Tele-Rehabilitation During Pandemic

Tele-Rehabilitation During Pandemic

Tele-Rehabilitation, whose use has become widespread with the pandemic, is a service provided by experts in order to provide access to rehabilitation services with computer-based technologies and communication tools and to support independent life. The most important advantages of Tele-Rehabilitation is that it reduces time, distance, cost barriers and contact between individuals. With the Covid-19 outbreak, which has affected the world recently, Tele-Rehabilitation applications have become more popular. However, the history of Tele-Medicine applications goes back to the 20th century. The first known Tele-Medicine application was carried out in 1959 on the Campus of Nebraska University and a connection was established with a mental health center. The first comprehensive application was to provide consultation support to more than 200 Soviet doctors in the United States of America (USA) after the earthquake in Armenia in 1988. In the following years, efforts have been made to expand Tele-Medicine services with the studies carried out in the military and civilian fields. Thanks to the developing infrastructure and technology, the applicability of Tele-Rehabilitation has increased.
With the Covid-19 outbreak, quarantine and curfews and restrictions for various risk groups have been implemented worldwide and some of them still implementing. This situation limited the applicability of health services and made it difficult for patients to go to health centers. Many surgical operations have been postponed or canceled due to the intensity of the epidemic. This situation has led individuals to conservative treatments. During this period, the use of Tele-Rehabilitation applications has increased. Thanks to Tele-Rehabilitation, individuals with risky and chronic diseases have continued to access rehabilitation. It also reduced the risk of virus contamination, as it significantly reduces the contact of patients.
Tele-Rehabilitation offers opportunities to ensure equal access of rural communities to rehabilitation services available in developed city centers. Another advantage of Tele-Rehabilitation is that it minimizes the distance barrier between clinicians and their patients. By connecting rural areas and developed urban centers, it reduces the need and cost of traveling between these centers for clinicians and their patients. In this way, clinicians can use the time lost by traveling to provide more efficient rehabilitation services for their patients.
Compared to traditional face-to-face rehabilitation services, high installation costs may be required initially to purchase Tele-Rehabilitation devices, to prepare appropriate venues and to implement the service. However, over time, this cost can be compensated by the low cost of remote rehabilitation services and the safe space provided during the pandemic process.
Tele-Rehabilitation services are used in many areas of rehabilitation. During the pandemic process, it ensures the protection of these patients by reducing contact with high risk groups. By reducing time, distance and cost barriers, it provides equal access to rehabilitation services for patients with chronic diseases. However, Tele-Rehabilitation also has significant disadvantages. Definitive treatment protocols for patient groups have not yet been established. Technological access is required for Tele-Rehabilitation. This situation creates a disadvantage for individuals with inadequate technology use. Investments and studies on Tele-Rehabilitation are required in the future.