1. FUTURE RECOMMENDATIONS
Implementing an Educational Webinar to Promote Occupational Therapy Services for Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis
Emily Finch, MOTS1; Anthony Hale, MOTS1; Victoria Ito, MOTS1; Andrew Love, MOTS1
Faculty Adviser: Janet M. Powell, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA1
Community Mentors: Kevin Alschuler, PhD2; Jean Grantham, OTR/L3; Gloria Hou, MD2; Peter Rigby, PT, MPH4
1Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA; 2MS Center at Northwest Hospital, Seattle, WA;
3Occupational Therapy Department at Northwest Hospital, Seattle, WA; 4Rehabilitation Therapies at Northwest Hospital, Seattle, WA
Methods
Telehealth is an umbrella term used to describe the use of electronic information and telecommunications technology to support the remote delivery of healthcare services.
PURPOSE OF PROJECT
In continuation of a 2017 graduate project between the University of Washington (UW) Master’s of Occupational Therapy program, Northwest Hospital (NWH) Rehabilitation Department, and the UW Medicine Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Center, we created and conducted a telehealth webinar on occupational therapy (OT) interventions for multiple sclerosis (MS) symptoms to an audience of patients and clinicians. The goal of the webinar was to increase the rate of referrals for OT services at NWH through education and promotion of OT.
WEBINAR DEVELOPMENT
We developed and implemented a 75-minute educational telehealth webinar at the UW Medicine MS Center as part of their current series with content focused on the benefits of OT for people with MS.
WEBINAR OUTCOMES
Eleven participants attended through the online Adobe Connect telehealth platform. A follow-up survey collected feedback from participants on five questions relating to webinar content, likelihood to obtain an OT referral, and interest in presented topics. 45% of participants requested copies of presentation slides.
Webinar Usefulness
Likelihood of Seeking Referral
NEEDS ASSESSMENT
Using the value proposition canvas, we identified barriers and supports to utilization of OT services for MS patients.
We concluded that the use of an existing telehealth platform would be the most efficient means to meet the identified needs.
Although telehealth for OT is not currently reimbursed, the development of free telehealth education seminars would be value-added for patients and the NWH OT department.
FUTURE RECOMMENDATIONS
Continue to include the OT educational webinar within existing series of webinar presentations to promote OT services for MS care
Track efficacy of webinar by monitoring incoming OT referrals and future follow-up survey results
CONCLUSION
Although OT telehealth services are not currently reimbursable by Medicare, Medicaid, and most commercial insurances, this project indicates that an OT education webinar delivered on a telehealth platform has the potential to drive referrals and improve a health system’s ability to provide optimal care.
WEBINAR CONTENT
REFERENCES
Cason, J. (2015) Telehealth and occupational therapy: Integral to the triple aim of health care reform. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 69(2),
Finlayson, M. (2005). Pilot study of an energy conservation education program delivered by telephone conference call to people with multiple sclerosis. NeuroRehabilitation, 20(4),
Osterwalder, A., Pigneur, Y., Bernarda, G., Smith, A., & Papadakos, T. (2014). Value proposition design: How to create products and services customers want. Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley.