New report stresses the importance of face-to-face rehab
Case managers have embraced new ways of working during the Covid-19 pandemic which could become commonplace going forward, but concerns still persist about the lasting effects practically and financially, a new report by law firm Irwin Mitchell has found.
The report states that technology has enabled rehabilitation to be provided in ways that will most likely become part of the ‘new normal’. However, it also stresses the importance of face-to-face rehabilitation.
Commenting on the findings, Claire Howard, partner at Irwin Mitchell says:
“Whilst virtual assessments have clear benefits for both clients and therapists, the importance that face-to-face contact has on rehabilitation can’t be replaced. Assessing someone online is like assessing through a keyhole, you only get to see a small section of what’s going on, you can’t see the individual in their wider environment which may be essential. A concern is that virtual assessments will be seen as a cheaper more efficient alternative, but face-to-face is essential and the client should always be given a choice.”
At Calvert Reconnections, we agree with Ms Howard’s conclusions.
Our own research earlier this year found that while brain injury case managers believe that virtual rehabilitation has been effective during lockdown, the majority will look to resume face-to-face rehabilitation as soon as it is safe to do so.