The government has decided to expand the use of telemedicine in the provision of medical and rehabilitation services. This decision aims to meet the increasing demand for rehabilitation services in Ukraine. Alongside the development of rehabilitation departments, the formation of interdisciplinary rehabilitation teams, and the expansion of rehabilitation services, the government actively encourages the use of tele-rehabilitation.
Tele-rehabilitation involves providing rehabilitation assistance using information and communication technologies remotely. Modern telemedicine solutions are already being used in Ukraine to provide rehabilitation assistance to patients. These solutions have been provided to Ukraine as humanitarian aid from partners.
According to Ukraine's Minister of Health, Viktor Liashko, ensuring the quality, accessibility, and free provision of medical care are key priorities. The demand for rehabilitation services in the healthcare sector is constantly increasing due to the growing number of people who have suffered injuries and amputations, a consequence of the ongoing conflict. Therefore, efforts are continually made to improve the accessibility and quality of rehabilitation services. Telemedicine solutions enable healthcare professionals to monitor patients remotely, supervise the implementation of rehabilitation plans, and provide recommendations, thereby improving the interaction between patients and doctors.
The government's decision will allow for the incorporation of modern digital technologies to provide high-quality and effective rehabilitation. For example, doctors and patients will be able to communicate remotely, with the patient's health and recovery being constantly monitored by a specialist. Telemedicine tools enable this to be done remotely outside of the rehabilitation center.
The effectiveness of gamified tele-rehabilitation systems has already been demonstrated in Ukraine. One such system is the RGS tele-rehabilitation system, which allows patients with injuries and brain disorders to receive personalized neurorehabilitation in the form of games and quickly return to normal life.
The platform helps patients with various conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, ataxia, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, stroke, as well as patients who have suffered various injuries and concussions as a result of combat operations.
Currently, the RGS tele-rehabilitation system is integrated into more than 76 medical institutions in the country that provide rehabilitation services to patients.
What will be proposed:
• new forms of rehabilitation using telemedicine for a specific direction — teleconsultation;
• mandatory informing of patients about telemedicine services — orally or by placing information on the official resources of medical institutions;
• more opportunities for remote monitoring of patients' conditions, which will contribute to improving the quality of medical care;
• conditions for educational activities and digital competence for medical workers.
How rehabilitation and the work of multidisciplinary teams will change:
• decisions on providing assistance using telemedicine will be made by rehabilitation specialists;
• multidisciplinary teams will conduct tele-rehabilitation meetings with wide application of telemetry;
• experts will be able to remotely monitor a person's indicators and control the implementation of the rehabilitation plan and recommendations of specialists;
• modern tele-rehabilitation solutions will provide the opportunity to use modern gadgets and computer systems to motivate patients to perform rehabilitation exercises.
What this will ultimately achieve:
• the process of providing medical care using telemedicine will be standardized;
• a greater number of people will receive medical and rehabilitation assistance, which will reduce disability rates and have a positive impact on public health.
