Telepsychiatric Evaluation and Consultation in Emergency Care Settings

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

“…Most commonly, the telemental health care delivery process involves utilizing live, video-based interaction (LVI) with a distant, appropriately licensed psych MH provider (psychiatrist, clinical social worker, psych MH nurse practitioner, psychologist), with the ED telehealth visit typically facilitated by the ED nurse. [4][5][6][7][8] According to experts, ready access to the LVI method of telemental health care delivery in the ED supports numerous benefits to patients, families, providers, and health systems, including decreased wait/transfer times in the ED, 9,12,13 decreased length of stay (LOS), 9,[14][15][16] enhanced quality of care and care coordination, [7][8][9][14][15][16] enhanced ''learning effect'' for the generalist health care providers collaborating with psych specialty providers via telehealth, 9,[12][13][14]17 enhanced connection to outpatient (OP) resources, [14][15][16] cost savings due to reduced number of hospital admissions, [14][15][16] and decreased travel costs for families and MH professionals. [14][15][16] Evaluating telemental health care processes is important to meet or exceed standards of care.…”

“…[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.…”

“…3 In light of the prevalence of MH care provider shortages across the U.S., the ED often becomes the clearinghouse for triage, initial screening, assessment, and treatment of many patients of all ages who present with MH issues. [4][5][6][7][8] As the number of ED visits related to MH continues to increase, 2,5 some rural and urban EDs and health care systems are integrating telehealth-based MH care, or telemental health, in an effort to ''virtually'' deliver, coordinate, and evaluate telemental health care delivery for patients across the life span. [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.…”

“…[4][5][6][7][8] As the number of ED visits related to MH continues to increase, 2,5 some rural and urban EDs and health care systems are integrating telehealth-based MH care, or telemental health, in an effort to ''virtually'' deliver, coordinate, and evaluate telemental health care delivery for patients across the life span. [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.…”

“…[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.…”