Telehealth - cha cha cha changes

There is a bit of pop culture injection in to this blog, you have been warned. : )

Just as David Bowie sang in 1971... Cha Cha Cha Changes.... and we are experiencing just that, on many fronts these days. One of the many areas is healthcare's overnight transition to telehealth services.

The families we serve can face many challenges when it comes to this new world and who better than a therapist to assist them through it all. Children without social engagement, children who don't thrive on social engagement, but it is the best thing for them to grow their skills and there is limited opportunity. Children that are now home schooled, while parents try to work and balance it all. Maybe it is the anxiety of the level of engagement and cooperation of your child during a telehealth session, access to technology and internet connection that can support a consistent web stream for a live session, having to prepare supplies prior to a treatment (where a clinic had this responsibility prior), and these are just to name a few.

Therapists are facing a new world also, to some therapists it can seem like  "What a world, what a world, I'm melting"  (Wicked Witch of the West).  However, we have seen that our team has stepped up to the plate to continue services, while bringing our AKT families along for the journey.

Not unlike most telehealth sessions our team faces the dreaded poor connection, technology not working, and families that are not overly familiar with technology. In addition therapists are combating learning a new technology and working virtually thru a parents digits and limbs to conduct physical actions they typically would perform themselves with a child.

so what does this all really equate to?

Here is the breakdown on what this really means.

1. We are all changing and learning together
2. We are learning day-by-day that what seemed impossible or undesired is becoming feasible and dare I say.... enjoyable?
3. Technology is not as foreign to children as it is to some adults.... children like screen time and cool interactive technology, and cameras, and the ability to see themselves on the screen. Let's use that and create a normalcy of interaction thru technology and family involvement in treatments.
4. we are all in this together!

"we had joy, we had fun, we had seasons in the sun" (Terry Jacks 1974).... let this be another season in the sun and hopefully soon we can all experience it in person together again, but never forget this "season in the sun".

by Gino Pici, COO
Amazing Kidz Therapy, PLLC