SVMC Offers Remote Rehab

BENNINGTON, VT—April 24, 2020—In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC), part of Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC), is offering outpatient physical, occupational, and speech therapy services remotely via telehealth, in addition to continuing to see urgent patients at the clinic.

“Outpatient rehabilitation is crucial in treating and recovering from many conditions,” said Katie Santandera, DPT. “We are happy that we can continue helping patients using telehealth in the same ways we do during their outpatient therapy sessions while also following stay-at-home guidelines.”

Patients access outpatient rehabilitation telehealth with a physician order for physical, occupational, or speech therapy. The primary care or specialist provider will fax the order to SVMC outpatient rehabilitation at 802-447-5429 for Bennington, Northshire and Deerfield locations and to 518-686-7751 for Twin Rivers primary care patients. 

Then, the rehabilitation department calls the patient to review the order and evaluate technical requirements. The office staff verifies that the patient’s insurance covers the treatment. VT Medicaid and several private payers cover the service; unfortunately, at this time Medicare, does not.

The office staff schedules a telehealth visit and sends the patient a private secure link. It requires no technical skill, log in, or download and is available to anyone with an Internet-enabled device, like a computer, smartphone, or tablet. The patient checks in electronically and meets their therapist via video. The communication is private and compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

For more information about Outpatient Rehabilitation by telehealth, patients and physicians can call 802-447-5140. General information on telehealth can be found at https://svhealthcare.org/COVID-19/telehealth/.

About SVHC:
Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC) is a comprehensive, preeminent, health care system providing exceptional, convenient, and affordable care to the communities of Bennington and Windham Counties of Vermont, eastern Rensselaer and Washington Counties of New York, and northern Berkshire County in Massachusetts. SVHC includes Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC), Southwestern Vermont Regional Cancer Center, the Centers for Living and Rehabilitation, and the SVHC Foundation. SVMC includes 25 primary and specialty care practices.

A COVID-19 information hotline is available for community members. The number, 802-440-8844, is answered 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. on weekdays. A recorded message provides the most frequently requested information. Telephone numbers and other COVID-19 information, including frequently asked questions and helpful resources, are available at svhealthcare.org/covid-19.

Southwestern Vermont Medical Center provides exceptional care without discriminating on the basis of an individual’s age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture, language, physical or mental disability, socioeconomic status, sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression. Language assistance services, free of charge, are available at 1-800-367-9559.