Telehealth Services
The vast majority of vendors started using telehealth services in response to COVID-19. Prior to March 2020, only 3.1% of vendors had been using telehealth services. Since that time, 92% have begun using it. A total of 5.2% have not yet begun, but are considering it and no vendor indicated they were not considering using telehealth services. 24.8% (N-32) of respondents indicated that this did not apply to them.
In evaluating the potential negative impact of stopping telehealth services, only a small number who provide telehealth services felt there would be mild or no impact (13%), while one-third felt there would be moderate negative impact (33%) and more than half predicted there would be severe to extreme negative effects (54.4%)
As to the number of consumers who would be negatively impacted, 65% percent of vendors reported that more than 70% of their consumers would be negatively affected where funding to cease for continued telehealth services. Of this number, Nearly half of these vendors reported that 86-100% of their consumers would be affected.
Currently, the Department of Developmental Services has been authorized funding for telehealth services in 30-day increments. The majority of vendors support a more permanent model. A total of 80% recommend, at minimum, it be funded through the remainder of the 2020 calendar year. Of this number 52% recommend making telehealth service delivery a usual and customary service under DDS funding guidelines.
Effectiveness of Telehealth-related services compared to traditional face-to-face services
Seventy-four vendors reported using telehealth services for individual treatment. Of this number, based on the data below, 42% found it to be as or more effective in some or all areas compared to face-to-face meetings and 41% found it to have mixed effectiveness. Ten percent felt that, while it was less effective, it was still useful. Only 3% found it to be much less effective.
82% of vendors were able to work on goals effectively with no or little modifications.
89% found that the session length remained the same.
90% found that they spent the same amount of time preparing for sessions or more time.
Click below to rotate through the graphs and view service effectiveness for other areas, such as group treatment, assessment, parent consultation, staff supervision, and team meetings. In all cases, this has been demonstrated to be a valuable and effective adjunctive tool.
What Type of Model Would Vendors Use Going Forward?
Nearly all vendors would create a hybrid model of services (92% endorsed this model). A small number, 4%, would prefer to offer only face to face services. This may relate to the age of the consumers served or level of functioning, or specific type of service rendered. Further analysis could uncover these trends.
The Data Supports More Permanent Funding
The advantages of this model are apparent. It would promote more sound advance planning, permit vendors to invest in HIPAA equipment and services, and minimize the interruption of service delivery to consumers during potential adverse changes to the current health crisis.