At ATI, our Telerehab clinicians bring the power of PT to our patients in their own home. When people think about telehealth, they may not realize that we can still offer the specialized care our patients need. So, we sat down with Telerehab Physical Therapist (and pelvic health specialist) Mary Maley and Telerehab Occupational Therapist (and Certified Hand Therapist) Joseph Sharaya to learn how they continue to provide these services in a virtual setting.

Providing Exceptional Care for Intimate Conditions

Those who work in pelvic health are no stranger to the specialty’s intimate nature. Pelvic floor conditions can often be difficult to discuss, but for Telerehab PT Mary Maley talking to patients about their symptoms in a virtual setting can be a real benefit.

“For patients, the ability to receive care in the comfort of their own home often allows for more openness when discussing their symptoms and outlining their goals,” Mary said.

But while Mary admits there is no manual assessment like in a clinic setting, telerehab pelvic health is not just all talk. Yes, they discuss symptoms, but it’s about addressing the underlying issues beneath those symptoms. It’s about retraining dysfunctional muscles, educating patients on body mechanics and function, and implementing lifestyle and habit changes.

“When care is applied in a familiar and comfortable setting, the carryover is astronomical,” Mary told the RoundUp team. “The patient develops confidence in their own ability to carry out their plan of care in their daily life rather than rely on external cues for muscle retraining and re-education. It also keeps the focus on getting back to function front-and-center.”

Read more: Recognizing our Telerehab Team

Opening Up the World through Virtual Hand Therapy

Our Hand Therapists understand how our hands guide our everyday lives. By bringing this specialized care to a virtual setting, our Occupational Therapists and Certified Hand Therapists provide patients with care that opens up their world.

“It’s been exciting to be a part of the Telerehab team at ATI and watch how virtual Occupational Therapy continues to evolve,” Telerehab OT Joseph Sharaya said.  “I’ve been with ATI since 2022, and we’ve spent a great deal of time and attention building an OT program that adequately addresses our common hand therapy diagnoses.”

Success has followed because of their dedication and recognition that the care they provide doesn’t happen in a vacuum. The Telerehab Occupational Therapy team, also including Telerehab Occupational Therapist Jeffrey Geiger and Telerehab Occupational Therapy Assistant Deborah Chanley, regularly partners with local clinics for orthosis fabrication or recommends prefabricated orthoses from vetted vendors. With collaboration like that, it’s no surprise the team sees positive patient outcomes and the resulting positive Google reviews.

“We have seen the positive outcomes we were hoping for when we first introduced virtual Occupational Therapy,” Joseph added, “and now we will work towards providing that same level of care while diversifying our OT services beyond orthopedics.

”A big “thank you” again to Mary Maley and Joseph Sharaya for providing a small look into their everyday to highlight the power of virtual physical and occupational therapy. And even greater kudos to our entire telerehab team for creating access and providing exceptional care across our footprint.