Telemental Health in Schools

Abstract

School TMH should be considered as part of a comprehensive service delivery system for students, in order to address shortages and gaps in specialty child and adolescent mental healthcare, and to maximize efficiency and productivity.

Telemedicine screening adolescent metabolic syndrome in Greek schools

“…Provision of telemedicine services in schools not only allows young people to be involved in their care in a setting that is familiar and convenient, but also avoids personal costs, missed school days and parents' workdays disruption by travelling to outpatient clinic-based services. [27][28][29] Despite the current alarming increase in adolescent OW and OB in Greece, the overall prevalence of MetS (based on either the IDF or the modified ATP III criteria for adolescents) in our representative adolescent sample from the Attica region was still low (2.6% and 2.9%, respectively), lower than the internationally reported prevalence in adolescents. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]30 Based on the ATP III definition with modified cut-off values for youths, Cook et al 2 (who defined abdominal obesity as WC ≥90th percentile) reported a prevalence of 4.2% of the MetS, whereas de Ferranti et al 30 (who used the 75th percentile for WC as central obesity cut-off) found a much higher prevalence, nearly 10% of the MetS, in adolescents in the USA.…”

“…In this study, screening for the metabolic syndrome through telemedicine in the adolescent‐friendly school setting was effective, as the majority of adolescents and their parents agreed to participate. Provision of telemedicine services in schools not only allows young people to be involved in their care in a setting that is familiar and convenient, but also avoids personal costs, missed school days and parents’ workdays disruption by travelling to outpatient clinic‐based services …”

Clinical Update: Telepsychiatry With Children and Adolescents

“…91 The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act has recommended telehealth technologies to improve access to and quality of care for underserved populations. 3 Innovative child and adolescent telepsychiatry programs are being integrated into the pediatric medical home model 92,93 and sited in diverse community settings, such as pediatric clinics, 39,41,68 community mental health centers, 43,94 urban daycare centers, 95 schools, 96,97 juvenile correctional settings, 44,98 and homes. 26,99,100 Telepsychiatry services have expanded beyond major medical and academic centers 37,41,101 to the private practice setting.…”

“…88,90 Child and adolescent psychiatrists should establish their model of care during contracting, which often begins with determining the site of care. Services can be delivered to traditional outpatient medical or psychiatric clinics, 92 clinics within nonmedical facilities such as schools, 97,123,124 juvenile justice programs, 98 or nonclinical settings such as the home. 26,99,100 The site of service will have implications for the model of care and operational procedures, such as staffing, patient selection, patient management, safety, and emergency planning.…”

“…96,120 School-based telepsychiatry services have demonstrated benefit for students and staff. 96,97,123,167 The psychiatrist should obtain knowledge of school culture, define the model of care, and clarify the psychiatrist's role and expectations within the school system. Potential services include evaluations, collaborations with the youth's PCP, medication management, psychosocial interventions with students and families, evaluations for support services, and continuing education for staff and consultation on classroom-specific and general school issues.…”