Ground-breaking Net Health Study Compares Telehealth Rehab Therapy with In-Clinic Visits

PITTSBURGH, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Rehabilitation patients receiving therapy via telehealth methods (videoconference, phone and email) do as well on average, and are just as satisfied, as those getting in-person care, according to a new study¹ from Focus on Therapeutic Outcomes (FOTO), a Net Health company that provides outcomes management software for rehab therapists. Furthermore, the research suggests that utilizing telehealth may provide additional benefits, including cost-savings and the ability to reach more patients.

This ground-breaking study analyzed a much larger patient sample than any prior study, and utilized rigorous scientific methods. The results go a long way to assuage concerns of rehab therapists and patients who have increasingly relied on telehealth visits during the COVID pandemic. FOTO will share the study results and discuss the implications in two upcoming webinars for outpatient rehab therapists and skilled nursing facilities.

Effectiveness, savings and satisfaction

The FOTO Telehealth Pilot Study analyzed over 40,000 episodes-of-care and determined that nearly 4,000 were conducted using telehealth. The degree of telehealth used for each episode was examined across four levels of intensity: 1) any level, 2) less than half of visits, 3) most visits, or 4) all visits. All four levels of telehealth were compared to care delivered by traditional face-to-face interactions.

The researchers found that:

• Telehealth and non-telehealth care episodes were equally effective for improving patients' functional status.
• Episodes of care involving telehealth had an average of two to three fewer visits, suggesting telehealth may promote greater efficiency of care for the same amount of functional improvement. 
• Patients were equally satisfied with their therapy care regardless of whether any care visits were administered using telehealth.

"The research will give rehab therapists peace of mind because they can be confident the care they provide via telehealth is, on average, just as effective as in-person care in improving functional status and achieving high patient satisfaction," says Net Health CEO Josh Pickus. "They also can promote this information to reach new patients."

Improved access to care

In addition to helping therapy practices adapt to the pandemic, telehealth expands their reach, enabling therapists to care for elderly and sick people who find in-person visits difficult or impossible.

"Older patients and those with chronic conditions are the largest and fastest-growing patient population being treated by FOTO clinicians," notes Deanna Hayes, PT, DPT, MS, FOTO Director of Research. "Finding safe and effective alternatives to provide care for older adults is becoming increasingly important."

Telehealth also helps improve rehab therapy care for people who have reduced access to healthcare, such as those living in remote areas or having limited access to transportation.

Moving forward with telehealth

Net Health suggests that practitioners interested in telehealth begin by incorporating it with traditional on-site clinic care. A telehealth startup playbook could include:

• Phasing in a few telehealth visits for appropriate patient conditions
• Offering telehealth "booster" visits between in-person visits for patients needing more care
• Integrating telehealth with the EHR system to facilitate recordkeeping, efficient billing, HIPAA compliance and reimbursement

Learn more about the FOTO Telehealth Study.

Webinar Information

FOTO experts will discuss these and other strategies in two upcoming webinars. The first webinar, "Groundbreaking Telehealth Research Effectiveness Data and its Application to SNFs," will provide an overview of the study results and impact on skilled nursing facilities on Tuesday, Sept. 29 at 2 p.m. ET. The second webinar, "Telehealth Effectiveness and Outcomes for Outpatient Rehab Therapy," will provide an overview of study results for rehab therapists on Thursday, Oct. 1 at 2 p.m. ET.

¹"Overview of Telehealth and Outcomes in Rehabilitation," Mark Werneke, PT, MS, Dip. MDT, Daniel Deutscher, PT, PhD, Deanna Hayes, PT, DPT, MS

About FOTO Inc.

FOTO is a predictive outcomes management system that captures and reports nationally benchmarked, risk-adjusted comparisons based on data collected from more than 7 million completed patient episodes. The FOTO system compares treatment effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction in real time to improve patient care and facilitate clinician growth. FOTO is a certified MIPS QCDR and its measures are NQF-endorsed and recognized by CMS for Medicare compliance. For more information, visit www.fotoinc.com.

About Net Health

Net Health is reuniting caregivers with their calling through cloud-based software for specialty medical providers across the continuum of care. Net Health's interoperable EHRs deliver end-to-end solutions that ensure compliance, improve outcomes, empower providers and inspire care. The company serves over 14,000 facilities, including 98 percent of the largest hospital chains, two-thirds of skilled nursing facilities and many leading hospice organizations and private practices. Net Health is a portfolio company of The Carlyle Group, Level Equity and Silversmith Capital Partners. www.nethealth.com

SOURCE Net Health Systems, Inc.

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