Is telehealth the acoustic version of our consults?
Words by Sarah Yule
Telehealth...the acoustic version of our consults?
We all love an acoustic "stripped back version" of our favourite song no? Now even though acoustic is defined as: 'the version of a song without any electrical amplification', in my humble opinion, an acoustic version of a song is one that has all the essentials without the added extras. You hear the lyrics, the chords, the truth in the song. Invariably, it has the potential to be a superior version of its variants.
Is telehealth the acoustic version of our face to face consults? Can it be?
Amidst the challenges the world is facing at present, we are being called to review what our consults look like and challenged to ensure we maintain our effectiveness as clinicians via telehealth and other methods of communication.
Sometimes its about keeping it simple. Thinking about the essentials in our consults. Let's not over complicate it.
Without the potential to add manual therapy as an option in our consults for now, what can an acoustic version look like?
Be a positive Polly: If there are technical difficulties on either end, try to avoid the temptation of denigrating the process. Flip the script and focus on the achievement of actually pushing through any technical challenges. We can acknowledge the feeling of either our or the patient/clients frustration and then reframe it. This moment may also provide a nice opportunity to set the consult trajectory.
Outline your session: provide the structure for your client so they know what to expect. Invariably it will be similar to the face to face version but it is amazing how the removal of a kinaesthetic component can create uncertainty.
Create the space: The physical setting of a treatment room should have all the physical indicators of a place that instills clinical confidence. Try and replicate this wherever your office is. Think about some good insta-worthy lighting, present yourself the way you would in a clinical setting, perhaps inform your patient/client prior to the consult, the space they will need in order to maximise the impact of the session.
All the other stuff remains the same! Listen to hear! Your body language and all the general rules that accompany what open body language looks like, still applies. Active listening is also no different - whether there's a dodgy wi-fi connection or not, actively summarizing what your client has told you, reinforces that there is more connection than just the wi-fi! Can I blame isolation for sub-par jokes?
Education and empowerment go hand in hand. Telehealth and the world of technology has better enabled us to utilize our skills as educators via multiple platforms. Seek clarity from your patient/client and encourage them to do the same with the education you give. Remember, education is empowerment.
In reality, the core of our music is the same. A therapeutic alliance is about connection, communication and empowerment.
What does your acoustic version look like?