Telemedicine Available Now

TELEMEDICINE and LIMITED CONTACT TREATMENT at INNERWORKS

Telehealth, or Telemedicine can be described as a “technology-enabled” healthcare delivery system that extends access to healthcare when direct face to face service is not feasible due to travel distance, known contagion or, as in our current situation, need for social distancing to prevent potential spread of disease. Telehealth has been growing over the past decade in many areas of healthcare, especially in the service of rural areas and people with limited access to transportation.  As a result, the strategies and technologies are already in place to deliver this service.

What can be treated or improved using Telemedicine at InnerWorks Center?

citation homme cherche femme 1. Respiratory Illness: Treatment strategies are primarily herbal and are individually designed to limit illness and speed recovery. Progress is monitored very closely for changes and the need for formula modification. Using Telemedicine, we can safely discuss your symptoms in detail, and I can look at your face and tongue color, hear your voice and see your breathing pattern. cherche femme en aquitaine For respiratory illness, the rate for Telemedicine is reduced $45.00 through September.

The accumulating evidence for using Chinese herbs for this unique respiratory virus strongly suggests it is important to treat all respiratory illness as if it might become serious and the optimal time to turn it around is in the very early stages.  Herbs are generally prescribed with daily follow up by phone to make sure things are moving in the right direction and to update the herbs every day or two in order to follow the course of recovery.  During this time, I have been recommending granular herbs that dissolve to make a tea rather than the raw herbs, due to the convenience. So far, this protocol has been very successful. Herbal medicine and food/activity guidelines prescribed seem to reduce the intensity of symptoms and overall course of the viral respiratory illness common this spring.

• Iztapalapa Prevention: In terms of prevention of illness, I take the approach long advocated by Asian Medicine, and that is to focus on strengthening any “weak links” in an individual’s constitutional health.  In this way, the body is better prepared to process the virus without major disruption to the whole system, meaning the symptoms are milder or never appear.  This might be accomplished by reducing predisposition to dampness/phlegm, imbalance of cold or heat, digestive/bowel disturbance or tendancy to catch a cold easily.
• Chronic Respiratory Illnesses, Recovery from Serious Illness and Allergies: Thes areas are treated using a method that blends that described for acute and prevention.  Symptoms are addressed specifically and the constitution is supported, sometimes simultaneously and sometimes sequentially.

2. Chronic and stress related conditions involving all body systems and functions, for instance leep, anxiety, headaches, digestive disturbances, allergies are addressed with the same level of detailed investigation I use to unravel these issues in the office. Guidelines involving shifts in diet, activity, sleep and quiet are used in addition to herbal support as appropriate and desired by the patient.

3. Recent injuries or postural patterns causing pain.

I have found that there is a high level of satisfaction with Telemedicine when:

1. The goals and expectations of the visit are clear.
2. The person is comfortable using a computer interface.
3. The space and lighting are adequate for the session.
4. The client is eager to be an active participant in the process when either acupressure or physical therapy is part of the treatment plan. Telemedicine is slightly different from some face to face sessions in this regard, where more passive, hands-on treatments such as acupuncture, soft tissue work or manual treatment are often the focus.

Optimal client environment using Telemedicine includes:

1. A well-lit space with the light source behind the camera, not behind you. In other words, so that you are not back lit.
2. A clear space with a seat for conversation and also room to move or lie down as necessary.
3. A quiet space and time when you do not expect any distractions or competing noises.
4. The camera/computer is positioned at an angle so that you can see the screen from different positions and is easy to reposition. Sometimes it is helpful to have another person available to adjust the camera angle if you are on a bed or the floor.

What can one expect during an InnerWorks Telemedicine session?

1. A focused interview to help me understand the issues you are facing. We can address the issues from:

• The holistic and energetic perspective of Chinese Medicine,
• The structural and functional perspective of Physical Therapy
• OR
• An integrative model that chooses from the wisdom of both Classical Chinese Medicine and the Biomedical Model, to develop a program that optimally addresses your issues.

2. Assessment: I use your symptoms, lifestyle patterns and tongue picture to assess and formulate a treatment plan for illness, anxiety, digestive, sleep issues etc. For movement issues, pain patterns and structural problems I can observe exactly where the problem is and how it influences your movement. I have found that for many musculo-skeletal issues, telemedicine assessment is very effective.

3. Treatment possibilities:

• Herbal medicine
• Self-massage, tissue release
• Acupressure: Done to yourself, demonstrated to a partner or adhesive pellets I can provide
• Consideration of shifts in sleep, diet, exercise habits that are likely to improve the issues
• Self-stretching to muscles and nerve glides
• Strengthening
• Physical and mental relaxation techniques
• Postural realignment,
• Breathing techniques,
• Meditation strategies,
• Simple Qi Gong/Tai Chi movements
• Home program

These are essentially the same techniques I use in most of my face to face treatments, of course often with the addition of acupuncture or direct hands on work.

LIMITED CONTACT VISIT

As of May 6, 2020, in accordance with the Governor’s guidelines, I have started to schedule some office visits with a “Limited Contact” strategy.  Under these guidelines, I speak with the patient either by phone or Zoom the day before to rule out fever or any respiratory issues that may be contagious and discuss your symptoms and their influence on function.  In this way, the usual face to face pre-treatment discussion is avoided.  I ask that you wait in your car until I wave you in and that you wear a mask, as of course I will. I will open the door for you and you will go right into the room and onto the treatment table after a spritz with hand sanitizer. There will be no contact with anyone aside from me.

If you are working with a health issue or are interested in revitalizing your health and sense of well-being, I look forward to working with you either through Telemedicine or a limited contact appointment.

Wishing you the best of health,

Connie Evans LPT, LAc