Ever since the COVID-19 lockdown, both patients and practicians
are more mindful of the fact that healthcare technologies can be beneficial for
them. According to recent publications, medical guidelines worldwide are increasingly
directing better and faster results in physical therapy. Apart from the basic
advantage of being in constant contact with a physical therapist, technology
like physiotherapy practice management software also encourages the patients to
manage their symptoms themselves.
Self-testing is a prime illustration of how control is
transferred from the physical therapist to the patient. With the advent of
cutting-edge software, smartwatches and EHR can now directly communicate to
measure heart rate and track exercise results. Physical therapy is a crucial
area of healthcare that can hugely benefit from self-management to improve
care. In this article, You'll get to learn about the four most recent
technological developments in physical therapy and how they will affect your
business in the coming years.
#1 Physiotherapy Practice Management Software
Every physical therapist, whether they have an existing
system or they're looking to implement a new physiotherapy practice management
software, has physical therapy software on their mind. The Coronavirus pandemic
accelerated patient adoption of physiotherapy practice management software and
the associated technology, which were already rising. In order to provide
better care in 2020, PTs needed to adopt non-contact treatment modalities, and
those trends are still gaining traction. Due to increased adherence to home
exercise regimens that offer patients unmatched flexibility and accessibility,
recovery has already advanced noticeably.
With no discernible difference in overall patient
satisfaction between in-person and virtual care models, patients also appear to
adore virtual care. From a physical therapist's standpoint, the time savings
from virtual care can increase productivity. In general, telehealth technology
is flourishing because, in some use cases, the product is superior to in-person
treatment in terms of speed, effectiveness, and efficiency.
Notable, physiotherapy practice management software offers
the following
¢ Remote patient communication
¢ An app to prescribe and track your home exercise regimen.
¢ Track your workout progress and save your data in the app
#2 Home Exercise Plans
HEPs, aka Home
Exercise Plans, are one of the most important parts of physical therapy
treatment. Patients are typically given home exercises at their first physical
therapy appointment, and they are updated as needed throughout the course of
treatment. They are offered to support the transition to independent management
of the condition and to reinforce the work done during each visit.
Nowadays, therapists can assign patients the required
exercises hassle-free through physical therapy home exercise program software.
And they can also check these exercises throughout the course of treatment via physiotherapy practice management software. While some patients may lead very busy lives and find it
difficult to find free time, HEPs cannot be compromised. Not only for the
patients, but HEPs are fruitful for physical therapists also. Know how in this
blog.
#3 Virtual Reality
We all have seen the common use of virtual reality in malls
for multi-dimensional experiences in the entertainment and gaming industries.
However, in recent years, physical therapists have started using it in their
clinics to treat patients. Physical therapists use fun occupational games to
engage patients in their training and virtual reality exercise games to help patients
adhere to therapy exercises. With the development of augmented reality,
physical therapists are increasingly using virtual reality to assist patients
in their recovery.
In contrast to traditional forms of physical therapy, it was
found that people performed better when using virtual reality. Virtual reality
not only improves performance but also provides patients with entertainment.
Thus, technical advancements in the healthcare sector have made it possible
that many companies are offering this kind of tool based on augmented reality.
Patients receiving physical therapy are sent headsets along with instructions
on how to access software that contains exercises that will promote independent
recovery. All in all, the virtual reality trend promises to be a mainstay in
the industry in 2023 and the years to come.
#4 Wearables
Wearable technology
is gaining traction as millennials' preferred method for enhancing movement and
managing pain, especially when combined with other technological advancements
like physical therapy software. In addition to items that patients can buy and
wear, wearable technology also refers to motion capture equipment that can be
used in physical therapy clinics.
This technology typically uses sensors that attach to various
body parts and record movement based on the ideal range of motion. Such gadgets
can track various things like range of motion, effort, and muscle triggers. It
is simple to record the activity and share information thanks to reminder
notifications and scheduling features. Next, physical therapists can connect
these sensors to programmable apps to develop individualised care plans for
better outcomes. Wearable technology gives physical therapy practises a
competitive edge that is very advantageous to their patients.
How can Technology Boost Your Physical Therapy Quality?
Prioritising patient care
One of the most important reasons why the patient
satisfaction rate increases with physiotherapy practice management software is
due to the fact that it offers personalised care. Naturally, every patient
wants to enjoy personal attention and care. And physical therapy software can
quickly access a patient's information, including medical history, preferences,
demographics, and feedback from prior appointments.
This allows them to get a clear picture of what the patient
needs. Thanks to the physical therapy software, they can use this data to
develop a tailored treatment strategy that is effective for a particular
patient. Thus, the customised plan makes the course of treatment unique for
every patient and encourages patient participation in their treatment and
recovery.
Continuous contact
With the latest technologies in physical therapy, patients
can access the exercises recommended to them anytime and anywhere through an
internet-enabled device, be it through a VR device or physiotherapy practice
management software. Furthermore, the patients get interactive tools that
directly affect increased patient satisfaction.
At the same time, the physical therapy software allows you
to stay in touch with patients after their sessions. It keeps you informed
about their ongoing development and keeps you top-of mind in case they ever
need additional therapy services. Thankfully, patient relationship management
software has simplified patient engagement at all stages of care, whether you
send new patients their intake paperwork, remind current patients of upcoming
appointments, or send referral requests to previous patients.
The comfort of the home
Even though life is busy, working out at home makes it
simple to fit fitness into your hectic schedule. It is unnecessary to waste
time and effort getting ready, packing your gym bag, driving across town, and
squabbling for parking. That's where pre-recorded Home Exercise Plans come in
handy.
For some patients being in the comfort of their homes is
everything. With physical therapy software, you can get them to stay at home
and help them achieve their fitness goals. It's like hitting two targets with
one arrow. And with that, the patient satisfaction rate peaks like never
before.
Saves the patient's time and money
If a patient had to come down for an in-clinic physical
therapy session, they'd have to get dressed into comfortable clothes, pack
their bag, get in the car, drive to your clinic, park, fill in long forms, wait
in lines, and then after a couple of hours, they would get their first session.
All this cumbersome process delays their treatment and decreases the
satisfaction rate.
Just imagine how beneficial it would be for you if all these
problems could be solved all at once. With the technology trends we discussed
above, patients can enjoy their physical therapy while saving time and money.
And the cherry on the cake is getting to the goals faster than ever.
To Sum Up
Indeed, there are a lot of advancements in technology,
particularly in the healthcare industry, raising the standards of living. As
technology advances more quickly than ever before, physical therapists must
keep up to retain their appeal to patients. Numerous innovations, including
wearables, virtual care, and the gamification of therapy, are already providing
patients with better care and more flexibility.
If you're thinking about improving the technology your
practice provides to attract more patients; many physical therapists start out
by simply upgrading their current physiotherapy practice management software.
With impeccable software, you can translate into higher patient retention for
your practice. Lastly, you can identify potential sources of bad experiences
via healthcare predictive analytics software and provide technology-enabled
solutions that satisfy their unique needs.