Advanced Clinical Telepractice Issues (w/ Handling Online Emergencies)

601

Credit Hour: 
3

Instructor(s): 
Marlene M. Maheu, PhD.
Myron L. Pulier, MD

Course Description

The main thrust in this Course is to solve the Paradox of Telepractice and address the “X-Factors” that technology-mediated care to overcome the potentially crippling effect of being conducted at a distance... indeed, to more than overcome the obvious disadvantages, to the point of often actually being preferred in a fair comparison with in-person work? Many professionals struggle with the concept that in some instances, telepractice is not only on par to in-person mental health, but may be superior. As technology advances, we can expect more and more development of tools to assist us do our work in more efficient, more comprehensive and more extensive ways.

  • Rather than just rolling with the clinical punches thrown by the "remoteness" or distance issue, how can we put our discoveries to use and throw our weight behind those X-Factors to benefit the health both of our clients and of our practice?
  • In which precise ways are technological approaches an enhancement rather than a limiting factor in mental health care?
  • Which are the new technologies that can be used to benefit a specific client population, either synchronously or asynchronously?
  • How can we perhaps devise new approaches to working with the populations with whom we have specialized?
  • How can telepractice intakes, informed consent and emergencies be handled best?
  • How does one handle emergencies legally, ethically and clinically?
This course is an examination of limitations as well as enhancements brought to us by technology as we consider clinical issues. This course then, will help the trainee become one of the needed mental health professionals who can not only see the path, but have the vision and confidence to follow it.
 
Understanding the Paradox of Telepractice can be a big step towards being an Advanced Telepractitioner and earning a Certificate in Telemental Health. The “Advanced Telepractitioner” emerging from this Course will be able to assert the legitimacy of treatment at a distance, respond convincingly to objections, and describe ways to overcome the disadvantages. We will see how, when it comes to the real world, telepractice is not a futuristic, radical, cutting-edge advance in the health and wellness field. On the contrary: mental health care has a lot of catching-up to do when compared to other health care professions in how routinely and comfortably they use technology.

Course Objectives

Upon completing this course participants will be able to:

  • Identify one clinical population for which telephone-based interventions have been shown effective in multiple scientific studies
  • Discuss the history and evolution of videoconferencing guidelines
  • Name at least 1 clinical advantage and disadvantage to working asynchronously online in mental health
  • Outline the benefits of understanding the scientific literature related to telepractice with the clinical population you serve
  • Discuss 2 safety differences between traditional telehealth practice and delivering telehealth in "unsupervised settings"
  • Name 3 complications related to telepractice
  • Name at least two approaches to handling clinical emergencies in telepractice

Topics

Prerequisite(s)

Not Applicable