inMotion Magazine

March | April 2019 42 consulting with their patients at the push of a button. What can I discuss with my prosthetist through telemedicine? From a quick check-up to a more substantial problem‑solving conversation, here are some of the topics you can discuss with your prosthetist via telehealth: • Diagnosing any gait anomalies, such as leg length discrepancies • Checking to make sure your sock ply count is appropriate • Helping with self‑adjustment of your socket fit with gel pads or other adjusting technologies. How does telemedicine benefit me? Imagine your prosthetist adjusting your microprocessor-controlled prosthesis remotely, right from the comfort of your home. Prostheses are getting smarter each day; with smart technologies and telemedicine, it’s only a matter of time before your prosthetist will be able to remotely diagnose and update your hardware. In contrast, some may find telemedicine to be impersonal because it is conducted virtually and they prefer the authenticity of a face-to- face visit for their answers. But telemedicine can address many of the shortcomings of traditional face-to-face appointments by offering greater access to prosthetists and eliminating the hassle of traveling, while still effectively solving many prosthetic issues and questions. Video calling doesn’t prohibit you from visually demonstrating most issues. Taking advantage of video calling technologies to interact with your prosthetist can still allow for that human connection and offer that extra layer of context through body language. “The place for patients to heal is at home and with family, Dr. Armstrong says. “I think telehealth makes that more feasible.” Telemedicine allows people living with limb loss to consistently stay in an environment where they feel safe and most comfortable – at home.