The experience of telerehabilitation in coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic: Observations from physiatrists of an indian neurorehabilitation desk

Context: The coronavirus disease pandemic heralded a global 'new normal'. India responded with a complete lockdown. Simultaneously, the release of the Indian National Telemedicine Practice Guidelines led to a surge in telemedicine. The authors share their experience of launching an indigenous telerehabilitation service, a largely unexplored area in India. Aims: This study aimed to determine the socioclinical characteristics of the population availing telerehabilitation. Settings and Design: A retrospective chart review was done in a physiatrist-led neurorehabilitation department of a unispeciality tertiary care hospital. Subjects and Methods: Before the launch, a strategic promotional campaign was designed. Consent forms were structured following the national guidelines with institutional modifications. A combination of the 'real-time' and 'store-and-transfer' models was used. Teleconsultation by a physiatrist was followed by telerehabilitation by therapists. Satisfaction scales were used for feedback. Statistical Analysis Used: Data are described as frequency and percentages for qualitative data. Results: Between 8 April 2020 and 30 September 2020, there were 561 teleconsultations, of which 224 patients consulted the physiatrist. Stroke (46 patients, 20.53%), low back pain (40 patients, 17.85%) and spinal cord injury (27 patients, 12.05%) were the most common diagnosis. A majority of 93 patients belonged to the age group of 40–60 years. A comparable number of patients within and outside the city availed of the service. Conclusions: Telerehabilitation with simply available resources is feasible and useful. The digital divide, security concerns and restrictions in the execution of treatment are its imitations. Technology and creativity can be combined to develop further viable telerehabilitation models.