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Teletherapy services must be maximized

In light of the COVID-19 crisis, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf made the decision in early March to shut down schools across the state for the remainder of the year.

These orders also caused many private practices to shut their doors.

I am a speech language pathologist working at a private practice that ended in-patient services for the foreseeable future.

These decisions and the downstream effects will have a significant impact on young Pennsylvanians not only during the COVID-19 crisis, but in the years to come.

Wolf’s diligence in removing barriers preventing the effective implementation of teletherapy during this pandemic should be lauded for its ability to reduce extended lapses in speech therapy services.

Nonetheless, a lot can still be done to improve upon this delivery method for effective use post-crisis.

During the national emergency, states have joined professional organizations, like the American Speech-Language Hearing Association, in endorsing teletherapy as an acceptable alternative service delivery method for speech and language services.

Many states have also taken measures to remove significant barriers thwarting the delivery of telehealth, these reforms are useful in improving services provided to clients both in educational and medical settings.

Pennsylvania and other jurisdictions like the District of Columbia, Kentucky, Maine and Vermont expedited temporary out-of-state licenses during the crisis.

North Carolina, Texas and West Virginia temporarily expanded scope of practice laws for SLP assistants or provisional licensees by waiving licensure requirements needed to provide telepractice services.

Other states like Idaho, Iowa and Massachusetts aim to improve access to teletherapy services through the removal of barriers that required an in-person assessment, or an established provider-patient relationship, prior to the start of teletherapy sessions.

All of these measures are important steps that will allow SLPs to continue providing services to clients during the crisis. However, these policy changes are temporary in nature and are likely to be rescinded.

One of the more frequently recognized advantages of teletherapy is improved access to services. It provides students the opportunity to receive services that would not typically be available to them due to a lack of specialists in a geographic area, lack of transportation, or their distance from schools.

Access to services will always to be a barrier for young Pennsylvanians seeking speech therapy services, especially for those in rural areas.

Teletherapy is the most feasible way to provide services to these students, and this is a great example of why Pennsylvania should explore ways to expand and improve upon this service delivery method moving forward.

In speaking with my colleagues, I echo their sentiments that when we can safely return to school, some students will continue to need in-person interactions to excel in their treatment.

School districts, private practices, and SLPs must collaborate to identify the students that could continue receiving services through teletherapy once school is back in session. Pennsylvanians should work together to find ways to maximize the benefits of teletherapy and continue to employ it as a regular service delivery method after the pandemic.

Ethan Bayne

Loretto

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