1. What is the difference between telehealth and telepractice?
Response: Telehealth is a broad term referring to the use of electronic information and telecommunications technologies to support long-distance clinical health care, and also patient and professional health-related education, public health and health administration, whereas telepractice is the term that ASHA uses and is the application of telecommunications technology to the delivery of SLP and audiology professional services at a distance by linking clinician to client/patient or clinician to clinician for assessment, intervention, and/or consultation.
2. True or False: Telemedicine and telehealth are defined differently in different states.
True! It is imperative that clinicians are aware of the specific definitions provided by their state legislation.
3. Fill in the blank: Telehealth/telepractice is a ____________________, NOT a clinical service.
Response: Service-delivery model
4. True or False: Telehealth services should be billed at a lower rate than in-person services. If false, correct the statement and explain why.
Response: False! The services one provides via telehealth should be equal or not inferior to services offered in-person. If one does not believe that the services they can offer via telehealth are equivalent or not inferior to in-person services, they should not provide these services; not charge them less. Services may be reimbursed at a lower rate but should not be billed at a lower rate.
5. What is the difference between synchronous and asynchronous methods in telepractice for dysphagia care?
Response: Synchronous methods involve live and immediate interaction between the clinician and patient or clinician and clinician. For dysphagia management, synchronous methods have been used for both tele-evaluations and tele-treatment provision with positive results. Asynchronous methods occur at different times and include acquisition of video recordings, audio recordings, or images that are stored and transmitted for interpretation by a medical professional. For dysphagia management, asynchronous methods have also been used for consultations from expert dysphagia specialists during evaluations.