Human-centric care in the digital space

A pioneer in the field of virtual physical therapy, Marc Mirisch has been instrumental in the development and execution of the ASHCare Virtual Physical Therapy & Occupational Therapy (PT/OT) program. His experienced leadership helped American Specialty Health (ASH) earn the first-to-market URAC Telehealth accreditation in March 2023. The ASHCare Virtual PT/OT program leverages live, one-on-one care by the same PT/OT on every visit and advanced user-experience technology to deliver quality musculoskeletal (MSK) care.

What are you seeing in the current virtual care space?

Marc Mirisch: The evolving virtual healthcare space has disrupted traditional models. In June, the Peterson Health Technology Institute released the findings of its Virtual MSK Solutions Assessment. The report pointed to virtual solutions leading to “clinically meaningful improvements” similar to in-person PT/OT.

What are the most significant opportunities that virtual MSK care offers for enhancing patient care in physical therapy?

MM: I see transformative potential for delivering patient care virtually. However, I also see gaps. While AI technology allows for data-driven insights and prediction-model treatment plans, it can’t replace a PT’s clinical reasoning skills and the patient-provider relationship, which is the cornerstone of clinical care. American Physical Therapy Association President Roger Herr reinforced this idea when he said this about the recent PHTI findings: “Virtual musculoskeletal solutions guided by physical therapists can help reduce overall healthcare costs, ease administrative burdens on physical therapists, close an access gap for millions and deliver improved clinical outcomes for the patients under our care.”

In your experience, how has telemedicine affected patient engagement and adherence to physical therapy regimens?

MM: Well, ASHCare PT/OT is a unique model in that it does not rely on AI. We prioritize one-on-one care delivered by the same provider on every visit as this is crucial to the patient-provider relationship. Our focus on the human connection creates trust and leads to better patient outcomes. It also produces greater patient satisfaction (4.8 out of 5 stars) and higher completed treatment rates than the typical AI-only programs that I’ve seen.

Is virtual care the answer for all physical therapy situations?

MM: Virtual physical therapy is the most convenient, flexible and effective way for patients with certain conditions or at different stages of recovery to receive care. Not all MSK patients are ready for virtual care at first. Diagnosis, stage of healing, functional deficits and environmental factors all determine appropriateness. The goal is always to meet the patient where they are. If not appropriate at first, there often comes a point in a patient’s recovery where they could be referred to a virtual program.

How does a virtual physical therapy program benefit health plans and their members?

MM: With a model like the ASHCare PT/OT program — focusing on the patient-provider relationship — members get personalized care supported by the same clinician throughout their entire recovery journey. This improves outcomes and provides better member experiences, which ultimately serves everyone in the process. The ASHCare Virtual PT/OT program can also help health plans reduce overall payer costs while simultaneously helping their members save money.

Do virtual physical therapy programs have other benefits?

MM: Yes, in addition to providing health plans and their members with a viable treatment solution, in many cases, virtual care programs like ASHCare PT/OT also solve social determinant issues like access to care for individuals who may be in remote locations. Further, virtual care programs like ours can free up appointments in hospitals and other treatment facilities allowing them to attend to those patients with more acute conditions.

Looking ahead, what do you see as the future of telemedicine in physical therapy?

MM: The future of telemedicine for physical and occupational therapy is promising. It offers greater access to care for more patients regardless of location, allows providers to monitor patient progress and make real-time treatment adjustments as needed. It also provides continuity of care that helps ensure patients stay engaged in their recovery. I hope that more health plans will soon recognize that virtual physical therapy solutions emphasizing live one-on-one care delivered by a physical therapist on every visit can contribute to improved patient outcomes and better member experiences.

To learn more, please visit: ashcare.com/contactus