Learning from COVID-19 to improve access to physiotherapy.

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Digital Health
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of telehealth services.
• Tele-physiotherapy emerged as a viable alternative for healthcare delivery.
• The need for accessible primary care, particularly for pain management, remains critical.

Purpose of the Study:

• To advocate for the continuation of telehealth funding beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To highlight the specific benefits and applications of tele-physiotherapy.
• To emphasize the role of tele-physiotherapy in managing acute pain and serving isolated populations.

Main Methods:

• This is a perspective piece based on the observed utility of telehealth during the pandemic.
• Analysis of potential use cases for tele-physiotherapy in primary care settings.
• Consideration of the impact on population health and access to care.

Main Results:

• Tele-physiotherapy is identified as an appropriate primary care modality in various scenarios.
• Early management of acute pain via tele-physiotherapy can prevent the development of chronic pain.
• Extending tele-physiotherapy services beyond September 30, 2020, offers significant public health benefits.

Conclusions:

• Continued funding for telehealth, specifically tele-physiotherapy, is essential post-COVID-19.
• Tele-physiotherapy can enhance primary care, improve population health outcomes, and increase access for remote populations.
• Policy should support the integration of tele-physiotherapy into routine healthcare delivery.