We believe that accessing care should be seamless and supportive, whether in-person or virtually. KidsAbility’s Rocket Discovery Centre’s telerehabilitation project is transforming how we support virtual services. By focusing on communication, connection, and consistency, we’re ensuring that families receive the support they need, when they need it, making virtual care as effective and engaging as possible.
KidsAbility moved quickly to virtual appointments, or telerehabilitation, during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. These appointments allowed families to continue receiving support from their therapists. As we transitioned back into the clinic, KidsAbility recognized the value of retaining virtual care for certain types of appointments.
Meaghan Reitzel, a previous occupational therapist at KidsAbility, undertook her PhD research with McMaster University and KidsAbility. Her findings from this research highlighted 3 key areas that are pivotal in influencing the engagement of families in telerehabilitation before, during and after appointments. We call these the 3C’s.