MUSC Expands Stroke Rehabilitation Access with Telehealth
The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) is providing stroke rehabilitation services to patients in their homes using telehealth. This initiative addresses the challenge of limited access to stroke specialists, who are primarily located in urban areas, for patients residing in rural communities.
Stroke rehabilitation is crucial for individuals who have survived a stroke, as it helps them regain strength and relearn essential daily tasks. Strokes can lead to various impairments, including paralysis, weakness, balance issues, visual problems, and effects on communication, cognition, and emotional well-being.
Through telerehabilitation occupational therapy, patients in rural areas can receive physical, occupational, and speech-language therapy, along with mental health support, without the need for frequent, lengthy travels out of their communities. Michelle Woodbury, a professor and occupational therapist in MUSC’s College of Health Professions, noted that patients are more likely to attend therapy visits with telerehabilitation because they avoid long drives, which could lead to improved outcomes.
Telerehabilitation sessions also incorporate a cognitive behavioral therapy component to assist patients in managing anxiety and depression during their recovery process. Jul Laura, an occupational therapist at MUSC, implements an emergency response protocol during telerehabilitation to ensure patient safety. This protocol involves verifying the patient’s physical location, identifying others present in the home, and checking on their daily well-being.
Laura’s team is focused on making telerehabilitation sustainable by sharing their evidence-based practices with other clinicians. Their goal is to expand this model beyond their current research program and the population of stroke survivors.
