Project Description:
Stanford DBP developed a robust TeleHealth program in response to the COVID-19 Shelter in Place Directive placed in March of 2020. The goal was to continue to offer clinical consultation as well as newly developed behavioral therapies on a remote basis. Because we were a beta testing area for Stanford's roll out of TeleHealth before the Shelter in Place took effect, we were able to rapidly expand and create new ways to offer our patients and families medical, clinical, and behavioral consultation and support.
Our program incorporated interdisciplinary teams including psychologists, nurse practitioners, interpreters and Trainees.
Beginning March 9, we decided to do all visits via telehealth. We included all children, including preschoolers and school-aged children to reduce their possible exposure.
Our staff connected to children and families versus a secure portal in one of four ways: the electronic health record, zoom, webex, or telephone. We then figured out how to engage Trainees in visits, using combinations of the virtual telehealth room and zoom, or zoom only. Physicians, psychologists, and nurses have all participated in remote Telehealth.
Benefits:
-Our office staff calls ahead, assures that families know how to log on and connect, so the proportion of successful visits is high.
-We learn a lot about families by observing the adult and child or children in their natural environment.
-We have been able to complete a full evaluation under selected circumstances, particularly when families were seeking a second opinion or a medical diagnosis to complement a school evaluation. We have been using questionnaires and surveys to gain information about neuropsychological or psychoeducational functioning.
-We will need to evaluate many children in a subsequent face-to-face visit. However, we will reduce the amount of time for the future scheduled visit because we have a comprehensive history. In many cases, we have established a differential diagnosis, sent the family materials to read so that they can participate knowledgably in the subsequent visit, and discussed specifically what the plan is going forward.
-We will be considering how to continue to use telehealth productively in our clinical practice, even beyond this period of national crisis
Core Function(s):
Training Trainees, Performing Direct and/or Demonstration Services, Developing & Disseminating Information, Other Direct/Model Services
Area of Emphasis
Education & Early Intervention, Health-Related Activities
Target Audience:
Students/Trainees (long or intermediate trainees), Professionals and Para-Professionals, Family Members/Caregivers, Children/Adolescents with Disabilities/SHCN
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Limited English, Geographic Areas, Rural/Remote
Primary Target Audience Geographic Descriptor:
Single-County, Mulit-County
COVID-19 Related Data:
N/A
