FREE Telehealth Training
- Transitioning to Telehealth Roy Huggins, Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/personcenteredtech/videos/3451523878196102/UzpfSTU3NzAxNjEwNjoxMDE1NzUzMTMwNTYyMTEwNw/
- SimplePractice Learning Legal and Ethical Issues of Telehealth on-demand: https://ter.li/ydxf7i
- TCSPP Free Telehealth Training: We are working with our videoconferencing vendor to expand seats in Fri/Sat and Mon/Tues training. Use link below to sign up for waitlist: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/IMrwDJB/Telehealth101
- PESI - Telehealth for Mental Health Professionals For a limited time, you can get this online training, completely free. All you have to do is follow these 3 easy steps: Click this link Add the online training to your cart Use code TELEFREE at checkout
Ethical Obligations
- Knowledge and competency in telehealth (ACA, 2014, H.1.a.)
- Specific informed consent and disclosure for technology-assisted counseling, including the benefits and limitations of using technology (ACA, 2014, H.2.a., H.4.a.)
- Use of secure, current, and encrypted technology, which Skype is NOT (ACA, 2014, H.2.d.)
- Client verification (ACA, 2014, H.3.)
- Establishing appropriate professional boundaries (ACA, 2014, H.4.b.)
- Screening clients for appropriateness of technology-assisted services (ACA, 2014, H.4.c.)
- Multicultural and Disability Considerations (ACA, 2014, H.5.d.)
These are just a few of our ethical obligations under the 2014 ACA Code of Ethics. There are plenty of free and low-cost options for appropriate telehealth practice, such as Zoom, Doxy.me, and others. While I know we are in very unusual times, we still have a responsibility to protect our client’s confidentiality and engage in ethical and legal telehealth practice.
Early next week, I will share the recording link to the telehealth training TCSPP is providing. In the meantime, please utilize the following resources to educate yourself and others about ethical and legal telehealth practice.
Ethical Codes
American Counseling Association. (2014). 2014 ACA Code of Ethics. http://www.counseling.org/knowledge-center/ethics
NAADAC and NCC AP (2016). Code of ethics. http://www.naadac.org/assets/1959/naadac-nccap-code-of-ethics11-04-16.pdf
National Board for Certified Counselors. (2012). Policy regarding the provision of distance professional services. www.nbcc.org/Assets/Ethics/internetCounseling.pdf
Telehealth Resources
- NBCC/CCE: Board Certified TeleMental Health Provider (BC-TMH; formerly Distance Credentialed Counselor – DCC) – Center for Credentialing and Education: https://www.cce-global.org/Credentialing/BCTMH
- Person-Centered Tech: https://personcenteredtech.com/
- Tame Your Practice: https://tameyourpractice.com/
- Telehealth Certification Institute: https://telementalhealthtraining.com/
- Telebehavioral Health Institute - http://telehealth.org/
- The Online Therapy Institute - http://onlinetherapyinstitute.com/
- Zur Institute: www.zurinstitute.com/
Glossary of Telehealth Terms
- California Telehealth Resource Center’s Telehealth Glossary of Terms:
- http://www.caltrc.org/knowledge-center/ctrc-publications/program-guides/telehealth-glossary/
Legal Resources
- Up to Date Legal Changes related to COVID-19
- https://www.cchpca.org/sites/default/files/2020-03/CORONAVIRUS%20TELEHEALTH%20POLICY%20FACT%20SHEET%20MAR%2017%202020%203%20PM.pdf
- Center for Connected Health Policy: www.cchpca.org
- Telemental Health Laws: App available on Google and Apple from Epstein Becker Green
COVID-19 Specific
- COVID-19 Plan for Therapists: Questions, Answers, and Guidelines
- https://www.zynnyme.com/blog/2020/3/12/covid-19-plan-for-therapists-questions-answers-and-guidelines
- COVID-19 Information and Preparedness: https://www.zynnyme.com/blog/2020/3/12/covid-19-plan-for-therapists-questions-answers-and-guidelines#preparedness
Sample Telehealth Informed Consent
- Telehealth Informed Consent from NAADAC: https://www.naadac.org/assets/2416/marlene_maheu_ac17ho2.pdf
- Insight Maryland - https://parma.trustinsurance.com/Resource-Center/Document-Library
Free or Reasonably Priced Videoconferencing Options
Tip: Yes, you can get some of these free, but you really want to pay for at least the lowest tier so that you have a Business Associate Agreements (BAA) and better connectivity. The videoconferencing systems are simply overwhelmed currently; priority is giving to paid accounts.
- Clocktree: https://www.clocktree.com/forproviders?utm_source=Google%20Brand&utm_campaign=Clocktree&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=clocktree%20E
- Doxy.me: https://doxy.me/
- FaceTime: I would say this one is ok under current circumstances
- Google Meet (need to sign BAA with Google Suite)
- Signal: https://signal.org/
- Spruce Health: https://www.sprucehealth.com/
- Zoom.com (FREE up to 40 minutes): great low cost options for full versions
Many thanks to Dr. LoriAnn Stretch for these materials.