An interesting thing happens when you perform a Google search for mobile technology and physical therapy: You get one result – an advertisement for a physical therapy position in Mobile, Alabama!Physical rehabilitation starts in the clinic and continues at home, in the office, at the gym – mobile technology is the perfect solution for this multi-location experience. Why then has the PT industry as a whole not embraced this exciting opportunity? Shouldn’t we capitalize on the prevalence of Internet connectivity and smart phone use to stay connected to our patients? Wouldn’t a patient’s mobile device be the perfect rehab aid? Our patients seem to think so. A February 2010 mobile metrics report revealed that smart phone usage had increased 193% in the last twelve months.
As a community we are resistant to change, especially when it comes to technology. Having spent most of our professional lives interacting face to face with patients and not sitting behind a computer, we aren’t particularly tech savvy. We are a sector stuck in the dark ages of information technology and somewhat intimidated by it.
The time has come to change that. With mounting pressure from insurance companies to reduce our length of stay as they cut our reimbursement, we are left with little choice but to innovate. Technology offers real and immediate solutions that could save us time, create alternative revenue streams and improve delivery of patient care.
Technology adoption in the physical therapy space is inevitable; we just have to accelerate the process from within because who understands our needs better than we do?
Bronwyn Spira
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