HANDS ACROSS ALASKA
TELEREHABILITATION PROGRAM
HANDS ACROSS ALASKA - A TELEHEALTH OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY PROGRAM ESTABLISHED BY ALASKA HAND REHABILITATION
Hands Across Alaska was designed to increase access to upper extremity rehabilitation specialists for rural Alaskans through the use of telecommunication. The goal of Hands Across Alaska is to virtually connect all Alaskans to upper extremity specialists.
Telerehabilitation is the provision of therapeutic rehabilitation services delivered via telecommunication and information technologies such as videoconferencing. 350,000 rural Alaskans have zero access to upper extremity rehabilitation specialists. Fortunately, Alaska is the 2nd most well-connected state with 88% of households reporting access to the internet.
Hands Across Alaska was designed to increase access to upper extremity rehabilitation specialists for rural Alaskans through the use of telecommunication. The goal of Hands Across Alaska is to virtually connect all Alaskans to upper extremity specialists.
Telerehabilitation is the provision of therapeutic rehabilitation services delivered via telecommunication and information technologies such as videoconferencing. 350,000 rural Alaskans have zero access to upper extremity rehabilitation specialists. Fortunately, Alaska is the 2nd most well-connected state with 88% of households reporting access to the internet.
Alaska Hand Rehabilitation has utilized telerehabilitation with great success during the COVID-19 pandemic in order to allow patients to maintain access to care. With telehealth physical therapy services, you are able to receive care from the comfort and safety of your home.
“While telehealth technology and its use are not new, widespread adoption among HCP and patients beyond simple telephone correspondence has been relatively slow. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, trends show some increased interest in use of telehealth services by both HCP and patients. However, recent policy changes during the COVID-19 pandemic have reduced barriers to telehealth access and have promoted the use of telehealth as a way to deliver acute, chronic, primary and specialty care. Many professional medical societies endorse telehealth services and provide guidance for medical practice in this evolving landscape. Telehealth can also improve patient health outcomes.” – CDC
Many insurance companies are covering telehealth services under the emergency order, while some have even taken the extra step to cover these services permanently.
HANDS ACROSS ALASKA IMPROVES PATIENT OUTCOMES BY:
- Optimizing patient and caregiver education
- Offering consistent follow-up with rehabilitation after surgery
- Permitting frequent visual assessments of the patient
- Providing supervised therapeutic exercise programs
- Facilitating equipment ordering and fitting (edema gloves, orthotics, etc.)
FOR REFERRING PROVIDERS
If you have a patient who may benefit from the Hands Across Alaska program, please write a referral to Alaska Hand Rehabilitation requesting “Hands Across Alaska”. The initial upper extremity evaluation will be performed on site at Alaska Hand Rehabilitation by an occupational therapist (OT). This is typically scheduled following the patient’s visit with the treating physician in Anchorage.
