Efficacy of Telemedicine Hybrid Models of Outpatient Skilled Therapies

Research Objectives: To determine the efficacy of a hybrid model utilizing in-person and video visits for outpatient skilled therapies.

Design: Retrospective chart review of outpatient skilled therapy visits from 1/1/2019 to 2/1/2022. Percent achievement of short and long-term goals for patients undergoing a hybrid model vs a traditional in-person model of therapy will be assessed.

Setting: Ambulatory skilled therapy clinics

Participants: Achievement of short-term goals (STG) and long-term goals (LTG) were documented in 81 unique patients undergoing ambulatory physical therapy, occupational therapy, or speech therapy.

Interventions: Not applicable.

Main Outcome Measures: Percentage of short-term and long-term goals achieved.

Results: Preliminary results for documented short term goals demonstrate 57% achieved 100% of STG, 16% achieved 50-80%, and 27% achieved 25% or less goals. For documented long term goals 35% achieved 100%, 21% achieved for 50-80%, and 44% achieved 25% or less goals. Additionally, 16% of patients stopped skilled therapy early due to acute medical issues, insurance issues, or loss to follow-up and subsequently 11% had achieved 0% of long-term goals and 9% achieved 0% of short-term goals.

Conclusions: A hybrid model of skilled therapy utilizing both in-person and video visits appears to be effective with over half of patients being able to achieve 100% of their short-term goals. In future analysis a larger sample population will be included, comparison of goals achieved to a historical matched cohort and stratification of results by subtypes of skilled therapies.

Author(s) Disclosures: The authors have no disclosures.