Does telehealth delivery of an occupational therapy home visiting service provide a non‐inferior alternative to in‐person delivery of the same service? A matched cohort study

Occupational therapists help patients leave the hospital and live safely at home. They visit homes to see if patients can manage on their own. Therapists may suggest changes like adding grab bars or bathing aids to make the home safer. These visits take a lot of time, so telehealth is being tested as a way to reduce the need for in-person services. This study looked at whether telehealth could save time and reduce workloads. This study found telehealth visits were shorter than in-person visits. It also found there were no differences between groups for events like falls, delirium, and pressure injuries. However, some patients still needed in-person visits, especially for equipment setup or caregiver training. Telehealth is a helpful tool, but it is important to know when in-person visits are still needed.