The unprecedented nature of the COVID-19 emergency, the rapidity with which clinicians have had to make significant changes to their practices, and the quickly evolving nature of regulatory and reimbursement requirements have created myriad challenging dilemmas for clinicians. For many clinicians, it is an anxiety-provoking time in which to practice.

Telehealth Community Chats are available free of charge as a live and on-demand webinar. They are designed to address the needs of psychologists and mental health clinicians during the time of the novel Coronavirus pandemic. These discussions consist of Trust Telehealth consultants, Dr. Margo Adams Larsen and Dr. Sara Smucker Barnwell, discussing practical and ethical aspects of telehealth in times of quarantine, rapid regulatory changes, and patient care.

In these Chats, the hosts will focus on the practical “how to” questions related to telehealth, and will span themes such as clinical practice, ethical considerations, technical considerations, and risk management. Participants are encouraged to raise their own questions and concerns for discussion by submitting questions beforehand to TeleHealthCommunity@trustinsurance.com. These Chats are designed to complement the Risk Management Roundtables.

Descriptions and learning objectives are listed below. Both live and on-demand versions offer 1 CE. Please click on the live event date and time to register. Each live event must be registered for separately. To view the on-demand version, simply click on the Chat number.

Our hosts/facilitators will guide participants through examples of common clinical and technical decision-making steps that relate to risk management implications of specific situations and choices, scrutinize options for solutions, and foster a tolerance for ambiguity inherent to our current context. We will also discuss professional practice strategies related to implementation for effective risk management and good patient care when regulations and requirements are unclear.

Objectives - Chat #1:

1. Participants will be able to discuss, consult about, and review specific dilemmas that are arising in clinical practice as the result of the national emergency and share potential resolutions.
2. Participants will be able to identify at least three risk management strategies related to pivoting to telehealth within their professional practice. 
3. Participants will be able to identify ethical principles and standards related to real-life telehealth scenarios.

Objectives - Chat #2:

1. Participants will be able to describe two unique challenges and two benefits when conducting groups via telehealth.
2. Participants will be able to identify three considerations when determining whether or not to conduct intakes via telehealth.
3. Participants will be able to identify three best practices for protecting videoconferencing call security.

Objectives - Chat #3:

1. Participants will be able to identify two national organizations that provide helpful information to psychologists during the COVID-19 pandemic.
2. Participants will be able to identify three considerations when selecting an electronic medical record.
3. Participants will be able to identify three potential adaptations for assessment via telehealth.

Objectives - Chat #4:

1. Participants will be able to describe two unique challenges to clinical engagement in the telehealth modality.
2. Participants will be able to identify three considerations when determining telehealth appropriateness.
3. Participants will be able to identify two potential challenges with insurance reimbursement as executive orders regarding telehealth expire.

Objectives - Chat #5:

1. Participants will be able to identify two resources to learn about interjurisdictional telehealth.
2. Participants will be able to describe two considerations when examining insurance coverage for telehealth.
3. Participants will be able to articulate two considerations in determining whether between session contacts are billable.

Objectives - Chat #6:

1. Participants will be able to identify best practices in remote clinical supervision.
2. Participants will be able to describe two considerations offering both telehealth and in-person services.
3. Participants will be able to articulate two considerations in determining how much time in office they require.

Objectives - Chat #7:

1. Participants will be able to identify two best practices in serving younger children.
2. Participants will be able to describe two recommendations in working with trainees virtually.
3. Participants will be able to articulate two best practices for navigating communication with insurance regarding telehealth.

Objectives - Chat #8:

1. Participants will be able to identify two considerations when performing evaluations.
2. Participants will be able to describe two considerations when discussing COVID and telehealth with clients.
3. Participants will be able to articulate two characteristics of software designed for telehealth.

Objectives - Chat #9:

1. Participants will be able to identify two considerations when managing client suicidal ideation remotely.
2. Participants will be able to describe two recommendations for improving video therapy sessions.
3. Participants will be able to articulate two methods of improving connections with clients without easy technology access.