According to the United Nations 45% of the world’s population, or close to 3.4 billion people, live in rural areas and in recent years many cities have experienced population decline. In Canada, only 18.5% of the population lives in rural environments, however, we know that due to COVID-19 there has been an unprecedented number of people (primarily young families) moving to rural areas despite potential loss of access to health care. Rural populations in Canada (and likely worldwide) are known to need more health care and yet the health services they require are less accessible, particularly rehabilitation services.

Clinical practice has evolved over the past 12 months as the world has transitioned to pandemic restricted health care provision. Rehabilitation practitioners have incorporated, at minimum, physical distancing into their practice. However, the introduction of ‘distance rehabilitation’ using technology has also been implemented into practice and will potentially change how we conduct rehabilitation in the future. This shift in health care delivery, in response to the pandemic, may coincidentally provide more equitable and efficient delivery of local rehabilitation services for those who live in rural and remote areas.

Technology advancement and adoption (e.g./ eHealth) by rehabilitation professionals has enabled a potential health service provision “pivot” or has it? In this talk, I will explore change in rehabilitation practice and reflect on technology adoption and the challenges of adopting on the ‘fly’. Examples of technology solutions to address rehabilitation provision will also be reviewed.