Telehealth Physical Therapy

Frequently Asked Questions

What is telehealth Physical Therapy? 

  • Telehealth PT, Telerehabilitation, and Virtual PT all refer to physical therapy services that are provided over a technology platform, rather than by in-person means. At Champion, we use live video (synchronous) to interact with our patients.

 

What are the benefits of telehealth?

  • There are many benefits to telehealth. Some of them include:
    • Increased convenience – no waiting rooms, no travel hassles or costs, saves time
    • Increased privacy – sessions are 1 on 1 and the therapist will be in a private room
    • Less COVID-19 Stress – No need for social distancing and masks when you are in the comfort of your own home.
    • Personalized Plan of Care – The therapist can design a plan of care that fits your home environment and leverages the materials you already have. Plus you can practice in-home tasks with your therapist.
    • Early PT leads to better outcomes – Don’t delay care if you are worried about COVID-19. People who start physical therapy sooner, have a lower probability of needing an opioid prescription, advanced imaging or an emergency room visit. They also have better outcomes, lower costs and are less likely to need surgery.

 

What equipment do I need?

    • A desktop/laptop computer, tablet or smartphone

 

Do I need to download any special software?

  • There is no need to download anything onto your computer, tablet or smartphone. We use a service called doxy.me, and all you have to do is click on the link provided by your therapist. To learn more about doxy.me, visit https://youtu.be/1K4NAldaflU.

 

What if I don’t have any exercise equipment?

  • You don’t need to any of your own equipment. Your therapist will design exercises that use materials you already have, and if you do need any specific equipment, the therapist will recommend an in-person visit.

 

Will I receive the same quality care as an in-person visit?

  • Yes, we will only recommend telehealth for you if we can provide the best evidence-based treatment for your condition.

 

Will I recover slower or not as well with telehealth?

  • You should have the same outcomes as in-person therapy. Multiple research studies have shown that outcomes are the same between in-person and telehealth care for physical therapy. However, there are some situations that are not well-suited for telehealth. In those cases, your therapist will recommend in-person care.

 

How do I know if telehealth is right for me?

  • Our therapists weigh the latest scientific evidence, their own clinical expertise and your personal values and circumstances to determine if telehealth is right for your specific condition. Your therapist will only recommend telehealth if it is something that you want, feel comfortable with and will be effective with your circumstances.

 

What if I feel like I need hands-on therapy?

  • You can always make an in-person appointment during any part of the rehabilitation process.

 

How much does it cost?

  • And does insurance cover it? The costs are exactly the same as an in-person visit. Most insurance companies will pay the same amount as they do for an in-person visit as well.

 

What are the downsides to telehealth physical therapy?

  • While Champion makes every effort to deliver telehealth services that are equal to or better than in-person care, there are potential downsides:
    • You and your therapist won’t be in the same room, so hands on techniques can’t be used.
    • Sometimes it is more challenging to assess certain conditions over telehealth, so you may need to also schedule an in-person visit.
    • There can be connection or technology disruptions, which can interrupt a session.

 

What does a visit look like?

  • A visit will be very similar to an in-person visit except you will meet with your therapist via a live video/audio call. Instead of hands-on techniques, your therapist will talk you through and demonstrate various techniques and exercises that you can self-perform while giving you real-time feedback.

 

If I try telehealth can I switch to in personi f I don’t like it?

  • At any time, you can schedule and in-person appointment if you feel it will better meet your needs.

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770-205-3939


540 Lake Center Parkway
Suite 107
Cumming, GA 30040

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