Telehealth News - December 2020
|
|
The Wyoming Telehealth Network newsletter is a source for telehealth information, resources, and current practices to improve telehealth services in Wyoming. The WyTN supports healthcare entities, providers, and specialists through professional development, collaboration, and leveraging of telecommunications technology.
If you would like to contribute information to the newsletter or have your practice highlighted, please email wy-telehealth@uwyo.edu.
|
|
Kerian Duncan, PT, DPT, MSc, has a special way with children and their parents through her practice. Now she has her sights set on utilizing telehealth as a way to further connect with her patients while still reaching for optimal health outcomes. Her resume is impressive as she is a pediatric physical therapist and post professional trainee currently for the Utah Regional Leadership Education for Neurodevelopmental Disorders (URLEND) program. She has participated in NIH funded research to study sensory deficits and sensory reweighting as it pertains to trunk control in children with moderate to severe disabilities. Kerian's primary interests are in visual and vestibular deficits seen in children with moderate to severe neurological disorders. We caught up with her recently to learn more about her plans for telehealth and how she intends to get started.
|
|
What motivates you to continue offering telehealth services?
Kerian Duncan: I just love how much of an opportunity it is to implement the parent coaching model of pediatric physical therapy, which is still somewhat of a mystery in the therapy world. I love how much more involved parents get to be and how much that translates into consistent care and faster, long lasting, improvements with therapy.
What is your proudest accomplishment with telehealth?
Kerian: While I have not begun officially offering services through my virtual clinic, I am looking forward to the relationships that will be formed with parents in a new way; a way that differs from the typical outpatient model of pediatric PT. I look forward to forming a really great community for these parents who feel overwhelmed and disempowered with raising a child with special health care needs.
What advice would you give patients wanting to try telehealth?
Kerian: The telehealth model offers the opportunity for children to have intensive care and frequent access to appropriate providers. It tears down barriers that once prevented adequate access. Please give this way of treatment a try, especially if you are a parent of a child with needs in age range of Birth to 5 years old.
|
|
Wyoming Telehealth Network Survey
|
|
During the 2020 pandemic, the Wyoming Telehealth Network grew from approximately 220 HIPAA-secure Zoom license users to nearly 2,400 users. This exponential growth has served to slingshot telehealth implementation across Wyoming.
Best practices and challenges aside, together we are learning that telehealth matters and is increasing the accessibility of healthcare. Twenty percent of the U.S. population lives in a rural area, but only nine percent of all physicians practice in these regions. The risk of poorer health, as well as a lack of specialty care providers, health care facilities, and case management services are a reality in Wyoming.
Telehealth continues to deliver solutions for these issues. As we continue to forge a path forward and capitalize upon our experiences of 2020, we ask for your help. You can assist us as we continue to support your efforts by letting the Wyoming Telehealth Network know what you need most out of our services and programming.
Please take a few minutes to give your ideas by completing this survey.
It’s fast, it’s meaningful, and we will be so grateful that you did.
|
|
Equality State Research Network Pilot Awards
|
|
The Wyoming Institute for Disabilities is pleased to announce the Equality State Research Network Partnership Development Awards and Pilot Awards for Community-Based Research.
We expect to award $60,000 to be distributed among 4 to 6 awardees to support Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) to improve the health of Wyoming residents. Faculty members and community organizations are encouraged to apply.
|
|
UW Speech and Hearing Clinic
|
|
Enrolling Clients for Fall, Spring and Summer!
The University of Wyoming Speech and Hearing Clinic now offers telepractice speech-language therapy via videoconferencing. Services are provided across the state to both children and adults in healthcare, academic, or home settings.
For more information, contact the Division of Communication Disorders at (307) 766-6426 or shclinic@uwyo.edu.
|
|
The resilience of health workers matters to everyone in Wyoming, especially during the COVID era. Research shows that mindfulness practice can improve attention, reduce workplace errors, increase feelings of accomplishment, and reduce emotional exhaustion.
The heavy workload stretching health workers to their breaking point makes it challenging to accommodate even a beneficial 'one more thing' in overburdened schedules. This study being conducted by UW, with mindfulness training from Flitner Strategies, looks to maximize the benefits of mindfulness practice while being sensitive to the intense demands already placed on health workers.
Contact Professor Matthew Fox at mfox17@uwyo.edu or call (919) 636-2744.
|
|
Wyoming Telehealth Consortium
|
|
|
The Wyoming Telehealth Consortium is the central meeting space to discuss the programs, success/challenges, and discuss ideas on improving the use of telehealth in the state. The Consortium meets on the last Tuesday of every month, from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. Anyone interested in building telehealth is encouraged to attend.
January 26, 2021
3:00pm - 5:00pm
|
|
Wyoming Telehealth Network Webinar
|
|
Join us for our next Webinar:
Part One of a Three-Part Series on Telehealth Billing:
The Logistics and Best Practices for Billing and Coding for Telehealth
Presenters: TBD
Wednesday, January 27, 2021
12:00pm - 1:00pm (MST)
|
|
|
|
Allied Health SIG
First Thursday of the month
January 7, 2021
12:00pm - 1:00pm
|
|
|
|
Telemental Health SIG
Second Wednesday of the month
January 13, 2021
10:00am - 11:00am
|
|
|
|
|
Wyoming Hospitals SIG
Third Friday of the month
January 15, 2021
12:00pm - 1:00pm
|
|
|
|
Public Health Nursing SIG
Date: TBD
10:00am - 11:00am
|
|
|
|
|
Early Childhood SIG
Second Wednesday of the month
January 13, 2021
4:00pm - 5:00pm
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For more information on the special interest groups, or if you would like to join one, please contact wy-telehealth@uwyo.edu
|
|
Contact Information
Wyoming Telehealth Network
Wyoming Institute for Disabilities
1000 E. University Ave., Dept. 4298
Laramie, WY 82071
307-766-6407
wyomingtelehealth.org
|
|
|
|
|
|
|