3 Things to Do Before Adding Telemental Health to Your List of Services I had the great pleasure of moderating a 2-hour webinar for AMHCA this week, presented by Marlene Maheu, the Executive Director of the Telemental Health Institute. Adding telemental health to your private practice can allow you to: • serve more clients • serve clients who might not otherwise have access to treatment • work out of your home Telemental health is not for everyone, but if you are considering adding it to your list of services, here is an overview of 3 important points made by Dr. Maheu, in her presentation I. Risk Management There are a few basic rules when it comes to doing video counseling: • Practice within the scope of your license (know any limitations imposed by your state) • Carry adequate malpractice insurance (check with your carrier to be sure distance counseling is covered) • Follow professional standards (be clinically and technologically competent) II. Have a Solid Emergency Plan Prepare for potential emergencies before they happen: • Develop an emergency policy that you share with your client as part of your informed consent procedures • Obtain the emergency contacts you will need, in advance of working with someone who is located away from your backyard. Keep these numbers handy in case they are needed • Inform client of when you will contact others to help them • Cover your termination policy in your informed consent; make the client aware of the transfer of care in case of an emergency after termination III. Develop and use comprehensive Informed Consent Procedures The ACA Code of Ethics, Section H.2. is all about informed consent and security with regard to distance counseling, technology, and social media • Develop your Informed Consent Procedures and discuss them with the client in advance of starting treatment • Have the client sign off that they read these procedures and that they had the opportunity to get answers to their questions in a language they understand • Recognize that your Informed Consent Procedures for your distance practice will differ from the one you use for your face-to-face practice. Be sure to include items specific to the “distance” component as well as to any technology you may use. Dr. Maheu has generously shared a FREE WEBINAR TRAINING to help you develop your Informed Consent Procedures. Click here for access to the free webinar training Deb Legge, PhD CRC LMHC DrLegge@InfluentialTherapist Dr. Legge is known nationally as “The Private Practice Mentor”. Her work has been featured by ACA, Counseling Today, AMHCA, ACA-NY, and in her website, InfluentialTherapist. Find out how to Book Yourself Solid® in Private Practice, and get the support you need in private practice: InfluentialTherapist/bys
Posted on: Fri, 03 Oct 2014 22:34:33 +0000
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