SCI STORIES
Let’s see how this can help a Veteran. Mr. M has lived alone in his home in Bakersfield for more than 30 years. With no movement in his legs, he uses his manual wheelchair to get where he needs to go. However, 30 years of using his arms to push
his wheelchair has caused arthritis in his shoulders. This makes getting in and out of his wheelchair and into his bed difficult and sometimes unsafe. He has fallen several times and is wary now of getting out of
bed or being as active as he would like. He wants to seek guidance from the SCI team he has been with since his injury. But he doesn’t know how they will be able to help from such a distance. He has a smartphone but has never used telehealth. Using the new SCI Home Evaluation consult, Mr. M’s doctor told the SCI therapy team about his situation. After a phone call the next day by the SCI therapy team, a telehealth visit was deemed the best way to evaluate his needs given the distance he lives from VA Long Beach. Using the new scheduling directives, the VA can now schedule the telehealth home evaluation. Mr. M’s tech-savvy granddaughter helps on the day of the evaluation to operate the phone and take measurements. Mr. M and his granddaughter open his email, click the link to the “medical room,” and the evaluation begins. The primary recommendation is to install an overhead lift that Mr. M can operate via remote control to move himself in and out of bed. Mr. M was hesitant to have such a big piece of equipment coming into his home. But the team and Mr. M agree that a trial of the equipment, along with the equipment vendor, would be best. After a follow-up telehealth session with the vendor and SCI therapists, the trial is deemed a success. He finds it easy to get on and off, and can control everything himself. The SCI therapy team sends a quote to prosthetics to have the lift installed. Prior to installation, Mr. M uses secure messaging to send a question about a ceiling fan potentially being in the way of the lift. He attaches a picture, and the team responds and confirms that the fan is fine where it is. This technology allows the SCI therapy team to expedite Mr. M’s access to the equipment to allow him to live his life independently. With the growing options for Veterans to access health care services at VA Long Beach, Veterans who have limited mobility or live far from the VA can always have excellent care.
SPRING 2023 19
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