From the Desk of the Guest Editor: Volume Overview

This issue of the International Journal of Telerehabilitation (IJT) contains original research evaluating the efficacy of telerehabilitation, viewpoint articles, a letter to the editor, a committee report from a working group within the American Telemedicine Association's Telerehabilitation Special Interest Group, and an announcement from the American Telemedicine Association. It is important to note that legislation, regulation, and policy related to telerehabilitation continues to evolve; the information presented in this issue of the IJT is current as of the time of its publication and reflects the most recent developments in the field. The clinical research featured in this issue of the IJT, Simulated In-Home Teletreatment for Anomia, evaluated the effectiveness of telerehabilitation as a delivery model for individuals with post-stroke anomia. Using a pre-/ post-study design, Dechêne and colleagues measured changes in participants' performance and satisfaction with speech therapy services delivered remotely through telehealth technologies. Research results demonstrated the feasibility of telerehabilitation as a service delivery model for interventions targeting neurological speech-language disorders. The viewpoint articles in this issue of the IJT include international and national perspectives from diverse practice settings. These professional perspectives highlight opportunities and challenges associated with telerehabilitation as a service delivery model within the rehabilitation disciplines. In the first viewpoint article, Dr. Seelman shares insights into the World Health Organization and World Bank's first World Report on Disability. In her article, World Health Organization/World Bank's First World Report on Disability, Dr. Seelman, a co-author of the international report, provides an informative summary of the report including its purpose, content, intended audiences and outcomes. The efficacy of telerehabilitation as a service delivery model is affirmed and discussed within the report in the chapters related to rehabilitation and enabling environments. The inclusion of telerehabilitation within the World Health Organization and World Bank's first World Report on Disability reflects the increasing evidence and application of telerehabilitation as a service delivery model within the rehabilitation professions. In the article, Telehealth Regulatory and Legal Considerations: Frequently Asked Questions, Cason and Brannon examine key questions associated with telehealth and licensure, reimbursement, HIPAA compliance, and malpractice insurance coverage. The questions and responses serve as a catalyst for further inquiry into the regulatory and legal requirements uniquely inherent with the use of telecommunications technology by rehabilitation professionals delivering services remotely. Two featured telerehabilitation programs are included in this issue of the IJT. These programs demonstrate the benefits of telerehabilitation for improved access to specialized care. …