| | AUGUST 202319UTLOOKHealthcare Tech REHABILITATION ADVICE BY PHONE AND ZOOM IN ALBERTAThe COVID-19 pandemic caused a worldwide shutdown of many ambulatory care services including rehabilitation services like physiotherapy and occupational therapy. Alberta Health Services (AHS), located in Alberta Canada, quickly looked to new and alternate ways to keep people connected to rehabilitation support knowing that rehabilitation is essential for maintaining the health, function, psychological and social well-being of ourselves and our communities. The Rehabilitation Advice Line (RAL), a specialty team within the larger AHS Health Link 811 health service tele-triage, advice, treatment, and system navigation program, was stood up in May 2020 to meet Albertan's rehabilitation needs by providing tele-triage and rehabilitation advice. This first-of-its-kind team in Canada is staffed by physiotherapists (PT) and occupational therapists (OT) and Therapy Assistants (TA). The team began by leveraging 811 nursing tele-triage expertise to create safe, evidence-based guidelines that ensure callers are linked to the most appropriate level of care, given rehabilitation advice, and directed to services in their area of the province. As the pandemic wore on the rehabilitation line focused on supporting those who have musculoskeletal conditions, neurological conditions, or those recovering from COVID-19 or experiencing long COVID sequela. In March 2023 support for parents, guardians, or caregivers with concerns about their child's development and well-being was added. The team operates in a primary therapist model, meaning that the next available therapist supports the next caller in By Kira Ellis, BScPT, Rehabilitation Advice Line, Health Link 811 and Patricia Chambers, RN, DC, MN, Senior Provincial Director, Health Link 811, Alberta Health ServicesCXO INSIGHTSKira Ellis
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