Telehealth, teleservices, telemedicine, tele-whatever-you-want-to-call it, for school-based PT, with our kids, is a whole new ballgame for a lot of us. Add that to an overall feeling of vague uncertainty and general flux in our roles and responsibilities, and some of (us) are not so keen on the game.
We are physical therapists, manual practitioners, we use our hands to cue, facilitate, prompt and guide movement patterns, encourage optimal mobility, and minimize deficits and compensations. We like to use our props and our fancy therapy swag. And what about the clever workstations we have set up in the classrooms, the optimal workspaces we have created, and our amazing seasonal themed activities in our sensory space at school?? (speaking for myself here, but I can't be the only one with these thoughts...mourning all of my conventional, albeit school-based, ace-in-the-hole interventions and go-to therapy strategies...right?) But here it is folks...and I am going to say it loud for the people in the back...IT IS NOT ABOUT ME.
Nope, it is time to focus on the kids who have very special and individualized needs who are counting on "their people" to pull it together and figure this out. It is time to dig deep and muster up the optimism. It is time to be flexible and creative and innovative and willing try new technology platforms (that will undoubtedly have glitches at the most inconvenient times). Because, say it with me now, IT IS NOT ABOUT ME. It is time for us to * s h o w u p * for our students, their families, our teaching teams, our colleagues, and support the big picture.
We have the unique opportunity, and responsibility, to meet our families right where they are and find out what we can do to help. We have the opportunity to hear their concerns and understand what it is that would help their child have a better day- today- from a movement or mobility standpoint. How do we help them access their "new" school environment? What ideas can we offer for low-tech/home-made adaptive seating so they are comfy and supported for a reading lesson assigned by the teacher (who they happen to be missing dearly)? What chores can they help mom and dad with that support their bilateral coordination goal and also make them feel like a helper? How do we help parents put small opportunities for practice of certain emerging motor skills into daily routines- without creating more work for them? Etc., etc.
So we really don't need our beanbag frogs and TheraBand... We want them, but we don't need them to help support our families. We just need to show up. Bring your smile, enthusiasm, open-mindedness, compassion, and willingness to help, and hop on that Zoom call. The therapy piece will fall into place, you are the expert on that part of it, it will just look a little different. Virtual huddle, GO (PT) TEAM.
Best,
Kira
*I had every intention of writing this with informative links on where to go for current information on telehealth practice/ HIPPA/FERPA guidelines/helpful webinars and I somehow pivoted to more of pep talk?! Maybe I needed it.
Anyway, I am still including some resources that I found helpful below.
HHS Notice on Enforcement Discretion for Telehealth
APTA Telehealth in Physical Therapy
Telehealth & Continuity- recorded webinar
SBPT COVID- 19 Perspectives
Comments