Maple Ballroom

COVID-19 restrictions required pediatric rehabilitation and child development organizations to pivot to offering services remotely using virtual technologies—from email to phone to video conferencing.  With the rapid adoption and reported benefits, virtual care is positioned to remain a service delivery option for families of children with disabilities.

Before integrating virtual care into service delivery, a better understanding of the related evidence for its potential uses and how best to support its implementation with consideration for caregiver and clinician perspectives are necessary.

This roundtable discussion will present findings from three research studies examining different aspects of virtual services in pediatric rehabilitation and child development.  This presentation will discuss what have we learned about factors that contribute to positive virtual care experiences, and the elements we need to prioritize to enhance the virtual care experience going forward. Facilitated discussion will explore the relevance and application of these findings to various pediatric rehabilitation contexts and potential recommendations to improve family-centred virtual care delivery.

3 Key Takeaways
1. Canadian pediatric occupational therapists, physiotherapists and speech-language pathologists report needing specific training and support to be efficient and feel effective in delivering virtual services to families. 
2. Caregivers report that there is value in the continued provision of virtual service as an option for receiving services, emphasizing the importance of giving families the choice of whether they would like appointments to occur in-person or virtually. 
3. Implementation of virtual services requires a comprehensive plan, taking into account several considerations including technology, personnel, training, and policies.
 

Meaghan Reitzel, Occupational Therapist, PhD Candidate KidsAbility Centre for Child Development, McMaster University/CanChild Centre for Childhood Disability
Karen Hurtubise, Physiotherapist, Post-doctoral Fellow, McMaster University/CanChild Centre for Childhood Disability
Erin Knobl, Occupational Therapist, MSc Student, McMaster University
Wenonah Campbell, Associate Professor, John and Margaret Lillie Chair in Childhood Disability Research, McMaster University/CanChild Centre for Childhood Disability
Isabelle Gaboury, Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Sherbrooke
Michelle Phoenix, Assistant Professor, McMaster University/CanChild Centre for Childhoold Disability, Adjunct Scientist, Bloorview Research Institute