Services - Community Development - Telepsychiatry
- Protocols
- Quality Assurance
- What is it used for?
- What is it really like?
- About the technology
- Your security
- Your rights
What is it?
In 1995, the Royal Children's Hospital Mental Health Service* was the first Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) in Australia to pilot video conferencing technology.
Since that time, video conferencing has been successfully integrated into the delivery of CAMHS to rural Victoria (the concept is now known as telepsychiatry).
Telepsychiatry is used to provide the full range of services encompassed by CAMHS:
- pre-admission work, including assessments
- case conferences
- parent and family interviews
- discharge follow-up
- secondary consultations
- education and training
- supervision.
Protocols
In collaboration with the users of telepsychiatry - clinicians and consumers, the following protocols have been developed:
- room set up
- orientation to the use of the technology
- equipment used
- confidentiality
- informed consent
Quality Assurance
To ensure ongoing monitoring of this new technology, feedback, in the form of an evaluation, is sought from clinical staff and consumers after each session.
This can also be followed up by a personal interview. These evaluations and interviews are used to inform the ongoing development of telepsychiatry.
Some of the comments:
Service providers:
- "Saves travel and can link many more people at any given time?"
- "Significantly decreases the sense of isolation of rural workers?"
- "Provides easy access to good supervision?"
- "Enables us to extend our clinical resources to regional groups?"
Consumers:
- "... I was able to see and speak with my daughter with the feeling of being in the same room together and that was a great comfort."
- "There is no travelling expense or disruption to school; it is just more convenient."
- "Our son felt more at ease being admitted to the unit having met people through the video conference."
- "It makes me miss my parents less."
Further information
Contact: Mr Harry Gelber, 0419 378 042
What is it used for?
To overcome the problem of travelling long distances, telepsychiatry (or videoconferencing as it used to be known) is used for the following:
- accessing a range of specialist advice when normally this would not be available to you
- meeting with case managers with whom you will be working closely in regard to your child or adolescent
- "visiting" your child or adolescent in our unit
- maintaining contact with the case manager after your child or adolescent has returned home.
What is it really like?
The thought of being seen on a TV screen can be quite unsettling as we all worry about how we will look and what we will say. These feelings are natural and will pass as the session progresses.
It helps if you can arrive a little earlier than the scheduled time so that you can become familiar with the room layout and set up of the equipment.
Feel free to ask any questions you may have about the interview with the worker before the session begins. Most children love the idea of being on TV and enjoy the experience. However, some sensitive children may experience the session as strange and threatening to begin with. Please share this with your case manager as telepsychiatry should be a pleasurable and relaxing experience for everyone involved.
At the commencement of the interview you will be introduced to the person or people who you will see on the screen. Try to speak as naturally as possible (we understand you may be a little nervous). The microphones will make sure that your voice is clearly heard at the other end.
You will notice a few seconds delay when speaking, just like an overseas phone call.
If you are unsure about any aspect of the session, please ask to have it explained to you.
About the technology
Telepsychiatry is like a telephone call, but uses a television monitor and a central microphone instead of a telephone handset.
All parties present at both ends can hear and see each other.
The picture on the television screen may not be as clear as the picture you would get on your TV at home. This is because the technology uses a different way of transmission.
Your security
Unlike TV, telepsychiatry uses telephone lines and particular telephone numbers to contact people. It may not be as clear as TV but it is much more private and confidential.
Sometimes telephone lines get crossed and you may hear other voices talking on the phone. So far, this has not been a problem with telepsychiatry. Every precaution is taken to ensure your privacy.
Any interview that takes place through telepsychiatry will not be taped. There will be no-one observing you who you do not see on the TV screen in front of you.
Your rights
Prior to the commencement of the session, you will be asked to sign a Consent Form - For Parent or Guardian to Give Consent for a Child or
Adolescent to Participate in a Videoconference, and a copy will be given to you.
It is entirely up to you as to whether you and/or your child take part in telepsychiatry.
You are welcome to withdraw your involvement at any stage during the session, or at any time you like.
Your withdrawal will not, in any way, affect your access to any other services available from RCHMHS.
For further information, contact your case manager.