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TheraTree Familes,
Our promise to our families is alive and moving swiftly with individual communication about how we are addressing COVID-19 in the context of keeping children and families safe while receiving therapeutic treatment. The health and well being of children and families are always of the highest importance to us.
We also understand that the circumstances occurring in our community, state, and world may create fear in parents and children alike. You may have panic and uncertainty. So, we'd like to take this opportunity to create a context around those feelings. It's important to understand that fear does not live off facts. Fear lives and feeds off speculation. We as humans have a tendency to react to what we speculate. However, we as both an organization and health care providers, operate on and make decisions on facts, not fear.
Receiving Therapy
TheraTree is equip and excited to deliver therapeutic services through Telehealth. This is a delivery model we've been working on for weeks - as soon as we knew in-person treatment may not be possible at some point. It's taken a lot of research, planning, action and training. We've been working adamantly to ensure our families have access to therapy services if we reached that critical moment. We first prioritized our most vulnerable clients served to transition to Telehealth. Telehelath is now the only method of delivering therapy services during this time. We have created accessibility to Telehealth across all practice settings we serve.
What is Telehealth?Telehealth is the use of telecommunications technologies to provide health care. Technologies are HIPAA compliant and TheraTree's primary method of providing telehealth is videoconferencing. Telehealth therapy may include evaluations, assessments, consultation, treatment planning, and therapeutic interventions.
Benefits to Families: Provides opportunities to progress skills sets and overcome barriers such as distance, illness, schedule, and travel. Increases skills and confidence of family members and caregivers.
What to Expect: Activities will be similar to a typical clinic session. Parent coaching is a key component and can increase home carryover and progress. It's important for the parent or caregiver to be involved during the session to increase effectiveness.
Who Pays for Telehealth:
- This includes Medicaid, MCOS, and Private insurance.
- Self funded and out of state plans may cover Telehealth; we can confirm with your insurance.
- It's important for you to know some information about Non-Traditional Instruction (NTI) as is relates to your child's IEP. Districts must provide IEP services during NTI days.
- These services can be adapted to schoolwork packets, online learning, and other adaptions.
- Telehealth is the ideal way to provide the required therapy services considering our typical in person delivery model is unavailable.
- Access to high speed internet.
- A computer or mobile device with a camera and mic.
- Complete Telehealth Consent form (CLICK HERE )
- Complete Credit Card Agreement (CLICK HERE - if you typically have a payment due for outpatient treatment)
- Set up your ClockTree Account. A link will be emailed upon transitioning to Telehealth. Please set up your account as soon as possible to reduce technical difficulties. This invitation may go to your spam folder, so check there!
- Watch the orientation video about your first appointment: https://www.clocktree.com/api/1/notificationdocument/730139?content
- After you set up your account, our client services department will then confirm your Telehealth appointment and you'll get an email notification for this.
- You can access the Telehealth platform through the appointment confirmation or through this link: Access Telehealth Platform HERE.
- Log in to your clock tree at least 8 minutes before your scheduled appointment on your device connected to the internet. ProTip: logging in on a mobile device creates endless movement options.
Attendance
With any new process, there will be logistics to work out. Telehealth removes many barriers; especially the ones we're facing currently. We understand this is a swift transition for all of us. Our client services division is working to transition all of our patient's appointments to Telehealth.
Please keep in mind that we do continue to have a cancellation policy. If you need to cancel your appointment, cancel 24 hours in advance. The reason for this policy is when patients cancel the day of their appointment it hurts three people:
- The child who isn't receiving the service
- Another child who could have been scheduled during that appointment, and
- Your therapy provider who then isn't able to fulfill on their commitment to help families during that now vacant time.
Please note that during this time we will be doing our best to make accommodations for scheduling, rescheduling, and make-up sessions.
Events Since Last Update:
We have all experienced rapid changes of information regarding COVID-19 and our government's response of implementing new processes that effect our daily routines. The following is a series of updates as related to the delivery of our therapeutic services to create a context around the timing of our transition.
On Tuesday 3/17/2020 Kentucky's Governor ordered public-facing businesses to close on 3/18/2020. In this order, health care facilities following CDC guidelines were exempt. In his press conference on 3/18/2020 he stated Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy should close. This new information did not specify therapy settings or timelines. Therefore, TheraTree sought clarification. Both the Kentucky Occupational Therapy Association (KOTA) and Kentucky Physical Therapy Association (KPTA or APTA KY) immediately requested clarification after the press conference from Secretary Friedlander. Secretary Friedlander then scheduled a meeting for 3/19/2020 to establish which settings the closure applies to and when it should occur. Both KOTA and KPTA then advised therapy members to wait on any closure actions until a specific order has occurred.
After the scheduled meeting on 3/19/2020, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services Office of Inspector General (CHFS OIG) issued it's letter that guides which settings may remain open and which shall close and transition to a Telehealth platform in accordance with DMS guidelines immediately. The letter also stated Telehealth services shall be maximized to the fullest extent possible for patients receiving community based rehabilitative skilled therapy services. TheraTree made the remaining rapid provisions to be in accordance with this official letter and the time line of "immediately". On 3/20/2020 CHFS OIG's letter was revised to identify 3/20/2020 as the date to cease operations and KPTA issued further guidance to cease physical operations by day's end on 3/20/2020.
Fortunately, if our profession has taught us anything, it's to adapt and respond. We've been adapting and responding to ensure the quality of service remains high while we serve our families and take the necessary precautions for everyone. We appreciate the families who are willing to adapt and respond with us by making the last minute schedule changes and learning our Telehealth platform. We are being dealt circumstances unlike we've seen before as an industry, community, and country. The length of time to remain operating this way is unknown. However, we can expect this to be the new normal for much longer than a child without therapy can go before regressing. We are all in this together. Adapt - Respond - Repeat
More Information about COVID-19:
TheraTree recommends the following resources for latest information about COVID-19: