Abstract
Rehabilitation services are set to become central to modern health care systems as they strive to support an increasingly ageing population to live as independently as possible, while maintaining quality services. Alternative service delivery options such as telerehabilitation may assist in meeting the growing demand for services and many countries are exploring the potential use of telerehabilitation within their health care systems. The Scottish Centre for Telehealth commissioned an independent scoping study and subsequent report into the potential development and realisation of telerehabilitation services across Scotland. The scope of the report was restricted to adult rehabilitation services and aimed to identify opportunities for the use of telerehabilitation and to recommend clear and achievable steps toward implementation of telerehabilitation. This article outlines many of the telerehabilitation initiatives currently underway in Scotland and discusses some of the key recommendations made in the report to the Scottish Centre for Telehealth for the future advancement and application of telerehabilitation across Scotland.
Highlights
Scotland is geographically relatively small with a land mass of just 78,772 square kilometres (30,414 square miles) and in 2008 had a population of 5,168,500
This article outlines many of the telerehabilitation initiatives currently underway in Scotland and discusses some of the key recommendations made in the report to the Scottish Centre for Telehealth for the future advancement and application of telerehabilitation across Scotland
In Scotland, the National Health Service (NHS) is governed by the Scottish Government Health Directorate and is comprised of 14 territorial health boards which deliver frontline health services and eight special health boards which provide additional services across the whole of Scotland (e.g., Scottish Ambulance Service; NHS24 - an online and telephone-based health advice service)
Summary
Scotland is geographically relatively small with a land mass of just 78,772 square kilometres (30,414 square miles) and in 2008 had a population of 5,168,500 (http:// www.scotland.org/about/fact-file/index.html). As in many other countries, Scotland has an ageing population, which is influencing the provision of quality health care services, including rehabilitation services. Engagement with staff from the health boards, universities, patient support groups, and professional associations provided the author with an overview of current rehabilitation practice in Scotland and helped inform the 15 recommendations made in the report for the future development and implementation of telerehabilitation services in Scotland. Currently underway in Scotland and outlines some of the key recommendations made in the report to the SCT for the future advancement and application of telerehabilitation across Scotland. This is not intended as a comprehensive review of all telerehabilitation initiatives in Scotland
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