Best Practices in Videoconferencing-Based Telemental Health April 2018

Abstract

Telemental health, in the form of interactive videoconferencing, has become a critical tool in the delivery of mental health care. It has demonstrated the ability to increase access to and quality of care, and in some settings to do so more effectively than treatment delivered in-person. This article updates and consolidates previous guidance developed by The American Telemedicine Association (ATA) and The American Psychiatric Association (APA) on the development, implementation, administration, and provision of telemental health services. The guidance included in this article is intended to assist in the development and delivery of effective and safe telemental health services founded on expert consensus, research evidence, available resources, and patient needs. It is recommended that the material reviewed be contemplated in conjunction with APA and ATA resources, as well as the pertinent literature, for additional details on the topics covered.

Telehealth Increases Access to Care for Children Dealing with Suicidality, Depression, and Anxiety in Rural Emergency Departments

“…18 However, recent interventional studies show that telehealth has great potential to improve access to high-quality specialty care that is similar to in-person care, 5-8 especially in rural U.S. counties that are experiencing health care provider shortages in mental health. [9][10][11][12]17 Additional research, resources, and policy supports are needed to bridge the gap in mental health care for children and families who need it.…”

“…[14][15][16] Evaluating telemental health care processes is important to meet or exceed standards of care. [5][6][7][8][9][10][11] Telehealth provides ready access to MH care in underserved areas, thus potentially ''leveling the playing field'' for participating rural ED patients and providers by mitigating the social determinants of health that often underlie rural health disparities. Social determinants of health include remote geographic location, provider shortage areas, socioeconomic disadvantages such as living at or below the poverty level, and a lack of insurance coverage.…”

“…[5][6][7][8] Telemental health care allows for expedient, video-based access to a psych specialty provider, and has been highlighted as an efficient and timely method for delivery of MH care that is similar in effectiveness to in-person care. [5][6][7][8][9][10][11] Once any emergent, life-saving physical needs have been addressed, the generalist ED (non-psych) providers can utilize telemental health care to subsequently address a patient's emergent psych care needs.…”

Top 10 Tips for Successfully Implementing a Diabetes Telehealth Program

“…We hope this article will serve as a launching point for further discussion, and feel that our field would benefit in the near future from the creation of formal telehealth guidelines for diabetes, such as those recently published by the American Psychiatric Association. 48 The diabetes community would also benefit from further research evaluating (1) the impact of telehealth as a care modality, and (2) the effectiveness of new types of care that are now possible with use of telehealth. These research categories are distinct, and the interpretation of their findings will be different.…”

Videokonsultationen durch Psychotherapeuten in der Hausarztpraxis

“…Für die Konsultationen stellt der Hausarzt einen geschützten Praxisraum zur Verfügung, während der Psychotherapeut in der Regel in seiner eigenen Praxis online geht. Für die Durchführung von Videokonsultationen existieren spezifische Empfehlungen aus dem angloamerikanischen Raum[20].…”