Skip to main content
. 2018 Dec 11;10(2):3–54. doi: 10.5195/ijt.2018.6269
Rhode Island
Occupational Therapy Physical Therapy
Telehealth/Telemedicine/Telecommunications Definition
Telemedicine is the delivery of healthcare where there is no in-person exchange.
Source:RI Department of Health Telemedicine Guidance (Aug. 2018) 		Telemedicine is the delivery of healthcare where there is no in-person exchange.
Source:RI Department of Health Telemedicine Guidance (Aug. 2018)
Modality
Occupational therapists may use information and communication technologies allowing for the same standards as face-to-face practice.
Source:RI Department of Health Telemedicine Guidance (Aug. 2018) 		Physical therapists may use information and communication technologies allowing for the same standards as face-to-face practice.
Source:RI Department of Health Telemedicine Guidance (Aug. 2018)
Location- Type of site/Geography
No reference found. No reference found.
Type of Service
Telemedicine is permitted in the delivery of diagnosis, consultation, treatment, education, care management, and self-management of patients at a distance from health care providers.
Source:RI Department of Health Telemedicine Guidance (Aug. 2018) 		Telemedicine is permitted in the delivery of diagnosis, consultation, treatment, education, care management, and self-management of patients at a distance from health care providers.
Source:RI Department of Health Telemedicine Guidance (Aug. 2018)
Supervision
No reference found. A physical therapist providing supervision to a physical therapy assistant must be available at all times via telecommunications while the physical therapy assistant is providing services to patients.
Source:216 40 R.I. Code R. § 05-13
Informed Consent
Patient informed consent is required for the use of patient-physician e-mail and other text based communication. The agreement should be discussed with the patient and should include the following terms:

  • Types of transmissions that will be permitted (prescription refills, appointment scheduling, patient education, etc.);

  • Circumstances when alternate forms of communication or office visits should be utilized;

  • Security measures, such as encryption of data, password protected screen savers and data files, or utilization of other reliable authentication techniques, as well as potential risks to privacy;

  • Hold harmless clause for information lost due to technical failures;

  • Requirement for express patient consent to forward patient-identifiable information to a third party; and

  • A statement noting that the patient’s failure to comply with the agreement may result in the physician terminating the e-mail relationship.

Source:RI Department of Health Telemedicine Guidance (Aug. 2018) 		Patient informed consent is required for the use of patient-physician e-mail and other text based communication. The agreement should be discussed with the patient and should include the following terms:

  • Types of transmissions that will be permitted (prescription refills, appointment scheduling, patient education, etc.);

  • Circumstances when alternate forms of communication or office visits should be utilized;

  • Security measures, such as encryption of data, password protected screen savers and data files, or utilization of other reliable authentication techniques, as well as potential risks to privacy;

  • Hold harmless clause for information lost due to technical failures;

  • Requirement for express patient consent to forward patient-identifiable information to a third party; and

  • A statement noting that the patient’s failure to comply with the agreement may result in the physician terminating the e-mail relationship.

Source:RI Department of Health Telemedicine Guidance (Aug. 2018)
Patient-Provider-Relationship/In-Person Exam Required
A documented patient evaluation, including history and physical evaluation must be obtained prior to providing treatment electronically or otherwise.
Treatment based only on an online questionnaire without appropriate evaluation does not constitute as an acceptable standard of care and is considered unprofessional conduct.
Source:RI Department of Health Telemedicine Guidance (Aug. 2018) 		A documented patient evaluation, including history and physical evaluation must be obtained prior to providing treatment electronically or otherwise.
Treatment based only on an online questionnaire without appropriate evaluation does not constitute as an acceptable standard of care and is considered unprofessional conduct.
Source:RI Department of Health Telemedicine Guidance (Aug. 2018)
Licensing
No reference found. No reference found.
Other
A patient’s medical records should include patient-related electronic communications, including patient-physician e-mail, prescriptions, laboratory and test results, evaluations and consultations, records of past care and instructions pertinent to the diagnosis and treatment of the patient.
Occupational therapists should meet or exceed federal and state legal requirements of medical/health information privacy.
Occupational therapy practice sites should clearly disclose:

  • Owner of the site;

  • Specific services provided;

  • Office addresses and contact information;

  • Licensure and qualifications of physician(s) and associated healthcare providers;

  • Fees for online consultation and services and how payment is to be made;

  • Financial interests in any information, products or services;

  • Appropriate uses and limitations of the site, including providing health advice and emergency health situations;

  • Uses and response times for e-mails, electronic messages and other communications transmitted via the site;

  • To whom patient health information may be disclosed and for what purpose;

  • Rights of patients with respect to patient health information;

  • Information collected and any passive tracking mechanisms utilized.

Source:RI Department of Health Telemedicine Guidance (Aug. 2018) 		A patient’s medical records should include patient-related electronic communications, including patient-physician e-mail, prescriptions, laboratory and test results, evaluations and consultations, records of past care and instructions pertinent to the diagnosis and treatment of the patient.
Physical therapists should meet or exceed federal and state legal requirements of medical/health information privacy.
Physical therapy practice sites should clearly disclose:

  • Owner of the site;

  • Specific services provided;

  • Office addresses and contact information;

  • Licensure and qualifications of physician(s) and associated healthcare providers;

  • Fees for online consultation and services and how payment is to be made;

  • Financial interests in any information, products or services;

  • Appropriate uses and limitations of the site, including providing health advice and emergency health situations;

  • Uses and response times for e-mails, electronic messages and other communications transmitted via the site;

  • To whom patient health information may be disclosed and for what purpose;

  • Rights of patients with respect to patient health information;

  • Information collected and any passive tracking mechanisms utilized.

Source:RI Department of Health Telemedicine Guidance (Aug. 2018)