Virtual Care Q&A with Heather Thayer, PT, DPT

What inspired you to start doing telehealth?  

I was drawn to telehealth because it offered a new way to deliver meaningful, high-quality care to my patients. As a single mom with a very active teenager, the flexibility telehealth provides has also been a wonderful bonus—but what truly inspired me was the ability to reach more patients. Telehealth has helped me reduce commute time and create a better work-life balance without compromising the quality of care I provide. 

What are the benefits of providing telehealth as a clinician and how does it benefit your patients?  

Besides the improved flexibility and better work-life balance, telehealth has allowed me to grow as a clinician by strengthening my communication skills, building my confidence with new technology, and challenging me to become more creative in how I treat patients.

I'm licensed in five states, so it’s also given me the opportunity to reach individuals who might otherwise have limited access to care—whether due to their geographical location, transportation barriers, or health limitations that make it difficult to leave home.

I’ve found that patients appreciate the convenience of telehealth, and since I’m not physically there, caregivers often become more involved in treatment, which leads to better carryover. It’s also incredibly empowering for patients who initially doubted their ability to use technology to successfully attend sessions on their own.

Do you have a telehealth success story that is memorable or special to you? 

One of my patients suffered a fall last summer and went from completely independent to transferring with a Hoyer lift and using a wheelchair. She had lengthy hospital and rehab stays and returned home with a rolling walker but was unable to leave her house because she couldn't use her outside steps. She was originally resistant to telehealth because she wanted to work on gait training but was too fearful without someone there.

However, after working with her and building up her confidence, she finally agreed to give it a try. By the time she was discharged, she was walking with a quad cane, she could negotiate her outside steps and leave her home regularly, and she finally gained enough confidence to return to driving, something she hadn't done in almost a year!

What’s one thing that surprised you about doing telehealth and what advice would you give to a clinician who is considering offering telehealth sessions? 

One of the biggest surprises for me, and I think for others on our team as well, is that some of our telehealth patients made functional gains faster than we saw with in-person patients. I think as therapists we often jump in and help when we see someone struggling with a task but without the ability to physically assist, patients take more ownership in their care. I’ve come to see how empowering it can be for patients—they start to realize what they’re capable of without constant hands-on support.

For any FOX clinician interested in exploring telehealth, I’d encourage you to start by checking out the resources available on the telehealth page of FOX4U. I’d also highly recommend attending one of our Clinical Excellence Events to see firsthand how clinicians across the practice are using telehealth to make a meaningful impact in patients’ lives!

Interested in learning more about career opportunities with FOX or how our clinicians are utilizing virtual care with patients? Visit our careers site or check out our blog!