Physiotherapists using telerehabilitation 
An elderly woman using telerehabilitation. (Researchitaly.it) 
An elderly woman using telerehabilitation. (Researchitaly.it) 

– To assist elderly, those with existing health conditions 

By Telesha Ramnarine 

Occupational Therapist Calvin Lawrie

OCCUPATIONAL therapists, along with physiotherapists and other health workers attached to the Ministry of Public Health’s Disability and Rehabilitation Division, are now using “telerehabilitation” as they continue to provide services to patients.

Owing to the number of patients who are elderly and who have existing health conditions, the department, based inside the Palms Geriatric Home Compound, on Brickdam, took a decision to close its doors last month.

These groups of persons are more prone to contracting the dreaded Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), and hence the health officers are making use of technology, especially with those who have access to the internet, to continue delivering services.

According to information provided by the Department’s Director Barbara Lawrence, telerehabilitation denotes delivery of professional physiotherapy services at a distance, using telecommunications technology as the service delivery medium.

It features all aspects of patient care including the patient interview, physical assessment and diagnosis, treatment, maintenance activities, consultation, education and training. It can include mediums such as videoconferencing, email, apps, and web-based communication.

An elderly woman using telerehabilitation. (Researchitaly.it)

Occupational Therapist Calvin Lawrie is a registered member of the Association of Caribbean Occupational Therapists (ACOT), and would have benefitted from some training recently in telerehabilitation.

Making practical use of the knowledge he acquired was not the easiest thing for him initially, but he told the Pepperpot Magazine that he has gotten accustomed to telerehabilitation by now.

Lawrie is working along with five physiotherapists, one speech therapist, and five rehabilitation assistants at the Palms, who have all been using technology in an effort to continue working with their patients. According to him, each person is working with five to nine patients.

The team is now using their personal phones and internet to communicate with the patients since the closure of the department.

“It’s the first time we’re doing it using WhatsApp and phone calls, but most of them already know the exercises they have to do, so we call them regularly to remind them to do it and to walk them through the steps,” explained Lawrie.

The team insists that a family member be present with the patient, bearing in mind that their safety is important. “Sometimes we do video calls to show them what they have to do. We are not introducing any new exercises at the moment, and sometimes we would send them videos of the exercises they should be doing,” Lawrie further commented.

With occupational therapy, it’s a bit easier to work with the patient because they’re already at home and do not need specific equipment. “So they are able to use their own spoon, bed, shower, and things like that. It’s a little more convenient for them because they’re in their own homes.”

However, with this mode of service, it can be difficult for the therapists to judge progress, especially if the patient has no internet access. “In those cases, we would have to rely on what they say, and we would also depend on feedback from the relative who is assisting them.”

Director of Disability and Rehabilitation Division Barbara Lawrence

Physiotherapist Kemra Budhram, also working out of the Palms, pays more attention to those patients whom she thinks has special needs, and who would need to do more technical exercises.

“Physiotherapy is a more hands-on approach, so it has been a bit difficult to explain some of what they have to do. But we’re just trying the best way we could to get services to them,” she expressed.

Meanwhile, conceptually, telerehabilitation is an alternate mode of service delivery of traditional rehabilitation services and should not be thought of as a new rehabilitation service in its own right. As such, the practice of telerehabilitation does not remove or alter any existing responsibilities for the provider of the rehabilitation service and providers must adhere to existing ethical codes of conduct.

Over the years, rehabilitation services have been established in all of the regions across Guyana. In Region One, such services are provided at Moruca, Mabaruma, and Port Kaituma.

In Region Two, services can be accessed at Suddie and Charity; Region Three, at West Demerara Hospital, Leguan and Wakenaam; in Region Four, at the Georgetown Public Hospital, the Palms, Ptolemy Reid Centre and at Castellani House; in Region Five, at Mahaica and Mahaicony; in Region Six, at Skeldon, Port Mourant, and New Amsterdam; Region Seven, at Bartica and Kamarang; Region Eight, at Mahdia; Region Nine, at Lethem, Annai and Aishalton; and Region 10, at Linden and Kwakwani.

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