Implementation of a Telerehabilitation program in times of social isolation 2020. Implementación de un programa de Telerehabilitación en tiempos de aislamiento social 2020

Abstract

Telemedicine is a health care modality that uses technology to facilitate remote mediation between the patient and health personnel, and is also involved in the components of promotion and prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation through the information and communication technologies (ICT). Objective: To describe the implementation of the telerehabilitation modality physiotherapy program in a Health Service Provider Institution (IPS) in Antioquia, from the experiences of the actors involved. Materials and methods: Qualitative research with a case study design that allowed describing the change processes and experiences during the implementation of a telerehabilitation program. The collection of information was carried out through semi-structured interviews with healthcare, administrative and patient personnel of the institution, who were summoned through a convenience sampling. The virtual meetings were recorded and later transcribed for analysis. Results: 3 categories predefined were saturated, in coherence with the qualification standards of institutions providing health services in Colombia: the administrative component, the care component, and the user satisfaction component. Conclusions: The process of implementing a telerehabilitation program represents numerous institutional learnings, rethinking roles in administrative and care management, strengthening the relationship between health professionals and patients, in which patient education and capacity building, are of utmost importance for the self-management of the rehabilitation process.