An interview with Linsey Porter, OTA — on remote care and the missing link between providers.
Telehealth: An Option for Those Without Local Specialists
For people living in rural areas or regions without specialized providers, telehealth can offer a meaningful solution. Many therapy activities can be effectively conducted through video visits — including evaluations, guided exercises, observing daily activities such as cooking, and assessing how a prosthetic device is fitting during movement.
That said, telehealth isn’t right for every situation. Patients who can’t yet perform basic activities of daily living - dressing, bathing, feeding themselves - will likely need inpatient rehabilitation first. And if a physical issue comes up during a telehealth visit, such as a wound or blister, the therapist may shift to requiring an in-person appointment.
The decision ultimately depends on the therapist’s clinical judgment and the patient’s functional level. There is no fixed ratio between telehealth and in-person visits; care is adjusted based on individual needs.
The Missing Piece: Therapist–Prosthetist Collaboration
One of the biggest challenges in rehabilitation today, according to Linsey, is the lack of communication between therapists and prosthetists. It’s not usually a willingness problem. It’s a time problem.
A typical therapist may see seven patients in a single day, each for about an hour. Between sessions, documentation must be completed, and lunch breaks are limited. Taking 15 or 20 minutes to call a prosthetist can reduce valuable treatment time. And if the prosthetist isn’t available when the therapist calls, the return call might come hours later - long after the patient has already left the clinic.
The root cause isn’t negligence. It’s a system driven by insurance reimbursement models that look efficient on paper but don’t account for the real complexity of treating a person with limb loss.
It’s one of the reasons Linsey is helping build Restorative Health. The model trains therapy assistants to also complete supervision hours on the prosthetic and orthotic side, allowing the same provider working with a patient therapeutically to recognize and address device issues on the spot - without scheduling a separate appointment or waiting weeks for an adjustment. Rather than forcing patients to move between disconnected providers, the goal is to bring rehabilitation and prosthetic expertise closer together so care becomes more coordinated.
Looking Ahead
Telehealth has made it possible for more people to access specialized rehabilitation, especially those who live far from experienced providers. But technology alone isn’t enough. Good care still depends on knowledgeable clinicians, strong communication between providers, and a healthcare system that gives patients access to the right expertise at the right time.
As telehealth continues to evolve, Linsey believes its greatest value will come when it’s combined with better collaboration between therapists, prosthetists, and the rest of the rehabilitation team - making care more connected, more efficient, and ultimately more patient-centered.