Using telehealth as the service delivery method with pediatric clients presents the opportunity to work on various skills.
Play is an essential occupation of children, and engagement in play activities is how children learn. Pediatric occupational therapy practitioners (OTP) utilize play as a means of skill acquisition in the pediatric population. Pediatric occupational therapy (OT) services are provided to children from birth to 21.
With such a large age span, play can look different for each age group based on their individual interests, abilities, and resources. Customized techniques are important for implementing client-centered care. Utilizing innovative techniques during pediatric occupational therapy sessions can increase client engagement and efficiency in treatment implementation and documentation.
Telehealth wasn’t just for the pandemic
Although the ability to provide telehealth services existed before 2020, this was an unfamiliar service delivery method for many OPTs who used telehealth as a reactionary measure to the COVID-19 pandemic. While traditional treatment options have been reinstated, telehealth is still a viable and relevant service delivery method. It also continues to have a place in innovative pediatric occupational therapy.
Opportunities for innovative pediatric occupational therapy treatments
Using telehealth as the service delivery method with pediatric clients presents the opportunity to work on various skills. These skills can include:
- Internet safety
- Computer skills
- Future remote work practice
- Online occupation engagement support
Internet safety
Many pediatric clients have extensive access to the Internet at school, home, and public places like libraries. However, they may not receive direct instruction regarding internet safety during real-time use when searching the internet, viewing videos, etc. Engagement during telehealth services is a good time to introduce internet safety.
Computer skills
Accessing telehealth sessions provides keyboarding, mouse and trackpad manipulation, and tech problem-solving opportunities. These skills have real-life applications in school, work, and leisure.
Future remote work
An older pediatric client receiving telehealth services who is responsible for logging into therapy on time, completing tasks in time allocated in a virtual environment, and attending virtual meetings is gaining skills that can transfer to future remote work. This also allows the pediatric client to determine what type of work environment setup is most conducive to their productivity.
Online occupation support
Just like in-person services, telehealth services can support engagement in online occupations such as:
- Bill paying
- Shopping
- Socialization
- Accessing healthcare services
With telehealth services, the pediatric client is practicing their skills on their computer within their environment.
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence (AI), while not new, is making its debut in the therapeutic world. AI can be used to assist OTPs with therapeutic and administrative aspects of being an OTP, including but not limited to:
- Creating writing opportunities
- Home activity programs
- Writing report narratives
- Professional email templates
Creating writing opportunities
“The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog” is a pangram often used by OTPs to encourage children to write or type every letter of the alphabet. Using the same pangram multiple times can be boring and limit the OTP's ability to determine if the child is generalizing their skills. For the busy OTP, thinking of original pangrams can be time-consuming. AI programs can assist with creating pangrams for therapeutic use.
Here is an AI prompt example: Provide me with five pangrams.
This is an appropriate request that will yield five pangrams. However, the OTP will have to review the list to determine which are suitable for the targeted age group regarding both subject and interest. “Pack my box with five dozen liquor jugs” is a pangram that is not appropriate for use with the pediatric population.
A better AI prompt is: Provide me with five funny pangrams appropriate for elementary school-aged children.
“Jack quickly fixed the big blue zipper on my fuzzy kangaroo” is a silly pangram that is more entertaining and appropriate for young writers working on the component skills needed for handwriting.
Creating home activity programs
With the assistance of AI, a quick list of home activity programs can be created after a treatment or evaluation session. The skilled OT portion involves determining which skills the child needs to work on at home and which suggested activities are appropriate for each child based on the client’s age and abilities.
Here is an example AI prompt: Create a list of five fine motor activities that involve cutting using recyclable materials.
Based on the results, the OT can adjust the prompt to be more or less specific and the rationale for the activity based on their clinical knowledge.
Writing report narratives
One important thing to note about the use of AI is the protection of the client's personal health information. This could mean using a general term like student or client instead of the child’s name or a made-up name.
AI prompt example: Compose a grammatically correct paragraph using the following information: A is a 6, a boy who likes to play with cars and blocks. He lives with his mother and younger sister and receives speech therapy and physical therapy services.
Once the paragraph is produced, you can alter it to read in the manner intended and add personal information.
Professional emails
When writing emails to adults or other healthcare professionals about the pediatric client, you will want to ensure the recipient's information is protected as well. The more information you provide about the type of email you want to send, the better your results will be.
AI prompt: Compose a polite, grammatically correct, and professional but friendly email to the client’s parent confirming that the client’s new therapy time is now Wednesdays at 4 p.m. and asking the client’s parent to bring the client’s winter jacket and a button-up sweater to practice clothing fastener manipulation with the client’s clothing.
Although this prompt may not yield the exact email you wish to send, it will prevent you from creating an email from scratch, thus saving time.
Interesting and timesaving techniques for pediatric occupational therapy
In a world of distractions and where every minute counts, using innovative techniques for pediatric occupational therapy has become a necessity. Keeping a child engaged in sessions yields the best outcomes. Saving time allows an OTP to focus on what matters most: the pediatric client.