361 JRRD JRRD Volume 52, Number 3, 2015 Pages 361–370 Effects of physical therapy delivery via home video telerehabilitation on functional and health-related quality of life outcomes Charles E. Levy, MD; 1–3* Erin Silverman, PhD; 1–2,4 , Huanguang Jia, PhD; 1 Meghan Geiss, MS; 5 David Omura, DPT, MHA 1–2 1 Center of Innovation on Disability and Rehabilitation Research and 2 Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service, North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System, Gainesville, FL; 3 Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Public Health and Health Professions, and 4 Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; 5 Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology and Research, College of Education, Health and Human Sciences, The University of Memphis, Memphis, TN Abstract—This study examined functional outcomes, health- related quality of life (HRQoL), and satisfaction in a group of Veterans who received physical therapy via an in-home video telerehabilitation program, the Rural Veterans TeleRehabilitation Initiative (RVTRI). A retrospective, pre–post study design was used. Measures obtained from 26 Veterans who received physical therapy in the RVTRI program between February 22, 2010, and April 1, 2011, were analyzed. Outcomes were the Functional Inde- pendence Measure (FIM); Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoul- der, and Hand measure; Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA); and the 2-minute walk test (2MWT). HRQoL was assessed using the Veterans RAND 12-Item Health Survey (VR-12), and pro- gram satisfaction was evaluated using a telehealth satisfaction scale. Average length of participation was 99.2 +/– 43.3 d and Veterans, on average, received 15.2 +/– 6.0 therapeutic ses- sions. Significant improvement was shown in the participants’ FIM (p < 0.001, r = 0.63), MoCA (p = 0.01, r = 0.44), 2MWT (p = 0.006, r = 0.73), and VR-12 (p = 0.02, r = 0.42). All Veter- ans reported satisfaction with their telerehabilitation experi- ences. Those enrolled in the RVTRI program avoided an average of 2,774.7 +/– 3,197.4 travel miles, 46.3 +/– 53.3 hr of driving time, and $1,151.50 +/– $1,326.90 in travel reimburse- ment. RVTRI provided an effective real-time, home-based, physical therapy. Key words: functions, health-related quality of life, home- based physical therapy, mobility, physical therapy, satisfaction, telehealth, telerehabilitation, Veteran, Veteran rehabilitation. INTRODUCTION The mission of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is to deliver uniform high-quality care to all Veterans, regard- less of geography, distance, or economic circumstances. To meet this mission, the VHA must reach Veterans regardless of barriers to care provision, including long travel times and distances and expense. These barriers are magnified for rural Veterans with disabilities who require rehabilitation services. These individuals must invest Abbreviations: 2MWT = 2-minute walk test; FIM = Functional Independence Measure; HRQoL = health-related quality of life; MoCA = Montreal Cognitive Assessment; MOVI = mobile video; NF/SG VHS = North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health Sys- tem; QuickDASH = Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand measure; RVTRI = Rural Veterans TeleRehabilitation Initia- tive; SIP = Session Initiated Protocol; VA = Department of Veter- ans Affairs; VHA = Veterans Health Administration; VR-12 = Veterans RAND 12-Item Health Survey. * Address all correspondence to Charles E. Levy, MD; PMRS (117) North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System, 1601 SW Archer Rd, Gainesville, FL 32608; 352- 374-6065; fax: 352-271-4540. Email: charles.levy@va.gov http://dx.doi.org/10.1682/JRRD.2014.10.0239