Telehealth has become an invaluable tool in the healthcare landscape, particularly in the disability sector, where access to specialized services such as speech and occupational therapy can be challenging due to high demand, long wait time and geographical location. Through telehealth, older Australians and those with disabilities can receive essential therapy services from the comfort of their homes, eliminating barriers related to distance and travel, whilst also reducing associated costs.
While research across the board supports the effectiveness of telehealth for allied health services, the adoption of telehealth has been met with a level of industry reluctance and hesitation. Why is this the case? This blog explores the evidence supporting the effectiveness of telehealth in the healthcare sector and the possible factors around why providers maybe slower to embracing this mode of healthcare.
How is Allied Health Delivered Via Telehealth?
Telehealth involves the delivery of therapeutic services through digital platforms like video calls, phone consultations, emails and other remote communication tools. For individuals with disabilities or elderly, telehealth allows them to access therapy services without having to leave their homes, making it particularly beneficial for those that struggle accessing the community, may suffer from conditions relating to stress and anxiety where in-person visits may worsen the symptoms or those living in rural, remote, or underserved areas.
Telehealth can support a wide range of therapy services, from speech and language development to assistance with daily living skills, motor coordination, physical and cognitive rehabilitation. Occupational therapists can provide guidance on adaptive strategies for daily tasks, while speech therapists can help with communication and swallowing difficulties, physiotherapists can assess, teach and review exercise programs and rehabilitation progress—all without the need for in-person visits.
Research Evidence Supporting the Effectiveness of Telehealth for Speech and Occupational Therapy
Numerous studies demonstrate that telehealth is an effective mode of service delivery even for those more traditional in-person allied health services such as physiotherapy, speech and occupational therapy, and offer comparable patient outcomes to in-person services.
Speech Therapy
Research consistently supports the effectiveness of telehealth in delivering speech therapy, a study published in the Australian Journal of Rural Health found that, telehealth services for children with speech and language delays showed positive results, with children making progress in language comprehension and speech production. Parents and caregivers reported high satisfaction levels due to the convenience of receiving therapy from home.
Furthermore, a 2020 review in the Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare found that telehealth interventions for speech therapy yielded comparable outcomes to traditional face-to-face therapy. The study indicated that telehealth could be as effective in treating communication disorders, including articulation and language disorders, as in-person sessions.
Occupational Therapy
The benefits of telehealth in occupational therapy have also been well-documented. A systematic review published in Telemedicine and e-Health found that telehealth in occupational therapy was effective for interventions aimed at improving functional independence, motor skills, and cognitive abilities. The review highlighted that telehealth allowed therapists to provide individualized treatment plans and real-time feedback to clients, despite geographical barriers.
A further study published in Occupational Therapy International, telehealth-based interventions helped individuals with cognitive and physical disabilities improve daily living skills, motor coordination, and problem-solving abilities. Clients participating in telehealth sessions reported high levels of engagement and satisfaction, which contributed to positive therapeutic outcomes.
Physiotherapy
Contrary to many people’s belief, contemporary physiotherapy does not always involve hands on manual assessment or treatments. In fact, evidence-based practice strongly supports a more hands off approach, favouring a move towards education and self-management for many common chronic conditions. Research shows telehealth physiotherapy provides similar outcomes to in-person treatments for conditions like chronic pain, post-surgery recovery, and injury rehabilitation. Studies from the Journal of Physiotherapy demonstrate comparable improvements in pain management and physical function, offering added convenience and flexibility. Additionally, it reduces the risk of infection exposure, a key advantage post-pandemic.
Benefits of Telehealth for the Disability Sector
1. Improved Access to Services
Telehealth offers a way to connect individuals with qualified therapists regardless of location, making services more accessible and equitable.
2. Cost-Effectiveness
Telehealth can be more cost-effective than traditional in-person therapy, reducing costs associated with travel, accommodation, and missed work for both clients and providers.
3. Client Satisfaction and Engagement
Many clients report higher satisfaction with telehealth services due to the comfort, ease of participation and convenience of receiving therapy in a familiar environment. Clients can engage more fully in therapy, as they can participate without the stress of traveling or adjusting to a clinic setting.
4. Support for Caregivers
Telehealth also facilitates better support for caregivers and family members, who can attend sessions and learn strategies to reinforce therapy goals at home. This collaborative approach enhances the effectiveness of therapy, especially in occupational therapy, where caregivers are often involved in teaching adaptive strategies for daily tasks.
Challenges and Reluctance in Adopting Telehealth
Despite the clear benefits, there is significant reluctance within the disability and aged care home care sectors to fully embrace telehealth. The two key barriers that we hear are cultural and attitudinal and concerns around the technical implementation.
• Cultural and Attitudinal Barriers
There appears to be a significant lack of awareness and education available to a crucial population of administrative employees working and often referring clients within the community and disability sectors, that scientific evidence supports and actively encourages a “hands off” approach when it comes to allied health care, instead favouring the expert consultive educative model of care, which is well suited to delivery modes such as telehealth.
It is case managers, support coordinators, plan managers and similar that are delegated the responsibility to decide or engage clinical services that wheeled the largest amount of influence to change the current state of play. But it is so often these people that don’t receive the ongoing training and professional development to inform them of best practice changes and as such traditional thoughts and ideas continue to prevail which unintentionally fuel the issues of long waitlists, unnecessary costs of service and timeliness to access critical services that impact client outcomes and safety.
Many of the reservations such as fearing service delivery via telehealth will not provide the same level of care as face-to-face interactions, or concerns regarding access and internet connections or that telehealth will reduce the therapeutic relationship or lead to a less effective treatment experience for clients could all be address through some simple education of the right people.
• Technological Challenges
Access to reliable internet or familiarity with digital platforms are often cited as reasons not to utilise telehealth services. Whilst we would agree that internet access may be a consideration in more rural and remote areas within Australia, the rollout of much improved, faster, digital infrastructure that supports communication across Australia remains front of mind of all the major telecommunication companies and the government and will only continue to develop into the future.
I can also acknowledge that some older Australians may not be as technology savvy as the younger generations, however they are regularly supported by families or service support workers that are. With the teched up baby boomers leading the charge in the new wave of aged care service consumers and those within the disability sector incentivised with specific funded to us AI technology to assist in their daily life, the promotion of telehealth services seems primed to be embraced.
The Take Home
Telehealth has proven to be an effective tool for delivering allied health services in the healthcare sector, offering increased access, cost savings, and improved client satisfaction. While the adoption of telehealth has faced challenges, including cultural and technological barriers, financial uncertainties, and regulatory complexities, these issues can be addressed through strategic investments in infrastructure, clearer funding models, and better training for providers and clients. By overcoming these barriers, telehealth can become a central part of the healthcare sector, ensuring that individuals across Australia have access to the therapy services they need to thrive.
