Telerehabilitation - NZ speech-language therapists bridging barriers with technology

The NZ Telerehabilitation Working Group is a forum for allied health professionals to collaborate on the provision of telehealth services. The Group is sponsored by the NZ Telehealth Forum.

Telerehabilitation is the provision of therapy via telecommunication systems and networks. This may include using the telephone, videoconferencing systems and the internet for delivery assessment, rehabilitation, review, training, multi-disciplinary team evaluation and supervision.

Dieticians in NZ regularly use the telephone for communicating with patients, while speech language therapists (SLTs) and dieticians/nutritionists have started using videoconferencing systems for telehealth services. SLTs are using a variety of videoconference tools, including use of enterprise District Health Board networks and tools such as Skype and Cisco/Jabber for treating patients in their homes.

See this Telerehabilitation flyer for more information and case studies.