Telerehabilitation: Current Challenges to Deployment in the United States

Jana Cason; Ellen R Cohn

Jana Cason Spalding University, Louisville, Kentucky
Ellen R Cohn University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Keywords: telemedicine, telepractice, telerehabilitation, telehealth

Abstract

Telerehabilitation is the use of technology to deliver rehabilitation services when the patient and practitioner are in different physical locations. This commentary presents current challenges to the deployment of telerehabilitation in the United States: profession-centric nomenclature, limited efficacy research, inter-state license portability barriers, and inadequate reimbursement.

Author Biographies

Jana Cason, Spalding University, Louisville, Kentucky

Jana Cason, DHS, DHS, OTR/L, FAOTA is Associate Professor, Auerbach School of Occupational Therapy, Spalding University, Louisville, Kentucky, USA.

Ellen R Cohn, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Ellen R. Cohn PhD, CCC- SLP is Associate Dean for Instructional Development, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, and Professor, Department of Communication Science and Disorders. She is also Interim Director, Undergraduate Program in Rehabilitation Science.

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