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Telerehabilitation pp 139–162Cite as

Telehealth Opportunities in Occupational Therapy

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Abstract

Presently, utilization of telehealth is in its infancy within the profession of occupational therapy. However, the occupational therapy profession is poised to benefit from integrating this service delivery model across multiple practice settings and practice areas. Potential benefits of using a telehealth service delivery model within occupational therapy include increased accessibility of services to clients who live in remote or underserved areas, improved access to providers and specialists otherwise unavailable to clients, prevention of unnecessary delays in receiving care, and decreased isolation for practitioners through distance learning, consultation, and research. This chapter examines telehealth terminology and technologies, potential applications of telehealth across six practice areas of occupational therapy, reimbursement considerations, and standards and guidelines to support implementation of a telehealth service delivery model within occupational therapy. Adoption of telehealth as a service delivery model within occupational therapy will depend on continued efforts to fund and research the implementation of telehealth technologies across all occupational therapy practice areas, which, in turn, will promote policy change that results in expanded reimbursement and sustainability.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    This case study was originally published in Cason, J. (2011). Telerehabilitation: An adjunct service delivery model for early intervention services. International Journal of Telerehabilitation, 3(1), 19-30. doi: 10.5195/IJT.2011.6071

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Auerbach School of Occupational Therapy, Spalding University, 845 S. 3rd Street, Louisville, KY, 40203, USA

    Jana Cason

  2. Go 2 Care, Inc., Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Tammy Richmond

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  1. Jana Cason
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  2. Tammy Richmond
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Correspondence to Jana Cason .

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  1. , UT Health Science Center, University of Tennessee, 920 Madison Avenue, Suite 518 6035, Memphis, 38163, Tennessee, USA

    Sajeesh Kumar

  2. , School of Health and Rehabilitation Scie, University of Pittsburgh, 4033 Forbes Tower, Atwood and Sennott Streets, Pittsburgh, 15217, USA

    Ellen R. Cohn

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Cason, J., Richmond, T. (2013). Telehealth Opportunities in Occupational Therapy. In: Kumar, S., Cohn, E. (eds) Telerehabilitation. Health Informatics. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-4198-3_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-4198-3_10

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