The Process for the Formulation of the International Telehealth Position Statement for Occupational Therapy

Authors

  • Karen Jacobs Boston University College of Health And Rehabilitation Sciences, Sargent College, Department of Occupational Therapy, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
  • Jana Cason Spaulding University
  • Ann McCullough Boston University College of Health And Rehabilitation Sciences, Sargent College, Department of Occupational Therapy, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/ijt.2015.6163

Abstract

The World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) consists of 84 member organizations representing over 420,000 occupational therapists internationally (WFOT, 2014).  In 2014, WFOT published the WFOT Telehealth Position Statement on the use of telehealth in occupational therapy. The process for the formulation of the official document involved reviewing WFOT member organizations’ telehealth position statements and data collected from a survey sent to member organizations’ delegates in April 2014.  Qualitative data from 39 countries yielded factors to consider in five key areas:  licensure/registration requirements, the cost of technology, privacy and security, reimbursement/payment models, and other issues (e.g., need for collaboration/transfer of knowledge, client selection, provider competencies, standard of care).  The WFOT Telehealth Position Statement addressed each of these areas.  The collaborative effort resulting in the development of the WFOT Telehealth Position Statement serves as a model for other international organizations.

  

References

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Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists [CAOT]. (2011). CAOT position statement: Telehealth and e-occupational therapy. Retrieved from http://www.caot.ca/default.asp?pageid=4005

Cason, J. & Jacobs, K. (2014, August 11). Snapshots of current telehealth applications in occupational therapy. OT Practice, 19(14), 7-12.

United Nations. (2006). Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities. Retrieved from http://www.un.org/disabilities/convention/conventionfull.shtml

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Working as an occupational therapist in another country (2013). Retrieved from http://www.wfot.org/ResourceCentre.aspx

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Published

2015-07-29

How to Cite

Jacobs, K., Cason, J., & McCullough, A. (2015). The Process for the Formulation of the International Telehealth Position Statement for Occupational Therapy. International Journal of Telerehabilitation, 7(1), 21–32. https://doi.org/10.5195/ijt.2015.6163

Issue

Section

Policy

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