1 TELEMEDICINE AND TELE-MENTAL HEALTH IN WYOMING Rex E. Gantenbein, PhD Center for Rural Health Research and Education WY Psychological Association 10-09

2 What is telemedicine? “[T]he use of medical information exchanged from one site to another via electronic communications to improve patients' health status” (American Telemedicine Assn.) Telemedicine generally refers to clinical applications Telehealth is a broader term that also includes distance education and administrative applications WY Psychological Association 10-09

3 Applications of telemedicine Telemedicine is especially useful in delivering specialty care to rural or underserved areas Not a separate medical specialty Telemedicine technologies Interactive videoconferencing “Store and forward” transmission of images or data Remote monitoring WY Psychological Association 10-09

4 Applications of telemedicine Remote patient consultations Specialist referral services Remote patient monitoring Home health care WY Psychological Association 10-09

Telemedicine and mental health Mental health services are hard to access in Wyoming Telemedicine/telehealth can: Provide live remote access to specialists Support collaboration with primary care providers in local communities Deliver education to local providers on mental health diagnosis and therapy 5 WY Psychological Association 10-09

Telemedicine and mental health Resources needed for tele-mental health practice Videoconferencing equipment Bandwidth Security and privacy protections Local coordinators Practice and emergency protocols 6 WY Psychological Association 10-09

7 Tele-mental health projects in Wyoming Wyoming Telehealth Trauma Treatment Clinic (WTTTC) Wyoming Network for Telehealth (WyNETTE) WY Psychological Association 10-09

8 WTTTC Specialty clinic providing free therapy to rural victims of sexual or physical assault, crime, or domestic violence Housed in UW Psychology Clinic Services provided by video to crisis centers in Cheyenne, Rawlins, and Gillette WY Psychological Association 10-09

9 WyNETTE Vision: a statewide telehealth network with particular emphasis on mental health applications Upgrade telecommunications infrastructure Implement educational, clinical, and administrative applications Improve the knowledge and capabilities of the state’s health care workforce about telehealth Develop strategies for sustainability WY Psychological Association 10-09

10 WyNETTE Steps toward this vision Funding from FCC Rural Health Care Pilot Program Install dedicated high-speed connectivity for 39 sites, including small hospitals, community mental health clinics, and substance abuse centers Funding from HRSA Offices of Rural Health Policy and Health Information Technology Develop operational and management structure Create business plan and service models WY Psychological Association 10-09

11 WyNETTE Issues to be addressed Equipment and communications costs Technical training and support Quality of distance services Licensing and credentialing Reimbursement Liability Concerns over security and privacy WY Psychological Association 10-09

Questions/comments? WTTTC:Dr. Matt Gray WyNETTE:Dr. Rex Gantenbein WY Psychological Association 10-09

13 Sources for more information American Telemedicine Association Northwest Regional Telehealth Resource Center (Spokane WA) HRSA Health IT adoption toolbox WY Psychological Association 10-09