COVID-19 and Teletherapy
COVID-19’s impact on speech therapy service models has been different to say the least. Speech therapists across the nation (and beyond) are trying to ensure effective and ethical service platform delivery. We have gone to a telehealth service model until further notice.
One way we’ve prepared as a company is to first purchase and use a HIPPA compliant therapy platform to ensure that medical information and sessions are secure. The last thing anyone needs during this time is added stress of information being stolen.
We have started coaching parents as facilitators…this is super important as we would typically provide services in close proximity (not an option currently), the next best option is to have the guardian who is in close contact with the patient to facilitate the session. How do we do this? We ask all parents be proximal to the patient during the session, encourage participation, and manage behaviors (all things we would typically do ourselves).
Therapy is interactive more than ever. Here are some things to consider:
Pros:
Continuing to have therapeutic intervention for patients without disruption of services.
Ability to readily access interactive materials and resources
Engaging patients in a multimodal way
User friendly systems that can be accessed anywhere with an internet connection and across multiple devices.
Presenting a variety of materials quickly
Staying safe with the online platform
Continuing rapport through the telehealth platform
Access from the comfort of home (the child’s natural environment)
Cons:
For some patients this model is not appropriate
Feeding Therapy is not ethically done via telehealth and thus omitted from our service model.
Not building an in-person rapport with the patient
Nuances of speech that are pick-up while in-person (e.g. tone, pitch, volume, and “body language”)
Clinician directed/controlled tasks
Structurally different
