The Arizona Telemedicine Program Blog

October is National Physical Therapy Month. APTA’s “PT For Future Me” campaign focuses on health span: staying strong, mobile, and independent for as long as possible. Physical therapy isn’t just for recovery. It also helps prevent injuries, improve balance, manage pain and chronic conditions, and support healthy aging. Telehealth makes PT easier to reach, especially in a state as large as Arizona.

Telehealth readiness isn't automatic. Renée Wadsworth of SP-ed explains why video care is its own modality and how practicing with simulated patients lets clinicians demonstrate readiness before a real patient is on the other end.

Telerehabilitation is now a permanent, reimbursable part of physical therapy practice. This guide covers which CPT codes qualify, the modifiers payers require, how place-of-service affects reimbursement, current Medicare and commercial payer rules, and the denial patterns that cost practices revenue.

AI in Telemental Health: Rather than replacing clinicians, AI works best as a "clinical co-pilot" that boosts efficiency and supports better decisions. It can flag high-risk patients for early intervention, extend care between visits through tools like symptom tracking and journaling, and help keep human providers at the center of care.

From Gaming to Healing (Video Games): Once seen as isolating, video games are now valuable tools for mental health and rehabilitation. They foster social connection, build coping skills and empathy, and make repetitive therapy more engaging through game elements like goals and rewards, helping improve patient outcomes.