Telehealth for Working

Professionals

Sierra Chase, Savnit Gill, Rachel Kinsey, and Blair McLarin

Issues arising when developing the program

● Funding
○ Determine who pays for it.
○ Finding companies that are willing to pay for our service.
● Environment
○ Determining if the individuals environment is able to be altered
■ Raise and lower chair
■ Raise and lower desk
Person, group or population program?
● We teamed up with a major corporation (Amazon) in NC that was looking to better the ergonomics
for their employees.
○ The company would hire us solely to work with their employees to fix their employees
ergonomic workstations.
○ This telehealth company will be funded by the company that hires us.
● We are offering this treatment to those who are having discomfort and troubles.
● Our telehealth will be based and practiced in North Carolina because that’s where we are all licensed.
As telehealth evolves we may decide to widen our horizons to other states. That will require us to
hire other OT’s in those states we want to practice in.
Review the design of the program

● Screening will be completed by the client’s then the OT will review screening and
approve clients that express discomfort
● An evaluation will be completed via telehealth to see the workstation and an
occupational profile will be completed
● The OT will review the workstation and provide recommendations and changes to
their environment
● Discharge - client will review recommendations and OT will evaluate if they are
ready for discharge or if they need a referral
● Work exercise program will be sent out by employer through email that was
created by OTs to prevent fatigue and discomfort throughout the work day.
Review the design of the program

● OTPF performance patterns

○ Habits - a new work environment will help create better habits (ex. using lumbar support,
raising computer)
○ Routines - work exercise program will be implemented into their routine weekly
○ Rituals - address the client’s identity, values, and beliefs
○ Roles - program will allow clients to get back to their every day role of being a working
professional
● Benefits
○ Create a positive relationship between employers and employees
■ Help to retain employees
○ Prevent future injuries and/or injuries getting worse
○ Help identify arising problems and referrals can be provided
Screening and assessment tools

● Screening
○ Seated Workstation assessment form (Connelly, n.d.)
■ Used as a pre-consultation before OT services would be provided
■ Self-assessment regarding their satisfaction of their workspace and if they feel any
discomfort
● Assessments
○ Rapid Office Strain Assessment (ROSA) (Sonne et al., 2012)
■ Clients would provide the occupational therapist with pictures of them at their
workspace and then the OT would complete the assessment
■ OT would provide telehealth session with client discussing interventions and providing
education regarding ergonomics
Contexts
Virtual

● Telehealth delivery method

● Allows us to reach more individuals outside of our community
● Can be done anywhere, anytime, with anyone needing our services
● Would require internet access, use of computer/device, use of camera

Physical

● Workspace environment
● Identifying the key areas that need addressing to better improve their physical
health & well being, along with their quality of work
● Giving them activities/exercises to help fix their workstations and problems
Theoretical perspective and Frame of Reference
PEO theoretical perspective
Person Environment Occupation

● Role as a worker ● Corporation Work

● Physical ability ● Physical space within
● Worker preference the office Specifically, tasks related to
● Knowledge on safety ● Chair job performance in an office
● Desk such as:
● Placement of keyboard
and mouse ● Sitting for long periods
of time
● Typing
● Managing time use
● Completing work
Frame of Reference
Biomechanical
Remedial approach that focuses on impairments.
Individuals have problems with: limitations in
movements, inadequate muscle strength, and loss of
endurance, etc which is applicable for our client
population.
Goals: Prevent deterioration , restore and maintain
movements, compensate/adapt for loss of
movements in occupational performance.
Some interventions: ROM exercises and nerve
gliding.
Rehabilitative Frame of Reference
Facilitate patients in fulfilling daily activities
and social roles with competence.
Impairments are unlikely to remediate and
considered permanent (for example, back
problems).
Incorporates adaptation, compensation, and
environmental modifications.
In order to achieve desired occupational
performance the client must focus on
remaining abilities.
Information about community resources
Local OT for further treatment, finding places that take their insurance.

● Amazon employees use Blue Cross Blue Shield Medical Insurance. Below is a link to a list of 257 different OT’s in the Charlotte
area that take their insurance if they need further in person evaluations or assistance.
○ https://provider.bcbs.com/app/public/#/one/city=&state=&postalCode=&country=&insurerCode=BCBSA_I&brandCode
=BCBSANDHF&alphaPrefix=&bcbsaProductId/results/allRemote=false&alphaPrefix=&isPromotionSearch=true&key=Oc
cupational%2520Therapy&location=Charlotte%252C
%2520NC&maxLatitude=&maxLongitude=&minLatitude=&minLongitude=&page=1&patientAge=&providerType=&query
=Occupational
%2520Therapy&radius=25&searchType=SYNONYM_PERSON&searchCategory=SPECIALTY&sort=DEFAULT&waitForO
op=false&doWebAlert=true&productCode=BCBSABASIC

Areas/places that sell ergonomic equipment that we might be recommending to those we are evaluating

● Alimed
○ https://www.alimed.com/office-ergonomics/
References

Addy, L. (2006). Occupational therapy evidence in practice for physical rehabilitation. Oxford:
Blackwell.

Connelly, J. (n.d.) Seated Workstation Assessment Form. [PDF]

McMillan, I. R. (2011). The biomechanical frame of reference in occupational therapy. In E. A.

S. Duncan (Ed.), Foundations for practice in occupational therapy (5th ed., pp. 179-194).
Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone.

Sonne, M. Villalta, D. & Andrews, D. (2012). Development and Evaluation of an Office

Ergonomic Risk Checklist: The Rapid Office Strain Assessment (ROSA). Applied
Ergonomics, 43(1), 98-108.