Perceptions of School-Based Telehealth in a Rural State: Moving Forward After COVID-19

Authors

  • Susan Skees Hermes Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, College of Health Sciences, Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, Kentucky, USA
  • Jade Rauen Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, College of Health Sciences, Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, Kentucky, USA
  • Shirley O'Brien Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, College of Health Sciences, Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, Kentucky, USA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/ijt.2021.6370

Keywords:

COVID-19, Occupational Therapy, School-based Practice, Telehealth, Telepractice, Telerehabilitation

Abstract

 

The purpose of this study was to discern the barriers faced by school-based clinicians, chiefly occupational therapists (OTs) and speech-language pathologists (SLPs) who provided telehealth in a primarily rural state during an unexpected declaration of a state of emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Survey results found the major barriers to implementation of telehealth services to be lack of practitioner training, a lack of access to technology for students, and concerns that the quality of intervention might not be equivalent to in-person service delivery. This article discusses both the benefits and barriers to providing telehealth services in school-based practice and offers considerations for future studies on this topic.

  

Author Biography

Susan Skees Hermes, Department of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, College of Health Sciences, Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, Kentucky, USA

Susan has over 36 years of clinical experience working with all ages and populations. Her expansive areas of practice include mental health, inpatient rehabilitation,  school based, home health, outpatient, skilled nursing settings, management, education, and consulting. Besides multiple volunteer team roles in the American Occupational Therapy Association; she also has been in leadership roles in Texas and Florida state occupational therapy associations. She joined the Eastern Kentucky University as full-time faculty this year.  Her current research interests include: school-based collaborative practice, occupational therapy professional development in the People’s Republic of China, IPC & intergenerational care and learning programs, occupational therapy’s role in disaster and emergency planning, Kentucky school based telehealth practices, and professional association leadership development.

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Published

2021-05-19

How to Cite

Hermes, S. S., Rauen, J., & O'Brien, S. (2021). Perceptions of School-Based Telehealth in a Rural State: Moving Forward After COVID-19. International Journal of Telerehabilitation, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.5195/ijt.2021.6370

Issue

Vol. 13 No. 1 (2021)

Section

School Telepractice