Patient engagement through electronic health apps are one solution to the need for timely and ongoing patient support. Join us to discuss a program to support mental health through an integrated behavioral health model using a mental health app at Cambridge Health Alliance. The session discussed how apps can address gaps in mental health care, the lessons learned in effective implementation of use of a mental health app in a safety-net clinic, and provide a rubric for evaluating health apps for your patients and use in your mental health service.

 In situations of medical complexity, who has access to information about an older adult's health information – including mental health and substance use history and treatment – can be a complicated issue. In this virtual training, a complex older adult health situation was presented. The legal issues related to the privacy of protected health information were reviewed by Jacqueline Seitz, JD, and Christine Khaikin, JD from the SAMHSA-funded Center of Excellence for Protected Health Information (CoE-PHI). Dr. Rebecca Allen discussed ethical issues inherent in the case, highlighting common issues in meeting the needs of older adults while assuring that the right people have the right information. A broader discussion of these issues were lead by  the E4 Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Disparities in aging.

Objectives:

Describe when and how the federal privacy laws apply to the Protected Health Information (PHI) of Older Adults
Identify ethical considerations related to PHI, autonomy, and paternalism
Recognize how to access resources and technical assistance through the E4 Center and the CoE-PHI

Patient privacy and confidentiality form a crucial component of the patient-doctor treatment relationship, particularly when seeking treatment for mental health or substance use disorders. Multiple federal privacy laws, in addition to state laws, provide privacy protections for mental health and substance use disorder treatment records, while permitting communication of these records to other healthcare providers, patients’ families, and others.

In the face of these overlapping laws, it can be difficult for patients, their families, and health professionals to understand: What exact information can be shared, with whom, and at what times? This resource aims to assist with these determinations.

This webinar focused on a very popular area in which telehealth can help deliver services: Mental/Behavioral Health. Telehealth has been shown to be an effective way in providing mental and behavioral health services and is one of the specialties many public and private payers will reimburse for if technology is utilized. This webinar explained how to integrate telemental/behavioral health into your organization. Get tips and hear stories from clinics who have successfully done so to help you establish your own program.

Many health centers collaborate with external behavioral health providers or provide co-located or integrated behavioral health services within their health center. Some of the most significant challenges are determining which data to share, how to store it within the Electronic Health Record, and how to use it within primary care. This compendium of literature and resources offers some guidance related to behavioral health data integration, complete with key health center considerations for each.

Telehealth technology has a relatively long history of being applied to mental and behavioral health treatment, particularly in under-resourced rural areas. But what’s the state of telemental health today – and how can we use it to help fill our current gaps in substance use disorder treatment? National telemental health expert Jay Ostrowski, MA, LPC/S, NCC, DCC, ACS will answer these questions, and more, during this webinar. He’ll cover ethical and legal issues, current best practices, how to find resources, and tips for getting started in telemental health. Presented in partnership with the Northeast Telehealth Resource Center.