencing with great success and thus was born the idea of The Dizzy Clinic. Sarah graduated with a Doctorate of Physical Therapy from MGH Institute of Health Professions (a Massachusetts General Hospital affiliate). She is a certified Neurologic Clinical Specialist (NCS). Sarah mentors doctoral students in vestibular therapy and assists teaching vestibular therapy at the University of Colorado. Sarah teaches balance classes in the community; volunteers for the vestibular special interest group of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), and founded Colorado's vestibular support group. She is a member of the APTA, neurology section and vestibular special interest group, and Vestibular Disorders Association (VeDA).

Christin Tate

PT, DPT

Christin received her undergraduate degree in kinesiology and psychology from Gordon College and Doctor of Physical Therapy from Springfield College, MA. As a graduate assistant, Christin aided in research regarding stroke rehabilitation, anticipatory responses during cycling, and teaching undergraduate courses. Following completion of her orthopedic board certification, she completed a year long pelvic health residency and lymphedema certification training program. She became board certified in Women’s Health Physical Therapy in 2017. Her experience includes serving in outpatient orthopedic clinics and completing certifications in Functional Movement Screen (FMS) and Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA). She is currently completing her masters in Project Management from Georgetown University as an adjunct to her current role of Director of Enterprise Operations for Agile Physical Therapy. Christin is passionate about positively influencing her patient's movement and reducing pain as well as empowering them to be advocates for their own health and wellness. In her spare time she enjoys running, reading, spinning, yoga, watching New England sports, and soccer.

Samantha Dutrow Norwood

PT, DPT, CSCS

Samantha is a Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Pediatric Physical Therapy and has been practicing in various pediatric settings since graduating from the University of Southern California in 2011. She helped start and grow the post-concussion program during her 6.5 years at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford. She is currently a Senior Outpatient Pediatric Physical Therapist at Kaiser Permanente in Santa Clara and sees patients from birth to teenagers with a wide range of conditions from torticollis and developmental delays to oncology and post concussion. She uses video visits as a follow up treatment option for her patients and enjoys being able to make access to care easier for her patients and their families.

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