Clinicians' Experiences of Implementing a Telerehabilitation Toolkit During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Qualitative Descriptive Study.
Sarah Munce, Angie Andreoli, Mark Bayley and 4 others
PMID 36897634WHAT IT FOUND
Clinicians reported that telerehabilitation success depended on organizational support, adequate equipment, and dedicated space.
The toolkit helped validate rehabilitation as an essential service and fostered a community of practice, but participants requested more practical guidance on virtual assessments and liability.
Key findings
01Participants identified infrastructure, equipment, space, and leadership support as the primary facilitators and barriers to implementing telerehabilitation.
02The toolkit served as a catalyst for implementation by providing credibility to characterize rehabilitation as an essential service and facilitating networking among clinicians.
03Participants recommended adding practical content such as diagrams, videos, and specific guidance on conducting virtual assessments and addressing liability.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
Selection bias: Participants were likely those with positive experiences, as they had voluntarily requested the toolkit. Only providers and leaders who implemented this specific toolkit participated, limiting generalizability to other telerehabilitation models. No rural sites were included, so findings may not apply to clinicians in remote areas with different resource constraints. The study describes experiences and perceptions, not clinical outcomes or efficacy of telerehabilitation.
Declared interests
None declared.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret these findings as evidence that the Toronto Rehab Telerehab Toolkit improves patient clinical outcomes. The study reports clinicians' perceptions of implementation barriers and facilitators, not the effectiveness of the therapy delivered via telerehabilitation.