✪ Implementation of a Telemental Health Training Program Across a Mental Health Department

Authors:

Bradford L. Felker, Meghan M. McGinn, Erika M. Shearer, Gina T. Raza, Sari D. Gold, Jean M. Kim, Sasha M. Rojas, Milena S. Roussev, Ruth L. Varkovitzky, Huiting Liu, Kate L. Morrison, and Russell A. McCann

^{University of Washington affiliated authors are displayed in bold.}

✪ Open Access

Published: January 2021

Read the full text in the open access journal Telemedicine Reports

Abstract:

Introduction

Telemental health (TMH) has increased substantially. However, health care systems have found it challenging to implement TMH ubiquitously. A quality improvement project guided by implementation science methodology was used to design and implement a TMH training program.

Materials and Methods

Implementation science methodology (Promoting Access to Research Implementation in Health Services, Reach-Effectiveness-Adoption-Implementation-Maintenance, Implementation/Facilitation) provided the framework to design and implement the training program. A total of 100 interdisciplinary mental health providers from outpatient mental health clinics participated.

Results

Providers reported satisfaction with the training program. Results indicated that the training increased providers' TMH knowledge and competence. The number of providers using TMH and patients who received TMH nearly doubled.

Conclusions

Implementation science methodology was important in creating an organizational framework at this facility to design, evaluate, and implement an innovative TMH training program.

^{**This abstract is posted with permission under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License**}