Rapid Implementation of Telehealth in Hospital Psychiatry in Response to COVID-19

Adapting an Outpatient Psychiatric Clinic to Telehealth During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Practice Perspective

“…Studies have reported provider hesitation to adopt telemedicine based on concerns about workload [ 34 ], usability [ 35 , 36 ], EHR and systems integration [ 36 ], other logistics related to time and staff [ 37 ], and incentives, reimbursements, and regulations [ 35 , 36 ], especially in the case of telepsychiatry, which deserves special consideration when COVID-19–based federal policy changes and leniencies expire [ 4 , 41 ]. Hence, the success of telemedicine adoption is greatly facilitated by investing in the cultural, logistical, and infrastructural factors to enable success (see also Kalin et al [ 29 ], who likewise credit their successful COVID-19–related telepsychiatry adoption to organizational culture and prior technological readiness). However, “from-scratch” implementation is also possible, as in the case reported by Yellowlees et al [ 9 ], who impressively planned a complete program to adapt in-person sessions to telepsychiatry in one day and had fully implemented it for all patients within three working days.…”

“…While guidelines exist for postpandemic telepsychiatry [ 11 , 12 ], given the unique characteristics of this COVID-19 pandemic, lessons learned from these transitions as well as implementation-specific guidelines would be highly applicable to other practices. To date, clinical implementations and lessons learned (and with largely positive results) have been reported largely from settings outside the United States, such as China [ 13 , 14 ], Europe [ 15 - 23 ], Turkey [ 24 ], and Australia [ 10 , 25 - 28 ], with only some US coverage (notably [ 9 ], [ 29 ], and [ 30 ]). In this paper, we document our experience with telehealth adoption at a psychiatry practice embedded in a large health system in the United States and summarize several important successful improvisations and challenges to support broader and more diverse adoption efforts.…”

Virtual psychiatric care fast-tracked: reflections inspired by the COVID-19 pandemic

“…15,16 Clinical and research groups worldwide have begun to publish and share their experiences in implementing telepsychiatry during the COVID-19 pandemic for patient populations in various settings, including child and adolescent psychiatry, 17 general out-patient psychiatry 11,13 and inpatient psychiatry. 18 Surveys of psychiatrists using telepsychiatry during the pandemic indicate benefits such as convenience and flexibility, as well as challenges in relation to the use of technology, impact on confidence in diagnosis and impact on therapeutic alliance. 13 Authors are giving consideration to the experience of trainees and educators using telepsychiatry.…”

COVID-19 Pandemic and Care of Older Adults at Risk for Delirium and Cognitive Vulnerability

“…9 Leveraging telemedicine to diagnose and manage mentation has been implemented in the psychiatry practice amid the COVID pandemic, and there is the potential to improve care for older adults. 10…”