Telerehabilitation & the Injured Worker: A Practical Guide,” available from MedRisk, examines the use of telemedicine for musculoskeletal injuries, and its practical application in the workers’ compensation industry.

Video conferencing, virtual home-exercise supervision, and remote patient monitoring can be used to supplement traditional in-clinic physical therapy.

It is especially helpful for injured employees who live in rural areas, those who need a specialist or bilingual physical therapist, and for those who travel frequently for work, according to MedRisk, in a media release.

Physical therapy is often prescribed for three sessions per week for 4 to 6 weeks. That can involve a lot of time, travel, and planning for the patient as well as transportation costs for the employer,” says Mary O’Donoghue, MedRisk’s chief clinical and product officer, in the release.

Telerehabilitation offers convenience as well as savings, and that convenience can lead to greater compliance with treatment. “Patients can spend more time performing the exercises and less time commuting to the clinic,” O’Donoghue adds.

Topics discussed in the white paper include how to determine if an injured employee is a good candidate for telerehabilitation, the type of technology involved, and the various ways that a telerehabilitation appointment can increase patient engagement and satisfaction. Recent research results on telerehabilitation outcomes are also presented.

[Source(s): MedRisk, Business Wire]